Royally Wed: a Romance Duet

by Noelle Adams

  He waited until she had walked around the corner before signaling to his security team to follow her. Once he was sure they would be able to track her without her knowing it, he walked over to where Tim was waiting with the limousine driver.

  “Everything in place?” he asked, knowing that it would be already.

  “Yes, Your Highness,” Tim replied, bowing as he opened the door for Erik.

  Erik looked sharply at his body guard before saying, “Make sure she doesn’t slip away again. I can’t believe we had no trace of her last night.”

  “Yes, Your Highness,” Tim said again before closing the door and getting into the front seat.

  Erik watched out the window as the cars passed by the limousine. His body was still rock hard and ready for her but he knew he’d have to slow down. The woman was completely untutored in the art of lovemaking and there had been a point when she’d almost pulled away from just a simple kiss. He wanted her but he’d have to go slowly, he reminded himself.

  He had some nagging guilt about initiating a virgin but that thought was ignored as his body refused to calm down. No woman had ever had this affect on him. It wasn’t just sex though. She stirred something in him, a chivalrous core that he’d thought had been beaten out of him by the mercenary women who constantly tried to get into his bed in order to become the next Princess of Montbain. He wanted to be with her sexually, but it was also nice to just talk to her and have her blatantly tell him he was wrong. No one had ever dared to do that with him. He also wanted to make all her dreams come true. Erik had never spent enough time talking with a woman to know if she had dreams or not, much less care if her dreams were ever realized. Ana might be new to the art of lovemaking, but he was new to the art of talking and actually listening, enjoying the company of a woman. He was a little surprised at how much he simply liked being with her.

  She couldn’t have come into his life at a worse time either. Erik remembered his father’s admonishing look this morning and his lecture on his royal obligations. Since he’d missed his own engagement party, his father was not happy with him. Erik hadn’t bothered to tell him that he’d been trying to track down a woman. That might have just compounded the issue.

  The limousine dropped him off at the building where he maintained a penthouse for use when he was in Washington. The top floor looked out onto the Capitol building and the Potomac River and Erik watched the riverboats move slowly down the water. Who was this mystery woman and why did she have to enter his life a month before he was supposed to get married? That wasn’t Erik’s usual luck but he wasn’t going to question it. He would figure out a way to keep her in his life. He’d kept mistresses in the past. Perhaps she would agree to come back to his country. He had several beautiful estates and he traveled often so it would be easy to find time to be with her.

  Erik heard a door open and close behind him. He watched as Tim walked up and bowed before speaking. “She is staying at the Mayflower, Your Highness. The team is now trying to find out more about her. So far, none of the staff at the Mayflower have any information.”

  “Good,” Erik replied. “Keep it up. Someone is bound to have something on her. A woman can’t just disappear like she did yesterday without any kind of a trace.”

  Tim bowed out of the room and left Erik to stare through the windows into the dark night. He sighed a few minutes later and went into his room where his valet had already laid out his evening attire. He was supposed to be attending a dinner meeting with several heads of oil companies. Putting on the suit, Erik contemplated his first night with Ana. He knew she’d be scared but he’d take things slowly and carefully, bring her to a climax before entering her. Erik played out the scene in vivid detail, his body reacting to his thoughts.

  THE FOLLOWING EVENING, Ana waited until Marabeth had left for her evening with her mother and father. Ana had begged off the night at the opera, telling them she wanted to be alone for a while. She was still unsure why no one had questioned her long absence yesterday but was grateful no one had seen her leave.

  She dressed carefully once she was alone. Choosing a simple black dress that hugged her figure, she wondered if the spaghetti straps and V neckline were too risqué for the evening. With trembling fingers, she put on a diamond pendant that laid a few inches above her slightly exposed cleavage and added a pair of diamond earrings. Staring at her reflection she wondered if she should put her hair up but in the end, she left it down simply because she ran out of time. It was almost six thirty when she stared at the finished product and there was no time to change. Nor did she want to. She wanted to impress Marcus and feel pretty, sexy tonight.

