Then the fires of our love scorched our insides and there was no place else left for our pleasure to go. We cracked and erupted. Ecstasy spilling free like hot lava down the ruined flanks of a volcano.
Epilogue
Anna
We sat in the same booth we had the first day we met, eating breakfast and gazing at each other, words going unspoken, just merely enjoying being together. We’d been like shy teenagers on a first date. Looking over, catching glimpses of the other, blushing like crazy people, then giggling. All because we couldn’t believe how insane our lives had turned out, that somehow through the sheer madness, we’d managed to find one another and for once given in to love, instead of shunning it away like our instincts told us to.
This time I caught him staring at me a little longer than usual, a puzzled expression on his face.
“What?”
“Mmm? Oh, nothing,” Sebastian replied in between bites of crispy strips of bacon he kept popping into his mouth.
“No, come on. We said we wouldn’t have any more secrets. Ninety percent, remember. So what is it? Why do you keep looking at me like I’m one of those magic-eye illusions?”
“I dunno, there’s something different about you. I just can’t put my finger on it.”
My cheeks rounded as I smiled. “That’s cause I’m in love, silly.”
He waggled his finger at me, amused. “No… that’s not it. Something is missing.”
I frowned now, trying to figure out what on earth his subconscious was trying to tell him. “My shirt is new,” I suggested. Sebastian shook his head. “My engagement ring is right where it needs to be. See?” I held my hand up. “Not missing.”
Then just as I tried to search for something else, my hand went to my throat. “Oh,” I said, almost a whisper.
“What?”
“My necklace. Maybe that’s what you think is missing?”
“Is it missing?” he replied, his eyebrow twitching.
“No… not quite. Remember in the care home, when we argued—”
“How could I forget?”
“Well, I sold my necklace to help pay for my gran’s room. I was going to pawn the ring you gave me, but I couldn’t bring myself to do it.”
“I see.”
Suddenly I got to my feet. “I have to get it back. It was my mom’s. My dad gave it to her. But I don’t get paid for another week or so,” I said, now all panicky that perhaps time was running out to get the necklace back. In our blissful state, I’d forgotten all about the necklace. In the weeks since Gerard and Rochelle’s wedding, I’d moved in properly with Sebastian, found a job at a small travel office and was planning our upcoming trip back to Russia. Sebastian was adamant that we explore the country together as well as thank Darya for her generosity. Baz had also had my gran transferred to a more upscale room at Sunset Hill. Everything had been going so well… But how could I have forgotten the locket? The one thing that had brought my mom and dad together?
“Anna, calm down. Breathe.”
“I can’t calm down. It was a stupid thing to do and…” I quickly told him the story of how my mum and dad met in Marrakesh and what the locket meant to me. But then I was on the brink of tears. Sebastian hugged me, keeping me from dissolving in a pool of anxiety.
“Babe, your mom and dad will always be with you, with or without a necklace around your neck. And you have me now. I’ll never leave you.”
“I know but…”
“Turn around.”
I frowned at him.
“Turn around, just do it,” he said again, this time firmer but with a sympathetic smile. “I didn’t mean to upset you.”
I did what I was told and turned away from him. I was facing the back of the diner. There was a window through to the kitchen that had been carved out. A few customers glanced our way wondering what we were doing, but their food called their attention back. I felt Sebastian’s mouth on my neck, a swift kiss, then his hands were before me.
A shimmering gold thread crossed the space between his fingers. I recognized the chain at once, as well as the locket that swung like a trapeze artist at the center.
“It was supposed to be a surprise.”
Sebastian fastened the clasp and I turned back to him, my mouth open, eyes swimming.
“Don’t cry, my darling.”
“How? How did you find it?” I asked, one hand clutching the locket, the other taking Sebastian’s hand.
“I noticed it was gone the same day you had your panic attack. Took some time trawling the pawnshops in the area, but I’m stubborn. And you know, just because some men don’t always pay attention, doesn’t mean we’re all oblivious. “
“Really?”
“Honey, I would notice if even one of the cute freckles on your nose suddenly disappeared.” He bent down and I lifted my chin to meet his kiss, but at the last second, he planted his lips on the tip of my nose.
“That one is my favorite,” he said.
I took his chin and on tiptoes gave him the kiss he deserved.
The End
Royal Master Teaser
Sophie
My heart raced as I shut the door, closing myself inside the room, alone with the prince. My new nemesis. I had a moment of doubt when I wondered what on earth I was doing there. But I quickly reminded myself I had a job to do.
I was fortunate to be friends with the royal publicist, who had rang me to give me a heads up as soon as she’d heard of William’s accident and subsequent admittance to King Frederick IV’s hospital.
Ignoring the late hour and after throwing on some clothes, I hurried to the hospital in the middle of the night, fearing the worst. I’d managed to get there in time to hear the last bit of His Majesty’s conversation with his son, giving him an ultimatum and painting him into a corner that I knew Will would be livid about. But in all the years I had worked for the royal family, I had never heard the king so angry.
