Your Secret Is Safe

by C. Morgan

  “But—I’ve—I’ve already made arrangements with the Prime Minister,” the King said. “I made that commitment! He’s already on his way here. Does that not mean anything here?”

  “It does, which is why we are at an impasse,” the Queen said.

  King Teyelu drew in a sobering breath. “Heed my warning, Teyela. You shall be on your best behavior and give the Prime Minister a shot.”

  “I’m already engag—”

  “If you speak one more ill-willed word toward me, I will strip you of your royal right,” he snarled.

  “Teyelu, take a breath,” the Queen said.

  “Serefa, I love you. But know your place in all this.”

  “Father,” Teyela said defeatedly.

  “Best behavior, and you do your best to impress him. I’ve already made a commitment that you two will meet and have dinner. Have conversations. And my commitments trump yours. End of story. Now get out of my office.”

  The princess let out an exasperated breath and slipped her arm away from mine. Then she turned on her heels and left. I glanced at the King, angrier than ever as he silently challenged me. Stay and defend my position, or take up my place behind his daughter as her bodyguard.

  Little did he know, I’d always choose Teyela.

  I followed her silently out of the room as she sniffled. Brushed away tears. Tears I wanted to dry with my lips as I peppered her face with kisses. I followed her all the way to her suite of rooms. I took my place outside the door she ventured into. Until she gripped my arm.

  “Come with me,” she said.

  Like lightning, she pulled me into the room. She closed the door and pressed me against it, her hand planted squarely into my chest. My eyes gazed into hers. Into those dark brown orbs with speckles of honey that made me swoon every time she glanced my way.

  Her long legs hoisted her to my height. Her jet-black hair was pulled back into long curls cascading down to the middle of her back. Her tanned skin glistened in the darkness. Like some short-circuited radiance followed her wherever she went.

  I wanted to capture those full lips of hers and not let go until she cried out my name.

  “Thank you,” she said.

  I shook my head. “I don’t think the King is convinced of your undying love, Princess.”

  “I don’t care. I’m going to play my part to the fullest because there’s no way on this green island I’m marrying Ratu.”

  “Understood.”

  “You’ve been with me for two years. How much do you really know about me?”

  “Enough to pull this off, if that’s what you wish.”

  “It is what I wish. Help me convince my father not to marry this man. Be my fiancé until I can get myself out of this.”

  I nodded. “If that’s what you wish.”

  “It’s exactly what I wish.”

  I felt the heat of her body against mine. I smelled the soft perfume she sprayed against her skin every morning. I wanted to latch my lips against that long neck of hers and not let go until I’d marked every inch of her body as mine. Fucking hell, I’d been in love with this woman for over two years. And this was my only chance I might have with her. A fake fiancé. A chance to be closer to her than ever before.

  I’d take whatever I could get.

  Whatever got me closer to the princess who had stolen my heart with a glance of her eyes and the giggle of her voice.

  Chapter 4

  Teyela

  My mind swirled at lightning speed, trying to come up with a way to avoid being tied to this man. To Ratu. Which sounded more like someone spitting something into a can than a strong name of a Prime Minister. I’d never liked him. There was something ratty about his face. A befitting name for a man like him. Despite his popularity in the region, I avoided him at all costs. There was just something off about the man.

  Something slipping around my waist pulled me from the recesses of my mind.

  “Huh? Wha—”

  I gazed into Collin’s eyes as he pressed closer to me. He moved away from the door, backing me slowly into the room I’d shut us in. His arms felt strong. His hand splayed against the middle of my back. Shock filled my veins, and my eyes widened, taking in the bright blue beauty of his eyes.

  Eyes that reminded me of Anuwana’s oceans.

  “What are you doing?” I asked.

  The intensity of his eyes grew, and it felt unsettling. At least, I was pretty sure that was the emotion tied to the flipping around of my gut. With each step he took, I mimicked. He moved us into the middle of the room as his eyes darted between my eyes and my lips. My tongue darted out to lick them. I suddenly felt studied by him.

