The Prince's Unwilling Lover (The Royals of Monaco, #1) (9 page)

“What about the obscene photographs?” the queen asked.

“They show nothing incriminating. Besides that was before she even knew that she was going to be the crown princess. She cannot be held accountable for that.”

“I understand you want to defend your wife but as the crown prince you have to be objective about this,” the king said.

“I am and I will get to the bottom of this. The culprit will not escape my wrath,” the prince said and left the room. Admittedly, when he first saw the party photographs, he thought this was Macee's method of getting an annulment, but when he read the newspaper article about her being promiscuous, he immediately knew she was being set up.

When Macee was done speaking to Liane, she was surprised to see Francesca enter her quarters. All this time she had been living in the palace, her sister had never come to see her. Francesca walked over to Macee and hugged her. Macee could not help but breakdown. “You came,” she said between sobs.

“Of course, I came,” Francesca said. “You’re my baby sister.” She released Macee from her embrace and guided her to the sofas. Francesca held her younger sister's hands. “Are you okay?” she asked. Macee shook her head.

“Why would someone do this? What is the point of being so cruel?”

“Mace, you are the crown princess now. You automatically became an idol and an enemy.”

“I never asked to be the crown princess and now I am being punished for it.”

It broke Francesca's heart to see her sister like that. Macee was the light of the family. She was the one who never followed anyone's rules. She was always so happy and free spirited. It was rare to see her cry. She felt guilty for giving her a hard time at the beginning. She vowed to herself to make sure she exposed the person who leaked those pictures and made up those lies about Macee. That person had to pay.

“It will be okay, Mace,” Francesca said and kissed Macee on the forehead.

“I hope so,” Macee replied. She was glad to have the support of both her sisters. She still had not spoken to her parents and she was dreading it. They might not be as understanding as the crown prince had been. Macee had expected him to be angry about it. It surprised her to see him so calm and try to comfort her.

F
rancesca had gone to speak with the crown prince after she had seen Macee. Her intention was to plead on Macee's behalf and convince him of her innocence. To her surprise, the crown prince was already convinced that Macee was innocent. It made her feel better about leaving Macee in the palace alone. She did not want her sister to go against the royal family by herself. Francesca was pleased to see that the prince was going to be in her corner.

“I will find out who did this to my sister,” Francesca said to the prince before she left. The prince nodded.

“That is exactly what I aim to do. If you find something or need anything, do not hesitate to contact me,” he replied her.

Francesca curtsied before she left his office. One of the advantages to being her father's daughter was that she had the connections and the resources to get to the bottom of this.

As expected, Mrs LeBlanc was furious. Francesca returned home to find her raging on the phone. “You have disgraced the family,” Mrs LeBlanc screamed. Knowing that it was Macee she was speaking to, Francesca grabbed the phone from her mother’s hand and slammed it down.

“Mother, stop it!” Francesca shouted.

“Francesca LeBlanc, what is the meaning of this?”

“Macee did nothing wrong. Can't you see it was a set up? How can you blame her for this? Are you so against your own daughter that you would believe this trash?”

“That is exactly what I said,” Colonel LeBlanc said as he entered the room. “My little girl is not promiscuous,” he added.

“Father, you should have stopped mother from calling Macee,” Francesca admonished. “She always makes her feel bad. No more! Leave her be if you are not going to be fighting for her,” Francesca shouted before she left the room. Mrs LeBlanc dramatically held her forehead as if she was going to faint.

“Wife, Francesca has a point. We need to be there for Macee. She is the victim in all of this and it is time that you stopped treating our youngest as if she were an unruly child. She’s a young woman AND the crown princess. It’s time for you to act appropriately,” he said. He turned on his heel to leave the room, “I am going to see her,” he added as he walked off.

*                                                                                *                                                                        *

A
few days later, Princess Katherine went to speak to Macee. She wanted to find out what was going on. She was the only one who had yet to speak to her. When the stories about her came out, the princess had been out of town. Her mother filled her in on her displeasure with Macee when she returned to the palace.