The shouting ended and the king shut the door with a tremendous amount of force as he left. I stepped aside, nodded and curtsied as he passed by, not expecting him to address me.
“Your turn. I hope you can talk some sense into him, Sophie.”
“I’ll do my very best, Your Majesty.”
Now, in William’s hospital room, I was dealing with an equally angry royal, who was looking at me like I was his worst enemy. Maybe I was. After all, I was in charge of shaping him into someone who was worthy of the crown. I felt out of my depth.
“How are you feeling?” I asked, cautiously ignoring his earlier outburst, and came to stop at the foot of the hospital bed.
“How do you think?” he shot back, impatience and anger written all over his face alongside the tiny cuts that marked his left side. “Are you here to tell me that I’m a disappointment as well?”
Well, his mouth was working fine, I thought. Shame.
But he didn’t seem too banged up. I looked at him and noted the contradicting waves that seem to radiate from him. He was pissed off, that was clear to see, but he was oddly vulnerable at the same time, lying there like that, tucked under the crisp white sheet. He reminded me of a child I once knew, sick and utterly dependent upon carers and the kindness of others.
“I don’t think you’ve had a fair shot in proving what you can and cannot do.”
His eyes narrowed. “What does that mean?”
I shrugged, knowing that I was overstepping the boundaries of my position just a tad. I was a private secretary, not a therapist. I was best served behind a desk, managing his schedule and a thousand other minute details in the day to day life of a royal. But for some reason, I knew I couldn’t stand idly by and watch William implode. Frederick wouldn’t want me to do that.
“Show them that you are more that this petulant child. Show them who you can be, that you’re a man,” I finally settled on, pushing the limits. My words could just as easily antagonize the prince. “Prove to your father that he is wrong on all accounts.” I stepped forward, gripping the footboar
d with my hands. “Or if nothing else, do it for your brother. He was proud of you, you know.”
William eyed me before a feral grin slid over his face, making him appear far too handsome for his own good. I felt a flush of heat in response, not liking the way my body instantly reacted to his smile, like I had no control.
“Bloody hell,” he said softly. “You were shagging him, weren’t you?”
One kind of heat was quickly replaced another kind; a burning rage.
“How dare you imply such a thing; I’m a professional!” I said, my voice shaking with anger.
“You’re telling me he never put you over his knee, or that large mahogany desk of his, and spanked your naughty pert bottom?”
“Shut your mouth. I respected your brother. He was my employer, my friend, and nothing more. If you think Frederick would ever do such a thing then you never truly knew him!”
I took a deep breath and urged my clenched fists to relax. How dare he!
William didn’t apologise and I gulped for air again, my chest heaving. No, I hadn’t shagged Frederick, not even close. Sure, I had a crush on the handsome, quiet heir; what English girl didn’t? But I’d respected him, was very fond of him—loved him like a sibling, even—and believed the feeling was mutual. We’d gotten along very well, which was in stark contrast with how things were going with the new heir. He was a bastard.
“Don’t you ever assume anything like that about me again, do you understand? I don’t care who you are…”
Will surprised me by laughing, my stinging words having no effect on him at all. “You’re a ballsy little thing aren’t you, Sophie? A spanking or two would do you a world of good.”
My blush deepened and I involuntary stepped back, his words having a physical effect upon me. But in hindsight it was probably for the best; I was in danger of losing control and marching over to his bedside and strangling the life out of him. I could do it too, the guards were oblivious, thinking he was safe with little ol’ me. But I pushed the fleeting murderous thought away.
I shook my head, partly in disbelief, partly with a resigned kind of sadness, cause I knew right then this was not going to work. We were like oil and water. He was crude and disgusting, and made my blood boil. Whereas I had no tolerance for these kinds of antics, especially not in the workplace.
Then my own words to the king jabbed their way back to the forefront of my mind. “I won’t let you down.”
I had a good mind to kick myself for promising to do what seemed to be impossible. But my mother had drummed into me from an early age that nothing was impossible and that my word meant everything. And in our line of work that was very true. After a few cleansing breaths, I convinced myself to give him another chance. Bite your tongue, Sophie, and do you job. You’re not a quitter.
“I will be at the office tomorrow morning,” I finally said, making a move towards the door. “If you are so inclined to join me, then great. If not, well, you will be responsible for my dismissal and you’ll have to deal with your father all by yourself. Good luck with that.” I put my hand on the door handle and paused. “But if you would like someone to help you, to be a buffer, to have your back at every turn no matter what, and to have your very best interests at heart, then you know where to find me.”
I’d had my say, the rest was up to him. I exited like I was on fire, nodding to the two armed officers from the Royalty and Specialist Protection branch that were now posted outside the room. I doubted Will even knew they were out there and wouldn’t be pleased when he found out. But it was something he was going to have to get used to.
As I walked down the hallway, sudden remorse kicked in. I couldn’t believe how forward, and familiar, I’d been with him. And it hadn’t been the first time. My mum would be shocked if she ever found out, but he pushed my buttons that he had no business messing with. Maybe that was his ultimate objective, to push me to my breaking point until he got his way. Did he really want me to quit so he would be left alone and left to his own devices? Seemed counter productive if you asked me.
