When Luke was younger, the sound of a fighter jet’s engine used to enthuse him. There was something about the low growl of the engine that seemed to bring the blood in his veins to life. He used to dream about flight and speed and the view from above the clouds, because to the young prince it was freedom to fly like an eagle and watch the tiny world tick like clockwork from the distance. It was that vision that propelled Luke to pursue a career in the air force.

Years later, as he was seated among the company of uniformed men, the crown prince was glad that offices inside the base had walls thick enough to cancel the loud rumblings of air craft engines. Otherwise, no productive meeting would ensue while the flight drills were in progress. 

It was already eleven in the morning when the meeting was adjourned. Division heads including Luke’s commanding officer was in attendance. It was a regular review of the prevailing issues, border security, and the escalating rebel situation. Although these rebels operated on the ground, the air force was key in surveillance and in supporting ground troops. His squadron, in particular, played a vital role in reconnaissance, making him among the most well-informed commissioned officer in the air force. The position also made him accountable to strategically conduct aerial surveys over areas where suspected rebel movement was happening. Therefore, he was not bluffing when he told Rhiane that it was his business to know the security status within the borders. He suspected that as much as he did not care to read about her background, she too did not take the time to really know who she was competing for when she joined the contest. It wouldn’t be surprising if she was judging him based on the aspect of his persona that the news loved to focus on – which was his alleged scandals and his reputation as a womanizer.

However, the thing about Luke that made him appear distant and as ruthless as the heirs that came before him was that he was effective in disentangling himself from his emotions while fulfilling his duties and responsibilities to the kingdom. There was a time for work and a time for amusing himself. Eleven in the morning was the blurred line when work and personal life met. He had finished most of the administrative work and had made his contribution to the advancement of peace and security in the kingdom, it was time for him to pursue his non-work-related goals for the day.

The crown prince politely declined the invitation to lunch by his commanding officers on the account of the need to be elsewhere entirely for the afternoon, which was partly true, because he was invited as a guest to the fiftieth anniversary celebration of Evolab, one of the oldest biotechnology firms in the world. However, there was another place he was supposed to be at lunch.

[hr]

Sophia Keller had just wrapped up a photoshoot for a digital magazine when she received the message from ‘Pete’ that read:

[i]Sophie,

I will be at basement one parking lot when you’re done with your photoshoot. Don’t ask me how I knew that you’re at the Shutterbug, I just do. I am waiting for you in a gray Crown 56. Registration plate number ACHJ 21.

Pete[/i]

Such a stubborn human being, she had thought when she read the message. She ought to roll her eyes and delete it right away, but the actress caught herself smiling. His tenacity may be viewed as annoying by many, but it was endearing to her. That he would not give up on her even when he could have any woman he chose in the kingdom made her feel like she was the most beautiful woman in the world. It was that very reason that made the black-haired actress decide to actually walk to the parking lot alone and meet with the crown prince. 

The car he identified was easily spotted because Nolan’s bulky physique was standing guard just outside the driver’s door. Sophia was familiar with the variety of cars and hovercrafts that the prince used to travel the city in, but the old not too shiny gray car was not his taste. Probably something he borrowed for the occasion to minimize the chance of being recognized. When Luke’s bodyguard spotted the woman in her little black dress and high heels, he opened the backseat door and made no comment.

“Thank you,” she murmured before ducking inside where she found the sender of the message ‘Pete’ typing on a tablet in the dark with one hand while holding a phone to his ear with the other. Upon spotting her, she vaguely heard him tell the person on the other end of the line that he would call again, before he hastily ended the call. A cocky smile tugged the corners of his lips. “Hello, Pete.”

The smile turned into a grimace. It was his idea that Sophie use a codename for him. Pete was the name of the main character, and a pilot, in one of the old movies that they enjoyed watching. Sophia easily identified the character with Luke, but the latter of course disagreed arguing was that he was better looking than the American actor. But before he could start an argument or apology or both, the actress grabbed the lapel of his jacket pulling him towards her until there was nothing, not even an ounce of space, existed between them. 

In the privacy of the parked car, Luke made up for the hours that he had ignored her, holding her the way only he knew how. Meeting him was a bad idea. Just two seconds in the same space as him and she was already climbing up his lap without a care if he messed up her lipstick. Sophia should have known by then that she did not stand a chance, and maybe she did know, but how could she resist the man who could make her heart flutter? The lips that touched hers was urgent, seemingly afraid that the moment would pass by and reality would kick in to remind them that none of it was possible. He demanded her attention and she gave it to him, drinking in the passion that he was pouring into the stolen time. She heard a dull thump as the tablet computer hit the flooring, but her prince charming didn’t seem to hear or care. 

The actress did. She pulled away.

The blue in his eyes was swallowed by the darkness. Yet, even in the insufficient lighting inside the car, she detected a faint blush on his cheeks. Luke was as breathless as her. If only the public could see that the snobbish and arrogant crown prince actually had a vulnerable side. “What’s wrong, Sophie?” It was asked barely above a whisper. “I’m sorry that I didn’t tell you sooner. Sharing my space with her is necessary, but I assure you that the farmer and I are not – we are not even friends.”

“Lucius.” Her voice got caught in her throat. Photographs from the news and the internet came up to her mind, photographs that celebrated the love story between a commoner and prince charming. That prince charming used to be hers and no one else’s. “Luke, I can’t do this.”

The prince with his lopsided cheeky grin, raised a brow at her statement. “This?” He gestured at her straddling his thighs. “Of course, you can. You have my consent therefore, this is not considered rape.”

“No, silly! Stop acting dumb, you know what I mean.” She inhaled a steadying breath and moved to properly take the seat beside him, but his arms instantly went around her waist and pulled her against his chest. “If I scream and somebody heard, this will be the greatest scandal that your mother would ever have to cover up, your royal highness.” Sophie pulled away and he let her.

“Don’t worry about her, my mother is very creative in making excuses. What can you not do?.”

The actress successfully disentangled herself from the prince’s arms, but not his gaze. “I can’t wait for you. I thought I can, but I can’t be a royal mistress. It will not be good for my image, and most of all it will destroy yours. Besides, your mother will never approve it.”

He reached for her hand. “The queen is my problem. This will work. We can make it work, I promise.”

“No,” she took her hand back and placed it on her lap. “Not everything is under your control. I’m not like you who can easily step away from my emotions. I can’t watch you with that farmer on TV and pretend to be happy that you met her. I can’t stay in the sidelines while you marry her and build a family with her. Besides,” the actress swallowed hard. “I’m seeing someone else.”