Scarlett Jane

My hands moved up her back, while my mind chastised me. She's different. I pulled the pencil out of her hair and tore her bun apart with my fingers. The way she moves me is unlike anything I could ever be worthy of. Piling her hair onto one of her shoulders, I kissed the other, pressing my lips down on her bra strap. She matters. She let out a little moan, her eyes now closed as she leaned back against me. She deserves better than Luca. Better than me. "I'm going to take this back once we get out of here. Together," I said, attempting to soothe her as I pulled away. Then I bent down, picked up her blouse, and redressed her. She watched me without a word, allowing me to manipulate her body like this wasn't the most intimate moment we'd ever shared. My mind was a mess. With every button I did up for her, I was thinking about all the other places I hadn't kissed her yet. Still, I stayed on task. She's different. She matters. I can't hurt her. I can't have her. When I was done, she turned around and looked into my eyes like she was seeing right through me. It felt uncomfortable. I hated it. She was just half naked in front of me and yet somehow I was the one feeling vulnerable. These emotions were all foreign to me. As though understanding the hell I was in, she backed away. "Okay," was all she said, picking up Kenny's jacket and pulling it over my shoulders. "Let's go and get Willow."

Jesse was speeding to the gates of one of the biggest estates in Caines. He was sweating profusely, as though we were running from the mob. "Your Highness?" I spat the words out as though they were an insult, glaring at the prince. "Please, it's Aaron to you. I should think we might be on a first name basis. We are engaged, you know, Zo." Again, he winked at me in a way that was starting to annoy me. "I am not your fiancée. I will not be bullied into marrying... Well, you." "Okay," he shrugged. "Unlock the doors, Jesse." I watched Jesse roll his eyes in the rearview mirror. "Yes, Your Highness." "Okay? Just like that?" I breathed out heavily. Even him agreeing with me was annoying. "Zoey, my love, I have no need to bully any woman into doing anything. They just naturally fall for my charms," the prince said calmly. We were perhaps two minutes away from leaving the estate, with dozens of armed men on our heels when Bart stepped out in front of the gates. "Oh, boy. Well, that complicates matters," said Jesse, looking for all the world like he might beg the prince to let him stop, if he thought the prince would actually let him. "Bart," I said the name under my breath, not knowing whether I would be relieved to have him intercept us or if I would rather take my chances with the daring prince. "Your Highness, please," Jesse pleaded, so nervous that he stepped on the gas instead of slowing down. "Is he going to pull over?" I tapped Jesse's shoulder, myself now getting nervous. "Why aren't you pulling over?" We were rapidly closing in on Bart, but he made no effort to move, gave no indication that he would as he stood tall with his arms folded and his eyes ever calm. Too calm. "You are just too cute." The prince chuckled. "What?" I said, breathless. "Would you like Jesse to stop?" Prince Aaron asked, watching me squirm and delighting in it. "What, what do you mean? Of course he should stop," I said, looking at Aaron like he was a madman. Prince Aaron inched closer, until very little separated his lips from mine. My crazed eyes became subdued, hypnotised as my heart rate climbed. "Are you sure?" he breathed onto my lips, the words soft and velvety. He ran a finger along my burning cheek, his eyes on my lips as he watched them part. "If you're found like this with me, there'll be no discussion about it. You'll definitely be stuck with me. Are you really, really sure, princess?"

The Girl Who Loved Two Princes (Book 1) "Marry me." The words came out, and I wished them unsaid the next moment. Her large, vulnerable hazel eyes grew even bigger. "I'm sorry. What did you just say?" Still the words came, as though without permission. "Marry me tonight," I said, "and I will protect you." *** When his brother Aaron kisses his fiancée, James starts down a path of vengeance. The ploy? Steal Aaron's crown out from under him. The means? Marrying Aaron's fiancée, Zoey. Will Zoey say yes to her unexpected suitor or marry her intended despite his betrayal? The Her Before You (Book 2) Fresh off the battlefield, Aria Maine is a new queen in need of a king consort to claim her throne. Unfortunately, all three of her suitors come with their own.. complications. Lord Bartholomew Arden is her late brother's best friend… he is engaged. Prince Aaron Condor is the bad boy Aria fell for long ago… he doesn't remember her. Prince Troy Pierce is prince charming, her ally in war... He is also the brother of the man who had her entire family killed. Three suitors. A ticking clock. Every moment she spends away from her home country her life (and crown) is on the line. Torn between her grief, duty to her country and epic love, Aria Maine must make an impossible choice in under three months. Boy oh boy, (oh boy), how does a girl choose? You, Me, Her and Him (Book 3) Looking at her, kneeling for her made him feel completely calm. This woman always wanted to say yes to him. She always had. He had no doubt that she would again. “Hope and peace is being next to you. So Keira, give me hope, give me peace. Be next to me always. Will you marry me, Your Grace?”

