“If you give me a few minutes, I’ll take you up to my room.” His lips cruised over her damp skin, causing her to already want him again. “I need you in my bed.”
Darcy didn’t say a word. She would follow him to his bed. She’d follow him anywhere he asked.
* * *
Darcy’s hair tickled the side of his face, but there was no way he was moving. She fit perfectly against his side, tucked snugly into him, as if she was made to be there. But right now, after taking her on his desk, and pleasuring her again once they’d arrived in his room, Colin didn’t want to think any deeper than this blissful, sated feeling. He couldn’t, wouldn’t dive into that black hole of thoughts where all of his worries and fears about committing to another woman lived.
For the first time in months, he let loose and enjoyed his time with a refreshing woman who pulled him back to basic life...exactly what he’d been searching for.
With Darcy’s arm across his abdomen and her leg across his thigh, the woman was staking her own claim and he had to admit, he liked it. He liked her. To know she wasn’t into one-night stands completely humbled him. She’d been brave to initiate the encounter.
“I have a trip I need to take in a few days.” His words cut through the darkened silence. “I’d like you to accompany me.”
Sliding her fingertips up and down his abs, she asked, “Where are we going?”
“I need to go back home for an event,” he told her, unable to reveal the rest of the details. “We will only be gone a few days.”
* * *
Darcy shifted, easing up on one elbow to look down at him. His eyes had adjusted to the dark, plus the soft glow from the security monitors offered a dim light.
“Do I need to pack anything in particular?” she asked with a smile. “I’ve never been out of the country before.”
She’d need a passport if she didn’t have one and that could be problematic unless his assistant pulled some strings. They’d be flying in the palace jet, but still there was customs. He’d have his staff figure out the details.
“That blue dress would be a nice start,” he told her. “But just be yourself. That’s all you need to do.”
She didn’t have to go, she could stay behind, but he wanted her there. Granted he had a whole host of people who could care for Iris—maids, butlers, assistants, his sister-in-law. The list truly was endless.
But he wanted Darcy on his turf, he wanted to see how she fit into his life.
Colin nearly gasped as a realization dawned on him. He was falling for this woman in his arms. He was falling so hard, so fast, but he couldn’t admit it fully, because what if she rejected him?
“You mentioned your parents had passed. Do you have siblings other than the brother you’ve mentioned?”
Her question pulled him from his thoughts.
Being here with Darcy, going into public without guards or paparazzi snapping photos was so different, so refreshing and so damn freeing. But he still felt as if he was letting down not only his country but Stefan. His brother was all Colin had left and putting the entire future of Galini Isle on Stefan’s shoulders wasn’t fair.
“Just Stefan and his wife Victoria.”
“And they live in Greece?”
“Yes,” he replied, fully enjoying the way her fingers continued to travel over his exposed torso. “What about you? No siblings, I assume.”
“No. It was just my Gram and me after my parents split town. Apparently they weren’t into the whole parenting thing and my Gram wasn’t about to let me go into the foster system. I lived with her, worked with her and learned everything I know from the most amazing woman in the world.”
No wonder Darcy was such a fighter. She’d had one person to depend on her entire life...a life spent caring for others. Colin had a whole army of people he depended on back home and he was running from them.
“Did you once mention wanting to adopt a baby of your own?” he asked.
A soft sigh escaped her, tickling his shoulder. “I would love to adopt, but it’s expensive and my business needs to get back on track again. I’m afraid by the time I get all settled financially and go through the process, I’ll be too old.”
“You’re young enough.”
Her fingertips traced his tattoo the same way her tongue had earlier. She’d damn near had his eyes rolling back in his head.
“I know, but given the experience I had with my ex...it just hurts.” She settled her head back in the crook of his arm, but continued to run her hand over his chest and abs as if she couldn’t get enough...which suited him just fine. “To know you share your dreams, open your heart to someone and have them lie and betray you like that. I’m not sure I’ll ever get over that pain. My dreams were put on hold and I’m not sure I’ll ever get them back.”
Colin swallowed. He wasn’t the same as this ex, so he shouldn’t feel guilty about lying.
Still, he wanted to clear the air about something.
“The last woman I was with was my wife,” he told her, hating this topic in bed, but needing to get it out. “I know I mentioned that before, but I wanted you to know I may have been reckless as a teen and into my early twenties, but between marrying, the accident and then Iris, I’ve calmed down. I didn’t want you to think I was using you because you were here and convenient.”
“I know you’re not,” she murmured. “I’ve only been with one man before you. I just don’t take the time to date and a fling is not something I can do.”
Colin laughed, earning him a smack. “Sorry,” he chuckled.
“You know what I mean,” she defended. “I’m going to be here several months, so I hope tonight wasn’t a one-time thing. I mean, I guess that should’ve been discussed, but I assumed—”
Colin rolled over, pinning her beneath him and cutting off her words.
“I plan on having you as often as you’ll allow me to,” he told her. As he looked into her bright eyes, he knew he had to tell her the rest. “I need to tell you why we’re going back home.”
