Filthy Rich Prince: A Filthy Rich Billionaires Book Page 8

  She wanted him—and she wanted to push him away.

  His hands slid over her back, the curve of her hips, and then he found the hidden zipper at the side of her dress. Lily dragged in a rough breath.

  Should she let this happen? Could she stop him?

  Did she want to?

  “Lily,” he said against her cheek, his hot mouth skimming along her jaw, her neck. And then his lips were on hers again and she knew she was losing the battle with herself.

  When her arms went around his neck, Nico knew he’d won. He would get her beneath him, get her out of his head and into his bed and place her where she belonged in his life. This crazy sense of being on a runaway train would subside and he could carry on the way he always had. Once he compartmentalized her, he would have peace again.

  And yet something wasn’t right. The thought niggled at him, poked at the rawness in his soul until he had to force himself to examine what was wrong.

  And when he did, he knew it would be a mistake to take her like this.

  His history with the Palazzo Cavelli was so twisted and painful that simply being inside it affected him in ways he couldn’t quite predict. After that farce of a dinner with his father and the queen, he was especially vulnerable to his bitterness. If he took his new wife to bed now, it would be in anger.

  Anger at his father, at the queen, even at Gaetano—and, perhaps most of all, at Lily for deceiving him.

  It was no way to begin. He shuddered with the strength of his desire, and with the longing to lose himself inside the soft body of the woman in his arms.

  But he couldn’t do it. Not like this.

  Reluctantly, he tugged her zipper back into place as he extracted himself from the kiss. She looked up at him in confusion, her pink lips lush and wet. A line formed between her brows. He put his hands around hers where they were still clasped about his neck, separated them gently and lifted them away.

  “You should go to bed now, cara.”

  When he let her go, she hugged herself, a gesture he’d noted she often did when unsettled. She looked vulnerable, confused. In that moment, he hated that he was the one to put that look on her face. He would get over it, of course, but right now he didn’t like it much.

  He pushed his fingers through his hair and turned away from her. Away from temptation. God knew he was unsettled too. His body throbbed with thwarted need. A long, cold shower was definitely in the cards for him tonight.

  “I—”

  When she didn’t finish speaking, he turned to look at her. “Si?” he snapped.

  She fingered the diamond collar. “I still need your help to remove this.”

  “But of course.” He made quick work of the clasp and stepped away from her as the necklace dropped.

  She caught it before it fell to the floor. “Where would you like me to put these jewels?”

  “Put them? They are yours, Lily. Take them to your room. Stuff them under your mattress or leave them lying on the dresser. It matters not to me.”

  Each word he spoke was barbed. Cruel. And yet he couldn’t stop himself. He was angry and bitter, and he needed to lash out. Especially at her, the woman who’d kept his child from him. When he thought of it like that, thought of her deliberately not telling him the truth, his anger whipped higher.

  She deserved his censure, no matter how innocent she contrived to look.

  She clutched the sparkling ornament to her breast, her chest rising and falling a little faster with each breath. As if she could sense his thoughts. “I hope you aren’t congratulating yourself for what just happened,” she said, the color high in her cheeks.

  He stifled a bitter laugh. “Hardly, cara.”

  “Good. Because you won’t catch me unaware again. Next time, I’ll be ready.”

  Nico ignored the painful throb of his groin, the reminder he’d been so close to paradise and pushed it away. One thing he had to give her—even when she was uncertain or afraid, she barreled forward as if she knew exactly what she was doing. That, at least, was something.

  “I do hope so, bellissima. It makes the game more fun.”

  Chapter Eight

  The next morning, Lily awakened in her room alone. She lay in the plush bed with its canopy and thick curtains, thinking about Nico’s intensity last night and listening to the sounds of morning in the palace. There was no movement inside her suite. Rather, the sounds came from the outside. She thought of kissing Nico, of that moment when she’d been willing to surrender everything to him. She didn’t know why he’d stopped, but she was glad he had.