  “Collin?” I asked softly.

  “You told your parents we’re in love, Teyela.”

  “Yes. I did. For the ruse.”

  “That means they’ll be looking and watching for signs of affection between us.”

  I let out a shuddered sigh. “That’s right. Yes.”

  Something warm encompassed my cheek. I closed my eyes, nuzzling into the warm palm I felt. His thumb slid across my skin. I felt a jolt of electricity work its way down my spine.

  Collin had never touched me before.

  And now?

  “If we have any chance of pulling this off, we have to be convincing,” he said.

  “We have to be able to pull off all facets of this, yes,” I said breathlessly.

  My eyes opened, and I watched his darken. Those ocean-blue eyes I’d come to associate with safety darkened. Blending him into the black background that surrounded us. His hand guided my face. His arm tightened around my back. And as his lips pressed against mine, my eyes widened.

  Until his tongue slid across my mouth.

  My eyes fluttered closed, and I leaned against him. His hand slid into my hair, gripping my curls as his tongue fell between my lips. He swept me away as he pulled me closer. His muscles blending in with my softness.

  My arms wrapped around his neck. I felt his thigh press between my legs. I lost myself in his embrace as his arms cloaked my back, pulling me steadily closer to his teeming body. I felt his heart beating against my chest. I felt his girth pulsing against my groin. I moaned down the back of his throat, giving way to him as he held me upright.

  Then a knock came at the door.

  “Tey-Tey? You in there?”

  Nor’s voice jolted me back to reality, and I jumped away from Collin. I slipped away, ignoring the smirk on his face as I made my way for the door. I drew in a couple of deep breaths. I steadied myself as my best friend’s voice wafted through the wood.

  “Stay inside until it’s safe,” I said. Then, I slipped out the door without a second thought.

  “Nor, hey,” I said, sighing.

  She furrowed her brow. “You okay? The castle is abuzz with something no one’s talking about.”

  “How do you know that?”

  “I passed your father in the hallway, and he was grumbling to himself.”

  “Ah, that might explain it,” I said.

  The door opened quickly, and I whipped my head over. Nor’s eyes widened as Collin stood there, slipping between the two of us. His eyes found mine, and he smirked again, then made his way down the hallway. Flaunting the fact that we’d just been in a darkened room together. Alone.

  In front of my best friend.

  “Uh, what’s going on?” Nor asked.

  I eyed Collin hotly as he took his place on the other side of the hallway. His hands slipped into his pockets. His cool demeanor falling back over him. And his deadpan face staring blankly at the wall. Waiting for us to move.

  “Nothing,” I said.

  “This isn’t nothing. You just came out of that room. I’m not stupid, Tey-Tey.”

  “She really isn’t,” Collin said.

  Nor paused. “Did he just speak?”

  I shot him a glare. “Yes, he did. Though he shouldn't be.”

  And the chuckle that fell from Collin’s lips pierced straight through my che
st.

  “Can someone fill me in now?” Nor asked. “Because I have a feeling this has to do with why your father’s head is about to pop off.”

  I sighed. “The short of it is my father has apparently promised my hand in marriage to Ratu.”

  “The Prime Minister that looks like a sewer rat?”

  “Among other things, yes. So, I told my father I was engaged to Collin in order to avoid the marriage altogether.”

  She narrowed her eyes. “You want to avoid marrying a Prime Minister by lying to your father about being engaged to your bodyguard.”

  “It was all I could come up with at the time.”

  “Uh huh.”

  I waited on the tips of my toes for Nor’s reaction. I wondered how she’d react. It was such a bombastic and desperate situation that I couldn’t assume anything about any of it right now.

  Then Nor nodded. “I get it. I mean, you could’ve made a better choice in the matter. But I get it. It’s hard going against the family’s wishes just to find your own shred of happiness.”

  “I knew you’d understand. Thank you, my friend.”

  She smiled. “Of course. And if you need any help, let me know. I’ve become a professional at disappointing my parents in terms of what they want for my life.”

