“Oh, shit!” Prince Alexandre stops walking in the middle of the pavement without warning.
“What?” I scan the neighborhood for the hitman on the motorcycle or any new danger lurking about.
“I forgot Lucien called before that guy…” Prince Alexandre frowns and sorrow fills his eyes. “Before that guy attacked. He might be in danger too. I couldn’t understand much through all the static.”
I relax my guarded stance. “We’ll call him back after we are on the road. The Royal Guard will protect your family, Prince Alexandre. Don’t worry. Getting you to safety is my main priority right now.”
“Yeah, you’re right. We need to hurry.”
Prince Alexandre types in the code to get inside his apartment building. The place is more modest than I would have assumed a prince would live in. I’ve been protecting Prince Alexandre for six months and haven’t seen the inside, as Agent Harris was his public bodyguard and I simply watched from afar.
I stop Prince Alexandre before he enters his home. “Wait here. There could be more, and they might have waited for you to come home.”
I withdraw my black pistol before searching every room in his apartment.
“All clear. Let’s get your cat and go.” My tone is brisk, colder than I meant, Prince Alexandre’s green eyes look hurt after the curt commands.
But I can’t help admiring the intimate atmosphere of his home and the gorgeous man standing before me. Sunlight pours through the large window, lighting up the chestnut strands poking out of his messy man bun. A soft pink blush brightens his cheeks and those plump red lips.
My hands fist by my sides, resisting him on the road will take more strength than I thought.
“Okay, but I’ve got to find her. Sometimes she hides when a stranger is here.” Prince Alexandre claps his hands. “Here, Whiskers. Where are you, girl?”
Soft whistles echo throughout the small apartment as I grab a suitcase from under his bed. I snag casual clothes from his walk-in closet and drawers without looking at them, while the Prince searches for his cat. I also snatch shampoo and other toiletries from the vanity in the bathroom, plopping them in the suitcase and zipping it up.
I think back to the scratches on Prince Alexandre’s face. Seeking some cleansing wipes, salve, and rubbing alcohol, I pack it all away in a grocery bag.
“Aww, Sugar Plum, you are okay. Come on down, girl.” The scene of Prince Alexandre on a stool with his ass sticking out, poking his head into his hallway closet fuels my blood with irritation and arousal. Those snug jeans are begging me to touch and worship the skin underneath with my tongue until he moans my name.
Shaking my head to snap out of my sexual haze, I scowl at his bent frame. “What the hell are you doing?”
The Prince peeks his head back out, “I’m trying to get Whiskers. She won’t come out from the top shelf. Can you get her?” He pleads with me with those glistening green eyes of his, making it harder to resist.
Sighing, “Fine, but you need to get a cage and whatever else you need for your cat. I already packed a bag for you. I also got some stuff to clean your wounds in the car.”
“Thank you, Brayden.” He rewards me with a brilliant white smile, although he winces in pain.
I mumble some curse words and how cats are nothing but a nuisance under my breath.
Stomping my boots on the stool, it wobbles as I force my whole weight on it.
Shit, this thing’s about to collapse.
I glance up to see golden eyes and fluffy hair peeping back. I’ve never been around cats. Growing up, my mother was allergic to them, but I prefer dogs anyway.
I reach my hand out to her, but the cat jerks backward and hisses at me. “We don’t have time for this, Whiskers.” Reasoning with her gets me an ugly growl and a few blinks from the hateful feline.
“Come on, get out. You don’t want to put Alexandre in any more danger, do you?”Whiskers meows at the name of her master and when I try to grab her again, I’m met with more growls. But she lets me drag her across the shelf stacked with schoolbooks.
The little furball grumbles with more vicious growls but lets me hold her. Keeping her snug against my chest, I peered at her master. “Prince Alexandre, where’s the cat carrier? I got her free, but it’s only a matter of time before she wiggles away.” As if she understands my words, she squirms and hisses again. I roll my eyes and love the sight of the cat carrier in Prince Alexandre’s hand.
“Oh, thank God.” I release the demon cat into the hands of her owner.
“Are you afraid of a cat, Brayden Haines?” Prince Alexandre smirks, and I can’t help loving the teasing lilt of his voice.
For a minute, I can’t seem to look away from his mesmerizing eyes or the way his light blond lashes caress his pale skin.
I clear my throat, “Do you have everything?”
“Um…” Prince Alexandre blinks at me before glancing down at his now purring cat. That devil cat almost appears to be smirking at me. “I need to put her in the cage and get her medicine.”
He opens the cage and Whiskers writhes in his arms, not liking where she’s going. But with some whispered encouragement, she slithers inside the cage with some whining meows.
I snatch up the suitcase and raising my eyebrows at the old cat litter box. “Whiskers won’t use any other box. I’ve tried, but she’s stubborn.”
“Sounds a lot like her owner.”
Prince Alexandre collects some books and pencils from his desk in the corner of the room. He shoves it all in a book bag and slings it over a shoulder, along with a bag full of Whiskers’ medicine, cat treats, toys, and whatever else his feline pet demands.
“You know you won’t be back before midterms start. There’s no reason to bring your schoolbooks with you, Prince Alexandre.”
“Uh, y-yeah. I-I know.” He looks embarrassed for a moment before he straightens his shoulders and picks up the meowing cage. “Wait, how did you know its midterms week?”
“It’s my job to know.” I pick up the other stuff and head toward the door. “Time is up, Prince Alexandre.”
“You know, you can call me Zander. Everyone here does now. It’s a little odd being Prince Alexandre. Even Agent Harris used Zander...” His eyes glisten as he gets quiet.
His woeful eyes pull me in. Dropping his suitcase, I can’t stop my hand from settling on his shoulder. My hand tingles from the contact, “It sucks that he died, but that’s why we have to leave now. We can’t let him die in vain. Keeping you safe now matters. But we will figure out who is after you and get justice for his death.”
His body shudders as he takes a deep breath and let it out in a whoosh. “Yeah, you’re right. I never wanted anyone to die to protect me. It’s never happened before. I’m the youngest in line to the throne. My life isn’t that important.” Dropping his shoulders, he looks down at the ground and looks even more crestfallen than before.
Lifting his chin, I gaze into his green eyes, “Your life matters, Zander. And I’ll protect you with my life.”