A Royal Amnesia Scandal

by Jules Bennett

  “I don’t trust you,” he countered. “There’s a difference.”

  Those heavy lids shielded her dark eyes for a moment as she stared down to where his hands lay on her stomach.

  “I didn’t trap you,” she whispered as her eyes drifted back up to his. “No matter what you think of me, I’d never do that to you or an innocent child.”

  Luc swallowed as her hand settled over his. There was so much emotion in her eyes, so much he was too afraid to identify, because if he did, he’d start feeling more for her, and he refused to be played like a fantouche, a puppet, for a third time.

  Pride and ego fueled his decisions. Power and control ran a close second. And all those things combined would get him everything he’d ever wanted...everything he was entitled to.

  Luc shifted to sit up, but didn’t remove his hand, and for some asinine reason he didn’t break eye contact, either. Obviously, he was a glutton for punishment.

  “I want you to move into the palace.”

  Of course, he had bigger plans, but he had to ease her into this. She wasn’t the only one skilled at manipulation.

  “I’m not sure that’s a good idea.”

  She removed her hand from his, a silent plea for him to move, so he pulled back. The first slight dip in the plane’s decent reminded Luc he hadn’t fastened his seat belt because he’d been worried for her. He quickly buckled it, then turned his attention back to Kate.

  “Why not?” he asked. “Moving into the palace is the ideal solution. We’ll be sharing responsibilities. I know we’ll hire a nanny, but I plan on being a hands-on dad.”

  Kate shoved her hair away from her face. A thin sleep mark ran down her cheek. It made her seem so vulnerable, and it was all he could do not to touch her again. “What will happen when you want to actually marry someone? Are you going to explain to your bride that your baby mama is living there, too?”

  Luc laughed. “That’s a pretty crass way to put it.”

  Kate shrugged, lacing her fingers together as she glanced out the window. “I’m not sugarcoating this situation and neither should you.”

  Luc didn’t say anything else. He would sway her with his actions, not his words. She would come to see that living with him, ultimately marrying him, would be the best way to approach their predicament. And when they married, she would be sleeping in his bed again. He’d make sure of it.

  Now he just needed to get his hormones under control, because he was physically aching for her. Being near her now that he’d had her was pure hell. The woman was made for him. Nobody had ever matched him in the bedroom—or shower—the way she did.

  Yet Kate was so much more than a sex partner. He’d discovered an emptiness in him now that they were back to keeping things professional. No matter the circumstances surrounding the false engagement, Luc couldn’t help but think back and realize those days spent on the island were some of the happiest of his life.

  * * *

  Kate had been to many royal events over the past year as an official employee of the Silva family. Before that, she’d seen enough to know that royalty never did anything halfway, especially when it came to weddings.

  The ceremony uniting Darcy and Mikos Alexander had taken place earlier in the day, and now only the couple’s closest family and guests, of which there appeared to be several hundred, remained for the reception.

  No expense had been spared for the event taking place both in the ballroom and out in the courtyard at the palace on Galini Isle, off the coast of Greece. Every stationary item was draped with something crystal, shimmering or sheer.

  As she watched the bride and groom dance, Kate couldn’t help but smile. Mikos had lost his first wife suddenly, leaving him to care for their infant daughter alone. Needing a break, he’d gone to Los Angeles to get away and think. He’d hired Darcy to be his daughter’s nanny, and before long the two had fallen in love...even though Mikos had slightly deceived Darcy, because she’d had no idea he was royalty. Of course, none of that had made it to the press, but Kate knew the whole story from Luc.

  Luc and Mikos had been best friends forever. Kate was quite familiar with Mikos and his brother, Stefan, who was also in attendance, with his stunning wife, Victoria.

  Even if the crystal chandeliers, flawless ice sculptures, millions of clear twinkling lights and yards upon yards of sheer draping hadn’t screamed elegance and beauty, the gorgeous people milling about certainly would have.

