Page 49 of The Prince Who Loved Me

Sebastien had practice shoving his feelings for her aside in order to be what she needed. He pulled on this experience now and gathered her in his arms, her head resting against his chest while he rubbed a hand down her back. “Did something happen with Nick?” he asked, hating saying the man’s name.

Brandi shook her head. “My mom. She…left.”

Sebastien forced down the anger welling inside him. Forall his being a way younger son and his parents’ attitude toward his art, he still knew his family loved him. “I’m sorry,mon ange.”

“I don’t know why I’m reacting this way.” She stepped out of his embrace and used her pinkies to wipe under her eyes. “It’s not like I expected anything different.”

“No, but you wanted it.”

“I did. So much.” She sniffled.

He rubbed his hand up and down her arm.

“Do you know how messed up my views of love are because of her? How messed up I am because of her?”

“Brandi.” Sebastien cupped her face in his hands. It killed him to see her hurt like this. “You’re a wonderful woman. And every day you’re breaking free of your upbringing and working on being the person you want to be. You’re finding the sunshine. Don’t you recognize how amazing that is? How amazing you are?”

Her eyes darted to his lips and she moistened her own with her tongue. In any other women, it was a clear signal she wanted to be kissed, but he’d already kissed her once and with poor results. He didn’t want that second strike.

She sniffed again. “And then there’s you.”

Chapter 11

Oh, crumbs. What the hell was she doing? Even though her heart was still broken over her mother, Sebastien’s touch filled her with warmth and comfort.

“Me?” Sebastien stepped back, acting all surprised. Like he didn’t know this was coming.

“You’re such a jerk.” She sniffed. “What am I supposed to do, Sebastien? I’ve been on a few good dates with a really nice guy. How am I supposed to talk to you about it when I know you can’t stand to hear it?” She wiped her nose with the back of her hand as more tears slid down her cheeks. She couldn’t stop them. “But you’ve always resented hearing it, haven’t you? If you’ve always … felt for me the way you said you did.”

“I will always be your friend, Brandi. You can tell me anything.”

“How can I do that to you? Won’t you hate it?”

“Every fucking minute.” He wrapped his arms around her and planted a kiss on the top of her head. She leaned into his warmth, his heartbeat a steady thump against her ear. “Every time. Every time when I knew you’d change yourself to be what he wanted instead of finding a man who’d love you for who you were. But this guy. This guy sounds different.”

“I’m not good enough for you,” she mumbled into his shirt. “You’re a prince who can trace his lineage back three centuries, if not more. People want to be with you.” And she was a woman wandering aimlessly, whose own mother had no qualms about stealing from her and running away.

“I did nothing except be born at the right time to the right parents. While you’ve been fighting for everything that matters to you.” He brushed her hair back from her face and penetrated her with his dark blue gaze, his eyes filled with emotion anddesire. “You’re exquisite.”

And she burned. The longing that filled her could ignite the orchard if she didn’t do something about it. “Sebastien…”

He didn’t move, though his eyes trailed a path to her lips before darting back up to hers. His fingers in her hair sent pulsating need through her. This time, it was up to her.

She gave in and went for the home run.

She slid her hand around the nape of his neck and pulled him closer while she aimed for his willing lips. His breath warmed her before she sealed their mouths together with enough pressure for him to know exactly how she felt.

A deep noise came from the back of Sebastien’s throat as he wrapped one arm around her waist and pulled her close, and she melted into his solid, hard body.

His really hard body. Oh, wow. This unexpected intimacy sent a thirst through her, followed on its heels by a surge of panic.

Loathe to stop touching him, she broke off the kiss, but stayed in his arms, her hands clutching his shoulders. What the hell was she doing? This was Sebastien. In a life full of stupid decisions and spontaneous plans, kissing him ranked right up there on her list of Why Did She Do That?

And why was she going to do it again?

His eyes scanned her face and she couldn’t help but grin at him. Short as it was, that had been another incredible kiss.

He barely let her inhale before his hand tangled with the hair at the back of her neck, and he held in her place while he kissed her again, sending a throbbing need everywhere her body met his. She gave in to her dream, that she could have a future with this man, her best friend. That he wouldn’t get bored with her like all the others.