Fresh off the battlefield, Aria Maine is a new queen in need of a king consort to claim her throne. Her brother's best friend… who is engaged. "What are you doing Barry?" she whispered, watching his hands drizzle water up and down her arms after he dropped the shirt in the water. "I have absolutely no idea," he said, laying his mouth down on her shoulder, kissing it for the first time. The bad boy prince she fell for long ago… who doesn't remember her. "Hey *ssh*l*! I didn't screw your sister's fiance okay? Nothing happened. Can I go home now?" "Shut up!" he growled, biting her lip. "Just shut up," he ordered, leaning into her, pressing his body up against hers before shoving his tongue down her throat. Prince charming, her ally in war… who is in love with another woman. "My heart won't survive you, Aria Maine. Is there anyone that's not in love with you?" Three suitors. A ticking clock. Every moment she spends away from her home country her life (and crown) is on the line. All complicated by matters of the heart. Boy oh boy, (oh boy) how does a girl choose?

"Stupid idiot," I cursed. Midway through my rampage, my ears eventually detected the persistent knocks on the window. "Open the door, Will," Bianca screamed, now banging on the passenger door's window. She was attracting attention, like she did everywhere she went. Had she been wearing the glasses this whole time? Tiny shorts that could have doubled for panties. "Open the door!" she insisted, her face turning red. "Go away Bianca!" I yelled back, my fingers itching to unlock the door for her. "You don't get to just dump all that stuff at my feet without listening to me, Will Hunter." Afraid that she would break my window and hurt herself (as well as getting angry at the men behind her staring up her shorts), I gave up and unlocked the door. She slid right into the seat, slammed the door behind her as she faced me, then slapped me. "What the hell? Is this what you ran out here half naked for?" I stuck my face into hers until we were nose to nose. "No! I came to spill my guts! And no, it won't fix me keeping things from you, and you definitely should hate me, but I'll be damned if I let you leave without me telling you—" she stopped mid rant, her chest heaving, sweat along her hairline. Nervous. Worried. Petrified. There was fear in her eyes as she fought to steady her breathing. "I'm not going to sue you, if that's what—" "Shut up! Just let me say it!" she yelled, before her lips collided with mine. One last deep breath when she pulled back slightly, looked me straight in the eye and said, "You're so obviously my person in the crowd." *** She has a secret. He doesn't care. All that interests him is bedding the woman he can't quite figure out. Supermodel Britney O'Prey isn't interested in the legend of Cupid's Cove. Visitors of the island swear that no guest leaves untouched by Cupid's arrow. But all Britney wants is to be left alone. Her aloofness attracts billionaire Will Hunter's attention, to the point that he can think of nothing but bedding her. But what happens when once isn't enough? What if he's not so content to let her keep her secrets after all? Every year, billionaire playboy Will Hunter personally selects one hundred rich and famous people to be guests on his private island. Unfortunately for Britney, she immediately attracts every man on the island's attention and Will is no exception. No one is more taken with her than the owner of Cupid's Cove himself. When he lays eyes on her, it's lust at first sight. Every time they meet thereafter, Will finds himself obsessively thinking of taking her to bed. Little does he know that Britney O'Prey comes with a whole lot of baggage.

“What’s up, little man?” “Can’t do it. She’s too pretty.” Aaron grinned. They certainly shared that sentiment. “Want me to give them to her instead?” James shook his head no again and took the last few steps towards Keira. “For you, My Lady,” he said, bowing for her before handing her the flowers and turning to make a run for it. Keira scooped him right up before he could, smiled and kissed him on the cheek. “I love them,” she said, her eyes going to Aaron before returning to young James’ red face. “Thank you, kind sir.” Keira gave James another kiss on the cheek so that there was now one lipstick mark on either cheek before setting him down and watching him run back to his mother. “Hustler,” she accused, as he got up and planted himself in front of her. “Hey, I tried to trade. He forgot the most important part,” said Aaron, reaching around her neck and pulling the chain he’d put around her neck what seemed like forever ago out from under her collar. “I’ll just do that part for him,” he continued, watching her as he undid the clasp of the chain. They had been up close like this a million times before, so why was it taking so long for him to pull away this time? At last, he did though. The chain in hand, he let the ring slip down the length of it and into his hand. “What are you doing?” she asked, her face coming to life as she screwed it up in surprise. He approached her again and put his lips up to her ear. Keira swallowed. “What you asked me to do. Don't worry, I have a lot of practice. Just make sure you make it look good, okay? The word you’re going to want is ‘Yes'," he whispered. Everything just seemed to be happening on its own. It was like an out of body experience as he watched himself take a knee in front of her and the international press. This wasn’t exactly how he imagined it, was probably not how she imagined it, but somehow he was sure it was now or never. Aaron would never get a chance to ask her for real, so why the bloody hell not? There was a reason, there were many reasons, but he was far too caught up in their yesterday, in her hypnotized dark eyes to remember any of them. Looking at her, kneeling for her made him feel completely calm. This woman always wanted to say yes to him. She always had. He had no doubt that she would again. “Hope and peace is being next to you. So Keira, give me hope, give me peace. Be next to me always. Will you marry me, Your Grace?”