  Not in the moment, of course. But now that she faced the light of day, it was a relief not to wake up next to a prince and be filled with regrets for what she’d done. Because she would have been filled with regrets.

  She yawned and stretched before sitting up and looking over at Danny’s crib. He was still asleep, thankfully—

  Except his crib was empty. Lily screeched as she bolted out of bed and dashed toward the living area.

  Had Danny crawled out of his crib somehow? He’d done so at home once before and nearly given her a heart attack.

  Lily ran through the suite of rooms, calling Danny’s name, the panic in her voice rising with each second. She would tear this place apart with her bare hands if she had to—

  “He is not here, cara.”

  Lily’s breath froze at the sound of Nico’s cool voice. She whirled. “Where is he? What have you done with him?”

  Nico’s expression grew frosty. “I’ve not kidnapped him, Liliana. He is fine.”

  “I want to see him. Now.”

  “You cannot.” He checked his watch with a casual gesture that infuriated her, then speared her with the full force of his stare. “We are retiring to my private palazzo for a few days. I have sent Gisela ahead with Daniele. They will meet us there. You must get dressed.”

  “You sent my baby away with the nanny without telling me? She crept inside my room, took him from his crib, and left—and no one thought that telling me what was happening was a good idea?”

  Her voice shook she was so angry. Nico merely continued to look at her with a bored expression. She wanted to fly at him, and he looked as if he found her so very tiresome.

  “You were exhausted. It was a long day. Now get dressed so we can be on our way.”

  Fury coursed through her. She thought of a hundred ways she could tell him to fuck off, but in the end, she spun on her heel and went to get dressed. It did no good to rail at him, and it got her no closer to her baby to delay.

  Once Lily had taken a quick shower and put on one of the many outfits she’d gotten in Paris—a navy blue pantsuit in the finest fabric that draped along her curves like she was some sort of supermodel—she went to join Nico in the living area only to find him gone. Instead, a uniformed servant escorted her down to the portico where Nico waited in a silver Maserati.

  His gaze flicked over her appreciatively, or so she thought, before she sank beside him and snapped on her seatbelt. He revved the engine and they zipped away from the palace and down the street.

  The miles flew by as they snaked toward Nico’s private palace. Whatever that meant. Was it a towering castle in a forest somewhere? Or did it perch over the sea? She would find out soon enough, she supposed, but until then she studied the scenery as they drove.

  Montebianco was far more beautiful than she’d realized. At one point, they drove through a lush, almost tropical forest before emerging onto the coastal road. Around every corner, cliffs jutted out to sea, their white faces stark and beautiful. Below, the turquoise water lapped their bases.

  It was breathtaking in every way. Her boss would have loved photos of this landscape for the travel article, but it was too late now. She’d finished and submitted everything last night when she couldn’t sleep. She had not, however, mentioned that she wasn’t coming home at all or why. She imagined that news would get out soon enough, though she was still having trouble wrapping her head around it herself.

&nbs
p; The farther Nico drove, the less traffic they encountered and the fewer homes, except for those perched on the cliffs overlooking the Mediterranean. It was all so unreal. And exciting. She, Lily Morgan—no, Lily Cavelli—was zipping along the Mediterranean coast with a prince. Who would have ever thought?

  Not her. Perhaps she would wake up in her bed at home and discover the whole thing was a dream.

  The sun was strong and bright, and Lily was thankful she’d gotten new sunglasses that wrapped around the corners of her eyes. “How far is it?” she finally asked after they’d been on the road for nearly an hour. He hadn’t spoken in all that time, but then again neither had she.

  Nico glanced at her. “So you do remember how to talk.”

  Lily shifted in her seat to look at him. “I was waiting until I could speak without the urge to shout at you.”

  His mouth lifted in a grin that sent her heart skittering. “It took a long while, yes?”

  “I’m sure the urge will return quite soon,” she replied somewhat frostily. “This conversation may be brief.”

