Page 68 of Scarred Crown

Jules secured us a suite upstairs in this hotel—The Pearl Hut—the newest and most exclusive on the strip. There’s no way I was letting jetlag get the best of us right away. Instead of going to our room, we went straight to the casino since it was midday.

We know our starting time, but otherwise, we’ve agreed not to check our phones or look at a clock. We’re going dark. No one else but us for twenty-four hours.

We’re an easy assignment for the four burly security agents who met us outside of customs and baggage claim along with two black SUVs.

I have no plans to go anywhere.

Casino. Hotel room.

Gamble. Live in the moment with Jules. Try not to get busted on social media. A simple plan, but I’ve had simpler ones topple sideways.

We’ve already had a few women from my previous trips to Vegas stop by to say hello and run their hands along my body. Normally their presence is welcome, but I’m politely peeling them off and introducing them to Jules. Every single one of them has mentioned the story Robbie wrote, and Julia’s cheeks flame with embarrassment. Guess his article got wider circulation than I expected.

Ah well. If the stuffed cat’s out of the bag, might as well turn it into a real one.

Hot royal office affair it is. The secretary and the prince.

The near-death experience seems to have turned the tide of Julia’s feelings in my favor, but I can’t be certain they’ll last beyond our no boundaries deal.

Alex isn’t here, but he’ll be everywhere once we get home, especially if our father is ceding power to him. As soon as my brother enters my thoughts, I shove him out again. He’s not here, and I’m not letting him ruin today. Whatever happened between him and Jules was a long time ago. It’s a bit easier to let those old memories go when she’s beside me.

Jules lays down her cards on the table and collects all the chips with a smirk. Her gaze drifts over my shoulder, and her pleased expression falters. Another woman must be zeroing in on me from behind. If we were at war, Jules would be an excellent scout for trouble.

We’ve got to get out of here, or I’ll be in danger of ruining the day before it’s even properly started. I stand up and take Julia’s hand, dragging her against my side.

“Cash out and head upstairs?” I murmur into her hair.

“Already?” She glances up at me. “This doesn’t seem like the famous Nick exploits of previous Vegas trips. I read about those on social media. I should get the full experience.”

Is she teasing me or taking a swipe at the poor choices I’ve made in the past? “Ah,” I say, and my lips tip up into an almost smile. “It’s still early, Jensen. My best plans usually come after a bottle of tequila.”

We cash out and make our way up to our room, but our progress is slow. We drag each other into corners or up against walls, our mouths breaking just long enough to catch our next breath. I have to say having Jules enjoy public make out sessions is a pleasant surprise. She was never one to flaunt her relationships, for which I was grateful. My mental health would have taken even more of a beating over the years if I’d had to watch her maul various other men. Once was enough.

By the time we get to our suite, I’m feeling bad for our bodyguards who’ve had to put up with our inability to keep our hands to ourselves.

Who am I kidding?

I don’t feel bad at all.

Blindly, I wave the keycard over the box beside the door and listen for the unlock. I wrap an arm around Jules and lift her over the threshold of the door. She giggles in my ear, and it’s a noise I haven’t heard from her in years. Warmth floods my body at how happy she sounds.

She’s not the only one.

The door clicks behind us, and I set her feet on the carpeted floor with the two-bedroom suite spread out behind her. Although I’m hoping we don’t need two separate bedrooms at any point in the next twenty-four hours, I didn’t say a word when Jules booked this.

“What’s the plan?” she asks, breathless.

If it was up to me? My plan would involve worshipping her body in as many ways as possible before our phones go off. But she said last night she’s not ready for that, and I won’t be the guy who turns a not yet into a never.

“Room service. You hungry?” I kiss her temple and step around her to grab the hotel menu from the desk.

“We haven’t eaten since New York. What have they got?” She wraps herself around my arm and peers at the menu beside me.

A comfortable silence settles between us as we read through the choices, but I’m hyperaware of her body pressed to mine. This whole day is turning into a dreamlike experience. I’ve wanted this—her—for so long. The reality is already better than anything I ever imagined.

When she gazes up at me, I drop a quick kiss on her lips. She rises on her toes, and her hand slides around my neck, drawing me into a deeper kiss. The menu falls to the floor with a thud, and I lift her onto the desk to step between her legs. Food can wait. I’ll gladly starve and waste away to nothing if I can feast on her instead.

There’s a knock on the door just as her hands slide up underneath my shirt.