Royally Bad (Royally Wrong Book 1)

“When did your father build this hotel?”
“This is the hotel where my parents met.”
“Seriously?”
He nods. He’s been a little quiet through dinner, dark and brooding. Maybe this is why.
“You never talk about your parents.”
“I didn’t really know them.” Theo dips a tiger shrimp in the sauce and holds it to my mouth. “Open.”
I keep my mouth shut.
“You allergic?”
“No.”
“Then trust me.”
I let him feed me. “Oh my god,” I moan. “Fuck, that’s good.”
“You have a dirty mouth for a girl,” he says. “I like it.”
“You’re just plain dirty.” I slurp down more shrimp. Usually I’m careful with how I eat, but tonight is surreal. I’m on top of the world, having dinner with a prince.
Not a prince. A god.
I giggle.
Theo raises a brow. “I’m going to make you slow down on the wine.”
“I’d have thought you’d get me drunk so I’d end up in your bed.”
“That’s cheating,” he says. “I’m a gentleman.”
“Yes, you are,” I say, trying not to sound surprised. “You are a gentleman.”
“I always let the lady come first,” he continues.
I groan. “You were doing so well. The beautiful setting, the food, keeping on your shirt…”
“What’s wrong with me taking off my shirt?”
I press my hand to my forehead. “Do I have to answer that?”
“No,” he says, and stands. With exaggerated slowness, peels off his shirt. I suck in a breath as the panther tattoo comes into view. My lady parts purr.
“Come on,” he says, smiling like a cat with cream. “You gotta admit, this is a good look for me.”
It is. It so is.
“No comment,” I say, my head cocked to the side, studying his panther tattoo.
He takes my hand, pulling me from the table to poolside.
“Come on, V-card. Time to get wet. Unless you are already?”
“No comment,” I laugh, and shrug out of my dress, shedding my inhibitions along with my clothes. I’m on top of the world, and I don’t care what anyone thinks. Is this how Theo chooses to live his whole life? It’s freeing.
“You’re beautiful,” Theo tells me.
“I know.” I step past him and glide into the water.
He follows and we swim around each other in circles, in ever tightening loops until we’re close enough to touch.
“How do I always end up half-naked around you?”
“You weren’t half-naked last night.”
“That was a fluke.” I give him a Miss Mavery glare, even though I’m not wearing my glasses. “You were very, very bad.”
“And you were very, very good. But I suspect the good girl is just an image. Come on, Vesper.” He catches my hand, tugs me a little closer before I pull free. “Come be bad with me.”
Need zings through me at his touch.
Fuck it.
“I’m already being bad. A date with my boss. Bad idea.”
“I’m not your boss. I fired you, remember?”
“That’s right. You did. You were and are a consummate asshole. So why would I want to date you again?”
“Because,” he steps into my space and puts his hands on my hips. “I only fired you so I could do this.”
He’s going to kiss me. At the last moment I turn my head, and let him brush his lips on my shoulder. I shiver as he kisses up my neck.
“You’re good at that,” I tell him when he lifts his head. “Lots of practice?”
“Not as much as you might think,” he says.
I raise a brow.
He backs away. running a nervous hand through his hair. “Fuck, Vesper. I know I’m a slut, but it’s not as bad as it looks.”
“Relax,” I say. “I don’t judge. I’ve slept with plenty of guys.” If you only knew.
“And I know I was a jerk to you, in the beginning. I apologize.”
“I accept. In grade school, the guys threw rocks when they liked me. I can handle cocky behavior. Although… I should tell you a secret,” I lean in to whisper. “I’m kinda attracted to jerks.”
“Are you now? Well, I aim to please.” His hands settle back on my hips. “You know the moment that I was first attracted to you?” he asks.
“On the steps of your house?”
“I mean really attracted to you. The real Vesper Smith, not just your long legs and blonde hair.”
I swat him for parroting back what I said, and he catches my arms and puts them around his neck. I press my boobs into him and it feels so good. So right.
“The first time you were attracted to me,” I muse.
“When you told everyone that my name meant ‘God’ in Greek.”
“After which you called me a nerd so everyone would laugh at me.”
He winces. “Not my finest moment.”
“No, but I forgive you.” I’m buoyant in Theo’s arms. My feet still touch the bottom of the pool, just barely. We’re dancing in the water, rocking around and around, twirling slowly in the water. Everything about Theo makes me feel young and giddy. Like a first crush, and I really am a virgin. Maybe that’s his power. He makes you feel brand new.
“Your turn,” he says. “Tell me about the first time you saw me, the real me.”
“The skate park,” I say. “The way you talked to those kids. Treated them like equals.”
Theo draws me deeper into the pool.
He undoes my ponytail and my hair spreads out across the water, a golden waterfall.
“After which I yelled at you. I really am an asshole.”
“No. You were protecting those kids, as well as yourself. You’re a good guy.”
“No, I’m not. I’m bad. Very, very bad.”
“How bad?”
He lifts me. My legs automatically wrap around his hips. I’m ready to slide my pussy up and down those washboard abs.
Then he pulls me off and tosses me into the water.
“You punk,” I shriek when I come up for air.
“Very, very bad.” He smirks.
I swim and pretend fight him. He’s too big and too strong and wrestles me so my back is at his front.
“Let me go,” I try to elbow him and he holds me fast.
“Say the magic word.”
“Please.”
“That’s not the magic word.” His lips find my pulse and he kisses and licks before sucking hard enough to leave a hickey.
“Argh,”