They drove through the night, switching to an SUV at one point and ditching the other cars in a parking lot. Alara had never stolen a car before or broken the law in any way, but that’s not what bothered her the most. It was the fact she was stuck in a car with a woman who was obviously one of Nik’s one-night stands, all while Jason’s proclamation Nik slept around kept replaying in her head. She barely spoke as Shawna prattled on and on about the raunchy, impromptu “mating ceremony” she and Jason had while everyone else had been running away from the shooters. Alara’s fist tightened more and more, until her nails dug into her palm.

When Shawna started going on about how Nik couldn’t compare to Jason’s stamina, Alara snapped. “Just shut the hell up!”

Stunned silence fell over the car as everyone looked at her. Her clenched hands shook in her lap, but she set her jaw and didn’t apologize for the outburst.

Shawna was the first to recover. “Hey, where the hell do you get off yelling at me like that? Just because you’re high royalty—”

“Drop it, Shawna,” Nik growled in warning.

She ignored him, scoffing. “How dare you! You’re not my—”

“That’s enough, Shawna!” Jason shouted.

That shut her up. The female Alpha’s mouth flopped open as she blubbered for a response before closing altogether. Alara looked away and inwardly sighed with relief.

No one spoke the rest of the way. Nik didn’t even try to reach out to her telepathically, for which she was grateful. She needed time to digest this new piece of information. She supposed she’d seen him as some sort of dark prince charming. Sure, she had guessed initially upon seeing his appearance that he was a little rough around the edges, but as she started to fall under his spell, she’d hoped deep down he wasn’t that type of guy. The kind who bedded any woman he pleased without any attachments.

Was that the kind of deal he was hoping for with her if they mated? Would he have no respect for the bond between them?

By the time they crossed over into Tennessee and pulled up at a motel a few miles off the freeway, she was feeling sick.

Jason and Shawna patrolled the perimeter, trying to pick up on paranormal signatures. When they returned, they only had one paranormal to report and it wasn’t all that surprising—a succubus, most likely conducting some soul-sucking business.

“Other than her,” Jason reported, “there aren’t a whole lot of people here. The place is pretty deserted.”

“Good,” Gage said, unbuckling his seat belt. “I’ll get us rooms. Good thing I brought cash on me.”

He went inside with Danica while the rest of them waited in the car. Nik kept glancing sidelong at Alara, but she refused to look at him. She still had no idea what to think of these troubling new stories.

Gage and Danica returned a few minutes later, and everyone got out of the car. Nik caught Alara as she swayed. “I’m fine,” she said irritably, snatching her arm out of his grasp. “Just hungry.”

“Shawna and I will make a food run,” Jason said. “I can’t imagine a place like this having much more than a vending machine with out-of-date snacks.”

“Here.” Gage handed him some more cash. “I don’t want anyone using credit or debit cards in case the king can trace them.”

Jason nodded, and he and Shawna took off.

Nik tried guiding Alara toward the door, but she stepped out of his reach. “I can walk just fine.”

He muttered something in exasperation under his breath, and Danica glanced at her with worry.

The motel lobby was small with faded furniture from the sixties. The front clerk let them know there was complimentary breakfast served at six a.m. and there was also a pool. Alara didn’t know if she dared visit it, but swimming had always been one of her favorite physical activities. She used to swim laps around their pool to help her think. She’d already made up her mind to go for a swim by the time she reached her room.

Nik walked in behind her.

She stared at him. “What do you think you’re doing?”

“Looks like I’m settling in for the night,” he said, sitting on the bed and lying back. He tucked his hands behind his head.

Alara shifted her weight, unsure what to say. “There’s only one bed in here.”

“Then at least it will be warm and cozy,” he said with a sexy grin that made her flush. He sighed. “I suppose I can sleep on the floor.”

“That’s fine,” she mumbled. “You don’t have to sleep on the floor.”

“Do you want to spoon?” he said with a wide grin.

She glared at him. “No.” Turning on her heel, she stalked out of the room. Her heart pounded as dizziness hit her. She probably shouldn’t swim on an empty stomach, but she wanted desperately to get in the water.

Setting off on her own, she found the indoor pool. There wasn’t anyone around, and it was surprisingly clean. She’d half-expected from the run-down exterior to find syringes floating in the water. A sign on the wall read SWIM AT YOUR OWN RISK. NO LIFEGUARD ON DUTY.

Suits me just fine, thank you. She’d been hoping for some privacy.

Taking off her heels, she dipped her toes in. The water was warm. She smiled. Normally, she didn’t like heated pools. She much preferred the shock of cool water. But tonight, it seemed relaxing.

I’ll just float and take it easy, she told herself as she slipped out of her dress and undergarments. Climbing down the ladder, she kept to the shallow end in case she felt sick again. She floated through the water, relishing the weightlessness. A wild thrill went through her at swimming naked. She was generally a “good girl.” She never broke the rules. Never crossed the line. But tonight, hearing her mother wishing for Izzy, the “perfect” daughter, made something inside her snap. That carefully laid mask had cracked, revealing the rebel within. She was weary of conforming to society’s expectations. When was she going to live up to her own ideals?