  This was definitely one of those times she was thankful her mother was the royal seamstress. By the time Luc had sprung the trip on her, Kate hadn’t had time to go shopping. So her mom had taken an old gown and made enough modifications to transform it into something lovely and totally unique. What had once been a simple, fitted silver dress was now unrecognizable. The sleeves had been removed and the top had been cut into a sweetheart neckline to give the allure of sexiness with a slight show of cleavage. Her mother had then had the brilliant idea of taking strands of clear beads and sewing them so they would drape across Kate’s arms, as if her straps had fallen and settled just above her biceps.

  Kate actually felt beautiful in this dress, and judging from the way Luc had stared at her without saying a word when he’d come to get her for the wedding, she had to assume he thought she looked nice, as well.

  She still couldn’t get the image out of her mind of him waking her for the landing. He’d been so close, staring at her as if he wanted to touch her, kiss her. Their chemistry wasn’t in question, that was obvious, but he clearly battled whether or not to act on it.

  Maybe their time apart would have him coming around, to see that she truly wasn’t aiming for the crown. She sure as hell wasn’t Alana.

  Nervously glancing around the room, Kate toyed with the amethyst pendant that hung just above her breasts. She hadn’t worn the ring Luc had bought her; that would’ve just felt wrong. She’d actually placed it in his desk drawer days ago, though she had no clue if he’d found it.

  Since Luc had started his best-man duties, she’d pretty much been on her own. That was fine, actually. The more she was around Luc, the harder she was finding it to face the reality that while she was having his baby, he’d never see her as more than a speech writer who happened to be giving him an heir.

  Once the evening wound down, perhaps they could talk. She held out hope that he would remember the woman she was before his accident, not the liar she’d turned into for a few short days.

  “Champagne, ma’am?”

  The waiter, balancing a tray full of flutes of the bubbly drink, smiled at her. Kate shook her head.

  “No, thank you.”

  As soon as he moved on another man approached her. He’d been only a few feet away and she’d seen him a few times during the evening. The tall stranger with tanned skin and black hair was hard to miss, especially when she’d caught him eyeing her more than once. He’d been smiling her way for a while, and now he was closing the gap between them.

  “You turned down champagne and you’re not dancing,” he said in lieu of hello. “One would think you’re not having a good time.”

  Kate smiled, trying to place his accent. Not Greek. Mikos had friends and acquaintances all over the world, so who knew where he was from?

  “I’m having a great time,” she told him. “It’s so beautiful, I’m just taking in all the scenery.”

  “I’ve been taking in the scenery, too.”

  His eyes held hers, and the implication was not lost on her. At one time that line may have worked on her, but she felt absolutely no tingling or giddiness in her stomach when this man approached, blatantly hitting on her. Good thing, because she was certain she didn’t have the strength to be tied up with more than one man.

  “Would you care to dance?”

  Kate glanced around. She hadn’t seen Luc for a while, and more than likely he was schmoozing with people he rarely got to see. Besides, it wasn’t as if he had a claim on her. He’d pretty much brought her here for one of two reasons: as a lame
plan B or to keep an eye on her. Either way, he’d ignored her most of the evening, and she was entitled to some fun, too.

  “I’d love to.”

  Kate slid her hand through the stranger’s arm and held on to the crook of his elbow as he led her to the dance floor. When he found an opening, he spun her around until she was in his arms. Kate purposely kept her body from lining up against his as she placed her hand on his shoulder and curled her fingers around his outstretched hand.

  “I’m Kate, by the way.”

  A smile kicked up at the corner of his mouth. “I’m Lars.”

  “Pleasure to meet you,” she said as he turned her in a wide circle. “You’re a great dancer.”

  “I’m actually a professional ballroom dancer.” He laughed as he led her into a slower dance when the song changed. “Stick with me tonight and we’ll be the envy of all the other couples.”

  Kate couldn’t help but laugh at his blatant ego. “I should tell you, I’m taken.”

