PRINCE CHARMING: A Secret Baby Stepbrother Romance (14 page)

Olivia yawned and moved closer, snuggling her cheek against his chest, and Quincy felt his heart melt. Screw a possible scandal. There was no way in hell he was going to let her go that easily.

Once they’d washed up, he turned the water off and handed her a plush, blue towel to wrap up in. “I guess you have to get back down to the ball,” she said as she dried off quickly.

“And you have to sneak back into your room.”

“How the hell am I going to do that?”

“Did you leave your balcony doors open by chance?”

Her eyes widened, and she shook her head. “I’m not doing that. Are you crazy? I’ll fall!”

“No, you won’t. You’ll be fine. I promise.” She stared at him as if he’d gone crazy. “I do it all the time. The ledge is wide enough to fit my feet, so yours won’t be a problem.”

He hung his towel up and searched for a fresh tux in his closet. Thankfully, he had quite a few to choose from and getting dressed was easy, but he’d never retrieved Olivia’s clothes. He found the smallest t-shirt he had and a pair of shorts for her to put on.

“Can’t you check to see if the coast is clear?” she asked as she slipped into the clothes. “I’ll just run over there. No one will see me.”

“And what happens if they do?”

She scrunched her face. “I’ll say… I broke into your rooms because I was… I was sleepwalking and thought they were mine, woke up in there, and am headed back now.”

“Sure,” he said as he crossed his arms. “And you what—stripped naked in here and grabbed my clothes by mistake?”

“Damn it, Quincy!”

“You’ll be fine.” He laughed as he guided her to the balcony. “Look. Yours is right there, and see that ledge? I walk on it all the time. You hold on right there and walk across like it’s nothing.” He turned her to face him and bent low so they were eye level. “You really think I’d send you out there if I didn’t think you could do it? You were walking on that damn outcropping tonight well enough.”

Her face went blank as she said dully, “I slipped off that damn outcropping.”

He bit back a laugh. “It was wet. That’s not.”

“That’s your reasoning?” She glanced at the balcony and frowned, chewing her lip. “Fine, fine, but if I fall and break a leg, you’ll never hear the end of it.”

“You can even punch me, how about that?” He turned her towards the balcony and walked her out. Thankfully, the courtyard was empty of any ball attendees. Olivia walked to the railing, muttering curses under her breath. He gave her butt a gentle smack. “Get going.”

She glared at him over her shoulder before she leapt up to wrap her arms around his neck and pull him close for one last, deep kiss. When she finished, Quincy regretted he had to leave her, but he didn’t have much of a choice. He helped her step up onto the railing and watched as she made her way onto the ledge. She clung to the side of the palace for the first few steps, but then laughed.

“Alright, fine, it’s not that bad,” she admitted over her shoulder.

“Told you so.”

He watched her until she made it onto her balcony and disappeared inside, closing the doors tightly behind her. “Damn. What did we just start?”

Quincy finished dressing quickly, not looking half as good as he did before but not caring at all, and walked out the door and back to the ballroom. He hoped his father wouldn’t notice his re-entrance, but he did. No chance he would get lucky twice in one night… or three times. A smile touched his lips thinking of how he’d buried himself inside Olivia and the look on her face…

“There is my son,” Lamont said, and Quincy shook his head to try and clear it before anything embarrassing happened. “Where have you been?”

“Taking care of a situation and checking on Olivia,” he said. “She’s not feeling well. I think a bit of an island bug.”

“Hmm, well that’s too bad. Edric was looking for her earlier, as Gigi and several other ladies have been looking for you,” he commented pointedly and turned his son around to face the room. Several women stared longingly at him, and he cursed, wishing he had followed Olivia to her room instead. “You should mingle. The hour is growing late, but they do not look ready to turn in yet.”

“You, dear father, are enjoying this too much.”

Lamont patted his son on the back with a mad grin. “I want you to find a wife before too long. Your wedding needs to take place this year.”