  I snickered. “You’re no disappointment. You’re a vibrant, outspoken, beautiful, intelligent daughter.”

  “Who would rather throw myself into the ocean than take over the family luxury hotel business. Imagine how your parents would react if you didn’t want the throne.”

  “Yeah. Yep. That would do it.”

  She giggled. “So, personal opinion? Good start, coming out of a darkened room together. Very mysterious and sexy.”

  “Actually, if you’re serious about that help, I could use some input on how to conduct myself in various scenarios with Collin in front of my parents.”

  “You mean that don’t have him tossing you against a wall?”

  Collin chuckled again, and I felt my gut clench.

  “Yeah, that,” I said flatly.

  Nor slipped her arm against mine. “Don’t worry. I’ve got you covered on this subject. Take a walk with me. And Collin? Don’t be too far behind. You should hear these suggestions, too.”

  “I’ll never be too far behind,” he said.

  And for some reason, his words brought me an odd sort of comfort I’d never experienced before.

  Chapter 5

  Collin

  I resisted the urge to roll my eyes. The Prime Minister of Vanduana had finally arrived with the usual pomp and pageantry for something like this. A meeting between the heads of states of the Island Nations. The music. The red carpet. The waving and the cheers. The quotes given to the small island media outlets and the bright, plastered-on smiles. It really was too much some days.

  I didn’t know what this visit would bring. But I made sure to be on my toes.

  The best-case scenario? Ratu left without a fuss. He’d simply accept the fact that Princess Teyela wasn’t a bargaining chip in his negotiations with the King. But nothing ever panned out that way. I’d been in security long enough to know that.

  I kept myself muted. Stuck against the shadows as I followed the pathways of the King and Prime Minister Tavaiqia. The official greeting happened in the royal gardens in the back of the castle. After Ratu’s car pulled him right up to the entrance. The King held out his arm, motioning for Teyela to come stand at his side. Introductions were made. Ratu took her hand and kissed it, bristling the hairs on the nape of my neck.

  But Teyela?

  She looked more radiant than ever.

  My mind flew back to that kiss. The tension in her body before her surrender. The way she fell against me. It locked up my gut. Curled my toes in my fucking boots. Nothing had ever tasted as sweet as Teyela’s lips. And I hadn’t been able to forget them.

  Her presence had been in my dreams heavier than ever these past couple of nights.

  Photographers rushed the grounds once King Teyelu motioned it was safe. And the second Ratu stuck his slimy arm around Teyela, I clenched my hands behind my back. Teyela kept flickering her eyes toward me. Those radiant, sparkling eyes that reflected the rays of the sun. I saw how uncomfortable she was. How plastered her smile looked against her face. It took all I had not to run over there and break every single one of the Prime Minister’s fingers in order to teach him a lesson.

  A lesson about touching what was mine.

  I kept drawing in deep breaths, though. Forcing myself to restrain. To keep from strangling that man with my own two hands. The cameras clicked away, and Ratu pulled the princess closer to his side. An action that didn’t go unnoticed by myself. The King was all smiles. Teyela looked as if she wanted to melt into the ground. And Ratu had a sly smile on his face.

  A smile I wanted to get to the bottom of.

  After all the flashes had ceased, the King motioned for the crowd to disperse. They set off toward the palace, taking the long way through the gardens. I stuck behind them, keeping a safe distance while training my ear on their conversation. The Queen met up with us halfway through the gardens, offering an oyosse to the Prime Minister.

  The island’s national flower. Naturally pink, it was an orchid-lily hybrid that gave off such strong floral notes that I could smell the damn thing from ten feet away.

  “It is so wonderful to have you here with us,” the Queen said.

  “And it is an honor to be here on the royal grounds,” Ratu said. “Thank you for having me.”

  “For now, we walk,” the King said. “We decompress. We seek peace. And then we head to my office for our discussion.”

  “Teyela, you look wonderful this morning,” Ratu said. “Is that silk?”

