Forbidden Prince (Princes of Avce Book 2) Read online

  Renee gave the thumbs up sign. "I'll be back in ten. I've never ridden in a private jet to Europe."

  What would she pack? She was about to meet her celebrity crush. She found her bag and slipped in all her sexy underwear. Just in case. If Marco couldn’t be tempted, then she'd see the countryside, take pictures and do something completely unplanned: she wouldn’t think about her parents, or their expectations. This summer, she'd stay in a palace, encourage Kristin to be happy and build up a store of memories to keep her warm on a far off cold night as she lay next to some anonymous man like Greg.

  2

  Renee’s new strappy sandals sank into the plush thick blue carpet as she stepped inside the jet. Her bohemian skirt swirled around her ankles and her ivory peasant top was layered in lace. Decadent. The small windows along the side were the only things in common with the flight she'd taken commercially to Paris. There were no rows of seats. Instead it seemed like a living room in the sky.

  Kristin followed in her sneakers and jeans, her face pale. She must be nervous, poor thing. She had to decide if she wanted to marry the prince. Renee understood this was a once in a lifetime opportunity for her, and she'd encourage her to seize the moment. She offered a huge grin.

  Kristin sighed. "This jet is nicer than our apartment."

  "Shh." Renee dropped her hobo purse next to a seat by a window. A life like this would be a world away from everything she wanted, but it was great for Kristin, who had no ties. Renee settled into her chair and read the buttons. "If you marry the prince, he'll expect you to go in things like this all the time."

  Kristin looked down at her shoes. "I'm not..."

  "I saw you kissing him," Renee interrupted and hit a button in her seat that made it lean back. "You have chemistry."

  Kristin folded her hands together and closed her eyes. "I never knew a kiss could be so potent."

  Now that was a reason to get married! Her best friend's prince walked onto the jet, handsome and powerful. Renee hit a button on the white leather seat and it whirred, then reclined flat like a bed. "Now that's intriguing. Here he comes," she whispered. "I'll go to sleep in this pod. Good night, Kristin."

  Without another word, Renee pressed a button and fully encapsulated herself in her seat pod, which blocked her face from view. She heard her friend's feet as she stood near her, but the carpets silenced anything more. Above her she heard Antonio ask, "Your friend is going to sleep so soon?"

  "I guess." Kristin's voice was muffled.

  Renee closed her eyes and let herself imagine Marco’s strong muscles holding her, then chuckled in her dark pod. The truth was he'd probably nod at her and run off with a socialite or three at a time. Renee wasn't a fool. As a teacher, she commanded respect for that very reason.

  She yawned and went to sleep. In a few hours, she'd get her first look at a lived-in castle. She'd not miss a moment. For tonight, she'd let herself wonder what Marco Aussa actually looked like. Perhaps he was sexier than his picture. Perhaps…

  Renee woke to the smell of coffee. She hit the button for her pod to open and glanced out the window. The trees in the far distance suggested a gorgeous and lush countryside, away from the airport. She stood and her pulse zipped to find out what Avce was like.

  First, though, she picked up her coffee and sipped. Kristin was in the pod across from where she slept and she was sleeping alone. Renee didn't see Antonio at all. So Renee poured her friend her orange juice and slipped into the seat beside her.

  A few minutes later, Kristin stirred and lowered her pod. Renee handed her a coffee and an orange juice and inched closer. "Good morning. You look pale."

  Kristin stared at her with her big blue eyes and lowered her gaze. "Last night I'd have slept with Prince Antonio."

  Now this was progress. Kristin wasn't an angel! She believed that a girl should test drive the car before she bought it. Renee looked Kristin up and down. "So why didn't you?"

  Her friend's face turned bright red. "He put me to bed. Alone."

  Interesting. Renee sipped her coffee. And if Antonio was a gentleman, that boded well. Her friend seemed jittery, so Renee kept her voice low and calm. "Did he say no, thank you?"

  Kristin shook her head. "No. Renee, I'm in uncharted waters and he's way out of my league."