Macee and the princess sat on the balcony drinking tea. Squeezing Macee’s arm, “Tell me what’s going on.” Macee sighed before she replied.

“Yes, I did go to a few parties when I first started out at university, but that was where it ended. I was too busy with my studies. I never smoked, drank or took drugs. And I was certainly NOT promiscuous,” Macee said.

“You must know that there is no smoke without a fire,” Princess Katherine said softly echoing her aunt’s previous comment.

“In this case, there is no fire. Someone is deliberately trying to tar my image for some sick reason.”

“That may be the reason but my parents are not taking it well. My mother has had annulment papers drawn up.”

Macee's jaw dropped open. The thing she had wanted so badly. Now she was seeing a way out but not like this. The royal family would think poorly of her and her family. They already did. The fact that they had already drawn up the papers meant they were ready cut all ties with the LeBlancs, which meant the end of her father’s career.

“Really?” Macee asked flatly.

“Yes, your parents have been summoned to the palace.” Macee hung her head. “Brother,” Princess Katherine said getting to her feet. Macee looked up. The prince kissed his sister on both cheeks.

“I need to speak with Macee,” he said. The princess nodded and left. Prince Louis sat down in front of her.

“Hello,” she said to him.

“How are you feeling?”

“Oh, you know, like I’ve been raked over the coals.”

He nodded. “I understand,” he said. He called for his maid to come out to the balcony. She was holding a brown envelope in her hands, which she placed on the table and left. Macee looked at it and asked what it was.

“The annulment papers,” he said. He stared at Macee waiting to see her reaction. She had wanted them and now she was getting them.

“Oh.”

“I thought you would be overjoyed.”

“Why?”

“Because that is what you wanted.” His tone changed.

“Then why are you snapping at me?” Macee asked. Surely, he would want the same thing, right? Prince Louis reached into his pocket and pulled out a pen. He placed it on the table. He stood up and walked back into the living room. Macee stood up and followed him. What was his deal?

“Louis!” she shouted. He stopped and faced her.

“It is, your highness, to you,” he said.

“Leave us,” Macee said to the maids. They all scrambled out of the room. “What has gotten into you?” she asked the prince.

“Just sign the papers and be done with it.”

“I know I wanted the annulment but not like this. I did not ask for any of this.”

“Yes, so you keep expressing.”

Macee walked over to the prince and stood right in front of him. He looked down at her. “Why does this make you so mad? Did you not say choosing between my sister and I was a case of bad or worse?” she asked him. If that was how he felt, then annulling the marriage should not bother him. It should be just another business transaction.

The prince touched the back of Macee's head and pulled her hair, forcing her face to tilt upwards. He planted a passionate kiss on her lips. This time it wasn’t slow or gentle. Macee kissed him back. She grabbed his shirt and stood on her toes as the prince squeezed her bottom and kissed her harder.

“Why don't you want me, ma cherie?” he whispered against her mouth.

“I do,” Macee whispered back and squeezed his biceps. He groaned and pulled her closer to him. He picked her up and carried her to her bed. He quickly removed her top as he kissed her breasts. He caressed her stomach and her arms. He couldn’t believe he was hearing her right and he had to be sure.

“Are you sure?” he asked her. Macee nodded. “Say it,” he needed to hear her say the words.

“Do it,” Macee whispered. She felt too shy to say what he wanted her to say.

“Do what?”

Macee grabbed his shirt and pulled him closer to her. “Louis, make love to me.” She sounded more aggressive than turned on. He was frustrating her, making her say it when he could already tell she wanted it. He laughed and kissed her.

He stood up to take off his shirt, as Macee followed him with her eyes. She smiled shyly as he made quick work of his clothes.
He really was beautiful
, she thought as she watched him climb naked back onto the bed. Sliding up, he balanced above her as he kissed her deeply. Kissing his way slowly down her body, “I’ve dreamt of these,” he told her as he licked and sucked her nipples. At Macee’s gasp of pleasure, he continued to kiss his way down her body, touching her everywhere. He had waited so long, he was going to enjoy every moment. Reaching for the clasp on her skirt, he drew the zipper slowly down. Lifting her hips, he drew her skirt and panties off and tossed them off the side of the bed.

