The Royal’s Pretend Wife by Sophia Lynn Page B

stroking Carolina's hair.
    “Well, that was a ridiculously bitchy thing to do, but you know, she has a point.”
    Trinity blinked. “What do you mean?”
    “You and Apolo. You're the golden couple, and if you two weren't so damned likeable, I'd want to throw some salt in your food too.”
    “We're not perfect,” Trinity murmured, but she knew better than the other women why they looked that way.
    It was easy to be perfect when you were on the job. She didn't have to live with someone who was bitter about the world, like Jozef, or who was cheerful but clueless on so many things, like Antonio. She had never hitched her life to anyone and decided that he was right for forever. Instead, she and Apolo only had to be perfect for three weeks, and in some ways, that made it easier.
    Trinity was amused that the show was having them be as normal as possible and trying to see what was going to frighten or shock them. If she fell into her days as a rich billionaire's daughter, she could remember her shock and disgust, but now it came with a layer of hilarity. She felt that her crowning moment was brokering a moment of peace for all six of the show's subjects with flavored ice. It was difficult to be angry with someone when you had a flavored ice, she now firmly believed.
    The days would never settle into a rhythm because after all, there wasn't one. That was fine, however. Even the surprises were things she could handle, mostly with her dignity intact.
    No, if she had any problems with the job, it was the nights.
    Trinity had thought that if they slept together without actually doing anything, the desire they had for one another would die down. Now, two weeks later, she realized that it had not. At all. Not for her at any rate.
    Apolo had always been a tough read, but now he was harder. Once or twice, she caught him watching her, his eyes as dark as the flames of hell. Then he would turn to face her directly, his expression pleased to see her and mild, and she would convince herself that it was all in her head. Sometimes it felt as if he must desire her as much as she desired him. Other times, it was as if he thought that this was a job like any other.
    Every night, when she lay down next to him, she was plagued with thoughts of what they might be doing to one another. Even if she managed to fall asleep, her dreams would be full of his mouth and his touch. She remembered with aching clarity how he had created that well of desire in her that night in Spain, how he had filled it higher and higher until she had thought she would go insane.
    Of course, her sleeplessness didn't go unnoticed. Even when she hid the dark circles under her eyes with expertly applied makeup and made sure that she drank plenty of coffee, the others commented on it. Serafina seemed to feel that it was her duty to mention how much “exercise” Trinity must be getting, while Antonio seemed simply impressed with Apolo's supposed prowess. It would have been hilarious if it wasn't so very, very frustrating.
    Thursday started out like any other morning. There was breakfast, and the six of them chatted as they ate. Yesterday had been an easy day of shopping in Soho, so the general guess was that today was going to be a bit harder. Trinity privately thought that the show was a little dull. She wasn't sure if she would still be watching if she were just a viewer.
    Just as they were finishing up, the host breezed in with his wide grin and easy manner. The six of them quieted to see what he had to say, and he beamed at all of them as if he were their fond schoolteacher.
    “One of the reasons why we have brought you onto Real Royals is see how you do with your spouses,” he started. “The public has always been eager to know how those above them live and love, and you have certainly shown us that.
    “Today, however, we are going to see what happens when we put a little bit of a wedge between you. Today, we are breaking you off into pairs that do not include your