Prince Albert: A Billionaire Stepbrother Romance
and exactly the kind of outside perspective I need on all of this.
    "Wait, why is this a Kensington kind of story?"
    "Seriously, isn't this right up your family's alley?"
    "We're not royalty," I say, dropping my tone to a whisper.  "It's insane."
    "But you're like, a real fucking princess," she says.  "Soon to be, anyway."
    "Yeah, right," I say.  "That's the last thing I want to be.  And you can’t tell anyone, Raine.  They haven’t made an announcement yet.”
    "Phoenix," she says, laughing as she calls for her boyfriend.  "Belle is living in a castle.  Like, for real.  With a king and shit."
    "Shh," I say, cutting her off.  "Seriously.  That's not public knowledge.  They're probably listening to my phone calls or something.  I don't even have my passport."
    "They're keeping you prisoner?" she squeaks.  "That's fucked up, Belle.  You're an American citizen."
    "Relax," I say.  "I think it just got misplaced or something when they unpacked my bags, maybe.  I have to go to the embassy and get a new one.”
    "Do you want Phoenix and I to come pick you up?" she asks.  "We're in Amsterdam for a few days.  Protrovia wasn't exactly on our tour, but we're flexible."
    "It's okay," I say.  I can't even imagine the shitshow it would be if Raine and her boyfriend showed up at the palace.  I adore Raine, but the thought of her walking inside the palace, reeking of patchouli and weed and admonishing the royal household for their gratuitous wealth, is enough to make me giggle.  "Maybe it's good that I'm here for a little while.  Derek has texted me about a million times."
    "What?" she asks.  "Screw that.  Your ex-fiancé cheated on you with your maid of honor.  You didn't respond, did you?"
    "Of course not," I say.  "I'm just saying that maybe it's good I'm not in the States right now.  Maybe I should be here for a little while."
    As I speak the words, I start to realize I might actually be considering staying for the summer.
    "Protrovia," she says.  "Isn't that the place – Phoenix, who's that prince, the one who's always in the news?  Albert.  Prince Albert.  I remember his name because of the whole dick-piercing thing.  Is he gorgeous?  Are they all ridiculous?"
    I groan.  I haven't breathed a word about Albie to anyone.  Not a single soul knows what happened in Vegas except Albie and I, and it's staying that way.  "Yeah, I mean, I haven't really seen him much.  I just got here.  And, yeah.  It's all pretty ridiculous."
    "He's the prince with the pierced cock, you know," she says.  "Have you ever screwed a guy with a piercing?  It's pretty fantastic."  She pauses, then laughs and whispers to her boyfriend.  "Yes, Phoenix, I'm talking about you."
    "No, I haven't done it with a guy with a pierced you-know-what ."  I sigh.  I called the one person I thought would have never heard of Prince Albert, and she knows all about him and his pierced cock.
    "Well, you should ," she says.  "In fact, he’s what you should do while you're there.  Shake off the cobwebs.  You need a fling.  Rebound sex."
    "I do not need rebound sex," I protest.
    Raine's voice comes back muffled.  "No, Phoenix, remember, I told you her fiancé cheated on her."  She pauses, then returns to the phone.  "You know how Phoenix feels about marriage.  And lawyers.  He says good riddance to Derek."
    "I can't believe you're telling me to hook up with a prince," I say.
    "It's not like I'm telling you to marry him," she says.  "Just have a good ol' fashioned fling.  Hasn't he slept with half the women in Europe, anyway?"
    "He's my new stepbrother," I say.  I fail to mention the part where I've already married him.
    "That makes it even more appropriate," she says, laughing.  "Don't all the royals marry their cousins and siblings?  Hey, I have to go.  We're having lunch with some other people from the hostel.  Are you going to be okay?"
    "Yes, go," I reassure her.  "I'm totally fine.”
    "Fling," she says, laughing as the

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