Read Prince's Proposition (The Exiled Royals #3) for Free Online Page A

working with me on Rostov Investments . Yet, these smaller gaffes and faux pas working with the charity confuse me. I just need you to remember. For the charity’s sake. And for Raymond and Melissa’s sakes. You’re better than you’ve been performing for them.”
    What? How dare he say such a thing! Paula crossed her arms over her chest and sat up higher in her seat. It wasn’t going to help her see exactly eye-to-eye with the prince, but it made her feel stronger. Maybe then he would recognize her as a force to be reckoned with.
    “ Excuse me?”
    He barely batted an eyelash. “I’m giving you constructive criticism. The more focused you are, the better you work for my cousin, and the better things are both for your reputation and your work. No wonder New York went badly.”
    Wait a minute. “You’ve kept tabs on me?”
    “It’s not hard to Google anyone these days. I wasn’t stalking you on social media. Don’t flatter yourself.”
    Paula laughed and it was a harsh, discordant sound. “Sure. But you’re still the one who after three years, saw me and immediately asked me back, in the middle of a 5k. Who does that? Someone still clinging to the past.”
    With a cool and deliberate look, Xavier stretched out his legs and slouched against the upholstery, and his knee tapped against her own. Paula jumped as a slight moan escaped from her throat and her pulse quickened.
    Damn it, and I’m supposed to be the coolheaded one!
    “I don’t think I’m the only one,” he murmured, leaning closer.
    His lips were just inches from her own. And his breath was warm as it puffed over her cheeks. It would be so easy to lean forward and kiss him. As much as she told herself she didn’t care, that she didn’t want to be involved with him, the truth was she’d missed him. But Paula had to stay strong.
    Kissing Xavier was a terrible idea. He was an illusion, nothing like the Xavier she’d known years and years ago, the one who no longer existed. That Xavier who laughed, who wasn’t permanently attached to a wireless device…the one who’d had time to made love to her.
    As much as she wanted that Xavier back, she knew he wasn’t here.
    She reminded herself that he’d been the one to leave first. At least emotionally. She’d only made their separation physical, and that had been to protect herself from further pain.
    Pain he was good at inflicting, and when it came to sex, he was god-like. But love and love-making? Xavier didn’t have a clue.
    “I don’t want to flirt,” she told him. Her voice sounded weak and not very convincing, even to her own ears. But what did she expect? One of the most gorgeous bachelors on Earth was hanging on her every word, and waiting for her to demand he take her to his bed again. She remembered those orgasms; they could only be described as earth shattering.
    But her heart would shatter, too.  “We need to---”
    “…keep it professional,” he replied, his tone bored as if he were a kid explaining why he needed to eat broccoli or finish his homework. Xavier licked his lips with deliberate slowness. Paula knew he was seeing her refusal as a challenge to overcome. Worse, she knew, that he was going to win. She’d remembered so much about him, except the fact that Xavier couldn’t resist a challenge; he always set out to win. It’s what made him a success in business. It’s what made him be exiled. And, it’s what was making her willpower crumble. “You don’t really mean that, P” he coaxed, hooking his ankle around hers, coaxing it away from its safe nest against her right. “You want me as much as I want you.”
    He pressed his mouth to hers, and she tasted mint and a hint of the Vodka and vermouth still on his lips. The scent of him and his designer cologne and the heat and heft of his broad chest engulfed her.
    She’d been correct; Xavier had lost none of his talent. His tongue locked with hers in a dance of both plundering and passion. She mewled as he placed his