The Lord's Passionate Lover (The Royals of Monaco, #3)

by Leslie North

  “Is this meant to be you praising me?” Francesca asked.

  “She is scared of not being in control of herself. She is confused about me because she has never felt this way about anyone. Her excuse is that I am too old for her. She loves shrimp more than she will ever admit. She has never done anything reckless in her life. Perhaps being with me is the most reckless thing she has ever done. I could talk about her all day,” he added.

  All three sisters stared at him with their mouths open. He knew her far more than they thought.

  “Oh, he is so sweet,” Liane said.

  “I know right,” Macee answered. Jean Pierre and Prince Louis looked at each other. That was not what they were expecting at all.

  “What?” they said at the same time.

  “I would like to get to know your sister even more if you would allow me. I guess I am asking for your permission,” he said to Liane and Macee.

  “Of course,” they said at the same time. Francesca was staring at their interaction unsure what to say.

  “That is it?” Jean Pierre asked.

  “What?” Liane looked at him.

  “I had it much harder.”

  Liane and Macee laughed at him. The three had given him a much harder time. “I do not love shrimp that much,” Francesca said unsure what else to say as everyone laughed.

  “You do,” Liane and Macee said at the same time. Francesca always tried to hide her eating habits. She thought it made her less of a lady if she showed too much enthusiasm for anything.

  After dinner, Lord Jacques took Francesca back to the palace. The two of them sat in the back seat of his car as Francesca stared at him. “I never gave you permission to be with me,” she said to him as he turned to face her. “Who said I even like you?” she asked.

  “You are awful at hiding your feelings,” he said to her. She rolled her eyes and looked away. He took her hand and placed a key in her palm.

  “What is that?” she looked at her hand.

  “A key.”

  “I see that but to where?”

  “My heart.”

  “What?”

  “I noticed that you say what a lot, especially when you don't know what to say or want to pretend you did not hear what I said.”

  “What?” Francesca realised that she had done it again. “Shut up,” she said to him before he said anything else.

  Chuckling. “It’s the key to my house. You had said that you have nothing to do at the palace and I want you to come and see me whenever you want. Francesca, I want you to be a part of my life and I think that we would both be more comfortable if we weren’t sneaking around like teenagers at the palace,” he said.

  “Why?”

  “Because I am falling in love with you. It drives me crazy when I do not see you. And then I have to walk around the palace or work late simply in the hopes that I might bump into you.”

  Francesca raised her eyebrows. So those times they bumped into each other in the palace that was not a coincidence. They had been looking for each other. “Stalker,” she said. He smiled and pulled her towards him. He held her face in his palms and searched her eyes.

  “Say you'll come,” he said.

  “We'll see.”

  He pressed a feather light kiss on her lips. “That is good enough for me,” he said to her and kissed her again.

  “Oh you drive me crazy,” she said.

  “I know.”

  “And I hate that I like you this much.”

  “I know.”

  He caressed her neck with the back of his hand. “I like you touching me,” she said and took his hand.

  “I know.”

  “Take me to your house. I need you.”

  “Okay. Pack your things.” He leaned closer to her and kissed her. They paused when they felt the car stop. They had arrived at the palace. Francesca got out of the car and strode towards the palace gates.

  “I will see you when you come over,” he called out after her.

  “If I come,” she answered as she walked away smiling. She clutched the key tightly in her hand as she turned around. “I love you!” she shouted after the departing car. She immediately regretted the words. She had said them first. The car braked abruptly and Lord Jacques’ got out and stood there staring at her for what felt like an eternity.

  “I love you too,” he said to her.

  Epilogue

  Things had been going well between Francesca and Lord Jacques. They argued occasionally and it frustrated him that she did not address him as a Lord. He would correct her, but she never listened. She went to his house occasionally and they would spend time together kissing and touching, but he refused to take it farther, which made Francesca incredibly frustrated.

  Liane came to the palace for a visit with Simone. Macee and Francesca were so happy to see her as they played with little Simone. They could not believe how quickly she was growing, as she was able to stand and walk with help. Time had flown by. Macee was about a month away from her due date and could not wait to give birth. Mrs LeBlanc arrived at the palace. She had started coming more regularly since Macee was nearing her due date.

  “How are things with Lord Jacques?” she asked her daughter. She could not be happier that her middle daughter was with a lord. She was the only one who had not given her cause for concern when it came to men.

  “I don't know, lately I have not seen much of him,” Francesca complained.

  “You see him in the palace,” Macee pointed out.

  Francesca frowned. “I wonder what his ex-wife looks like,” she said.

  “Oh darling, does it matter?” Mrs LeBlanc asked.

  “Why haven't we looked her up?”

  “Don't do it,” Liane said.

  “I am curious too,” Macee said. She called her maid and asked her to bring a laptop.

