The cab driver weaves in and out of traffic at a terrifying clip, jerking me around in the backseat. Finally pulling up to my hotel, he waits for me to pay the fare, then takes off as soon as I’m out of the door. I shake my head. It’s amazing how, except for the palace, this place is almost just like Manhattan.
Making my way inside the sliding glass doors of the hotel, the ornate lobby takes my breath away, the glittering chandeliers and marble floors making me smile. At least I’ll be in luxury.
At the check-in desk, I ask for a room with a balcony overlooking the city and ask questions about St. Albans while I wait for the woman to finish checking me in.
“First time here?” she asks.
“Yes. What are some of the places I just have to see?”
Her fingers click away furiously at the keyboard. “The palace, definitely. I’d also recommend taking a ferry down the river. The view of St. Albans is great from the water.”
“What about the royal family?” I ask, trying to sound casual. “Are they around?”
She looks at me strangely. “Well, they live in the palace, naturally. They make public appearances occasionally. Why? Are you interested in the prince?” Her eyes narrow suspiciously, like it’s her job to protect Derek from crazy stalkers.
I want to roll my eyes and tell her I’m not just interested in the prince, I’m his fucking soul mate, and his cock was buried so deep in my pussy last weekend that I simply know it’s true, but I keep that to myself. Something tells me it won’t go over well.
Instead, I say, “I’m just unfamiliar with royal customs. I don’t really know anything about St. Albans.”
She nods, handing me my key card. “Well, St. Albans is one of the oldest island nations in the world, and has been under the same monarchy for fifteen hundred years. All the same bloodline.” She says this very proudly. “We are independent, but one of the richest countries in the world, thanks to our wonderful king.”
I make a humming noise. “You said something about a prince, though.”
“Yes. The Crown Prince Derek is next in line for the throne. If he’ll ever settle down and marry.” She smiles and blinks. “You’re in room eighteen-eighty-four. Is there anything else I can do for you?”
I shake my head and turn away, heading for the elevators, thinking about what she just said the entire way up to my room. So, Derek has to get married before he can take the throne. It’s hard to reconcile the man I was with at the club with my idea of a ruler of this little nation.
A laugh bubbles up. But I can definitely see why he hasn’t settled down and married yet. The man just screams wild and untamed party boy. Naughty and bad and oh-so-dirty. I feel a shiver race through my body remembering just how naughty and dirty Derek is.
Inserting my key card in the door, I go in and look around the opulent room. So maybe I went a bit overboard, but a girl’s entitl
ed to a little luxury, right? I cross to the double doors leading to the balcony and go outside, leaning on the railing and looking out over the kingdom of St. Albans.
Derek is out there somewhere. My soul mate. I just know he is.
Is he thinking of me? Is he sad? Does he miss me as much as I miss him?
The sun is starting to set, and the sky is alight with a rainbow of colors. A perfect backdrop for finding true love. Turning to go back in, I start formulating my game plan.
It’s time to go find my prince.
17
Derek
My private jet lands in St. Albans, and I’m about to come unglued, the urgency of finding Ella at the forefront of my mind.
I can’t believe she came all this way to look for me. That must mean that everything I feel for her, she feels too. She’s just as desperate to find me. It’s one more thing that cements it for me. We’re meant to be. It’s like fate or something. I stick my hand in my pocket, fingering her thong. It’s become a habit that makes me feel close to her.
Striding toward my waiting limo, I know I have to find her as soon as possible. But how am I supposed to do that? There has to be a way.
As soon as I slide onto the soft leather seat, I find my personal secretary, Travers, waiting for me.
He looks down at me through his bifocals. “Your Highness, I must say I was surprised to find out you were coming home. I was under the impression that you were trying to escape your royal duties.”
I laugh and clap him on the knee. “Good to see you too, Travers. You’ve got it all wrong, my man. It wasn’t the duty that bothered me, it was the stipulation.”
“Meaning marriage.”