  Now that was stupid. Kristin deserved to be happy. She was a good person. Renee put her coffee down and reached for Kristin's hand. "So that's what the problem is."

  Kristin blinked. "What problem?"

  The plane door opened. Renee only had seconds to help, so she whispered, "He's not out of your league, Kristin. He's asked you to marry him. You offered to sleep with him. I'd guess he wanted to wait, because you're worth it."

  Renee hoped her words had meaning. Kristin's face lowered in concern. Most people would jump at a chance to live a fairy tale.

  Kristin said, "What in the world do I have to offer someone like him? I'm not exactly cut out to be a princess."

  "Perhaps that's what he wants." Renee released her hand and picked up her coffee mug. Today was the stuff of fantasies. Kristin would marry a prince and perhaps, if Renee played her cards right, she'd have a chance at a summer fling. She swallowed her coffee and said, "If he wanted to marry some stuffy princess type he had the chance. Instead he asked you."

  Kristin drank her orange juice in one gulp and spoke quickly, "Look, I like kissing him, but the idea that he's a prince is seriously sending me crazy mixed-up thoughts. I wish he was normal."

  Renee peered into her mostly empty coffee mug. "No, you don't. If you wanted normal, you'd have chosen Greg."

  Kristin’s eyes narrowed in realization. "You mentioned him last night, too."

  Greg was the epitome of everything on her list, except he didn't want her. With him at her side, she'd join her parents’ social club and fit in with the rest of suburbia. Time was passing her now and she needed to settle down. Renee's cheeks turned red. "I did."

  "Did you like Greg, Renee?"

  With a loud sigh, she nodded. One day she'd find one like him, but that matched her entirely. Renee moved her seat back so she could get up. "But he never noticed me and in the end I want someone who loves me because I'm awesome."

  Kristin stood first and Renee followed while Kristin said, "Who knows? Maybe there's a hot guy in Avce that you're supposed to meet. Remember?"

  Oh yes, her celebrity crush. Footsteps near the door echoed in the plane, so Renee laughed. "Shh, your boyfriend will hear you."

  Antonio joined them in a navy blue suit tailored for him and a crisp white shirt. He winked. "Boyfriend, huh?"

  Renee went to the bathroom to change. She'd have to look nice if she intended to impress. She heard as she closed the door her best friend say, "Renee gets ahead of herself sometimes."

  Renee went through her carry-on when she heard Antonio tell Kristin, "Paparazzi will be outside, ready to snap your picture. I thought I should warn you—I’ll meet you near the door."

  Okay, so her nicest shirt in this bag was her turquoise knit top she’d pair with slim-fit white capris. She’d worn this for parent-teacher night last year, a blend of dressy but casual. Finally, she slipped on her leather flats and dug out her Audrey Hepburn inspired sunglasses and told herself to channel her inner diva.

  Leaving the bathroom, she gave Kristin a nod of approval—she was adorable in a flower-print Calvin Klein summer dress.

  Renee followed the prince and Kristin out of the plane. The moment they stopped on the red carpet, she sauntered past them and headed toward the limo.

  People cheered and lights flashed in her face, but none of that was for her. As she neared the rear passenger door someone behind a camera asked, "Who are you?"

  Renee laughed, gave the reporter a wink and ducked inside the limo. Mysterious might be better than the truth. Nobody. A few seconds later, she heard the crowd coo because Antonio held Kristin tight as he assisted her inside the car.

  Renee sat across from them and saw the sparks between her friend and her
prince. One day she'd like to be looked at with such passion. She turned her attention outside, sincerely thrilled for her friend.

  Antonio said, "You'll notice the vibrant green hills. Our beautiful country has had every ancient empire try to depose our royal family for almost two thousand years, but we're the oldest original family monarchy. Many of my ancestors have all managed to return from abroad, just as my parents did. My grandparents were deposed with communism. My ancestors left Rome to settle here, guided by the Virgin Mary—or so the legend goes."

  The history appealed to her—she knew that this small but viable country had played a crucial part in every world war. She'd have to take tons of pictures for when she taught World War II and how Americans interacted here. Renee tuned out her friend, who talked in a low voice with Antonio, to jot down notes and ideas.

