The Controversial Princess (The Smoke & Mirrors Duology #1)(72)
Shifting a little, Josh manages to move me back so the apex of my thighs is at the very top of his chest, meaning he has a perfect view of my pulsing flesh. He stares down, smiling, running his palms up and down my hips as he admires my quaking core. “Sweet Jesus.”
I manage a small laugh through my exhaustion, loving the enhanced southern twang that shows through his lusty accent with those two words. “My American boy sounds sated.”
Maneuvering my useless body until I’m lying down, he tucks me into his side. An affectionate kiss is placed in my hair, and I relax into his body, feeling serene and happy. So, so happy. And suddenly so tired. My eyes are instantly heavy, yet a small part of my brain keeps thinking that I should be repaying the favor. But he’s content because I’m sated. I’ve never known such a selfless lover.
“It’s the premiere of The Underground tomorrow night,” Josh says quietly. “I’d love you to come.”
I laugh as hard as my exhausted body will allow. “Good God, it would be a frenzy.”
“I know,” he says, relenting easily. “But the thought is nice, huh?”
“Yeah,” I sigh, too tired to let dejection edge its way into my tranquil state. “Really nice.” My eyes give up on me and close, and I drift off in his arms, hoping my dreams will take me to the premiere of his movie and let me relish being on his arm for all to see.
“RISE AND SHINE, SLEEPING BEAUTY.”
My blinks come rapidly as the words wrestle their way into my mind, my body stretching out, my skin rubbing against the smooth, silky sheets. The blurry vision of someone sitting on the edge of the bed leaning over me slowly becomes clear.
Josh.
I inhale on a smile rolling from my back to face him. “Good morning,” I sigh. He’s wrapped in a towel, his hair wet, his chest so close it’s dizzying.
“Isn’t it just.” His smile is bright enough to knock me unconscious again. “You looked so peaceful. I couldn’t bring myself to wake you.”
Where I am, who I’m with, and the memory of me dozing off in Josh’s arms all hit me at once. I quickly sit up, panic superseding my tranquility. “Damon!”
“Hey, cool it.”
“Oh God, the poor man will be walking dead this morning.”
“He wouldn’t leave and he wouldn’t wake you up, either. I carried you to bed and you didn’t even stir.” He grins. “But you clung onto me tightly.”
I roll my eyes, falling back to the pillow as I hide my own grin. “He’s a stubborn old sod.”
“No, he’s protective of you.” Josh tilts his head, raising a serious brow. “As he should be. You’re lucky to have him.”
I frown. “I don’t need you to tell me that.” Damon is a blessing in my suppressed life. I’m grateful for him every day, but Josh’s light scorn is making me wonder if Damon knows how much I appreciate him. I don’t know, so I make it a point to tell him just as soon as I find him. “I need to go before Kellington Palace files a missing person’s report.” I scan the floor as I shuffle down the bed. “Where’s my dress?”
“Hanging in the closet.” Josh gets up and wanders to the wardrobe, pulling my dress out. “Can’t have a princess walking the walk of shame in a creased dress, can we?”
I narrow my eyes on his grinning face, taking my naked body over to him and swiping my dress from his hand. “Why do I sense that you’re thrilled at the thought of me walking the walk of shame?”
“Because you’re walking the walk of shame from my hotel room. That’s why.” Casually and lazily, he pulls the towel from his hips and pouts. “Or you don’t have to walk anywhere.”
My hungry gaze plummets down his chest and meets his groin, and I fall into an admiring daydream, mentally mustering a plan to keep me here. I run through a few plausible explanations for being missing in action so I can hide here all day with Josh and let him maintain this wonderful state of serenity, but before I can voice any of my ideas, the door to the bedroom bursts open.
I startle and swing around, forgetting that I’m naked, therefore giving our unannounced visitor a full-frontal. I stare into a pair of stunned eyes, the eyes of a girl with a pile of clean sheets in her hand. Her stare jumps from me to Josh, back and forth, her forehead gradually furrowing in confusion. Oh, bloody hell. I can see the penny slowly dropping, the girl from housekeeping slowly grasping what she is faced with. Or who she is faced with. I quickly come to my senses and hold my dress against my front, and then grab Josh’s towel when he shows no signs of trying to cover himself, shoving it in his chest.
And then an excited scream rings out and the girl descends quickly into a meltdown. “Oh my God!” The sheets drop from her hands and she covers her mouth. I close my eyes in despair. I can’t blame her for her reaction. The woman is faced with two of the most famous people in the world. Her star-struck state won’t allow her to wonder why we are both here in the same hotel room together, but I have no doubt it soon will. This is awful. How did she get in here?
As I think that, Josh’s security fall through the door, and Josh must suddenly comprehend the potential problem we’re faced with because he springs to life.
Flicking his head to one of his men, he makes quick work of refastening his towel around his hips.