  She nodded, but she didn’t say anything.

  “Well, it looks wonderful on you,” he said.

  And again, she did nothing but nod.

  “Say something, Teyela,” the King said. “A man is speaking with you.”

  “I appreciate your kind words,” she said.

  “Are you not going to compliment him on his outfit?”

  “Since I’m not wildly appreciative of the colors, no. And you wouldn’t want me to lie, Ratu, would you?”

  “Of course not, Princess. That would be very unbecoming of a woman of your stature.”

  “See?” she asked.

  I swallowed my chuckle and, instead, reveled in how shocked her father looked. But I didn’t like how Ratu played along. We walked through the gardens, and the mindless talking occurred. And I noticed Ratu engaging Teyela much more than he engaged anyone else. Jealousy wafted through my veins. The only thing that kept me in check was the princess’s efforts at batting his attempts at conversation away.

  Much to her father’s dismay.

  “Well, I must excuse myself and go get prepared for dinner,” Teyela said. “Beauty waits for no one.”

  “By all means, take your time,” Ratu said. “And I look forward to seeing you at dinner.”

  He took the princess’s hand and kissed the back of it. Even I felt my eyes widen. I white-knuckled my hands behind my back, trying to keep my composure and keep myself muted. That man was an oily little snake. I hated him. I wanted him gone. Out of Teyela’s life for good.

  No matter the cost.

  The second Teyela pulled away from the group, I followed her inside. I kept a safe distance until I knew we weren’t being watched. Then I rushed up to her heels. I reached out for her arm. I stopped her just before we passed by my team’s offices in the castle. I didn’t know where she was going. I didn’t know what her final destination was. But it certainly wasn’t her room in order to prepare for dinner.

  “Where are you going?” I asked.

  She ripped away from me. “I need some time to myself.”

  “I can’t give you that right now. If Ratu finds you—”

  “I can handle myself with Ratu. Just like I handled myself before you ever came along as my bodyguard.” Her
words slapped me across the face, and she sighed. “I just need a moment to breathe. Be outside my bedroom in an hour. That’s all I’m asking for.”

  I nodded slowly. “As you wish, Princess.”

  “Collin, don’t—”

  I reached for the door across the hallway and slipped into my office. I left the door cracked, listening as Teyela murmured something to herself. She walked off, her heels clicking down the hallway. And when I knew she had turned the corner, I slipped back out. I made my way silently down the hallway. I kept my boots from echoing off the marble floors. I followed her shadow, keeping an eye on her while giving her the space she needed.

  Then, when she finally stopped in the sunroom of the castle, I pulled out my cell phone.

  “This is Patrick.”

  “Hey, it’s me,” I whispered.

  “Collin?”

  “I need you to do something for me.”

  “Collin, what’s wrong?”

  “I don’t have a lot of time to explain, but are you familiar with Prime Minister Ratu?”

  “Uh, I can be in a second,” he said. “Why?”

  “I know the guy is crooked, but I have to be able to prove it,” I said.

  “Crooked.”

  “Yes.”

  “Why do you feel he’s crooked?”

  “Have you ever known my gut to be wrong?” I asked.

  “Well, no. But what happened?”

  “I don’t have time to explain right now. Can you just do this favor for me? I’d owe you big time.”

  “Hey, no need to beg, Collin. I already owe you twice over for that job in Libya.”

  “Dig up anything you can on this man, professional or personal. Get it to me as quickly as possible.”

  “You got it,” he said. “I’ll get back to you as soon as I have it.”

  “Thanks. A thousand times over.”

  A glimmer of hope ignited in my chest as I hung up the phone call. I slipped my phone back into my pocket and turned my attention back to Teyela. With the sun beating down against her darkened skin, I couldn’t peel my eyes away from her. She shone in the sunlight. She stood with a tall back. Her long legs poured into a softly dipped waist my fingertips begged to curl against. Then I saw her brush at her eyes. And the sniffle that accompanied it broke my heart.