  Again, she stepped out of the elevator, her hair covered once more by a scarf but this one was black, as was her sleeveless cocktail dress with a chiffon skirt that fluttered around her knees.

  The spring night was cool and she asked the doorman to hail her a cab. She had cash stored in her purse that she’d gotten from the front desk. She’d found out that she could get a cash advance on her credit cards and was thrilled to have the extra security.

  “A restaurant called ‘Francois’ please,” she said to the cab driver, just as Marcus had instructed her to. And sure enough, the man nodded and drove off, making a U turn at the first intersection. It took less than ten minutes to arrive at the restaurant. Ana was ushered into the elegant interior and smiled at the maitre d’.

  “I’m here for Marcus...,” she said, halting at the realization that she didn’t know the man’s last name.

  “This way, ma’am,” the Maitre’d said without blinking or even waiting for a last name, and he led her to a small table in the back of the restaurant, secluded from the other patrons by potted plants. Marcus stood as soon as she rounded the corner and his eyes flared when he looked at her dress.

  “You look beautiful,” he said, lifting her hand to kiss the back gently.

  “Thank you,” she replied and admired his perfectly cut dark suit. “You look very dapper yourself.”

  “Thank you,” he replied. He pulled out her chair and waited until she was seated before stepping around to the other side of the table to sit down across from her. His eyes never left her face as he moved. “I like your hair down. It’s the first time I’ve been able to see it unhindered by a scarf of some kind,” he said.

  She was unable to reply since the waiter arrived and poured champagne that was already at the table chilling in a bucket of ice. “What did you do today?” he asked as he pushed her chair in for her.

  “I met with a bunch of old men who sat around telling war stories,” she said, smiling mischievously.

  “That doesn’t sound very interesting,” he chuckled. “But it’s about the same thing I’ve been doing.”

  “What were your old men talking about?”

  “Oil. And yours?”

  “Besides war stories, education,” she said. They talked politics again and after fifteen minutes, Ana shook her head. “You’re just trying to rile me, aren’t you?”

  “Yes,” he said. “You look so beautiful when you’re fired up. I admit that I do try to do it,” he said.

  Ana flushed but she saw the admiration in his eyes. “That’s not very gentlemanly of you.”

  “I never claimed to be a gentleman.”

  She laughed softly at his straight face. “Oh, but you are. And a wonderful one at that.” For some reason, she was absolutely sure about that.

  He raised one eyebrow questioningly. “Are you saying that there are awful gentlemen? Doesn’t that run against the definition of a gentleman?”

  Shaking her head, she was thrilled with the banter. “No. What I meant was, there are some who have to try to be a gentleman but for others, it comes naturally.”

  “And which category do I fall into?”

  She smiled broadly. “The natural one, of course.”

  The waiter arrived soon after that and they ordered their dinners but neither seemed too eager for the meal to begin. For Ana, she didn’t want to waste ti
me eating. It was too exhilarating just talking with him and arguing, or just sitting across from him and discussing how boring her day had been.

  They ate slowly and Ana didn’t look at her watch once. She didn’t care what time it was. All that mattered was being with this charming man for as long as she could before the hammer came down on her freedom.

  When the dessert was set in front of both of them, Ana looked longingly out into the night. “I know this is rather gauche of me to say, but I really don’t want the night to end.”

  “Come dancing with me,” he said.

  At her smile, he tossed several bills down onto the table and took her hand, pulling her out of the chair as they walked through the restaurant. Outside, he helped her into a waiting limousine and they drove off.

