Feeling the heat rising in his face and the dangerous pull of the prince’s nearness, Frank quickly cleared his throat and looked away.
"I think..." Frank murmured, trying to steady his voice, "We should order a drink."
Raphael blinked, a playful smirk touching his lips. "A drink?"
"Yes," Frank replied, finally finding his footing as he stood up to put some distance between them. "Unless Your Highness doesn’t drink."
"Of course I drink," Raphael chuckled, amused by the sudden pivot.
"Then let me see what they have." Frank walked over to the small room bar tucked against the corner and slid open the glass door of the mini-fridge. He scanned the selection before pulling out two bottles of wine and holding them up for Raphael to see. "Would either of these work, or are you particular?"
Raphael shook his head, leaning back against the arm of the sofa with an easy smile. "I’m not picky at all. Whichever one you like is fine by me."
Nodding, Frank chose one of the bottles, grabbed two crystal glasses from the counter, and walked back over. Pouring a generous amount into each glass, he handed one to Raphael before taking a seat opposite him.
With the sudden tension diffused, they clinked their glasses together in a quiet toast.
"Northway seems peaceful," Frank remarked, taking a slow sip of the wine as he looked out the large window toward the city skyline.
"It is," Raphael agreed, his eyes never leaving Frank’s face. "Everyone is mostly caught up in business here, so people are mostly focused on making money rather than causing trouble."
"I like it," Frank said, a soft, content smile touching his lips as he met the prince’s gaze. "I’ve always liked peaceful places."
Raphael’s lips curved into a slow smirk. "It’s very peaceful in my room, too."
Frank opened his mouth to reply, the retort already on the tip of his tongue, before the full weight of the prince’s double meaning registered. He let out a dry, disbelieving laugh and shook his head. "Your Highness seems a little naughty."
"Not just a little," Raphael murmured smoothly, leaning forward as he rested his elbows on his knees, closing the distance between them.
The air in the room suddenly felt heavier, charged with a warm, intimate current. Raphael’s gaze tracked the movement of Frank’s throat as he swallowed another sip of wine, his intent entirely transparent.
"If you like quiet spaces so much, why not move to Northway?" Raphael whispered, his voice softening. "You won’t find anyone bothering you here. Just you, me, and all the time in the world to get to know each other."
Frank felt a small flutter in his chest, but he tried his best not to show it. He raised an eyebrow over the rim of his glass. "Is that your royal strategy, Your Highness? Seduction by real estate pitch?"
"Only when the company is worth the effort," Raphael replied without hesitation, a soft laugh escaping him.
He reached across the small space between them, his fingers lightly brushing the back of Frank’s hand where it rested on the armrest. Frank felt a sudden warmth at the touch, but he didn’t pull his hand away.
"You’re dangerously smooth," Frank muttered.
"I’m only being honest," Raphael replied, his gaze fixed on him. "And I think you like it."
Frank smiled quietly, taking another sip of his drink. He didn’t answer, but the small smile on his lips was enough to give Raphael his answer.
Hours passed as the afternoon slipped into evening, the bottles of wine emptying between them. They talked about everything and nothing, the conversation flowing with an easy rhythm that made it feel as though they had known each other for years rather than mere hours.
By the time night settled over Northway City, a pleasant, hazy warmth had settled over them both. They were comfortably tipsy, the edges of the room beginning to blur around them.
Knowing he should probably head back before it got any later, Raphael cleared his throat and slowly got to his feet. "It’s getting late, Frank. I should probably head back to my hotel."
Frank looked up from his glass, a quiet disappointment crossing his features. "As soon as you leave, everything’s going to go back to being boring. The room’s just going to be quiet again."
Even through the pleasant haze of alcohol, Raphael caught the reluctance in his voice. A playful smile touched his lips. "Are you missing me already? If you don’t want me to go, why don’t you just tell me to stay?"
Frank blinked, a flush warming his cheeks that had nothing to do with the wine. He looked away for a moment before meeting Raphael’s gaze again, his voice softer and more honest. "Stay overnight. You said you’re leaving for the palace tomorrow... I still want you around. But it’s okay if you want to head back."
Raphael didn’t hesitate. "I want to stay," he said softly. "I want to spend the night with you."
"Alright," Frank whispered, a small, pleased smile appearing on his lips.
Raphael pulled out his phone and called his lead bodyguard, who was waiting with the convoy outside. When the call connected, Raphael kept it brief.
"I’m staying here for the night. You and the rest of the team can head back to the hotel. I’ll see you in the morning."
"Understood, Your Highness," the guard replied. "We’ll be nearby if you need anything."
"Alright. I’ll call if I need you."
"Yes, Your Highness."
Raphael ended the call and slipped his phone back into his pocket. When he turned around, he found Frank watching him with a soft smile.
Elisha arrived home exhausted from the emotional weight of the day. As he stepped through the grand double doors into the foyer, the housekeeper hurried over to inform him that Jasmine was already upstairs in his private quarters.
"Alright," Elisha muttered, rubbing the back of his neck.
He walked up the sweeping staircase, his mind already made up. He couldn’t keep doing this. Jasmine’s habit of showing up unannounced and practically moving in whenever she pleased had become too much. He needed his privacy, and more than that, he needed to set a firm boundary tonight.
When Elisha unlocked and pushed open the bedroom door, the room was empty. Hearing the muffled sound of running water, he realized Jasmine was in the bathroom.
Relieved to have a brief moment of quiet, Elisha walked over to the bed, sat down, and pulled out his phone. He opened his messages and clicked on Henry’s name.
"Hey, pretty boy. Did you get home safely?"
A few minutes later, his phone buzzed.
Henry:Yeah, I’m home.
Elisha:Are you sure? You were pretty quiet earlier.
Elisha:Also... are you feeling sore or having any pain after last night?
A bubble appeared on the screen as Henry typed, paused, then typed again. When the message finally came through, the words practically dripped with sharp, defensive bitterness.
Henry:You don’t have to care about me like that. Go stay with your girlfriend. It’s not like you won’t still touch her tonight anyway.
Elisha frowned, his thumb hovering over the screen.
Elisha:What are you talking about?
Henry:Goodnight. I’m tired. I want to sleep now.
Elisha:Alright. Goodnight, pretty boy. Sweet dreams. ❤️
As the chat ended, the bathroom door clicked open.
Jasmine stepped into the bedroom, wrapped in a fluffy white bath towel secured above her chest, her damp hair falling around her shoulders. The faint scent of her floral body wash filled the air.
Seeing Elisha sitting on the edge of the bed with his phone in his hand, a warm smile spread across her face.
She walked toward him, completely at ease. "Welcome home, baby."
Instead of standing up to pull her close, Elisha remained seated, instinctively leaning back as Jasmine approached.
"Jasmine, we need to talk."