by Romancing the Crown Series (13-in-1 bundle) (v1. 0) (lit)
Lorenzo nodded. "He decided to trigger it as soon as he could leave the building. Then Rose showed up. When she started talking about bombs, he panicked."
More curious glances came her way. Rose spoke. "He fiddled with his watch right before... Was that how he set it off?"
"Yes. A sophisticated bit of electronics, that watch. Probably didn't keep time well, but powerful. He could trigger the device from half a kilometer away.
"We're lucky they decided to go with an incendiary charge this time," the king said. He was sitting in a rather shabby armchair that had the look of an old favorite, cherished for comfort, rather than appearance. "If they'd used straight explosives again, there would have been great loss of life. As it was, I think no one was hurt."
"Just Dipopulous's girlfriend at the ticket counter," Lorenzo said. "She'll be hospitalized awhile, but her injuries, though painful, aren't critical. She told my man she had no idea what was in the box of candy her boyfriend asked her to keep for him. I tend to believe her, since she would undoubtedly have died if Rose hadn't done—ah, whatever she did. As it was, she sustained second-degree burns in that split second after the device went off and before the fire...disappeared."
There was a moment's silence, then the king stood. "The rest will wait for morning. You've done an excellent job, Lorenzo, as usual."
Taking the king's action for dismissal, Rose started to get to her feet. Drew tightened his arm around her, preventing her. She turned to him in surprise.
"Not yet," he murmured.
King Marcus came to stand in front of her. "I won't pretend to understand what you did or how it was possible. My son has explained as much as he is able about your abilities, but my nephew has been quite close-mouthed. Particularly concerning whatever part he played. But from what little Drew did say, I understand that your act was much like throwing yourself over a grenade, sacrificing your own life to save others."
"Oh," she said, flustered, "it wasn't like that. I mean, with a grenade there's no chance of survival. Obviously I did survive, so—"
"Rose." Drew squeezed her shoulders. "Shut up. I was there. I know how poor your chances were."
"For what you have done for your country, you will be thanked at the appropriate time, with all due honor. For what you have done for my family..." With a surprising grace for a man his age, the king knelt on one knee. "For saving the lives of my wife, my nephews and myself, my lady, there are no thanks possible.
"Oh, don't!" Distressed, embarrassed, she reached for him—and winced the moment she touched him. "Please, Your Highness, don't kneel. It isn't right."
"It is entirely right. As a sovereign, I kneel to no one. As a man, desperately grateful—" He broke off, clearing his throat. His eyes were damp. "Grateful for the lives of my family, I can and will kneel to the one who was willing to give her life for theirs. But since it makes you uncomfortable —" he chuckled and stood, reaching for her upper arms and pulling her to her feet, too "—I will finish on my feet, and as a king."
* * *
"I'm a countess," Rose said some time later, dazed. "Or will be, as soon as the paperwork is completed.
"So you will." Drew twirled the strand of her hair he'd been playing with, then tickled her breast with it. "I hope I didn't forget to show the proper respect, my lady, in my enthusiasm for relieving your pain.
Her grin was slow and sleepy. They were entirely naked, sprawled together in his big bed. Her hands still throbbed, but for a while she hadn't noticed them at all. Of course, she hadn't used them. Drew had informed her she was to lie back and think of England while he made use of her helpless body, then had made it impossible for her to think at all.
She rolled onto her side, snuggling close. "I enjoyed your enthusiasm. As I think you noticed.
He was silent a moment. "It's going to take some getting used to, this being able to sense feelings."
"And a lot of work." His shields were soft now, weakened by the fire they'd both passed through, and not truly under his control yet. But the terrible pressure that had built up behind them was gone. He had time to learn what they both needed to know.
They both had time. "Eventually you'll be able to thin or thicken your shields to suit yourself and the situation.
"Good. In some situations, shields would be a crime. Like right now." His grin was sleepy, male and smug. "The side effects were remarkable."
