Chapter 10: Chapter Ten

**Leonardo**

Packing for a jungle trip should’ve been straightforward: breathable clothes, hiking boots, maybe some bug spray. But for me, “straightforward” wasn’t part of the plan. I stared at the open suitcase on my bed, its contents already looking like I was preparing for a photoshoot rather than a trek through the rainforest.

A perfectly tailored leather jacket—because, who said the rural side of our countries didn’t have dress codes? A fitted white shirt, casual but effortlessly sexy. And in the corner, my *secret weapon*: a small black pouch containing a set of silk restraints and a tiny bottle of scented oil. Was it practical? No. But if Alexander decided to loosen up, I wanted to be ready.

Grinning to myself, I tossed in a pair of sunglasses so dark they screamed, *don’t talk to me unless you’re royalty*. A couple of scarves followed—because sweat or not, I looked great in scarves. Somewhere, buried under the fashion choices, was a pair of boots that might not survive the jungle, but would totally rock the arts and crafts baloney. Maybe.

My phone buzzed on the nightstand, and Dante’s name flashed on the screen. Perfect timing. I swiped to answer, and his face appeared, grinning through a slightly pixelated video feed.

“Leo! Long time no hear! What trouble are you causing now?” he greeted, leaning back in what looked like a swanky Italian villa. A wine glass was in his hand, of course. Dante never missed an opportunity to live in style.

I leaned toward the screen, pretending to be offended. “Why do you assume I’m causing trouble?”

“Because you’re you,” he said, sipping his wine. “Now spill. I heard from your mom that you’re playing nice with some charity project. What’s the angle this time?”

I sighed dramatically, flopping back onto my bed. “Okay, so there *may* have been a small... incident. At the summit.”

His eyes lit up like I’d handed him the juiciest gossip. “Incident? Define *incident*.”

I hesitated, but Dante’s grin was too much to resist. “Fine. I may or may not have publicly called out Sweden’s golden prince for being a hypocrite…. and a pretty face, I’m almost sure.”

There was a beat of silence before he let out a booming laugh. “*You did what?* Oh, Leo, you’re a goddamn legend. Please tell me there’s video.”

“There’s plenty of video,” I muttered. “And tabloids. And headlines. And my mom has read them all, of course. She wasn’t thrilled.”

“Forget her,” Dante said, waving a hand. “I’m thrilled. You told off a *prince*. A Swedish one, no less. Is he as uptight as they say? Is he hot?”

I grinned. “Tighter than his royal tailor’s stitching. But annoyingly hot, yeah. You should’ve seen the way he glared at me—it was like I’d personally insulted his ancestors.”

Dante leaned closer to the screen, his expression turning mischievous. “And how close were you, exactly? Did the prince get all red in the face? Maybe a little sweaty?”

I rolled my eyes. “Dante, it was a conference, not an afterparty. But yes, I did manage to get pretty close—when I went to see him afterwards.”

“Afterwards…?” he echoed, his tone dripping with curiosity.

“Yes, I went to apologize in private, of course,” I said matter-of-factly, as though it were the most reasonable thing in the world. “It went well, but I don’t think he’s exactly thrilled with me at the moment.”

Dante frowned, his skepticism written all over his face. “And why not?”

I shrugged, feigning nonchalance but knowing exactly why. “We kissed, and now it’s weird.”

“Wait, you what?” Dante exploded into laughter, clapping his hands in approval. “I’m so fucking proud of you, cuz!”

I couldn’t help but give him a modest smirk. “You taught me well…”

“Ah, and now you’re off to save trees together?” he teased, a devilish glint in his eye. “Or is this just your excuse to get closer to the royal boy?”

I groaned, covering my face with a pillow. “It’s not like that.”

“Liar,” he said with a laugh. “You’re already picturing him shirtless, aren’t you? The noble prince, chopping down trees to save the rainforest—very eco-sexy.”

“Shut up,” I said, but I couldn’t stop the grin creeping across my face. “This isn’t about him. I care about the project. And maybe... maybe I do want to make up for what happened. I went too far.”

Dante raised an eyebrow. “Wow. Self-reflection from you? Did hell freeze over?”

“You too, dude? I’m serious,” I said, sitting up. “It’s not just about Alexander. I want to do something real for once.”

He gave me a skeptical look, his grin never faltering. “Sure, sure. You’re all about saving the world now. But let’s be honest, Leo—if Alexander decided to join a lumberjack militia to chop down every tree in the rainforest, you’d be right there with him, wouldn’t you?”

I laughed despite myself. “In a heartbeat. Anything to keep him away from Sofia The Bitch.”

“Sofia?” Dante said, perking up. “Who the hell is that?”

I waved a hand dramatically. “Some Miss Scandinavia wannabe who’s been lurking in the tabloids lately, trying to steal my man.”

“Your man?” Dante echoed, his grin widening. “Does he even know he’s *your* man?”

“Not yet,” I said, sitting up and adjusting my hair in the mirror. “But he will. By the end of this trip, Alexander won’t even remember Sofia exists—or anyone else who tries to get close.” My possessive side was kicking in, hard.

Dante shook his head, thoroughly amused. “You’re a piece of work, Leo. But hey, if anyone can pull this off, it’s you.”

“Damn right,” I said, flashing him a confident smile.

“Just don’t scare the poor guy off, okay?” Dante teased, leaning closer to pick into my suitcase, his voice full of mock seriousness. “Start small. A little charm, a little flirting... maybe don’t whip out the silk restraints on day one.”

“Leave BDSM for the second day. Noted!”

“And don’t forget,” he added, raising his wine glass, “I expect graphic updates. I want the full, uncensored version.”

“You’ll be the first to know,” I promised, smirking. “But don’t expect too much too soon. He’s like an iceberg—impossible to break.”

“Leo,” Dante whispered conspiratorially, “if there’s one thing I’ve taught you, it’s that persistence wins every time. Just keep chipping away. Show that boy what else your mouth is good for.”

“Thanks, Professor Dante,” I said with a mock curtsey. “And maybe, when you meet us in Italy, you can give him a few tips yourself.”

“Always happy to serve the cause,” he said with a wicked grin. “Just don’t forget to bring the restraints with you.”

Laughing, I ended the call and stretched out on the bed, letting my mind wander. I imagined how it might go—Crown Boy and I, stuck in the middle of nowhere, showing off my survival skills. Using all that military training to protect him from lions and shit. Of course, I’d be the hero, ripping heads off to defend my delicate royal flower.

*A knife! I should totally pack a knife.*

A thrill of anticipation coursed through me. Whatever happened, I was ready for it.

This wasn’t exactly in the project description, but Prince Charming was now under my protection, and I’d be damned if I let anything—or anyone—get close to what was mine.