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“Just like that?” She snapped her fingers. “A month ago I couldn’t have lunch with a few friends without you accusing me of betrayal.”
“I had jumped to conclusions,” he admitted. “I thought...”
“That I would retaliate because I was kicked out of your life with little ceremony?”
He felt his mouth twitch with displeasure at her description. Their relationship ended abruptly, but he did not kick her out.
“Something like that,” he admitted. “I’m sorry I considered that was a possibility. I know you’re not that kind of person. You are loyal and sweet. Innocent about the world, really.”
“That’s an unusual choice of words for a mistress.”
He raked his fingers through his hair and exhaled. “Stop calling yourself a mistress.”
She looked at him with surprise. “Why? That was my role in your life. We weren’t a couple. We weren’t partners. We led separate lives during the day and spent the nights together. Only you didn’t stay all night.”
“No, I didn’t.” It had been a test of willpower every night to get out of Lacey’s bed and return to the palace.
“Where is this coming from?” Lacey asked as she planted her hands on her hips. “You don’t have to pretty up the past, Hafiz.”
“I don’t want people to think the worst about you.” He should have considered that before he brought her over to Rudaynah, but all he had cared about was having her near.
“You don’t want them to know that I was a mistress?” She tilted her head as she studied his expression. “Or is it that you don’t want people to know about your role?”
Those words were like a punch in the stomach. Was that the real reason he didn’t want Lacey to wear that label? He was a prince, was held to a higher standard, but he had brought Lacey to his world by any means necessary.
“Because deep down that goes against what you believe in, doesn’t it, Hafiz? You don’t want to be the playboy prince, but you had a kept woman. Instead of making a commitment or having a relationship based on mutual feelings, you made arrangements with a woman so you could have exclusive access to her body.”
“Our relationship was more than just sex,” Hafiz said in a growl. Not that anyone would see it that way.
“The palace may have some questions about that if they see that picture.” Lacey dragged her hands down her face. “What are we going to do about it?”
Hafiz went still. “We? No, you aren’t getting involved with this.”
Lacey rolled her eyes. “We’re in this together, and we’re going to get out of it together.”
He was conflicted. Hafiz had always appreciated it when Lacey was ready to fight alongside him, but he didn’t want to drag her into this battle.
“No one can see your face in the picture,” Hafiz insisted. “You can’t be identified. Let’s keep it that way.”
“It’s only a matter of time,” Lacey said. “Someone at the party is going to remember what I wore and how you dragged me out of the party.”
“It was late, and people had been drinking. No one can be too sure what happened.”
“Anyway,” she continued, “I don’t care if people know it’s me.”
Why didn’t Lacey care about her reputation? A public scandal never died. He hadn’t thought much about his until he destroyed his reputation and took the slow, hard road to repair it. He knew it would be much worse for a woman.
“I care.” Hafiz knew his voice sounded harsh, but he had to get Lacey to understand. “If you get caught up in a scandal with me, it will cling to you for the rest of your life. You will always be known as the woman who slept with the playboy prince.”
Lacey lifted her chin. “I’ve done nothing to be ashamed about.”
“Nothing?” he asked with a tinge of incredulity. “We lost control. We made compromises and excuses even when it went against everything we’ve been taught. Everything we believe in.” He turned away from Lacey. “And even though we swear that we won’t meet again, that we won’t think about what might have been, we break our promises. The moment we see each other, we destroy everything we tried to create.”