  Well, she wasn’t exactly taken, but she was having another man’s child, and she was in love with said man, even though he didn’t return the feelings. So she felt it necessary to let Lars know he stood no chance with her.

  He leaned in closer to whisper into her ear. “Yet he’s not here and I am.” When he leaned back, his smile remained in place. “Don’t worry. I just wanted to dance with the most stunning woman in the room.”

  “I think that honor goes to the bride,” Kate corrected.

  Darcy had looked magnificent in a fitted ivory dress with an elegant lace overlay, complete with a lace train that would make any princess envious. Darcy had looked like a character from a fairy-tale romance, and her Prince Charming at the end of the aisle had had nothing but love on his face for his bride.

  Would Kate ever find that? Would she ever find a man who looked at her as though there was nothing greater in the world than the fact she lived in it?

  “Uh-oh. I’m going to start questioning my skills if you keep frowning.”

  Kate shook the thoughts away. “Your dance skills are perfect, though I’m sure you already knew that. I think the jet lag is getting to me.”

  Not to mention the pregnancy...which she and Luc still hadn’t discussed announcing. So for now, she was keeping it to herself. Granted, not many people knew who she was, but the same could not be said for Luc.

  Lars opened his mouth to say something, but his eyes darted over Kate’s shoulder as he came to a stop.

  “It’s time to go, Kate.”

  Turning, she saw Luc standing less than a foot away.

  “I’m dancing right now,” she commented, not letting go of her partner’s hand. “I can find my way back. You go on.”

  Luc pasted on a deadly smile and glanced at Lars. “I’m sure he will understand. Won’t you, Lars?”

  The other man merely nodded and stepped back, but not before kissing Kate’s hand. “It was truly my pleasure.”

  Then he disappeared in the crowd of dancers, most likely heading to find another partner. Kate jerked around, clenching her teeth.

  “Watch what you say,” Luc warned as he took her arm and led her away. “I’ve got plenty to tell you, too, so save it until we’re alone.”

  “What makes you think I’m going anywhere with you?” she said through gritted teeth. “You can’t tell me who to spend time with.”

  Luc’s fingers tightened around her arm as he leaned in closer to her side. “Oh, we’re going to be alone, and I’m going to explain to you exactly why that little scene will never happen again.”

  Fifteen

  Luc was seething. He hated like hell that his emotions had overridden common sense, but the second he’d seen Kate dancing with Lars, all rational thoughts had vanished.

  The palace was big enough to house the special guests of the bride and groom, so Luc was glad he didn’t have to drag Kate too far before he lit into her.

  He’d purposely avoided her as much as he could because of her body-hugging dress. That damn gown nearly had him babbling like some horny teen, but he’d somehow managed to keep his tongue in his mouth when he first saw her. Luc knew if he’d stayed too close to Kate this evening, there would be no way to hide his obvious attraction.

  And he couldn’t let the attraction show, because Kate might try to use that...for what? Wasn’t he set on using her?

  Only now that he’d seen her in the arms of another man, the game had just changed. Luc wanted her. Right now.

  He reached the second floor and headed down the hall to his suite. He had no clue if Kate was deliberately toying with him, but she had him tied in knots he’d never be able to untangle thanks to that little stunt with Lars...a man Luc despised.

  “I want to go to my room,” she demanded, yanking from his hold as soon as he stopped in front of a set of double doors. “I’m not going in there with you.”

  Resting his hand on the knob, Luc threw a smirk over his shoulder. “You are.”

  Kate’s eyes narrowed. “No, my room is down the hall.”

  Before he realized his intentions, he’d pulled her around, wedging her body between his and the door. “Your room is right here until I’m done with you.”

  “Well, I’m already done talking. You were completely rude down there. You can’t just—”

  His mouth covered hers. If she was done talking, then he’d find better use for that mouth and ignore all the damn red flags waving around in his mind. He didn’t care about all the reasons this was wrong, didn’t care that moments ago she’d been in another man’s arms. Right now she was in his arms, and he was taking full advantage of that lush, curvy body.