  “Come here,” he said and pulled her onto his lap. Ana didn’t hesitate, knowing he was going to kiss her and wanting it to happen. Instantly, the flames started up again and Ana wrapped her arms around his neck, kissing him back just as he had yesterday. His hand moved from her waist down to her thigh, casually caressing her leg until he reached the hem of her skirt. Ana grabbed his hand nervously as it started sliding up but she didn’t take her mouth away from his. After a few moments, his hand moved up again and this time, Ana didn’t stop him. In fact, her body seemed to arch toward him, eager to get as close as possible to this man and the heat he was building within her.

  Erik groaned when his hand touched skin at the top of her stockings. She was wearing thigh highs and not panty hose. His mind whirled and he had to force himself to slow down. Taking his hand off her leg, he put it onto her waist, knowing he couldn’t go that direction anymore or she’d fly out of the limousine while it was moving.

  He continued to kiss her, moving his mouth along her lips, then to her jaw and onto her neck. She was so responsive, each time he kissed a new area of her neck, she shivered and small little moans emanated from her.

  Erik couldn’t help it. One hand was holding her back and the other was on her waist but of its own volition, it moved upwards and rested carefully under her breast, waiting for a signal that it was okay to proceed. When she didn’t back away, he moved his hand higher and was rewarded with the nipple beading up under his hand.

  “Marcus, please!” she begged, her body arching under his strong hand, unsure of what she was desperately asking for but he knew. She heard the zipper of her dress slide down and then the cool air was against her breast. A moment later, his mouth was covering her nipple through the thin lace of her bra. Ana’s whole body shook as his mouth teased and enticed, his tongue swirled around the center and then his teeth nibbled.

  Ana cried out at the pleasure he was inciting within her. Her hands gripped his hair and pulled his head closer until he moved to the other breast, her dress now bunched around her waist. A part of her mind was horrified that she was allowing this man to take such liberties with her but the rest of her brain had shut off at the first touch of his lips against her skin. No, that wasn’t completely true. She’d shut off her mind’s cautions the moment she saw him at the restaurant earlier. She’d known from that moment that she wanted him to kiss her like this, to make her feel these feelings whirling around in her mind and body.

  After several moments of the pleasure shooting into her nerve endings, Ana cried out again, sure her body was going to break into thousands of pieces. “Please, help me,” she said, and he heard the frustration in her voice.

  Erik pulled his mouth away and gripped her arms as if he was trying hard to maintain control. Shaking his head, he leaned his head down against hers. “We’re not going to make love for the first time in the back of a limousine,” he said harshly and his hand reached to pick up the phone and order his driver to take them back to his place.

  It took a moment, but his words eventually sunk in and she was shocked that things had progressed so far, so quickly. And now he was about to speak to his driver so they could make love on a bed instead of the car? That can’t happen! Neither scenario was possible and she had to stop him immediately. “No,” Ana said frantically, placing her hand over his as it touched the phone while pulling her dress up to cover her nakedness, suddenly ashamed of what she was doing. “I can’t do that!” she said, her voice conveying her terror at the idea.

  Erik took his hand away from the phone. He cupped her face and looked into her eyes, noting that she was still feeling the passion just as strongly as he was even while she fought down those feelings. “Listen to me,” he said carefully, “we’re going to make love, you and I. It is inevitable. But if you’re not ready, it can wait.”

  Ana’s eyes filled with tears. “Oh, Marcus!” she cried, her fingers touching his cheek, the fingers shaking as the tremors still shot through her. She wished she could explain why she couldn’t go through with this but he wouldn’t understand and it was too dangerous. And pointless either way. She was to be married in less than a month. This was no time to start an affair with someone she’d known for only three days. “We can’t make love. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have led you on like this. But I’m not familiar with these feelings and wasn’t prepared for them.”

  Erik saw the frustration and disappointment in her eyes. He could also feel her body still shivering as she snuggled in his arms. She may be afraid to have sex with him, but she wasn’t afraid of his touch and he drew strength from that. He wouldn’t let her pull away regardless. Even if it meant he’d be in pain from his erection, he didn’t want her to move out of his arms. “I know,” he sighed, referring to her innocence but ignoring her claim that they couldn’t make love. That just wasn’t an option. “I’m sorry. I told myself I’d take it slowly. But you’re so beautiful and responsive, I lost my head. It won’t happen again,” he promised and pulled her closer.