She thought so, too. Being made love to by a man who knew exactly how she responded to everything he did.. .it was a wonder she was still breathing.
He'd stopped playing with her hair and was running a fingertip around and around her nipple, which responded just as if she had the energy to follow through. "I hope this title business won't go to your head. I'm a younger son so mine is a mere courtesy title. You'll outrank me now. Yours will be passed on to our children."
Her heart thudded once, hard, in her chest. As soon as she had her breath back, she slid him a sideways glance. "You're taking a lot for granted.
The creases beneath his eyes deepened. "Am I?"
She was annoyed to feel herself blush. He'd undoubtedly read her shock of delight. Shifting carefully so that she took her weight on her elbow, not her hand, she raised herself so she could look at his face. "I know you have trouble putting things into words, Drew, but there are times when nothing else will do."
"We have a great deal to work out, I know," he said soberly. "Where we'll live, for example. We might try dividing our time between England and Montebello. My business is flexible enough to make that work. Of course, you may not be happy leaving your shop in your aunt's hands for long periods of time—"
She stopped that list of issues with a quick kiss. "All of that needs discussing, but those aren't the words I'm waiting for."
"Oh," he said innocently, but with a suspicious gleam in his eyes. "You want those words."
She waited.
He smiled, and his whole face was part of the smile this time. His whole being. His eyes were green and clear and warm. "I love you, Rose."
She smiled back at him and settled once more into her place, her head on his shoulder, her hand over his heart. "In that case...yes, I'll marry you."
He waited, and when she didn't say anything more, he prompted her. "And?"
"I love you, Drew," she said softly. "I always will."
* * * THE END * * *
Secrets of a Pregnant Princess
CARLA CASSIDY
Chapter 1
Princess Samira Kamal clutched the ends of her arm-rests as the small, private jet began its descent. Takeoffs or landings – she wasn't sure which she hated more.
"May I get you something, Princess?"
Samira looked at the man seated directly across from her. Farid Nasir … her bodyguard. Even here, on her father's private jet with no one else in the plane but the crew, Farid was on alert with no relaxation in any part of his firmly muscled body.
"No, thank you. I'm fine," she replied and turned her attention to the window where the island of Montebello had come into view.
It wasn't a long flight from her country of Tamir to the neighboring island of Montebello, but this flight had seemed endless. Each moment had been sheer agony since she'd made the decision to fly to Montebello and meet Desmond Caruso.
She shot a glance at her traveling companion. Farid had been her bodyguard for less than three months, but in that time she hadn't seen him crack a smile or display any hint of a sense of humor.
She would concede that he was handsome, with his short raven hair and firmly chiseled features. He had beautiful eyes, dark brown with thick, long lashes. However, they were cold … soulless, never giving a hint of the man within.
She dismissed thoughts of Farid as the wheels of the small royal jet hit the runway. If things went as she planned during this visit to Montebello, she wouldn't need her father to provide her with a bodyguard. She would have a husband to provide all that she needed.
A slight trepidation shot through her as she r
ealized that within the next hour she would see Desmond again. Surely all her dreams were about to come true. She and Desmond would marry and hopefully live happily ever after.
She closed her eyes, remembering how it had felt to be in Desmond's arms, imagining how wonderful it would be to be his wife for the rest of her life.
She'd spoken to him on the phone only the week before and he'd told her how much he missed her, how much he wished they could be together. He'd told her he thought of her day and night and longed for the time they could be together again. He had to be the right man for her. He just had to be!
"Princess…"
She frowned at the interruption into her pleasant daydreams. Opening her eyes, she saw Farid standing up, waiting patiently for her attention.
"There is a car waiting to take you to the palace."
"Yes, of course." She stood and allowed Farid to escort her off the plane and into the limo with a miniature Montebellan black, white and gold flag flying from its antenna.
Farid didn't sit back in the seat and relax, but rather sat forward, his gaze going from window to window with the alertness of a big cat on the prowl.