  Kate’s hands came up to his shoulders to push at him, but Luc settled his palms on her hips and pressed against her. Suddenly, her fingertips were curling into his tuxedo jacket.

  The feel of her rounded hips beneath her killer dress was just as potent as this steamy kiss. Kate tipped her head slightly, but the silent invitation was all he needed to trace a path with his tongue down the column of her throat.

  “Luc,” she panted in a whisper. “We’re in the hallway.”

  Gripping her hips, Luc rested his forehead against her collarbone. “You make me crazy, Kate. Out of my mind crazy.”

  Reaching around her, he opened the door. As soon as they were inside, he closed it, flicked the lock and leaned back against it.

  “Did you bring me to your suite to talk or to have sex?” she asked, her arms folded across her beautifully displayed chest. “Because I know what you said, but that episode in the hall has me confused.”

  Luc remained where he was as he raked a hand down his face. “Lars isn’t a good idea.” He ignored her narrowed gaze. “Seeing you in his arms... He’s a player, Kate.”

  She held Luc’s eyes for a moment before she burst out laughing. “You’re kidding me. You interrupt my dance, you manhandle me out of the ballroom and up the steps, and then you attempt to make out with me in the hallway because you’re jealous? And you’re calling someone else a player?”

  “First of all, I’m not jealous.” Wow, that almost sounded convincing. “Second, I never manhandled you, and third, you were completely on board with what was going on in the hallway. You moaned.”

  Kate rolled her eyes and turned to stalk across the open suite. “I did not moan.”

  Luc didn’t know which view was better, the front of Kate’s gown with the glimpse of her breasts or the back, where he could fully focus on the perfection of her shape. She stood at the desk, her hands resting on it, her head dropped forward.

  “I don’t know what you want from me.” Her voice was so low he had to move closer to hear. “I won’t allow you to pull me all these directions because of your out-of-control emotions, Luc. You know how strongly I feel for you, and yet you continue to torture me.”

  He was counting on those feelings to get him what he wanted. As much as he hated to admit it, he needed Kate in every way.

  Before Luc realized it, he’d completely closed t
he distance between them. Sliding his hands around her waist, he pressed his palms against her still-flat stomach and jerked her body against his.

  “You think you don’t torture me?” he asked, his lips brushing the side of her ear. She shivered against him. “You think seeing you dressed like this, moving your body against another man’s, isn’t pure hell?”

  “Why do you care?”

  “Because just the thought of you turns me inside out. Because knowing how sexy you are wearing only a smile that I put on your lips turns me on faster than anything.”

  Luc eased her around and framed her face with his hands. “Because I’m so torn up over what to do about you, all I can think of is getting you out of this damn dress and seeing if this chemistry is real or if it only existed when I thought we were engaged.”

  Kate’s breath caught in her throat as she stared back at him. “I can’t sleep with you as an experiment, Luc. I love you.” Her voice cracked and her eyes filled with tears. “I’m not hiding how I feel. I can’t. But I also can’t be used on a whim, whenever you get an itch you need to scratch.”

  “You’re more than an itch.”

  “What am I?” she whispered.

  Luc couldn’t put a label to this madness that had become his life. He’d planned on seduction, but he hadn’t planned on the jealousy that had speared through him moments ago. Kate was his.

  “You’re the woman I’m about to put on this desk and strip until she’s wearing nothing but that pendant. You’re the woman who is going to forget everything else but what’s happening right here, right now.”

  “Sex won’t solve anything.”

  “No, but it will take the edge off for both of us.”

  Luc leaned closer, rubbing his lips across hers, so slowly. He reached around, found the zipper and eased it down. When the material parted in the back, he splayed his hand across her bare skin, relishing the way she trembled against him.

  “Tell me you don’t want this,” he murmured against her mouth. “Tell me you don’t want to see what happens right now between us, and you can walk out that door before we get too far to turn back.”