  “Marcus, please understand. We can’t make love,” she said, wishing she could explain why but knowing that would be the end of the evening with him. She selfishly wanted more time with him, even if it meant not touching at all.

  He relented for the moment but still wouldn’t accept her claim of no sex. “Let’s go dancing,” he said as an alternative. “On the dance floor, we can touch each other but there will be a crowd to keep us in line. Will that be okay?” he asked.

  Ana nodded as she slipped her dress back onto her shoulders and shivered as his fingers touched the sensitive skin on her back as he zipped it up. “Yes. That would be lovely,” she said and smiled shyly.

  He took her to a beautiful ballroom that was hosting a full band playing the big band type of music that just forced one’s feet to move. The band slipped from a waltz then to a salsa and slipped the occasional fast paced swing song into the mix. She loved the variety as well as the rhythms that kept everyone on their toes. Ana found that he was a wonderful dancer. He moved easily, with confidence and grace and was a perfect lead. Not once did he step on her toes and she never ran into another dancer all evening. It was past midnight when they were standing close as a slow song weaved its magic through the room and the dancers still crowding the dance floor. She was trying to keep her eyes open, but he could sense how tired she was.

  “I need to get you home,” he said, putting an arm around her waist and guiding her off the dance floor. She’d had her head on his shoulder but his words forced her head to look up at his handsome, smiling face.

  She knew she needed to get home but she just didn’t want to leave him yet. The sensible thing to do was to leave while she still could, she told herself. Sighing inwardly at having to leave the wonderful feeling of being in his arms, she smiled slightly before saying, “I’ll take a cab.” Her hand covered her yawn as she tried to hide her fatigue.

  “You’ll do no such thing,” he said and took her hand to walk her to the coat check. “I’ll drive you home. It isn’t safe in the city for a woman alone.’

  She leaned against him, loving the muscular feeling of his body against her softer one. “Is it safe for a man?” she asked, teasing him.

  Erik chuckled. Ev
en half asleep, she was trying to challenge his sexist attitudes. “No,” he said and put an arm around her waist. “Will you meet me tomorrow?” he asked.

  “Yes,” she said without hesitation.

  He turned her into his arms and lifted her chin up so he could see her beautiful eyes. “How about lunch? I’ll find someplace quiet and out of the way.”

  “That sounds nice,” she said, relieved that it wouldn’t be in a crowd again. “Where should I meet you?” she asked.

  “I’ll pick you up,” he said. “Tell me where you’re staying.”

  Ana bit her lip. She thought quickly and knew of another hotel close by. “The Weston,” she said.

  Erik knew she was lying. Even if his security team hadn’t trailed her to the Mayflower, he would have seen it in her eyes. He wondered why. “Fine,” he said, determined to get to the bottom of the mystery of this woman. She obviously had some deep secrets she was unwilling to share with him. That angered him more than he was willing to admit. Why should he care if a woman lied to him? If she didn’t want him to know something, he shouldn’t care.

  But he did. This woman was becoming an obsession. He had to see her, touch her, know everything about her. There was a vulnerability about her too that made him want to throw his arms around her and demand all the mysteries to be told so he could protect her from whatever she was afraid of.

  He took her coat from the clerk and dropped a tip into the bucket. “The Weston it is,” he said and settled her coat over her shoulders before he led her out into the cold springtime evening.

  The Weston Hotel was only a few blocks from the night club so it was a short drive. Ana could sense that he was angry but wasn’t sure why. Surely he didn’t know that she’d lied about where she was staying? Once the limousine pulled up in front of the hotel, she grabbed the handle and was about to leave.

  He stopped her with a single touch. “Ana, meet me back here tomorrow at noon?” he asked.