As usual, he was stoically silent on the brief ride from the airstrip to the massive grounds of the royal palace. Just once she'd like to see what his face looked like with a smile curving his lips, with warmth shining from his eyes.
Since he'd been assigned as her personal bodyguard, she'd found him not only to have more than his share of arrogance, but also to be exceptionally good at his job. It was the latter quality that had her worried.
Somehow, someway, in the next couple of hours she desperately needed to escape Farid's watchful eyes to rendezvous with Desmond. She did not want to meet her lover with her bodyguard hovering nearby. She needed time alone with Desmond, time to tell him her news, time for them to make the plans that would seal their future together.
Within minutes they had passed through the guarded gates of the palace grounds. The car pulled up in front of the impressive entrance to the grand palace.
Set on top of a cliff overlooking the sea, the palace was a two-story whitewashed stucco and marble with traditional Mediterranean touches. A large fountain was set amid lush greenery in front of the palace, giving it an added touch of elegance and grandeur.
As they stepped out of the car, Samira could instantly smell the salt brine in the air, could hear the distant sound of waves breaking against the jagged rocks at the base of the cliff where the palace was located.
They entered a large, marble-floored entry with cathedral-height ceilings and ornate gold trim. A butler, who introduced himself as Rudolpho Sabira, led them up the grand staircase to the private quarters of King Marcus Sebastiani and his wife, Queen Gwendolyn.
Samira couldn't help but think that if all went well with Desmond, she would be related to the king and queen of Montebello through marriage, as was her brother Rashid.
"Princess Samira." The lovely Queen Gwendolyn took her hands and greeted her warmly. "It's such a pleasure to have you here as our guest."
"Thank you," Samira replied, then looked at the white-haired king who stood next to the queen. "King Marcus, my father sends his regards."
"And they are returned," King Marcus said. "I understand you've come to explore the beauty of our island."
"Yes. I was quite captured by the beauty of Montebello the last time I was here and thought it would be a perfect spot to spend a week of vacation time. I'm also eager to visit with Princess Anna. I so enjoyed spending time with her when you were all in Tamir for my brother Hassan's wedding."
"Ah, yes." King Marcus's eyes lit with obvious affection as he thought of his youngest daughter. "Unfortunately, Anna is not in residence at the moment. She and her new husband, Tyler Ramsey, are spending some time in the United States."
Samira had known before she left Tamir that Anna wasn't in Montebello, a fact her own father had been unaware of. When she'd told her father, Sheik Ahmed Kamal, that she wanted to go to Montebello to visit Anna and to explore, the sights of the island, he'd given his blessing, knowing how much she enjoyed Princess Anna's vivaciousness and enthusiasm for life.
"I'm so sorry to learn she isn't here," Samira exclaimed, hoping she sounded genuinely surprised at the news.
"However, the beauty of Montebello awaits you and we have put you in one of the private guest quarters on the ground. We hope you'll be most comfortable," King Marcus continued.
"I'm sure you'd like to freshen up after your trip." A tiny wrinkle appeared in Queen Gwendolyn's forehead. "Has your maid traveled with you or would you like us to provide you one for the duration of your visit?"
"No, thank you but that won't be necessary," Samira demurred. "Actually, I'm looking forward to the novelty of taking care of myself for the duration of this trip."
"Then we won't keep you," Queen Gwendolyn said. "The cottage is fully serviced with staff who take care of the cleaning and delivery of meals. Anything you need, don't hesitate to ask. Perhaps you will join us for dinner later in the week."
"I would be most honored," Samira replied.
"The driver is waiting to take you to your quarters," King Marcus finished.
A few moments later Farid and Samira were back in the car, being driven to the private cottage where they would stay for the rest of the visit.
"Oh, how nice," Samira exclaimed as they got out of the car in front of the guest house. The cottage itself was a white stucco, surrounded by lush, heavily perfumed flowers and deep-green bushes. It looked like an enchanted cottage from a fairy tale.
