Chapter 3 American Thighs

• Daniel
• I close the door behind me and lean against it. I curse quietly. I never expected that a maid would have barged into my room, let alone a perky young American. Her blue eyes were so bright and the way that cleaning uniform covered up her tight body, her pert breasts, and her curvy hips made my cock jump to attention. Her long toned legs were barely hidden by that skirt and those thighs.
• American thighs.
• Fuck.
• She's right outside my door. And I can't wait to get back to her. I pull on my discarded white button down shirt as fast as I can and stuff my erection back into my boxers and then into my slacks.
• All while that American consumes my thoughts.
• I open the door with a smirk, expecting her to be standing there in shock and fear just like before, but come to face an empty room. She's gone... I sigh in disappointment.
• Damn. I was really hoping that she would still be glued to the floor, her pretty face flushed in red and her bright blue eyes wide in embarrassment. I try my best to shake her from my thoughts. She ran from me when I specifically told her to wait. And those manners? Didn't someone teach her to knock? This would need to be dealt with. Thoughts of the maid, her round ass over my thighs as I punished her thoroughly fill my brain. Just thinking of her squirming and gasping as my palm came down on her ass was enough to make me hard again.
• Yes, she would be dealt with. But not right now. That would have to wait. Other pressing matters came to my attention.
• My father was announcing his pick for heir and since I'm the oldest of my two brothers I figured I was a shoe-in. Apparently, I figured wrong. Due to my past behaviors and scandals, court gossip says daddy dearest is planning on skipping over me and going right to my younger brother Michael. Even though I'm the rightful heir.
• It was bullshit.
• I hadn't been back home at the palace in ten years, but I came back to fight for my rightful crown. I was in line to be the next king and no one was going to take that from me without a fight.
• And oh, I would fight.
• I pull on a pair of socks and dress shoes and leave my suite. Apparently no one had stayed in this wing since I left ten years ago. The maid certainly didn't know that. I smirk at the memory.
• No.
• I don't have time for that right now. I will deal with my American later. Now, I need to confirm the rumors and I need see my mother.
• The Queen.
• I haven't spoken to her in years, but we were once very close. My father and I don't always see eye to eye, but I can always count on my mother.
• My mother, Queen Clarita is just as beautiful as I remembered. Her once brown hair is speckled with grey and her large green eyes are still bright with ferocity. She smiles at me from across the table and thanks a servant when he poured her tea with a regal nod of her head. Her small hands are pale and wrinkly and shake a little as she reaches for the porcelain teacup and brings it to her plump lips. "Daniel. I missed you." Her voice is warm and welcoming and I silently curse myself for staying away from her all these years.
• I smile back. "I missed you too, mother."
• She grins warmly behind her teacup and take a small, polite, sip. She places it back on the matching saucer with a small clink. "My dear, how have you been? How's Vanessa?"
• I clench my jaw. Vanessa. Stole my reputation. There was once I time when I didn't hate her, but she wanted more than I could give and went to the police saying I beat her. "Don't know. Don't care."
• She frowns. "Honey, you know you can talk to me." She studies my expression with her emerald eyes, trying to figure out what I'm thinking about. Too bad she'll never know.
• I sigh and force a smile. Great. Now I'm pissed. Vanessa is a touchy subject and my mother knows it. "That's actually why I'm here."
• My mother raises a brow. "Really?"
• "Yes. I need to ask you if the rumors are true. Do you know what dad's going to do?" If anyone knows, it's my mother. She knows everything about the palace and the nobles of the court. If you need information, my mother has answers.
• Her face softens into one of pity and I have my answer.
• Damn.
• So he really is going to give the crown to Michael.
• Michael's only one year younger than me at 28 and he already has a docile Verilian wife with the personality of a wet paper towel and two beautiful kids. Don't get me wrong, Cassandra is beautiful, with her Verilian brown hair and high cheek bones, but she is...bland. She never speaks her mind and stands next to my brother in silence, an obvious trophy wife. She knows when to shut up and exactly what to say to the cameras or to my father. And because of that, they love her.
• "I'm sorry Daniel. It looks like he's passing the crown to Michael."
• I clench my fists and try to fight off my anger. "May I ask why?"
• The look of pity on her face doesn't falter and I hate that. "Daniel. He's settled down. He has a wife and kids. I love you, but you've been gallivanting around the world while Michael has been right here. Committed."
• "Gallivanting?" I raise a brow.
• "If you want to be king, you need to re-calibrate. If this is what you really want, then you're going to have to work for it." She looks me in the eyes. "So Daniel, is this what you really want? Because if it is, you have to change. Maybe find a wife? Have some kids?"