  “Macee do not encourage her,” Mrs LeBlanc said.

  “Maybe if she saw her, then she would have some motivation to hold onto him.”

  “That makes no sense.”

  “She does not realise that he is a catch. He could have any woman he wants.”

  “Yes and that happens to be me,” Francesca replied. The maid returned with the computer. Macee flipped it open and pulled up a search engine.

  “I am about to do it. Shall I?” Macee asked Francesca.

  “Well I do not want to know,” Mrs LeBlanc said.

  “I am curious too,” Liane said. Francesca gave Macee the go ahead as she quickly typed Lord Jacques’ ex-wife’s name in. A picture of the two of them came up. Macee gasped.

  “What?” Mrs LeBlanc asked.

  “I thought you did not want to know,” Macee replied. Liane turned the laptop around. They all gasped. She was quite tall, probably around five feet ten or eleven. She had long, thick blonde hair and grey eyes. She was slender and very beautiful, but her smile did not reach her eyes, which looked hard.

  “She is gorgeous,” Francesca finally said.

  “You are better looking,” Macee said.

  “We should not have looked,” Liane said. Francesca sprang to her feet. “Where are you going?” Liane asked.

  “To find Olivier,” she said and walked off.

  Francesca went to his home but he was not there. His maid told her that he was at the harbour. She rushed back to her car and went to the harbour where she found him working on a boat. “Olivier!” she shouted at him. He looked up and saw Francesca standing there with her hands on her hips.

  “Miss LeBlanc, what brings you by?” Olivier asked as he approached her. He pressed a small kiss on her lips.

  “You like blondes?”

  “What?” he asked.

  “Why won't you make love to me?” she asked. Lord Jacques laughed.

  “Francesca, what is happening?”

  “I want you to make love me.” She was frustrated.

  “I will not make love to you until you are my wife,” he told her as he looked at her

  “Then marry me!” she shouted. Oli
vier raised his eyebrows.

  “I was going to ask you, but where is this coming from?”

  “Excuses! Wait.. what? You were going to ask?” Francesca had not been able to admit it to herself but she wanted to marry him.

  “I was and this was the ring,” he said as he pointed at the boat he was working on. It was sleek and elegant, with a fine, glossy finish. Francesca’s jaw dropped open.

  “You built me a boat?” For once, she was lost for words.

  “I named it after you.”

  Francesca jumped on him and wrapped her arms around his neck. “Yes, I will marry you,” she said and kissed him. Olivier laughed.

  “I haven't asked yet,” he said as he hugged her. “But who is the blonde you are speaking of?”

  “Oh never mind,” she said.

  END OF PART 3

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  “Good evening, Your Majesty. Please, make yourself at home,” Rick Tompkins said, shaking the hand of the leader of Jawhara as he was escorted into the grand foyer of the Whittemore. “It’s a pleasure to have you join us this evening.”

  Kamal Mehalel El-Jawhara, Sheik of Jawhara, and CEO of Jewel Oil, shook the hand of the man who was going to bring his country’s reputation a much needed boost. He nodded his head and spoke to the two men standing behind him briefly in Arabic.

  As they moved off to do his bidding, he spoke to Rick, one of the Addams Group owners, “Your company put together an impressive presentation today. It was a pleasure to see their enthusiasm for this project. I have spoken with my brother, and we both agree that sometime in the near future, your team should visit Jawhara. That way they can see for themselves what is needed going forward.”

  Rick nodded, “I think that would definitely be of benefit. I’ll speak with Damon about setting something up.”

  “Fine.” Kamal looked around at the numerous people gathered to celebrate. There were a number of people in attendance that he recognized from the photos his secretary had shown him earlier this evening. Being prepared was something Kamal insisted upon. He prided himself on knowing both his friends and his adversaries before entering into any type of social gathering. With his connections, he often knew more about people he had never met, than long term friends knew about each other after years of interaction.

  Kamal didn’t feel that he was prying into people’s private lives; quite the opposite, he was educating himself as to their strengths and weaknesses. This kept him from being taken advantage of and had often provided information, which helped his security team, perform their duties in keeping him safe.

  Seeing his brother across the room speaking with a beautiful young woman, he headed in that direction. He watched the woman giggle just a little too much, obviously trying very hard to keep his brother’s attention solely focused on her. Looking at the expression on his brother’s face, he could have told her she could stop trying so hard. Khalil was already hooked and seemed content to stay that way.

  As he stepped around a small group standing between his brother and himself, he caught site of the dark red hair of a woman standing in his brother’s group. Kamal stopped shortly, stunned by how alluring her hair color was. It was definitely natural, but the way the light shone on the varying colors of red made her hair almost seem alive.