But I supposed I hadn’t helped. Granted, I’d offered a semblance of an olive branch in the face of his vulgar words but I had, after all, been just as bad as his father had. I’d thrown down a gauntlet of sorts, and effectively put my position, a position I had loved until now, on the line. Willingly.
Would he step up and do the right thing? The sour feeling in my stomach told me otherwise. Will acted like he had nothing to lose, and yet I had everything. Oh bloody hell, what had I done?
I tried not to eye the clock on the wall and concentrated on straightening the stack of mail in front of me. My stomach lurched every time I saw Frederick’s name embossed on the majority of the envelopes. They were still being sent here and I still had a responsibility to deal with them. So I gritted my teeth and got on with the difficult task.
It had been extremely hard to come in that morning and equally hard not look up each time there was a noise at the door, expecting Frederick to come through it. He normally would greet me with a patient look on his kind but steely face, deposit my coffee and whatever goody he’d chosen that day, then tell me all about what he was looking forward to after I’d gone over his calendar with him.
Normally there would be some meetings he’d attend alone, like with His Majesty. Other meetings I went along with him, though nothing to do with national security, mind you. And always, like clockwork really, there would be some black tie affair, charity event or royal visit that he would want me to attend to ensure that his appearance or speech went off without a hitch. I would stand in the corner in my serviceable black dress with the other hired help, watching him win over the crowd with his charming personality and take some observations for him as to how he could improve the next go around.
I suspected if Will turned up it wasn’t going to be that easy.
A few friends had asked on more than one occasion how I could work for such a handsome man and not feel anything for him, but I knew my station and knew I was there to do a job, not fall in love with my employer. I’d been comfortable with Frederick… So why had Will’s words gotten under my skin so damn much?
I didn’t want to admit it to myself but the thought of being bent over, like Will has suggested, had me all hot and bothered. Yet it hadn’t been Frederick’s face or hand on me in my wicked thoughts. Instead for some reason it had been Will’s, his devious face—though similar to Frederick’s—that I’d pictured.
I closed my eyes and willed the images away, took a breath then a sip of my cooling and almost forgotten tea, and busied myself again. I finished the correspondence then moved onto the next item on my list and finished that in super quick time. I was running out of things to do. Too efficient for my own good. I needed Will to turn up to proceed with anything more and settled to do a mindless task of cleaning out the spam inbox while I waited. Clearly I wasn’t going to do much else other than explain to the king later on why his son was not present.
Then without warning at five minutes to ten the door flew open and Will stalked in, a grim expression on his face. He was dressed in a pair of dark trousers and blue dress shirt, the white bandage on his forearm peeking out from under the slightly rolled back sleeves. His jacket was thrown over his shoulder and an overwhelming sense of uncertainty came over me as I took him in. From the look on his face and the way he held himself it was as if the car crash had never happened. He stood there, with an unwavering stare, looking gorgeous, sexy and dangerous, very dangerous. It was amazing how the two men were so different and yet looked so much alike.
“You came,” I said breathlessly, standing behind my desk. He was here. That had to mean something. “I’m glad.”
He grunted a response as he glanced around, then stuck a hand in his trouser pocket and turned to face me. “So,” he finally said. “What now?”
Excited at the prospect that he might actually be taking this seriously, I reached over and grabbed the printed calendar that I had prepared that morning, ready
to be reviewed with him. Each block was shaded with its own specific colour, based upon my own carefully designed colour-coded system that had taken me years to develop and refine. It was a system, streamlined and crystal clear, and one I was very proud of.
I moved from behind the desk and stood next to him, inadvertently getting a little too close in my eagerness, causing me to inhale his intoxicating clean, yet spicy scent. I became hyper aware of my heart as it thudded when he stepped close to get a better look at the calendar in my hands. His strong jaw was only inches away. He hadn’t chosen to shave and I had to admit it made him even more swoon-worthy.
“I can’t read this,” he said. “What are all those colours for?”
I cleared my throat and pointed to this morning’s events, ignoring the ones he’d already missed by being late.
“They’re a quick reference. You’ll get used to it. The blue events are important meetings. The blue ones with hashed lines are meetings with your family. Blue is very important and must never be missed. Green are other meetings that you can miss if you must, but they are equally important. I wouldn’t advise skipping out on many of them. It’ll cause a backlog in your schedule and plenty of headaches.
“Yellow are your black tie events. So today you have five meetings, three with your family and two with some of the charities that Frederick was working with. Oh, and there is a black tie event tonight at the museum. You won’t have to give a speech but an appearance is expected and would be greatly appreciated.”
Prince William took the calendar from my hands, his expression unreadable as he looked over the information. “Hell, did you schedule my piss breaks as well?”
My face coloured but I believed I recovered quite nicely and responded with, “I’m sure I could pencil those in if you insist, but I thought you would appreciate a bit of flexibility. At least for your first week.”
Coming in Handy_a Single Dad Romance Page 30