They walked into a luxurious living room decorated in blues and golds. The furniture was oversized, a sofa with mounds of throw pillows and two matching chairs set on a gorgeous Oriental rug. A basket of luscious fruit sat on the coffee table and fresh flower arrangements scented the air with their sweet fragrance.
A king-size bed graced the master bedroom, along with a sitting area, a stately dresser and a lavish bathroom.
The second bedroom was considerably smaller with a half bath. There was also a kitchenette with every convenience known to mankind for those who preferred privacy instead of taking their meals in the dining room in the palace or having them delivered in.
"I think I'll just freshen up and unpack," Samira said to Farid. He acknowledged her words with a curt nod of his head and she disappeared into the master bedroom and closed the door behind her.
Her suitcases were on the floor where the driver had placed them, but she opened only one, her cosmetic case. She would freshen up, then slip away from Farid and find Desmond, she hoped.
She stared at her reflection in the mirror, wondering if she needed to touch up her blush. Her cheeks were pink with excitement and her dark eyes sparkled with the exhilaration that bubbled inside her.
Desmond, Desmond, her heart cried out. She hoped she was only mere minutes away from her destiny, her heart's desire. Surely Desmond was her heart's desire? She frowned and shoved aside the niggling doubt.
For the past few months it seemed that love had blossomed for everyone around her. She'd watched all her brothers and sisters find love, and had yearned to find it for herself. There was nothing she wanted more than to be a wife and nurture her own family.
Hopefully, before this night was over, that was what her immediate future would hold. With a hand that trembled slightly, she brushed her shoulder-length dark hair, put on a fresh layer of lipstick, then spritzed herself with her favorite perfume.
She stepped back and looked at herself critically. Maybe she should change clothes. The coral-colored long dress complemented her olive complexion, but it was slightly wrinkled from traveling. Smoothing her hand over the wrinkles, she decided she didn't want to take the time to change.
She was ready … all she needed was an escape route. She knew without a doubt that Farid would not be in his room with the door closed. He was far too conscientious for that. He would be sitting or standing in the living room, like a shadow, watching her mo
vements and anticipating danger at every corner.
She frowned thoughtfully and walked over to the window in front of the sitting area in the bedroom. Her heart gave a joyous leap as she realized the window had a latch, which meant it opened and closed.
As she turned the latch and pulled it open, she recognized that what she was about to do was completely out of character for her. She was not adventurous or bold. In truth, most of the time she feared herself rather boring. But love gave her courage, hope made her bold, and once the window was open, she removed the screen and climbed out.
A new exhilaration filled her as she stepped outside and drew in a breath of the sweet-scented night air. Darkness was falling and the moon overhead was a silver ball shining down a lover's light.
Escape had been ridiculously easy, and she felt as if fate was making it simple for her to claim the future she so desired.
The next step was to find Desmond. She knew he had quarters on the palace grounds, but she also knew the palace grounds were immense. Unsure in which direction to go, she took off walking, following a cobblestone sidewalk that she hoped would take her to a guard.
Sure enough, after only a few minutes, she ran into a palace guard who gave her directions to Desmond's private quarters.
She had met Desmond Caruso, King Marcus's handsome nephew, almost three months before at her brother Hassan's wedding to Elena Rahmon. Desmond had swept her off her feet with his incredible looks and seductive charm.
He'd spent a week in Tamir, and during that week he and Samira had met whenever possible, snatching glorious moments in secret trysts.
Desmond had looked at her as no other man had in her life. He'd listened to her hopes and dreams, encouraged her to open up to him and had opened up to her about his unhappy childhood. She'd felt an immediate connection, and he'd told her he felt it, too.
She had surrendered her innocence to him. They had made love twice, and while she'd found the act of lovemaking not particularly pleasant, she'd told herself it was because she was inexperienced, and that that part of their relationship would improve with time.