She sighed, feeling her body starting to relax. This was exactly what she’d needed. No drama, no frowning royals, no—

Splash!

Her eyes flew open to find Nik swimming toward her.

And he was naked.

She bolted upright and covered her chest with her arms. “How dare you! Get out of here!”

“I’m sorry,” Nik said, looking around. “Is this a private pool?”

Her face flamed. “No. I’m naked,” she mumbled. Dammit, stop sounding so breathless!

He grinned. “What a coincidence. So am I.” He swam closer.

She backed away, cursing how the water wouldn’t let her move fast enough. “Careful. I bite.”

“Kinky.” He was directly in front of her now. She dared glance down.

Oh. Oh, my.

He made no effort to hide the erection proudly pointing toward her. Her pulse began to throb harder, along with the sudden strong urge to rub herself up against him, maybe even let him slide inside.

“You look distracted,” he murmured, swimming around her.

She swallowed hard, blinking several times. “It’s just, I’ve never swam with a naked man before.”

“Something tells me you haven’t seen a naked man before.”

She whirled on him in outrage. “I have too!”

That amused smile pulled at his lips, like he was trying not to act like everything out of her mouth was funny. “I didn’t know princesses were even allowed to date.”

“There’s always porn. For all you know, I could have a secret stash.”

He laughed outright. “A girl after my own heart.”

The smile fell off her face at the thought of him ogling other women. That heavy feeling she’d felt earlier in the car returned.

“Hey,” he said, immediately turning serious and gazing at her with concern. “What is it?”

“Nothing.”

She started to swim away from him, but he followed. “Tell me,” he said gently. “You’ve had that frown on your face since the car ride.”

Had she really? She made a mental note to keep a better rein on her emotions. She didn’t know this man. Why did she care whom he’d slept with?

“Does this have to do with what Jason said?”

Her eyes widened slightly before she could think to control her reaction.

He growled a sigh and shook his head. “I’m going to kill him,” he muttered.

“So it’s true then.” Her voice was quiet, resigned. Of course a guy like him would have lots of bedmates. Anything that wickedly gorgeous couldn’t possibly be a saint.

She’d stopped swimming. Nik stopped in front of her, his warm breath caressing her cheek. His voice was rough as he spoke. “I’m not going to deny what I’ve done,” he said. He tilted her chin up so she’d look him in the eyes. “But I can promise you if you choose me, I’ll never look at another woman again.”

Her heart started to race. Her throat had suddenly gone dry, making her voice crack. “And why should I choose you?”

He grinned, leaning in and staring at her lips. “Because you think I’m sexy.”

“I do not.” Her breath was coming in heavier.

“I did rescue you.”

“That’s beside the point. ‘Kidnapped me’ is more like it.”

He chuckled. His mouth hovered right over hers. “You didn’t try to stop me.”

She held her breath. Her heart pounded so hard she could feel it in her eardrums. “I didn’t want to.”

The next second, his mouth was on hers in a blistering kiss. His tongue forced her lips apart, searching out hers. She moaned as he gripped her waist, pulling her to him. She wrapped her arms around his neck, digging her nails into his back as he hitched her legs around his waist. He walked them over about five feet toward the side of the pool. She barely noticed the movement because he was doing amazing things with his mouth, and she’d never in her life been kissed this way before. It was needy, like he was drowning for her touch. Her back met the wall of the pool, the water all the way up to their shoulders.

Her sex rubbed against his cock, sending warm, tingling sensations cascading through her. She moaned as he bucked his hips, gliding his erection along her sex.

“I want you,” he growled as he began kissing her jaw, her neck. “I’ve wanted you since the first moment I saw you.”

Her only answer was a sigh as his lips trailed lower, kissing the crests of her breasts. “You’re so beautiful,” he breathed, taking one plump breast into his hand and giving it a squeeze. “Every inch of you is flawless.”

She almost cried hearing that. She’d been rejected by her family and societal pressures for so long, she’d begun to give up hope she’d find someone who would accept her—even desire her—for the way she was, curves and all.

I will not cry. I will not cry, I will not—

In her effort not to cry, she sniffled. Nik froze, then looked at her face. She ducked her head away, but not before he saw.

“Hey,” he said in the gentlest voice she’d ever heard. “What’s the matter? What did I do?”

She laughed as he brushed tears from her cheeks with his thumbs. “Nothing. You’re perfect.”

“Then what? Tell me? I’ll do anything to make it right.”

She stared into his eyes. They seemed so earnest, so kind. Why hadn’t she seen the kindness there before? Something in her had sensed it, deep down, when they first met. He wouldn’t have saved her from that dance, wouldn’t have cared if she’d been shot, if he were like the others. He cared about her, not her title. It was damn refreshing.

She smiled, leaning her forehead against hers. “Thank you.”

“For what?”

“For seeing me.”

He blinked, looking startled at first, then scared. No, not scared—terrified.

Her brows came together. “Nik?”

He cleared his throat, letting go of her. “I’m sorry.” He looked at a loss for words, then he mumbled again, “I’m sorry,” and turned to leave.

“Wait!” she called out, but he didn’t stop.

A moment later, he was gone, leaving her alone in the pool wondering what the hell had just happened.