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Jin admired his sleek and deadly beauty while trying to get his brain working.
Beauty!
He was supposed to be reassuring West, not receiving a blowjob!
“West? You know I don’t care about how you look on the outside, right? That I’m not trying to change who you are.” Jin tucked his belt in the loops and moved across the room to stand beside this amazing man as he gazed into the mirror.
The corner of West’s mouth quirked into a grin as their eyes met. “You can’t help it, can you? You’re adorable. Your first thought is always for other people.”
Jin huffed at him, ignoring the way the tips of his ear felt hotter. “I’m serious. I don’t want to change you in the slightest.”
West turned and pressed a quick kiss to his lips, silencing his next words. “I know. We kissed and nearly fucked before you got me looking respectable.” He stepped back and waved a hand down himself. “All of this is to make sure I don’t embarrass you. So people will believe I’m worthy of pretend-dating the crown prince of Gaoxing while I keep him safe from assassins…and himself.”
That’s right. This is all pretend-dating.
They weren’t dating. West had plans to leave him after all the danger had passed.
But he had a plan to keep West forever.
Or rather, he needed to come up with a brilliant plan to win West’s heart. He was happy to use his body to sway the sexy man, but he was going to need more than that. And it sounded as if Ming Tao was willing to help. Father had done well to train him how to run a country, but his education was lacking when it came to winning the heart of a sexy man.
13
WESTIN ST. JAMES
They did not get to have sex that night.
Not that West was complaining.
A lot…
This was what he got for trying to make the crown prince of Gaoxing his sexual partner. The man didn’t have much of a life of his own.
The visit to the hospital had not gone well. Even though he waited outside the private room with the guards, he’d been able to hear the low, forceful arguing going on between the emperor and princes. West caught only snippets, but it sounded as if his sons’ predictions had been accurate. The emperor didn’t want to claim a heart that could go to someone younger than himself, regardless of what good he could still do for his people.
West barely kept from rolling his eyes. This was where Jin had inherited his self-sacrificing mentality.
Around lunch, the princes left to allow the emperor to rest. They held themselves stiffly, giving few outward signs the visit had disturbed them, but West had spent enough time with Jin to see the sadness haunting his eyes. Only when they were in the car with Qin and Ming Tao did West dare to wrap a supportive arm across his shoulders. Qin frowned and Ming Tao gave a small, approving smile.
The ride to the palace resulted in a surprise flat tire West didn’t trust. He ordered the driver to not stop but take them directly back to the palace. The car had run-flat tires. Even if it didn’t, he was not risking them stopping anywhere right now. No, the only places that were safe for both princes were the palace and the hospital, where guards stood around the clock guarding the emperor.
“West?” Jin inquired as they pulled through the palace gates.
He forced a smile. “Just a precaution. Call me paranoid, but with both princes in the car right now, we make no stops until we’re safely inside.”
From there, they managed a quiet lunch before news reached Jin that a violent storm was ravaging the south of Gaoxing for a second day. Horrible flooding was hitting the area. The crown prince was locked in his office for the rest of the day and well into the night with a variety of ministers and officials as they rallied special response units to help those struggling with the storm and flooding.
That night, West practically carried an exhausted Jin back to his chambers. He helped him undress and take his hair down. Jin fell asleep, humming to himself as West massaged his scalp. Part of him wished he could do more, but at that moment, he couldn’t deny that he was happy he was the one who got to hold Jin as he drifted off. He was the one who provided him with some small comfort at the end of an exhausting day.
The only problem was that he was going to run out of excuses to linger in Gaoxing. The contract was closed. Assassins had no reason to come after the crown prince any longer. Which meant Jin had no need for him.
Fuck, that was wrong.
Jin needed West to make him smile, to have someone he could lean on, to confide in and not keep that fake mask in place, so his people didn’t worry.