  Taking another step forward, he was stunned speechless when she turned slightly, giving him his first glimpse of her profile. Alabaster skin, a slightly turned up nose and a mouth made for kissing greeted him. Continuing to turn, he watched as her lids lifted and her eyes captured his attention. They were the most startlingly shade of green he had ever seen. Deep, dark, mysterious, and warm. Those words describe the feelings he had as he watched her eyes land on him, skitter away, and then return.

  He continued his forward progress, greeting his brother briefly in Arabic before returning his attention to the beautiful woman standing directly in front of him. Offering his hand, he spoke to her, “Good evening.”

  Seeing her eyes light with interest, the husky quality of her voice as she replied, “Good evening,” had his body standing at attention and demanding he learn more about her.

  Kale watched the interaction between his brother and Shira’s cousin. Mentally smiling to himself, he had never been so happy to see his brother. Maybe now he would finally be able to get Shira alone and calm her nervousness. It was obvious that she was attracted to him, and while he had enjoyed their flirtations these lasts few months, he wanted more. He had held himself tightly in check during the contract negotiations, putting the country’s needs before his own, but that was done now. Tonight there was only his own needs to worry about; he hoped to add Shira’s needs to his list of duties tonight as well.

  Making the introductions, he said, “Kam, may I introduce Shira and her cousin Erin. Shira, this is my brother Kam.”

  Erin watched as the newcomer briefly shook her cousins’ hand before turning the full weight of his dark gaze in her direction once again. The magnetism she felt between herself and the stranger was as foreign as the words he spoke in reply to Kale’s introduction. When Kale ushered her cousin off in another direction, she turned to follow them only to be stopped by a hand upon her arm. “Don’t go.”

  Turning her head, she looked first at the hand holding her arm before letting her eyes make a leisurely travel up to the face that was attached to it. He was a very handsome man. Standing more than six inches above her 5’7” height, his trim body, and the way he held himself was very alluring. This man was used to being in charge. Erin briefly wandered what his occupation was. She still hadn’t figured out what connection Kale had to the leadership of Jawhara, but he appeared to have quite a bit of authority there. Did his brother also have a position of authority in Jawhara?

  “Would you care to join me for a walk? I understand there is a formal garden through those doors,” Kamal suggested, pointing towards the double French door leading to the yard beyond.

  Erin took one last look at where her cousin had disappeared and then slowly nodded her head, “I would love to get some fresh air. So, yes. I would love a walk in the garden.”

  Waiting for her to precede in front of him, he let his eyes drift down over her figure, stopping briefly as his eyes devoured the lush curves her form fitting dress revealed. The black fabric molded itself to her lush breasts, before dropping down to hug her hips – hips that were made to hold onto as....

  Pulling his thoughts back, Kamal followed her outside, placing a hand low on her back, and feeling the shiver of reaction as it coursed through her body. Good. She feels the attraction too.

  Erin felt the touch of his hand all through her body. She questioned whether she should allow herself to be alone with this s
tranger, but the feelings he was creating in her body with just the touch of his hand were too tempting to ignore. She had seen several prospects this evening, but the man with her right now was the only one that had stirred her interest like this.

  Leading her towards a darkened path, he gestured with his hand informing his security detail to keep their distance. The path was lit only by small strands of lights scattered here and there amongst the vegetation, giving Kamal a perfect excuse to keep his hand upon her back as they walked. “Are you warm enough?”

  Erin nodded, “Yes. And you?”

  Kamal answered with a smile, “Of course. Your country is very different from my own during the day, but at night the temperatures are very similar.”

  Erin smiled at him, “In what way?”

  “Well. Bordering the sea, we enjoy a slight breeze off the water most of the time. This brings much needed humidity to our arid land. Once the sun goes down, the temperature drops dramatically, and one can almost taste the moisture in the air. It’s not so different than here.”

  Erin laughed, “I take it you’ve never been in D.C. during the winter months?”

  Kamal shook his head, “Sadly, no. I have been in Vermont during the winter months however. Is the weather here so different?”

  Erin laughed again, “Yeah, you could say that. They get tons of snow up there. Here, we get a little bit here and there, but normally we don’t get feet of the stuff like they do. I can’t imagine trying to move several feet of snow each morning.”

  Kamal was shocked, why would this beautiful young woman need to worry about moving snow? “You enjoy moving snow?”

  Erin huffed, “Really? Do you enjoy shoveling snow?”

  “I’ve never done it. But in my country it would be someone else’s job to remove snow.”

  Erin looked at him and when she realized he was being serious, she asked, “Spoiled much?”

  “Never,” Kamal replied. Having servants see to his every need was not a matter of being spoiled; it was his due as the Sheikh of his people. It was his country’s privilege to take care of their ruler. They were compensated well for their service, and Kamal had his every need met. Well, almost every need.