Lifting her legs, he kissed her feet before working his way back up. As he reached the inside of her thighs, he licked her before pressing small kisses as he continued to work his way up. Macee let out a moan, as he rubbed her hips before lifting her to his mouth. Macee writhed beneath him as he tightened his grip. Licking up her slit, he found her clit and swirled his tongue around it as Macee bucked against him.
Is that what I have been missing?
she asked herself.

Macee felt paralysed with pleasure. She could only lay there and moan, as he touched her in places she had never been touched. Her insides were dancing around as Macee could feel pressure building inside her. Sliding one finger gently inside her, he pumped it slowly in and out, as Macee rocked her hips along with him. Satisfied that she was ready, he positioned himself in front of her.

“Look at me, wife,” he said. His voice had grown husky, as he waited for Macee to look at him. Adjusting her hips, he wrapped her legs around his waist as he leaned forward. Kissing her, he slowly plundered her mouth as he entered her. When he felt a barrier, he wrapped his arms around her, holding her tight as he pushed forward. Macee opened her eyes at the sudden pain, but it was gone just as fast as it had come. Smiling down at her, he kissed her and he began to move in and out. As her body adjusted to his size, Macee felt that pressure inside her building to intensity. Tightening her legs around him, she encouraged him to move faster.

Macee's heart was beating faster and faster. She felt tension in her body build up. Her toes curled and she held onto his arms. She could not take it any longer as pleasure rocked her body. As she cried out his name, she arched against him, as she clenched around him. Continuing to stroke in and out, he tried to hold out longer, but her clenching was too much and he quickly reached his release as his body shuddered. He lay next to her holding her tight in his arms.

Macee put her head on his chest. “So that's what it’s like,” she said. Prince Louis laughed.

“Yes, ma cherie and it will be better,” he replied, he was still trying to catch his breath.

Moments later, one of Macee's maids rushed into the room calling for Macee. She picked up her top and covered her breasts as she sat up and asked what was the matter. The maid turned to give Macee her back. “I apologise for the intrusion but something just happened. Please turn on the news,” the maid rushed back out of the room.

“What now?” Macee complained. She grabbed the remote and switched on the news. She dropped the remote when she saw the headline.

“What is the matter?” Prince Louis asked. He heard the reporter say, “Another LeBlanc scandal.” He looked at the screen and listened to the reporter. This time they were talking about Liane. “The former intended crown princess is pregnant with another man’s child. That must be the reason why she did not marry Prince Louis,” the reporter added. 

Prince Louis looked at Macee. She was standing there frozen as tears rolled down her cheeks. Not Annie too, she said to herself. He hugged her from the back and kissed her shoulder. “I will find out who is responsible,” he said.

M
acee and her parents were sitting with the royal family. The queen was livid. The fact that both their daughters had been in the headlines within the same week was a huge problem as the reputation of the royal family had taken a huge blow. How could one family cause that much damage?

“Who is the father of the baby?” Bridgette asked.

“That is not even important,” the queen said. “It is the lie that is an issue.”

“Your majesty, we have no excuse,” Colonel LeBlanc said.

“We need to take care of the annulment as soon as possible and restore the image of the royal family,” Bridgette said.

“I concur,” the queen said.

“That should be left to Macee and me to decide,” the prince said. “Besides, we still need to unveil the culprit,” he added. He was annoyed that Bridgette was rushing things along.

“This involves the whole royal family,” Bridgette said.

“I think we should find out if there is any truth to these stories first,” Princess Katherine said.

“Is Liane pregnant?” the queen asked.

“Yes, your majesty,” Colonel LeBlanc said.

“Is there some truth to Macee's past?”

“Absolutely not. She was a virgin before me and I can confirm that,” Prince Louis said. It was clear that he was angry as everyone looked at him. Bridgette raised her eyebrows. Macee looked down, as she couldn’t look at all those angry stares. Her only comfort was the tight hold the prince had on her hand.