Royals Saga 3 Crown Me Read Online Free Page A

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    Alexander dipped down until he was eye level with her. “Somewhere…private.”
    My legs buckled, causing me to sway slightly in my heels. His grip on my hand tightened, pressing my sizable ruby engagement ring into my flesh. The brief smarting pain mixed with the frustration I felt, sending a jolt of unexpected arousal traveling through me.
    Hardly anyone noticed as we followed the girl toward the back of the restaurant to a fairly private table tucked into a recessed nook, but awareness prickled through me. Were we being watched right now? Followed by a special security team? Were any of our private moments private at all?
    “Will this do?” The young hostess wrung her hands nervously as Alexander pulled out a chair for me.
    “This will be fine,” he said in a gracious tone, tilting his head slightly. Her eyes darted from me to him and then she did a small curtsy and scampered away.
    Possessiveness flared inside of me, I hadn’t mistaken the lust in her eyes. I couldn’t exactly blame her for that. Not only was he the Prince of Wales, but he exuded a raw sensuality that most women couldn’t ignore. But the reaction had been uncontrollable and unexpected. Jealousy wasn’t really my thing, except when it came to the toxic Pepper Lockwood. Gripping the sides of my chair, I willed my pulse to calm. I was being paranoid. Alexander had been lying to me again, and my body had responded possessively to a perceived threat. That was all.
    But that didn’t make it okay.
    “You’re quiet.” There was no accusation in his voice, but there was an undercurrent of something else hidden amongst his words. Pain.
    I lifted my gaze slowly to meet his, preparing myself for the momentary electricity I always felt when I saw him. It rocked through me, but this time I focused that scorching desire into fuel for my anger. Betrayal and desire were a volatile combination, and it took what little self-control I had to keep my voice low enough that only he could hear me. “I feel like I’ve been living a lie.”
    “I should have told you about Daniel,” he repeated. “But there was never a good time. I expected to have a lead on him much more quickly.”
    “That’s no reason to keep the truth from me!”
    “I assumed it would be resolved weeks ago. Months ago. The longer it took, the harder it became to bring up.”
    I shook my head, dismissing the lame excuse. “That probably should have been a clue that what you were doing was wrong.”
    “Poppet.” He brought my hand to his lips and kissed each knuckle, stopping at my ring finger as though to gently remind me that I’d promised myself to him.
    “Don’t think that if you are all sexy and sweet, I’ll forget what you did.”
    “You think I’m sexy?” The cocky grin that suited him so well twisted over his lips, making it impossible not to want to kiss him.
    “Once again, you’re missing the point, X.”
    “We came here to talk, and we will, but I also came to tell you I have to go out of town.” His blue eyes stayed trained on me as he dropped the bit of news.
    I swallowed and nodded. “For how long?”
    “My father has asked me to attend a jubilee dinner. I’d like you to come with me.”
    “I can’t.” The refusal was out of my mouth before I could think about it. A time was coming when my presence would be expected, but for now, I wanted to relish the last bit of freedom I had left.
    Alexander stiffened, surprised by my refusal.
    “I have plans,” I continued in a rush. “And this is my last week at work.”
    “So this has nothing to do with our fight earlier?”
    “No.” I paused. “And yes. Maybe some time apart will give us some perspective.”
    “I don’t like time apart,” he growled.
    “I can’t,” I repeated, but this time the refusal came out weakly.
    “Fine, but I want to make one thing perfectly clear.” Alexander grabbed the arm of my chair and jerked it closer to him. The scrape of its feet on the wooden floor vibrated