  The limo reached the top of a hill and suddenly in the distance a huge white palace with a blue roof appeared, along with four towers. Renee put her notes down, a different thrill teasing her senses. In a few minutes, she'd see her crush. Her stomach flittered with apprehension.

  Silly. Renee reached for her phone, and snapped pictures of the countryside to show her coworkers and students. How else would they believe that she was here? Boring Ms. Brown, staying in a palace.

  Renee felt her cheeks heat as she overheard the sensual timbre of their conversation, though no words. Once the limo parked and a footman opened the door, Renee hopped out first.

  She followed the path up to the opened doors of the palace and hurried in, searching for a place to stand aside so that Kristin could have the spotlight. She stepped into a grand room with frescoed ceilings and ivory walls and instantly felt goose bumps on her arms.

  Renee looked around and saw Prince Marco, who leaned against a post. His warm brown eyes combined with his sexy dimpled grin was even hotter than she imagined. "Please tell me you're not my brother's bride."

  She shook her head, her heart beating wildly. "Nope, I'm her roommate, Renee Brown."

  He came closer and pressed his hand on her arm. With an intake of breath, her crush flamed. His nearness made her warm, but then he passed her and went into the small lobby area in front of the ballroom. Marco said to Antonio and Kristin, "I apologize for interrupting, but my brother needs to come with me, now."

  Marco turned toward her and she felt he undressed her with his gaze, though he said nothing.

  Antonio waved someone else in. "Walter here will show you to your rooms."

  Renee walked past them and joined the older gentleman to follow and give the others space. She glanced one more time at Marco whose dark eyes met hers.

  She hoped everything was okay with his father, just as she hoped they’d meet again. He was sexier than his photos, but there was something else about him that she couldn't explain. His look dared her to lose her inhibitions and forget everything but the possibility of being in Marco's strong arms.

  3

  As soon as Marco brought Antonio to Father, he'd go and find Renee Brown again. He walked faster than he probably should, but his mind was on the woman in white capris and sunglasses.

  Marco opened the door and instantly his mother, Queen Anna Camilla, rose from her chair while she wiped her eyes with a tissue. Antonio walked past him and Marco closed the door to give them a few minutes without interruption. He stood in the hall, alone.

  Walter would have brought Renee and his brother’s bride to the South Wing that overlooked the river. It was set aside for important guests and a future queen would be that.

  Renee Brown's warm brown eyes and her fearlessness when she introduced herself caught his attention. He wanted to continue the conversation.

  Marco folded his hands behind his back and headed down the hall. He stopped when he reached the two neighboring doors, assuming Renee had the chamber with the smaller balcony. He knocked and she came out with a cautious smile. Her light brown hair had sprinkles of sunshine mixed within the strands and her skin seemed dewy and pure, despite flying all night. She leaned against the door and asked, "Is everything okay?"

  "I hadn't introduced myself." He motioned to come inside her room.

  She opened the door wider and he spotted the gold and cream bed in the corner though he ignored it.

  "I know who you are."

  "Who am I then?" He turned and winked at her.

  She crossed her arms, but came toward him. He smelled the air around her and it was like a spring morning full of flowers in bloom. "Prince Marco Aussa, playboy and unrepentant about it."

  Not quite true, but he’d play along. He leaned closer and she lowered her arms. "Does that offend you?"

  "Not at all." A smirk crossed her expressive face suggesting a sense of humor. "I wondered how you would affect me, an American woman."

  He wanted to claim her, right here, right now. Lust hadn't been part of his life for a while and certainly not this urgently. He held still. He didn't want to push too fast. "And?"

  She stepped even closer. "You're everything I'm not supposed to want."

  He wanted her too. He caressed her arm and she didn't pull away. "Can I kiss you, Renee?"

  "Yes." She half-closed her eyes and lifted her face in expectation.

  His lips brushed against hers and he felt burned by the flares of an eclipse. He deepened the kiss, his body hardening from her innocence. Despite her flirting, Renee tasted too sweet to be anything else. He forced himself off her, and leaned against the wall to ensure there was distance.