She stared up at him, her eyes locking directly onto his. “Let’s not talk right now.” She spread her legs so he could settle firmly between them. “I only want to think about right now, with you, in your bed.”
The trip could wait.
Colin smoothed her hair away from her face, nipped at her lips. “Maybe I want you to just lay back, think of absolutely nothing but how good everything feels.”
He didn’t wait for her reply as he started kissing his way down her body. When Darcy clutched the sheets, he smiled as he continued his path.
The next few months were going to be amazing.
Thirteen
Darcy wore only Colin’s T-shirt as she maneuvered around the kitchen getting breakfast ready. She’d skipped her early morning workout and opted to stay snuggled next to Colin’s warm, strong body. Of course she’d gotten enough of a calorie burn last night, in the middle of the night and again this morning.
Not only had he ruined her for any other man, he’d ruined her for any other workout. Why exercise with some cold piece of machinery when she could get a thorough workout with a hunky man ready to meet her every need?
Iris sat in her high chair, tapping her spoon against the tray and babbling. Every now and then a coherent word would slip out, but she was mostly just entertaining herself while Darcy cooked up some pancakes.
Colin had wanted to shower early, so he should be joining them soon. Everything about the morning after wasn’t at all uncomfortable the way she’d heard people say. If anything it was very...domestic and normal.
The chime at the gate jerked Darcy from stirring the pancake batter. Who on earth was trying to visit this early in the morning? As long as no one on the inside of the house buzzed the guest in, they wouldn’t get beyond the gate, unless they had
the code. Darcy wasn’t allowing anyone to pass through because Colin hadn’t mentioned he was expecting a guest and this wasn’t her house.
A moment later Colin came down the steps wearing a pair of running shorts and nothing else but a tan and the tat. She’d explored that body, tasted and touched it, yet the sight of him still had her knees weakening. How had her life gone from being so bleak, so depressing, to something that sparked hope and new life?
“Was that the gate alarm?” he asked as he bent down to give Iris a kiss and ruffle her curly bedhead.
“Yeah. I didn’t answer the call because I didn’t know if you were expecting anybody or not.”
Darcy went back to mixing, wondering how she should act this morning. The entire scene seemed so family-like, so perfect, and she feared she’d make a mistake and this dream would be over.
“I’m not. Wonder who wanted in this early in the morning?” he mumbled. “I take it you weren’t expecting anyone.”
Darcy laughed as she poured the batter for several pancakes onto the warm griddle. “Do you honestly think I’ve invited friends to come over?”
“You can, you know.”
She glanced his way and rolled her eyes. “I may take you up on that. I’ve texted my friends, but I’ve just been too busy to entertain.”
“You can entertain me anytime.” He crossed the spacious kitchen, rounded the island and slid a hand up beneath the T-shirt she wore. “You look better in this shirt than I ever did.”
How could she not get swept into the fantasy this whole scene represented? She had to keep everything separate—her attraction for Colin in one part of her heart, her love for Iris in another. And there was no room for this family bonding. Colin and Iris weren’t her family no matter how much she wished they were. Being swept into a love affair was already uncharted territory, but allowing her heart to get caught up in this fantasy was only going to crush her in the end when she walked away alone.
The doorbell chimed, causing Darcy and Colin to freeze. His hand slid out of the shirt, leaving her cold where his warmth had been.
“Stay here. There’s only one person who has this code besides us.”
Colin didn’t look happy. Who would have the code? They’d been here for two months and nobody had used it yet, so why now?
As soon as the front door opened, another male voice filled the home. She pulled the pancakes off the griddle and set them aside on a spare plate. After flicking the griddle off, Darcy cut up a half of a pancake for Iris. Raised voices from the foyer had Darcy plucking Iris from her highchair.
Who was here? Should she try to go out the back and get to a neighbor for help? Darcy cursed herself for only wearing a T-shirt. She scooted closer to the side of the kitchen that was closest to the foyer to see if she could hear better but not be seen since she was hardly dressed for company.
“Are you going to let me in?” an unfamiliar male voice asked. Whoever this man was, he had the same sexy accent as Colin.
Colin spoke vehemently, again in Greek—what sounded like a curse. Moments later the door closed. Whoever was here, Colin knew him but he was a stranger to Darcy. Great. Her attire screamed that she’d just gotten out of bed...her lover’s bed.
“Nice place,” the other man commented. “But are you ready to come back and forget this notion of living in the States?”
“You should’ve called,” Colin replied, his tone implying the guest still wouldn’t have been welcome.
“We’ve talked nearly every single day. I wanted to surprise you.”
Footsteps echoed, growing louder. Darcy moved toward the island and put Iris back into her high chair. She’d just taken her seat when a man who could be Colin’s twin stepped into the room, Colin right on his heels.
“Stefan, this is Darcy.”
She hadn’t been able to hide behind the island in time and the man’s eyes traveled over her, taking in her oversized T-shirt, the hem of the boxers peeking out from beneath it and her bare legs before going to Iris and then back to Colin.
