Total pages in book: 101
Estimated words: 94782 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 474(@200wpm)___ 379(@250wpm)___ 316(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 94782 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 474(@200wpm)___ 379(@250wpm)___ 316(@300wpm)
Thorsen shoves his chair back, scraping it over the stone tile, and tosses a napkin onto his plate. He murmurs something in Norwegian, and Calder chuckles under his breath.
“The life of an heir apparent.”
Thorsen looks back and forth between the two of us, almost as if he’s hesitant to leave, but when Calder glances up at him in question, he doesn’t say anything else. I watch him go and then fold my hands in my lap, feeling a little strange when I stop to think that this is my reality. A week ago, I was scrubbing floors on my hands and knees, and now I’m eating breakfast with two royal princes in one of the most incredible estates I’ve ever seen.
“I was surprised to see you here this morning,” Calder says. “Thorsen isn’t usually in the habit of bringing women home on his own.”
Usually? Does that mean he’s done this with other women before? Something prickles inside me as I imagine Thorsen with all the others. How many were there before me? Is this what jealousy feels like?
“It’s just a casual arrangement,” I answer with a note of bitterness I can’t hide.
“Regardless, I don’t think I need to tell you that whatever happens in this house stays in this house.”
Something has shifted in Calder. I notice it in the tightness around his eyes. But I don’t understand what he’s trying to say, exactly.
“What do you mean?”
“You won’t go to the media,” he says. “That’s what I mean.”
“I would never.” I shake my head, a little offended that he’d even think I’d do something like that.
“It wouldn’t be the first time a woman has broken that promise.” He shrugs.
“Well, I’m not like that.” I fold my arms, feeling defensive. “Whatever the other women did has nothing to do with me.”
After a tense moment, he nods, seemingly satisfied with my response, and then his lighthearted nature returns.
“Has he had sex with you yet?”
“What?” Heat blooms across my cheeks and an image of Thorsen fucking my ass comes to mind, but I’m not about to divulge that.
“I didn’t think so.” Calder stares out over the water. “Thor probably hasn’t told you this yet, but he likes to share. It’s easier for him when I’m there too.”
“You mean… the two of you—?”
“We share the same women.” His eyes rake over me with a heat that reminds me so much of Thorsen, it confuses me.
“Have you ever tried it before?” he asks. “Being with two men at the same time?”
“No,” I choke out, and I’m pretty sure my face is on fire. But if it is, Calder doesn’t seem to notice.
“If you want to make him happy, then you should think about it. Thorsen has never been very good at handling women on his own. I’m honestly surprised he took the initiative to bring you here at all.”
“So, the two of you do this often, then?” My voice feels strained, and I hope it’s not obvious.
“Usually, I bring the women to him.” Calder takes a sip of his coffee. “He doesn’t do relationships.”
I don’t know if it’s the sudden bite of the breeze or something else that leaves me feeling unsettled and cold, but when Thorsen returns, he seems to notice the shift in the atmosphere too. Calder and I both look at him in the way people often do when they’ve been caught talking about you. Except I know he couldn’t have actually heard anything.
“What was that about?” Calder asks.
“My schedule.” Thorsen returns to his seat. “Hayes wanted to make some adjustments this week. I’ll have to cancel our plans on Thursday. The king has requested me to accompany the Prince of Brunei to a polo match while he’s visiting.”
“Ahh… well, in that case, perhaps we can make the most of today.” Calder grins.
When the vein in Thorsen’s neck twitches, I get the feeling they aren’t simply talking about a lazy Sunday lounging around the house.
“Ooof.” I exchange the empty shot glass for the water in front of me, guzzling while Calder laughs. Meanwhile, Thorsen is observing me with a lazy sexual possessiveness I feel deep between my thighs. He’s lounged on the sofa with a glass of the potent drink they call akevitt in his hand and a downright predatory hunger in his eyes.
He’s been watching me this way all afternoon as Calder comes up with new ways to entertain us. At first, it was a game of cards he tried to teach me. Then at some point, that evolved into a debate between the two brothers on the rules, which quickly morphed from English to Norwegian. Now Calder has raided Thorsen’s liquor cabinet, opting to play bartender while he offers me samples of their local favorites.
“You don’t like it?” Calder pours himself another shot.
“It’s… intense.” My eyes are still burning, and so is my throat.