Page 9 of The Princess and the SEAL

She threw up her hands in disgust. “Because I’m a lady. I’m sure you are aware there is a double standard about what is acceptable for men and women in the public eye, especially royalty. But it’s not even about that or him. He’s not the reason I can’t stay with you.”

I would never, ever understand women. I shouldn’t even bother trying. “Then what’s the reason?”

She cast a downward glance, and her voice lowered to a whisper. “You will laugh at me.”

I took her hand. “I promise I won’t laugh. Just tell me.”

“Fine.” She let out an audible exhale. “I’ve never stayed overnight with any man.” She shrugged her shoulders and looked down. “Or even been alone with one. I usually have a chaperone, but I didn’t let her come with me on this trip.”

Laughing wasn’t even an option as my jaw dropped in full shock and disbelief.

Was she for real? Had never been alone with a man?

“How old are you?”

“Twenty-two. And a half. You?”

“Twenty-seven.” I lifted her chin to stare into her eyes. She didn’t look away. “Babe, are you telling me you’re a virgin?”

Her cheeks flushed. “Not that it’s any of your business at all, but yes, I am. It is what is expected of me. Actually, I think it’s quite romantic, saving myself for marriage. It will make my wedding night special. I’ve only ever wanted to sleep with one man—my husband. Give myself completely to him and him alone. Forever.”

What the—?

My stone-cold heart skipped a beat.

A virgin? A princess? A virgin princess? Had I won the lottery? Was this really happening to me?

How was this even possible? I’d never met any woman in her twenties who was still a virgin.

But Giselle was royalty. Standard rules didn’t apply.

Maybe I was on some type of hidden camera show. Or maybe this was some sort of cruel joke my buddies had set up to prank me. Tonight was too good to be true.

But I knew there were no cameras around; I had already scanned my surroundings. And my buddies were way too wrapped up enjoying their own lives to pull off something like this, especially in a foreign country with a real-life princess.

Maybe this was just my lucky day.

And this night was getting better and better.

Virgins usually held no appeal for me. I’d always been drawn to sexually confident and free women—women whom I could fuck and forget. The responsibility of taking a girl’s virginity would weigh too heavily on my conscience. At least that was what I’d always assumed up until now.

But I’d never been with a virgin, and the more I thought about it, the more I liked the idea. An innocent girl whom I could teach. A girl whom I knew had only been touched by me was surprisingly attractive.

My cock became rock hard in anticipation.

I would be her first lover. She would remember me forever.

What would it be like to be the first man to suck on her nipples? Be the first man to lick her pussy, fuck her, make her come for me and only me?

I’m going to find out.

Time to lay out my cards. There was no holding back; I was all in.

“Sweetheart, I’m not going to touch you unless you want me to; I’m not that kind of guy. I won’t take advantage of you.”

And I meant it. If she didn’t want me, I’d back the hell off.

If.