Player's Princess (A Royal Sports Romance)(41)

"How exactly am I supposed to work that into a conversation, Ana? 'Wow, check out these pictures of your feet'?"

"Why my feet?"

"I don't know. I don't get the foot thing either."

"How did they get so many?" I gasp, scrolling through the site. "I am never taking my shoes off again."

"It's four in the morning," Konstantin yawns. "You know I love you, dear sister, but I have important carousing to attend to in the morning."

I sigh and close the chat window I opened with Dee.

My lip starts to tremble, and Konstantin's expression changes. He's one of the few people in the world who's seen me cry. I can't even cry to my own mother.

"Ana? What's wrong?"

I shake my head. "I can't, don't you understand? How can I fall for him if I can't keep him? Sooner or later I have to come home, and then Mother will make me marry Mortimer."

Konstantin stiffens. "I'll challenge him to a duel."

"Oh please."

"I'd win."

"No, you wouldn't. You'd fight to first blood and he'd make sure he cut your face. It's what he does. I can't bear that."

"You can't bear marrying that walrus poker, either."

"You don't understand."

"I know, I know, I can sleep with anyone I want, meanwhile Mother would put you in a chastity belt if she could."

"Don't give her any ideas."

Konstantin laughs.

I wave his mirth away. "He wants me to go out with him for one week."

"An entire week?"

"What? No, he means every night, I think. Date him. Like normal people do."

"Do you want to?"

"Yes," I say softly. I shift in my seat. "I told you before. I see all the other people happy with their paramours, and I just… I want that. With him. I think he may really care for me. And I want to have sex with him."

Konstantin jams his fingers in his ears. "Gah! Spare me the details."

I stick my tongue out at him. "Why? You never spare me yours. You never sleep with a girl without telling me her cup size and whether she likes to be on top or on bottom."

"You're the chronicler of my deeds, fair sister. Just don't return the favor."

"Jason has a huge cock."

Konstantin yelps. "Enough! Please. I can't think of my sister doing that."

I snicker, and it begins to grow into a laugh, but fades away slowly.

"I don't know what to do, Konstantin. I want this, but I'm afraid. What if I fall for him?"

"Then you fall for him. So what?"

"I told you, I can't—"

"What good is being queen if you can't do as you like? Marry some other man if Mother makes you, pop out an heir, and keep this Jason on the side."

"Is that what you'd do?"

He shrugs. "Maybe. Fortunately, I'm the spare, not the heir. Mother insists I stay unmarried, and tells me to pull out. Frequently."

"Eww."

"I know, right?" He shudders. "She went into detail on how I should handle it."

"Oh God. Stop."

He sighs. "I really must rest, Ana. Do what your heart desires. I have your back. Also tell this Jason if he hurts you, I'll feed his heart to an eel."

I laugh, sadly. "Go get your sleep, brother."

He waves and signs off.

I rest my chin on my hand and stare at nothing, hoping for an answer. What do I do?



Jason



When I get back to the house, the Thunder Brothers are already there and have started on the meal they affectionately refer to as Elevenses. There's enough meat on the counter to feed ten people, and that's besides all the peanut-butter-infused oatmeal. I find their eating habits frightening and confusing.

I stick to protein powder and milk. A lot of it. I don't think I could keep pork chops down now.

"You're not eating, cousin," Aheahe notes.

"No. I don't think I'll eat for a week. I just got mauled by a cougar."

"What?" Akele says. "Dude, you're acting funny. What happened?"

"I went to see Ana last night."

"How did it go?"

"I don't know yet. We find out on Saturday."

"So what's the deal with this cougar thing?" Aheahe says. "You don't look mauled. I mean, you're not scratched up."

Akele sighs, a deep rumble like a mountain farting. "You mean Grandolf."

"Yeah. She shows up at the gym this morning dressed like she's on the set of Gym MILFs VI."

"I found Gym MILFs V far superior," Aheahe interrupts.

I glare at him. "Anyway, she shows up half-naked and follows me around the whole time. She wanted to spot me on the bench."

"I'd like to spot her bench," Aheahe says.

"Seriously?" Akele grunts. "That's the best you can do?"

"Look, man, I'm hungry. Ham first, innuendo later."

"Whatever," I shout. "She followed me into the goddamn locker room."

"Are you serious?" Aheahe says.