Page 40 of The Princess and the SEAL

Chapter 16

Ryan

WE HAD A ROMANTIC DINNER, but my mind was elsewhere. What was wrong with me? Giselle asked me to blow me, hell, to take her virginity—and I had turned her down.

Why? I loved sex; it was my favorite vice. I’d slept with women and not even thought about them twice. Why was I stressing about this one chick?

Why had I said no? I was losing my game.

But I did know. I’d even told her. Feelings. I was having feelings for her. I never had feelings; I had shut that part of my heart off years ago.

Ever since my mom left me, I’ve been hesitant to trust people. The few times I briefly let anyone in other than my Teammates, I’d been destroyed. Never again.

The next day we woke early and had a long day of sightseeing. Giselle covered her hair with a scarf to evade being seen. She took me to the Louvre, where we saw the Mona Lisa. My mind was utterly blown that I was actually going to museums in Paris with a princess. I would’ve never in my wildest imagination thought that this would be my life right now.

After another romantic dinner where we dined on coq au vin and sipped a magnificent merlot, Giselle and I strolled on the Seine River.

The view of the Eiffel Tower after sunset was spectacular.

I cupped her face and kissed her under the moonlight. “I’m crazy about you.”

I was for once in my life truly happy.

Even if we only had one night left together.

Was this what my buddies talked about when they wouldn’t shut up about their wives? And if I was really falling for her, why did she have to be taken?

I held her hand as we walked down the gaslight illuminated street. We approached a corner, and Giselle stopped cold.

I looked up and saw a dimly lit man with his arms around two women wearing tight dresses and fuck-me heels.

“What’s wrong, babe?”

“That’s . . . that’s Miguel.”

Oh, hell no.

Miguel whispered something to the women. They nodded in unison and stepped away from him.

Giselle stepped forward and shed my arm.

Got it. I was the help.

“Giselle, darling.” He walked over to her and kissed her on the cheek.

Rage seethed inside of me. His designer purple suit and shiny black shoes clung to his scrawny body. I wanted to throw him into the river.

“Ladies, this is my fiancée, Princess Giselle. Giselle, these are my ‘friends.’”

The brunette bounced over to Giselle. “Oh, hi! We’ve heard so much about you. I love Santa Cariña. Miguel said he’ll be running the casinos. I can’t wait to come visit. I’ve never been friends with a Princess before.”

What a mind fuck. What planet did these people live on? I felt like I was on some fucked-up version of the royal bachelor. I’d rather be fighting ISIS.

“Hello, Miguel. This is Ryan. He’s my . . . bodyguard.”

Knife. Heart.

But that was all I was. Her hired help. I knew my role: be her bodyguard, protect her, take her to dinner, make her come.