Quincy turned wide-eyed. “What? When were you going to tell me that?”

“Now. Go, mingle, find a woman you can marry.” Lamont nudged him forward.

Quincy’s father walked away, leaving him to fend for himself as Gigi charged across the ball room, looking more like a predator stalking its prey than a lady of the court. She reached him and dropped into a curtsy, tipping forward enough so her breasts threatened to fall out of her dress.

“Prince Quincy, I was worried I had missed my chance to dance with you again.”

“I am sorry to have kept you waiting,” he murmured, trying to maintain his princely civility. “Shall I oblige you with one now?”

She reached for his arm and, trying to think happy thoughts of Olivia naked beside him, Quincy managed to keep a smile on his face as he led her to the middle of the floor that quickly cleared for them to dance. He didn’t want all eyes on him, but there was nothing for it. He would grin and bear it and maybe later, sneak a visit with Olivia before he turned in for the night.

They twirled around the floor, but Quincy’s lips stayed curled as he felt Olivia’s body wrapped around him. It was hard to forget the past hour or so with her, seeing her standing on the rocks in that dress before she fell in. When he turned to find her standing naked in the moonlight. How they moved together when joined, as if they were meant to be. He’d had his share of women, but none of them had struck him as she had, right to the gut, and made him feel so incredible.

Not meaning to, thoughts of Olivia set the blood rushing lower than he wanted, and with Gigi pressed so close against him, she felt every bit of his growing arousal. Unfortunately for him, he didn’t even realize it until she glanced up at him with narrowed eyes and a seductive little smile.

“Why, Prince Quincy, I wasn’t aware you found me so attractive,” she whispered quietly. She pressed herself full length against him, and her boobs pushed up. If she had been any taller, they’d be in his face.

Quincy frowned. “Oh, my apologies, Lady Gigi. I don’t know what’s come over me.”
Damn it! Stop thinking about Olivia,
he thought as he tried to silence his sudden arousal. “Truly, I don’t know what’s gotten into me.”

“There’s no need to apologize.” Their dance ended, and she trailed her fingers up his neck and into his hair. “We could always disappear for a little while, and I could see to your…sudden princely needs. There is no shame in it, and I will let you know that I am not a virgin,” she said, whispering the last few words as close to his ear as she could.

That was more information than he needed, and Quincy coughed, trying to clear his throat as he fought against the urge to laugh hysterically. Never did he think his night would start out so badly, wind up being great, and then go back to being… He wasn’t sure what. There was no way in hell he was going to take Gigi away to some dark corner and have his way with her. No way in hell. That was one can of worms he wasn’t about to open.

He bowed his head and took a step back. “I am sorry, but I fear there are other women I must dance with tonight. A prince must remember his manners.”

Gigi glared. “Not always. You and I have a connection, and we both know your father favors me.”

“Does he now?” Quincy asked as he stared her down. “Well, thankfully, he is not me.”

“No, but sooner or later, you will have to choose me,” she said. “I am the only choice. So go, dance with the others.” She swayed her hips as she walked by him. “But in the end, it’s me you will end up with. Good evening, my dear Prince Quincy.”

He watched her walk into the crowd as his anger built and his face warmed. It was true King Lamont had been pushing him towards Gigi. She was the daughter of the wealthiest family on the isle and her parents were important members of the parliament, but it was her attitude he didn’t think he’d be able to stomach. If King Lamont made his decision for Quincy, Gigi would be his betrothed before the summer ended.

All he could do was hope something drastic prevented that from happening.

Chapter 11

Olivia rolled over the next morning, relishing the way her body felt—sore but just as relaxed as if she and Quincy had gone at it again. If she could wake up like that every morning, it’d be pretty damn good. Though she wore herself out the night before, she was up early enough that Allete did not come in to wake her.