  He laughed, a warm rich sound that she’d not heard since they’d sat together at a restaurant in the French Quarter two years ago. She’d forgotten how much she enjoyed the sound. She’d been captivated with him then, and his easy laugh had certainly been part of the charm. If only she’d known who he really was. None of this would be happening.

  And you wouldn’t have Danny either.

  That was something she wouldn’t wish for, no matter how much easier life would be if she’d never met Nico.

  “We are nearly there,” he said. “You’ve wasted the entire trip pouting.”

  “I was not pouting.”

  “Indeed you were. I am quite accustomed to women’s moods, cara. I recognize pouting when I see it.”

  Lily chewed her lip in frustration. What good did it do to remind him she had a damned good reason to be angry with him? It was like arguing with a post. She decided to ignore that remark for the moment.

  “What will we do in this new palace that we couldn’t do in Castello del Bianco?”

  Nico’s hands flexed on the wheel. “We will have some peace from the curiosity seekers, for one. And far fewer people to deal with. No king and queen nearby. We can play on the beach, take walks, swim. It is like your American vacations, yes?”

  Vacations weren’t something she’d ever had time for, but she understood what he meant. “What do you mean by curiosity seekers?”

  He seemed to consider for a moment. “You cannot imagine our hasty marriage hasn’t garnered attention.”

  “No, of course not.”

  He glanced at her again. “You are new to this, Lily, but you must realize the media will go to extraordinary lengths to pry into our lives and find stories to tell. Some of those stories may embarrass or anger us. It is something you learn to live with when you are royal.”

  “Don’t you fight when the stories are wrong?” The Port Pierre Register was small, and yet they always printed corrections when someone disputed an article. Not that she imagined the tabloids of the world much cared about accuracy. Still, if he were to fight them, maybe they’d get the idea. At least the more legitimate outlets anyway. Hopefully, nobody took seriously the kind of papers found at grocery store checkout stands.

  He shrugged. “It is almost never worth the effort.”

  “No one bothered you in New Orleans. I’d certainly remembered if you’d gotten media attention.”

  “Si, this is true. But I was in the city anonymously, and my brother was still the Crown Prince.”

  Lily tucked a lock of hair behind her ear as she watched him. “You have a brother?”

  How had she missed this piece of information? She didn’t ever remember reading about a brother, but then she’d tried not to read stories about Nico. Headlines, yes. Stories, no.

  His jaw tightened as he concentrated on the road. For a moment, she thought he might not answer. “Had a brother, cara mia. He is dead.”

  “Oh.” Impulsively, she reached out and touched his arm. “I’m sorry.”

  “Grazie. He died two months ago, and I miss him every day.”

  Lily swallowed a lump in her throat as she turned away. She’d been so focused on Nico as a tyrant and a playboy that she hadn’t imagined him to have a softer side, a side that felt deep emotion and experienced pain. Of course, she knew he must, but she’d not expected he would let her see that part of him. Not so soon anyway.

  They rounded a turn and a sprawling complex appeared before them. It was sleek and modern where it perched on the rocks. Not at all what she’d expected. “I thought you said we were going to a palace!”

  “It is a palace, but it is my palace. I had it built a few years ago, and I consider it home.” He pressed a button in the car and the huge double black iron gates swung open to admit them. Moments later Nico drove into a sleek garage beneath the house and shut off the engine.

  He came around to open her door and held out a hand to help her. Lily didn’t want to accept, but there was no graceful way not to, so she placed her hand in his. A shiver rocked her deep inside when they touched. She felt as if a lightning strike had happened beneath her skin. Nico hesitated for a moment, his gaze dropping to her mouth. She thought he might kiss her, but then he let her go and turned to lead the way into the house.

  They took an elevator to the main floor. The doors slid open to reveal a space that was nothing at all like the ornate confection of his apartments in the Palazzo Cavelli. The furniture was sleek and modern. Soft leather couches, hardwood floors, plush Oriental carpets, and Modern art gracing the walls. It was very masculine and yet it was also beautiful in its restraint.

