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"Then why me?" I whispered. Despite it all, that was my biggest question. Leo had no idea who or what I was. He'd just met the woman me, not the Marquis' daughter me.
And I didn't get it. We'd only been together for an hour at most. How could he have decided I was right for a Crown Prince in that time?
Maybe I'd read the situation all wrong. Maybe he didn't want me at all.
"Can you imagine what it's like to be royalty?" He sat down on one of the many plush sofas in the room.
I thought about joining him but decided against it. I didn't want to seem presumptuous given the situation. After all, he was a Prince and I was a nothing.
"No," I admitted.
"There's so much pressure everywhere. The things you enjoy aren't always things you can do without someone looking down on you. I'm lucky music is seen as a decent royal past time. But some of my brothers..."
"How many do you have?" I asked, startled.
"Three, including Albert. The other two are...not so well behaved."
I smiled weakly. From what I'd seen, he wasn't such a role model either. Not if he was going to weddings and having sex with strangers. I couldn't speak for Albert though, I hadn't seen much of him.
"What does this have to do with me?" I asked, inwardly cursing how self-centred I was being.
"You're something I want, Sadie. For the first time in my life, I didn't care what someone would say if they deemed you unsuitable. For the first time, I didn't care that I was the Crown Prince, I'd have given it all up if it meant being able to spend time with you."
"Give it up?" I gasped, not quite knowing how to take that. I'd always seen royalty as a position someone was born to and had a responsibility to fulfil. The idea of him abdicating for me wasn't sitting easily within me and not because it would change my future.
"I won't have to. I don't imagine anyone would have a problem with you even if you weren't gentry. You know people love a good rags to riches story."
"So everyone keeps saying," I muttered, thinking back to Enrique's similar observation.
"That's not what I meant," he protested.
"I know it isn't. But I still don't understand why me."
He rose to his feet and closed the small distance between us in seconds. I was almost too dazed to fully register it when he lowered his head to mine and kissed me. Hard and demanding much like the kisses we'd shared in the height of passion except that there was something more there.
We broke apart and I touched my finger to my lips, trying to calm the tingling sensation there. Words raced around my head, but I had no place to start so stayed silent. It was probably the better option
"I want to be with you, Sadie." His voice came out low and husky as if he'd been truly affected by our kiss.
"You hardly know me," I pointed out.
"I believe that's what dating is for."
"I can't just date a Prince."
"Why not?" He looked genuinely puzzled and I wondered if it was because no one had ever told him no or that he didn't understand how I could be telling him no.
"My education, we live in two different countries, we..." I trailed off as a smug grin crossed his face. "What?" I asked, somewhat bemused.
"None of your reasons actually have anything to do with me being a Prince."
"I..." Huh. He was right. None of them were. "I can't say I'm a fan of being followed around by the press."
"They're not allowed into a lot of places, they won't bother you."
"I don't speak Dutch."
"Do you speak French?"
"A little."
"Then you're fine. I can teach you Dutch in time."
"Time?" I squeaked.
"Yes. You didn't think dating me was going to be a short-term thing, did you?"
"Well, no, just..."
"Just?"
"Nothing," I answered truthfully. I genuinely had no other protest. My education was important, but I knew I could make it work still. There really wasn't any reason not to date him.
"You will?" His eyes lit up like a boy at Christmas.
"Yes, I'll date you."
He didn't say another word. Instead, he drew me back into his arms and pressed his lips against mine. Taking them far more tenderly than before. It was a good thing I didn't need to guard my heart around him too much. Something told me I was going to fall for him fast.