The air was fresh though humid, and she woke with the need to paint. She hopped out of bed, still wearing Quincy’s clothes, and grabbed her paints and brushes. She hummed while she pulled her messy hair back into a ponytail, changed into some old painting jeans and a tank, and stepped out onto the balcony to set up her easel. Maybe today she would get something accomplished for her portfolio and feel a little better about where she stood.

As the sun rose higher into the sky and the rest of the palace bustled to life, Olivia painted, finishing the scene of the palace crumbling from age and neglect. She set that one aside and picked up another of the haunted jungle, shadowy and dark. The only color was the flora and fauna buried deep in the center of the shadow. The brushes moved smoothly across the canvas, and soon she was covered in blues and greens, violets and shades of red while she perfected it and set it aside to dry as well. The whole time, her thoughts were on Quincy and the way his hands moved across her skin. How he’d kissed her deeply, letting his tongue move with hers…

“Princess Olivia? You are a mess!”

“Huh?” She turned, the end of the paintbrush in her mouth as she nibbled on the wood. She’d been so lost reliving last night she hadn’t heard her barrage of ladies enter her room. “Morning, Allete.”

“What are you doing, miss?” She moved to her side and looked at the finished paintings drying in the sun. “Those are beautiful. What time did you wake up this morning?”

“Early,” Olivia said with a satisfied sigh. “Finally found some time to get them done.”

“Well, they are magnificent, but what is that one you started? I don’t recognize that place.”

So focused was she on remembering every detail of last night that she hadn’t noticed she’d started to paint Quincy’s private cove. It was barely started, mostly the outcropping into the waves she’d fallen off of last night and the faint hint of the beach. With a blanket and her shoes from last night set off to the side.

“Are those your shoes?” Allete asked as she leaned in closer.

Olivia shrugged. “I guess so. I was letting the inspiration of the island take me for a ride.”

“Well, I am afraid your inspiration must be put on hold. You must look good for the outing today.” She walked back inside, dragging Olivia with her. “Wash your brushes quickly, then you must shower and dress.” The maid frowned and leaned forward, sniffing Olivia’s hair. “Interesting.”

“What? Do I smell bad?”

“No, but you smell like Prince Quincy’s shampoo. Odd, that’s all. I thought you had your own. The maids must have switched it by accident,” Allete said and pushed her once again towards the bathroom. She missed Olivia’s wide-eyed stare and gulp.

“Yeah, must be. I’ll shower, then I’ll be out,” she said and closed the bathroom door behind her.

She pulled a strand of hair to her nose and sniffed. Damn, she did smell like Quincy. Leave it to Allete to pick up on that, but she would just have to be more careful in the future.
In the future? So you’re going to do it again?
The idea wasn’t exactly smart, but Olivia couldn’t stop smiling when she thought of Quincy.

“I do not hear water running,” Allete called through the door.

“I’m going, I’m going,” she huffed and hurried to rinse her brushes in the sink, hoping the maids wouldn’t get upset at the paint staining the basin. She set them aside to dry, turned the water of the shower on, and got ready for the day. “Another outing with Quincy. Wonder what this one will be like.”

***

Allete allowed Olivia more casual attire than normal, dressing her in a blue sundress that varied in shades from the top to the bottom. It was sleeveless, and her shoes, thankfully, were flat. Her hair was curled but down, which she was thankful for. After last night and all those pins, her scalp was still sore and hating her for it.

Olivia hurried to the main hall to meet Quincy. He, too, was more casual than normal in slacks and a printed, button-up shirt. “Am I late? Allete kept trying to fix my hair.”

“I think it looks fine,” he told her. His hand lifted as if to touch it, but he cleared his throat and shoved it in his pocket instead. “And no, you’re not late. Royalty is never late. Something to remember for later when you are officially a princess.”

“I’ll be sure to keep that in mind.”

“Good, that’s good. Shall we?” He offered her his other arm, and she slipped her hand around it so they could walk to his Jeep which was parked out front on the drive. “The weather is supposed to be perfect today, so a tour of the campus will be the first thing.”