“We should go back to the hotel, Sire.”
“We are,” Leo said, squeezing Skye’s hand. If he was thinking about the possible public relations nightmare or the blowing of his cover in Austin, he wasn’t showing it.
They walked to the corner in silence, Jürgen settling in several paces behind them.
“Maybe you should just walk me home,” she whispered, because he needed a way out. Surely he realized the risk. She didn’t want him to feel obligated to continue their evening when it could blow up his whole life. If they hadn’t already blown it up.
God, what had she started?
“Back to your condo?”
She nodded. “It’s late.” It wasn’t even ten. She sounded like an idiot.
“I could walk you home,” he said easily. “You could spend the rest of the evening watching TV with Bart.” He squeezed her hand, then tugged her to a stop as he leaned closer to whisper in her ear. “Or I could invite you to my room, strip you bare, and make love to you. Personally, I’m leaning toward the latter.”
“Leo—those girls.”
“Aren’t welcome in my room.”
She couldn’t hold back the laughter that bubbled up. “Glad to … hear that.”
“Are you with me?”
She nodded, her throat thick. “Always.”
They’d reached the hotel, and he led her inside, then to the small elevator bank. They rode up with Jürgen, fingers twined, and as soon as the car stopped, she took a step forward, eager to be alone with him in the room.
But then the doors slid open, and she was blinking as those same girls from the bar giggled and snapped photos. She had no idea how they’d discovered what floor he was on—they’d probably just guessed the penthouse—and they were breathless from what was undoubtedly a race up the stairs.
She froze, Leo’s hand tightening on hers as he stepped protectively in front of her.
Skye had no idea how he managed to get out so quickly, but Jürgen was not only already in the hallway, but he’d wrested the phones away from both the girls.
“Hey! You can’t do that!”
“This floor is for guests only.” He tapped on both screens, scowled, tapped some more, then handed the phones back. “Go,” he said. “Go now.”
One girl looked ready to protest, but the other took her arm and they raced toward the stairs.
“I deleted all photos from the bar until now,” Jürgen said. “But they’d already posted several. I can’t do anything about what’s already out there. This isn’t good, Sire.”
“I’ve been labeled as a bad boy prince at home for years. I’m just expanding my territory.”
“It’s not good for Skye,” Jürgen said.
Beside her, Leo sighed. “No. It’s not.” He dragged his fingers through his hair, looking defeated. As far as Skye was concerned, the look didn’t suit him at all.
“You should go,” he said. “Jürgen can walk you to your condo.”
“Leo, no.”
He shook his head, his expression miserable. “I can’t drag you into the spotlight on this. That would be like forcing you to live your worst nightmare.”
She shook her head. “No, you’re wrong. You’re my sweetest dream, Leo. That erases all the nightmares.”
He took her hand and gently kissed her fingertips. “I am so glad that we found each other again, but we both know it can’t last. It ends now, because I can’t stand the thought that you’ll be sacrificed on the altar of social media. I’m sorry, sweetheart. But you know I’m right.”
He turned to Jürgen. “Get her home safely.”
And then, his face colored with misery, the man she loved turned his back on her and disappeared into his suite.
Chapter Seventeen
“Come on,” Jürgen said, cocking his head toward the elevator.
Skye crossed her arms across her chest. “I don’t think so.”
“Skye. You heard His Highness. I’m to see you home.”
“You can’t … make me leave.”
His brows rose. The man was seriously good-looking, but also imposing as hell. Skye congratulated herself on not caving.
“I’m staying.”
“Don’t make me use force.”
“You wouldn’t dare.”
He took a step toward her, and she realized that, yeah, he’d totally dare. Whatever the prince wanted, Jürgen would do.
She sucked in a breath and decided to change her approach. “You … love him, too. Do you really want him to … be miserable?”
He crossed his arms over his massive chest and stared her down, as if he was just waiting for her to finish so he could toss her over his shoulder and carry her down to the street.
“You know he wants me there. And … we deserve it. He can’t just … unilaterally stop it.”
“He’s my prince who will soon be my king. I think he can unilaterally do pretty much anything he wants.”
“Including being an ass?”
Jürgen didn’t smile, but his eyes flickered with amusement. Skye considered that a win.
“This thing can’t … go anywhere. We’re not … stupid. But I’m helping him with the constitution. And he’s helping me … with my speech. So we’re going … to be together anyway.”
Jürgen said nothing. Another victory, as far as she was concerned.
“Tell me this—does he really love me? You’re … one of his closest friends. If you tell me he doesn’t, then I’ll go away. But if he loves me, then don’t we deserve to have whatever time we can grab?”
For a moment, Jürgen said nothing, just looked at her with those hooded eyes, his expression unreadable. Then he cleared his throat. He took a step toward her, and Skye held her breath, but managed to hold her ground.
“Do you love him?”
Skye drew in a breath, then managed a watery smile. “Is that really a question you have to ask?”
She watched as the decision played out over Jürgen’s face. Then he reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a key card. “If I get fired, I expect a job working security at your firm.”
“You got it,” she said, her knees weak with relief.
“And Skye…”
She was already at the door. Now, she looked back over her shoulder.
“You’re good for him.”
“He’s good for me. Wish me luck?”
He tilted his head, and she turned back toward the penthouse. She drew a breath, inserted the card, then quietly stepped inside. There was no sign of Leo in the living area. She paused, her head tilting as she picked up the muffled sound of running water.
The shower.
Right. Well, that was a forward approach, wasn’t it? Then again, he wouldn’t kick her out if she was naked. Would he?
She stripped off her clothes, tossing them on the ground on the far side of the sofa, just to make it more difficult for him to get rid of her.
Then she took a deep breath, stepped through the open door into the bedroom, and walked the short distance to the bathroom. The door was closed, but not locked. Why would it be? He was alone, after all.