Christmas with the Prince: Christmas with the Prince. Michelle Celmer

how did he know what she wanted when he barely knew her?

      Somehow, he just did. And she was special. He couldn’t even vocalize exactly why. It was just something he knew deep down.

      “He must be a damned good shag, then,” Aaron said, aware of how peevish he sounded.

      He expected a snappy response, a firm, Butt out, buster, or Mind your own business. Instead Liv bit her lip and lowered her eyes. It didn’t take him long to figure out what that meant.

      He folded his arms across his chest and said, “You haven’t slept with him, have you?”

      “I didn’t say that.”

      But she didn’t deny it, either. “Out of curiosity, how long have you been dating this William fellow?”

      Her gaze dropped to her feet again and in went the lip between her teeth. She didn’t say a word. But her silence said it all.

      “Are you telling me that you two have never even dated? Let me guess, you’ve never kissed him, either?”

      She leveled her eyes on him. “I have so!”

      He took a step toward her. “I’ll bet he doesn’t make you half as hot as I do.”

      He could tell by her expression, from the sudden rush of color to her cheeks, that he was right.

      “I wasn’t that hot,” she said, but he knew it was a lie.

      “You won’t be happy,” he said. “You’re too passionate.”

      She looked at him like he was nuts. “I’ve been accused of a lot of things, but being passionate is not one of them.”

      He sighed. “There you go, selling yourself short again.”

      She shook her head in frustration. “I can’t believe we’re having this conversation. I hardly even know you.”

      “I know. And that’s the bizarre part, because for some reason I feel as though I’ve known you forever.” He could see by her expression that she didn’t know how to respond to that, and she wasn’t sure what to make of him. And oddly enough, neither did he. This wasn’t at all like him.

      She grabbed the knob and opened her door. “I should get to sleep.”

      He nodded. “Promise me you’ll think about what I said.”

      “Good night, Aaron.” She slipped inside her room and closed the door behind her.

      He turned and walked in the direction of his own room. What he’d told her wasn’t a lie. He’d never met anyone quite like her. She sincerely had no idea how unique, how gifted she was.

      At first he’d planned only to seduce Liv and show her a good time while she was here, but something had happened since then. Something he hadn’t expected. He really liked her. And the idea of her marrying this William person—a man she obviously didn’t love—disturbed him far more than it should have.

      Liv closed the door and leaned against it, expelling a long, deep breath.

      What the heck had just happened out there? What did he want from her? Was he just trying to seduce her? To soften her up with his sweet words? Or did he really mean what he said? Did he really think she was interesting and fun? And beautiful. And if she really was, why had no one told her until now?

      Just because no man had said the words, it didn’t mean it wasn’t true. And although she would never admit it to his face, he was right about one thing, no man had ever made her even close to as hot as he just had. With barely more than a kiss. Had it gone any further, she may have become the first scientifically genuine victim of spontaneous human combustion.

      And oh how she had wanted it to go further. But to what end? A brief, torrid affair? Yeah, so what if it was? What was so wrong with that? They were consenting adults.

      Yeah, but what about William?

      So what if William wasn’t an above-average kisser, and who cared that he didn’t get her all hot and bothered the way Aaron did. William was stable and secure, and he respected her, and she was sure that he thought she was beautiful, too. He just wasn’t the type of man to express his feelings. She was sure that once they were married he would open up.

      But what if he didn’t? Was that enough for her?

      She heard a muffled jingle coming from her backpack and realized her phone was ringing. She pulled it out and saw that it was, speak of the devil, William. She hadn’t spoken to him since she left the States. No doubt he was anxious for an answer.

      She let it go to voice mail. She would call him back tomorrow once she’d had a night to think things through. When she’d had time to forget how Aaron’s lips felt against hers, and the taste of his mouth, and what it had been like to have his arms around her, his fingers tangling in her hair.

      What if she never forgot? Could she go through life always wondering what if? Would it really be so awful, for once in her life, to do something just because she wanted to. Because it felt good. It wasn’t as if he would want a relationship, and frankly, neither would she. Just one quick roll in the hay. Or maybe two. Then she could go home to William, who would never be the wiser…and live the rest of her life in guilt for betraying him.

      Ugh.

      But if they weren’t technically engaged yet, could it really be counted as cheating?

      As she was changing into her pajamas, her cell phone rang again. It was William. She considered letting it go to voice mail again, then decided she at least owed him a few words.

      When she answered, his voice was filled with relief.

      “I thought maybe you were avoiding me.” He sounded so apprehensive and vulnerable. So unlike the confident, steadfast man she was used to, and the truth was, hearing him that way was just the slightest bit…off-putting. It knocked the pedestal she’d always kept him up on down a notch or two.

      “Of course not,” she said. “I’ve just been very busy.”

      “Is this a bad time? I could call back later.”

      “No, this is fine. I was just getting ready for bed. How have you been?”

      “Swamped.” He gave her a rundown on everything that had been going on in the lab since she left.

      When he’d finished his dissertation, she asked him again. “How are you, William?”

      “Me?” He sounded confused, probably because they never really talked about their personal lives.

      “Yes, you.”

      Finally he said, “Good. I’m good.”

      She waited for him to elaborate, but he didn’t. Instead he asked, “How are you?”

      Exhausted, but excited, and having more fun than I’ve ever had in my life, not to mention nursing a pretty serious crush, and considering an affair with, of all people, a prince.

      But she couldn’t tell him that. “I’m…good.”

      “The reason for my call,” he said, getting right to the point—because William always had a point. “I was just wondering if you’d given any thought to my proposal.”

      He said it so drily, as though he were referring to a work proposal and not a lifetime commitment.

      “I have,” she said. “It’s just…well, I’ve been so busy. I’d like a little more time to think it over. It’s a huge decision.”

      “Of course. I don’t mean to rush you. I realize that it probably came as something of a surprise.”

      “A little, yes. I never realized you had those kinds of feelings for me.”

      “You know that I deeply respect you. Both