“I’m sorry,” he said, turning back toward Colin. “I didn’t know...wait, is this your nanny?”
Darcy cringed and turned to concentrate on cutting up Iris’s food. Whatever was going on with these two, she wanted no part of it. Clearly they had issues that didn’t involve her. Well, maybe they did now.
“Stefan,” Colin growled. “Not a word.”
“I’m just trying to figure things out.” Stefan shook his head and propped his hands on his hips. “Are you giving up your title, turning your back on your country and the throne for someone you barely know?”
Darcy froze. Title? Throne?
Slowly, she lifted her gaze to Colin. He stared back at her as if he was waiting to see her reaction, too.
“Shut the hell up, Stefan,” Colin nearly shouted. “Apologize to Darcy. She has nothing to do with my decision and you know I’m taking the full six months to think this through.”
“My apologies,” Stefan said, turning and tipping his head toward Darcy. The worried look etched across his face told Darcy he was sincere. “I mean no disrespect to you. I was just taken aback. I’ve been waiting for my brother to come home, and I knew he’d found a reason to stay for now. I certainly didn’t mean to take my shocked state out on you. Actually, Mikos has told me quite a bit about you and I want to thank you for being so kind to my niece.”
“There’s nothing to worry about with me,” Colin cut in before Darcy could respond. “I’m still unclear on my decision.”
“Mikos.” The other man stepped closer to Colin. “Are you seriously that happy here that you’re still confused? Have you not missed anything about Galini Isle or the people who love you?”
Darcy swallowed, terrified to ask, but needing to know. “Why is he calling you Mikos and what does he mean by throne and title?”
Colin’s eyes closed on a sigh, but before he could answer, the other man turned to face her completely. “I’m calling him Mikos because that’s his name and he’s a prince from Galini Isle, a small country off the coast of Greece.”
Darcy had no idea what to say, what to do. All those times they’d talked, every single day they’d shared together over the last two months and he couldn’t find it in his heart to tell her any of that? Not even his real name?
Tears blurred her vision, but even through the hurt and confusion, she had a baby to care for. That was what he was paying her for, right?
Whatever game he was playing by seducing her, it was clear that she was pretty much just hired help. Had he ever seen her as anything more or had he been laughing at her this entire time?
“Darcy—”
With a jerk of her head and a glare, Darcy cut off whatever Colin, Mikos...whoever, had been about to say.
“You haven’t told her?” the other man asked. “Classy, Mikos. Real classy.”
* * *
Colin was seriously fighting the urge to punch his brother in the face. First of all, to show up unannounced was rude even for Stefan. Second, how the hell did he fix this with Darcy now? The last thing he wanted was for her to be hurt, for her to feel as though she’d been betrayed again.
But he’d lied because been so dead set on keeping his identities separate. He’d gotten so wrapped up in her, in this life, that he hadn’t given much thought to consequences. He’d been thinking only of himself. Just as he had with Karina, and look how that had turned out.
“Let me feed her,” Colin offered, stepping forward. “You go change.”
Her hands shook with each bite she put in Iris’s mouth, but Darcy didn’t even turn to answer him.
“Darcy.” Stefan also stepped forward. “I apologize for coming in like this and dropping a bomb on you. I’d assumed my brother would’ve told you about his status. Why don’t you go change and I’ll feed my niece? I haven
’t seen her for a long time.”
Now Darcy lifted her head, gave a slight nod and headed out of the room, careful to go around the island to avoid getting too close Stefan and Colin. She didn’t say a word, didn’t look either of them in the eye.
Her pain lingered after she was gone. Colin would never forget the angst that had washed over her face right before she slid up that invisible wall and avoided looking at him. Good God, what had he done?
“I could kill you for that,” Colin muttered.
Stefan leaned his hip against the island and forked up another bite for Iris. He made an airplane motion and some ridiculous noise to get her to open for him. Of course she clapped and kicked her feet, oblivious to the turmoil going on.
“Don’t be angry with me that you kept the truth hidden. If you like the woman, and I have to assume you do because you’re still here, then she deserved the truth.”
Colin slammed his fist onto the counter. “You have no idea what has happened so don’t even think about assuming you do.” But Stefan was absolutely right. Why hadn’t he seen this coming?
“It’s about time you’re showing emotion for someone else.” A smile spread across Stefan’s face. “I’m glad to see you’re living again. Are you and Darcy serious?”
Colin rolled his eyes. This wasn’t up for debate. He went to get a plate, but suddenly he wasn’t hungry anymore. Right now Darcy was upstairs, most likely angry, hurt, maybe even crying, because he thought he could keep all the balls in the air and have control over every facet of his life.
“I don’t know what we are,” Colin defended himself. He thought he knew what he wanted, but would Darcy ever speak to him again? Did his wants even matter at this point?
Stefan paused, bite in midair. “She’s wearing your shirt and whisker burn, cooking your breakfast and caring for your child. I’d say that’s pretty serious. Yet you still lied to her. It makes me wonder why.”
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