A Prince For Sophie by Morgan Ashbury Read Free Book Online

friends.
    Easing back, he accepted a glass of wine from a waiter, then moved toward the wide open door that led to a stone balcony with steps to the gardens below.
    He didn’t know what had possessed him to play the roué with Sophie. Despite his reputation, this behavior was not his usual way of establishing a relationship with a woman. Oh, he’d fully intended to kiss her. And he’d planned to woo her into his bed. Slowly, with thoughtfulness and sensitivity and gentle courtship.
    Instead he’d launched an all-out sensual assault. First thing this morning he’d awakened with a hard cock and thoughts of the ice princess. If she hadn’t stepped out in front of him just as he was walking down the hallway, he might never have grabbed her up as he had. Then, later, he’d been at the foot of the stairs when he’d looked up and seen her approaching. The look on her face had been so utterly sad he couldn’t help himself. The problem, of course, with stealing tastes of the delectable treat named Sophie was that now he felt desperate to have her completely.
    He hadn’t understood, though, until just moments ago, how truly innocent she was.
    I never believed in them . That she still had her virginity didn’t surprise him nearly as much as that statement had.
    Whatever could have happened, or not happened, in her life to cause her to doubt the existence of pleasure between a man and a woman?
    The lady in question entered the room, looking every inch a princess. He smiled when he realized she was again looking at everyone but him. She made her way over to his mother and Hannah. He decided to bide his time, but fully intended to speak to her. Maybe he could persuade her to accompany him someplace away from the palace. He knew her family kept a fine string of horses at a farm just outside the city. Perhaps he could persuade her to go take him there.
    Watching her closely, he could see by her body language she was getting ready to take her leave of his mother. Which meant, being a good little princess, she would make her way over to his father, who appeared to be deep in conversation with Alex. Naturally, since Stephan had yet to greet his father himself, he walked over to the men.
    “Ah, there you are. Your mother was concerned.”
    He shot his father the same kind of grin he had his mother. His father and Alex were of an age. His father was showing silver wings at his temples, but he was a fit man, had been physically active all his life, and was now a hale and hearty fifty-one.
    His family had always been a close, loving one. When he’d been a child, his mother had organized picnics and excursions where it would just be the family, no attendants or servants in sight. The bond he shared with his parents and his younger brother Jonathan was a strong, happy one.
    “ Maman is always concerned. I believe that is what keeps her so young and beautiful.”
    His father laughed, as did Alex.
    “Do not let your mother hear that opinion,” his father advised quietly. “Women do not have the same sense of humor as do we men.”
    “On this, I would have to agree,” Alex added. Stephan noted that his gaze wandered over to Hannah. The look he saw in the man’s eyes was very similar to the one he often witnessed when his father looked at his mother.
    “I shall be the soul of discretion,” Stephan promised.
    “Speaking of beautiful women,” his father said. Stephan smiled as Sophie joined them.
    She took his father’s hands and kissed both his cheeks.
    “Your Majesty,” she greeted.
    “None of that. It’s Uncle Eduard , child. Let me look at you. Ah, Sophie, what a beauty you are! Is she not beautiful, Stephan?”
    “She is indeed, father.”
    He nearly laughed aloud because Sophie was blushing, even as pleasure sparkled in her eyes.
    “You are the very image of your mother, my dear. Liana was the most beautiful woman I have ever seen. Next to my own Margaret, of course.”
    If he hadn’t been looking at her so intently, he