  Once she was steady on her feet and opened her eyes, he cupped his palm against the softness of her cheek. "I have to get back to my brother and parents, but tonight, after dinner, can I take you out?"

  "Absolutely." She took his hands in hers.

  Fireworks were tame compared to how her touch felt. He let her go because if he didn't, he'd throw her on the bed and forget himself. He circled past her, then stopped. "For now this will be our secret."

  "I like secrets." She winked at him, as he’d done at her.

  Saucy and sweet. Renee blew his mind.

  He left and returned to his father's sickroom. His mother, her gray head bent, leaned on his arm, gesturing toward his brother. "Half of the country doesn't have the same value."

  Marco had obviously missed something. He patted his mother's hand, Renee's kiss lingering on his lips.

  Antonio said something about the small rebellion against capitalism. "We're in trouble if the communist agenda becomes the reality again," Marco agreed.

  "We'd go into exile without a penny." His mother straightened and clutched his arm tighter.

  Marco glanced at his brother. How in the world had a computer program led to a proposal? Though he had to admit Kristin and Antonio seemed to fit. He shrugged. "Exile wasn’t bad the last time. I liked England."

  "Marco, this is our home." Their mother scolded him as he walked her toward Father's bed. Antonio backed away to let Mother have his spot.

  Marco returned to the door and stared at Antonio as he leaned on the frame. "I saw your Kristin. I must say she's quite pretty. Was that one of your factors after all?"

  Antonio looked at him with his mouth slightly open. "I wasn't going to marry just anyone. She had to be nice enough to look at."

  So Antonio wasn't just about a computer program finding him a wife without physical beauty too. The moment his brother came closer, Marco patted his back. "Well, I can't wait to have a full conversation with her, at dinner."

  "Take care what you say." Their parents spoke in hushed voices.. Antonio admitted, "I still have to convince her to marry me."

  "She hasn't agreed?" Renee was either for or against his brother and the marriage, though perhaps he could convince her to help Antonio win Kristin over. "So, why is she here?"

  "I'm giving her the tour of Avce before the ring goes on her finger for life. Now that Dad is awake, we can get married in the church where Mary had it snow instead of a rushed ceremony."

  Marco rocked back on his heels. The great mirac
le supposedly blessed his family thousands of years ago when they’d built a church in the Virgin’s honor. The story had always made him feel guilty rather than holy. He lifted his chin and refused to let that thought bug him. "So you figure one trip around the rose garden and a dinner in the east wing tower and she's yours."

  Antonio rubbed his chin. "Dinner in the tower, alone. Thanks for the tip!"

  Tonight, he'd keep Renee out of that tower. Perhaps he'd show her the maze in the garden, though part of him wanted to simply show her his bed. "Wait. The playboy prince is actually trying to seduce this woman?"

  His father's weak voice carried across to them. "She must be pretty then."

  Antonio turned red. "Father, we should not be having this conversation at all. You need your rest."

  Marco shook his head. Their father was always more lenient with him than Antonio.

  His mother made a tsk sound and pointed them to the door. "Your father is still in danger, but the doctors agree that it's much more likely he'll have a full recovery so long as nothing upsets him, or causes him undue stress."

  Marco would ensure nothing happened.

  Antonio said, "Father, I'd prefer to remain the Crown Prince for a while and not King—rest, please."

  Good. They were all on the same page. Lucio, his middle brother, was taking care of foreign issues for them and Antonio had done his part. He would do his as well. His father yawned. "Bring the American to meet me."

  "Yes, sir," Antonio said and the brothers left.

  If he knocked on Renee's door again, would that be too presumptuous? The image of the golden white bed behind her while she looked at him with doe eyes after that kiss haunted him. They went down the blue hall. "Antonio?"

  "Marco." Antonio walked by his side, his hands at his back.

  He intended to keep his seduction of Renee private, but he was curious. "The other one you brought with Kristin. What's her deal?"

  "Renee Brown, Kristin's best friend. She's a teacher out for her summer break."