Charlotte & Nate (Royals of Valleria #4) by Marianne Knightly Read Free Book Online Page A

and Sarah’s in-between them.
     
    Lorenzo took a few moments to answer when Nate knocked but, when he did, he was clearly irritated. “Why didn’t you use the secret passages?”
     
    Nate quirked an eyebrow before strolling inside. “Does it matter?”
     
    “Yes, it does, as a matter of fact.” Lorenzo crossed his arms over his chest. “If you must know, I’d planned to play a trick on you.”
     
    Nate shook his head. “What are you, four years old again?”
     
    “Maybe.” Lorenzo stuck his tongue out at Nate before leading him to a sitting room. “Come on. I’ve got a date later, so what did you want to talk about?”
     
    Nate huffed a laugh as he took a seat on the couch; he wasn’t surprised his brother had a late night ‘date’. “One of those dates, is it?”
     
    Lorenzo shrugged as he took a seat next to Nate. “She knows the score. She gets to sleep with a prince, and I don’t have to deal with any long-term relationships. It’s perfect.”
     
    “One day your feelings might change.”
     
    “Maybe, but not today. I’m having too much fun.”
     
    “You should respect the woman you’re seeing. How many are you sleeping with right now?”
     
    Lorenzo punched Nate in the shoulder. “What the fuck, Nate? Where the hell is this coming from? You used to sleep around as much as me.” Nate shook his head, but Lorenzo continued. “It’s true. You’re seeing someone aren’t you? Not like I’m seeing women, but a relationship.”
     
    “That’s not what this is about.”
     
    “Then what the hell else is this about? Why are you suddenly turning into Alex and Papa?”
     
    Nate whirled up from his seat and dragged his hands through his hair. “How many of the palace staff have you fucked?”
     
    Lorenzo stood up faster than Nate had and pushed him back, but Nate held his ground and didn’t falter. “What. The. Fuck. Are you serious?”
     
    “Deadly. How many women on the staff have you slept with or propositioned?”
     
    “Jesus.” Lorenzo ran his hand through his stylish dark locks. “Do you really think I’d do something like that? I may sleep around, but I don’t sleep with the help. Papa made sure to drill that into us early.”
     
    “Don’t I know it?” Nate mumbled; Lorenzo, still upset, didn’t hear.
     
    “Is someone accusing me of something? Is that what’s going on here? Fuck! Who is it?”
     
    Uncomfortable, Nate rolled his shoulders back and crossed his arms over his chest. “No one accused you of anything, but apparently something went on.”
     
    “And I’m a suspect.”
     
    “Not anymore.”
     
    Lorenzo shook his head. “I can’t believe you think I’d do that. Sure, I sleep with women. I’ve slept with a lot of women. I’ve flirted with even more. But I’ve never slept with any that weren’t interested in it, and I’ve never forced myself on anyone, at any time.”
     
    Nate put a hand on Lorenzo’s shoulder and squeezed. “I know. I believe you.”
     
    Lorenzo let out a deep breath and collapsed on the couch. “Jesus, you get my blood up faster than anyone else.”
     
    “I’m sorry. I had to ask.”
     
    “Why? Why did you, specifically, have to ask?”
     
    Nate bristled. “It’s nothing. Just something I heard in the kitchens earlier. You don’t think Ethan could be–”
     
    “Hell, no. Don’t get me wrong, he gets around when he’s not out with the Navy, but he wouldn’t do that.”
     
    Nate nodded and took a seat beside his brother. They both sat in silence for a few minutes before Lorenzo turned his head towards Nate. “What’s really going on? You were holed up with Papa and Alex for a long time.”
     
    Nate sighed. “I know. There’s things you need to know, and we’re going to discuss it with everyone in a few days.”
     
    Lorenzo groaned. “At family dinner? As if family dinners aren’t torture enough, we have to bring national issues into it.”
     
    Nate smiled. “It’ll be before then. Besides, the