  Nico looked at her. “We will probably spend a lot of time here, cara. If you wish to change something, this is possible.”

  She shook her head slowly, her heart hammering. “No, I’m not sure I would change a thing. I like it.”

  “Nevertheless, if you should change your mind.” He tossed his keys onto a table behind the sofa. “Now, if you wish to see Daniele’s room, follow me.”

  The house wasn’t as big as the palace, but it was still large, with sprawling wings and many rooms. When they finally came to her baby’s room, she wasn’t quite prepared for the sight that greeted her. Toys filled every corner: giant stuffed giraffes, pandas, a bear, race cars with a track, big plastic toys made especially for small kids like Daniel. Lily’s hand went to her mouth as she took it all in. The furniture was grand, too. A plush couch, an entertainment center with a flat screen television, a chair—but there was no crib, no dressers. Perhaps there hadn’t been time. Nico had only learned he had a son two days ago.

  He grinned at her. “It is a suite, Lily. Here.” He took her hand and led her through the room, into a palatial bathroom, and out the other side to another grand room—only this one had a crib, dressers, a changing table, and a wall of bookshelves filled with children’s books. Gisela sat in a rocker, but she popped up and curtsied when they walked in. For the first time, Lily realized how young the girl was. She was barely twenty, Lily would bet.

  “Mamamamamamamama!” Danny cried, wobbling toward her as fast as he could on his little legs.

  Lily’s heart filled. She dropped to her knees and held her arms wide as her baby ran headlong into them.

  “Mama,” he said contentedly as she stood and hugged him tight.

  “Who’s my little Dannykins? Who’s mama’s baby? Is this mama’s baby?”

  Danny giggled in delight as she pulled his shirt up and blew a raspberry on his belly. She laughed, then glanced at Nico. His expression was not at all what she expected. A mixture of pain and anger played across his handsome face. She turned away, cradling Danny against her as her heart picked up speed.

  “Mama,” Danny said again, then began babbling something unintelligible. He stretched his arms out, trying to get down, and she set him on the floor again. He promptly toddled back to the little truck he’d been playing with on the soft c
arpet.

  Nico watched Danny play, his nostrils flaring, his jaw tightening. He flexed his fingers at his side, though she didn’t think he was aware of it. It was as if he wanted to move, wanted to touch Danny, but couldn’t bring himself to do it.

  And it hit her suddenly that he must feel like a stranger in this little triangle. He was the one left out, the one looking in.

  “He’s learning new words all the time,” Lily said softly, her mind reeling with conflicting thoughts. Danny was his son, and they were strangers.

  Could she bring herself to help him? She frowned, torn between the desire to keep Danny to herself, to protect him, and the knowledge that she was being selfish. Nico was Danny’s father and her son deserved the best father possible. If Nico remained the outsider, how would that benefit Danny?

  Lily swallowed her trepidation. “If you went and played with him,” she said, “it would help him get to know you.”

  Beside her, Nico stiffened. His face, when she dared to look, was a blank mask. But his eyes—

  Oh God, if his eyes were flame, she would surely be burned to a crisp right this second.

  “It will take time,” she offered, trying to make him understand. “But you have to—”

  Nico turned on his heel and stalked from the room.

  Chapter Nine

  Lily went after him, but Nico knew the house much better than she did and he was gone before she could catch him. She stood in the empty living room, uncertain whether to keep looking for him or to return to Danny.

  Why had Nico left so abruptly? She’d been trying to help him, trying to make him understand it would take time to get to know his son. The pain on his face had twisted her heart, pricked her with guilt. It was her fault he was a stranger to Danny. In that moment, she hadn’t liked herself very much and she’d wanted to make it right.

  Unable to find him, she eventually went back to Danny’s room, sent Gisela away, and played with her baby until he crashed. As she tucked him into his crib, a fat tear dropped onto the back of her hand. She scrubbed it away, then dashed her hands beneath her eyes to get rid of the rest of them.