Sarah & Vittorio (Royals of Valleria #9)

by Marianne Knightly

  “You look stunning.”

  She flushed. From his compliment or something else?

  “Thank you. You look stunning yourself.”

  He wrapped an arm around her, then let his hand drift along her back. The back of the dress mirrored the front, so the plunge in the back halted just above the small of her waist.

  He dipped his hands inside, skin against skin.

  “Rio!”

  He made a pass along her hips, confirmed she wasn’t wearing anything, then regretfully retreated. “Just checking.”

  “Checking what?”

  She was adorable when she was annoyed at him. “Checking to make sure your pussy’s bare, bella. I have plans for it later.”

  Another flush. “Don’t say things like that.”

  He just smiled in return.

  A noise near the entrance distracted him; people were arriving.

  “Put your mask on, bella. It’s showtime.”

  * * *

  Three hours later, the ball was going very well. Dinner had been consumed, dancing was now underway, with coffee and dessert to follow soon. An auction at the start—weeks at chalets, exclusive event invitations, and more—had brought in more than expected. He’d broken even on the event just from that alone, and had since surpassed the expected profit of the evening.

  The Angel Foundation would survive another day—and many more—into the future.

  His bell’angelo had been perfect. Graceful, charming, and more than a decoration on his arm. She was bright, insightful, and played politics with the best of them. She’d even talked to the prime minister about her trade deal and, by all accounts, it had gone well. Rio had been so proud to have her on his arm. If he and Sarah were still faking their romance, no one would doubt they were a true couple

  Thank Christ they weren’t faking it anymore.

  Now, he was dancing with her, slow and easy. She didn’t realize he was leading them towards the edge of the dance floor yet, at least he didn’t think she did, but once they got there, he’d lead her someplace else.

  “Are you drunk, bella?”

  She shook his head against his shoulder. “Not in the slightest. I’ve only had one glass of wine tonight.”

  “Good, because we’re about to do something I don’t want you to forget.”

  Her head snapped up at that. Their masks had long since been removed—dinner couldn’t be eaten with a mask on, even if it covered only their eyes—and her wide-eyed and hungry gaze pierced him.

  “Come, bella. Time for some fresh air.”

  “We shouldn’t.”

  “Probably, but it’s not as bad as you’re expecting. Come.”

  “Isn’t that the plan?”

  He chuckled. Yes, he would make her come, and no one but them would see it. He’d arranged everything meticulously.

  He led her from the ballroom and down the hall. After unlocking one of the private rooms, he led her inside and locked the door again. He pulled two masks from his pocket. “Put yours on again.”

  She hesitated only a moment, then complied.

  He led her onto a private balcony. “I just wanted a few moments alone with you. We were on a balcony our first night.”

  “You mentioned that,” she murmured.

  She walked to the edge and put her hands on the stone railing, taking in the view.

  He walked towards her, aligning his front to her back.

  Her chest didn’t move; she was holding her breath, waiting for his first move.

  His knuckles slid softly down her spine, causing her to shiver. He reached the small of her back and found the zipper.

  It seemed silly to have a zipper on a dress like this. She’d likely just stepped into it and pulled it on, because it didn’t require a zipper.

  But it had one, and he was going to use it.

  Her breath caught again as he lowered the zipper over her ass and halfway down her thighs.

  This was how he’d take her, from the back, dressed in their masks and finery, a ball full of important people just down the hall. He could still hear the low hum of the music, of the conversations and society laughter. That made this all the more seductive.

  Anyone watching them would only see a couple enjoying the night, not each other. But they’d know, and she’d never forget this.

  He pulled his zipper down, his cock, now hard, immediately sprung out. He’d tied a strategic sash to his tuxedo that had hidden his semi all night. He pushed that aside to stroke himself once, twice.

  “My cock has missed your pretty pussy.”

  “H-has it?”

  He teased the head against the crease in her ass.

  Her fingers tightened on the stone. “Oh, God.”

  “I won’t claim you here, not tonight.” He separated her cheeks with his cock, teasing her anus. “Soon, my bella, I’ll claim all of you. Every inch, inside and out.”

  Her head fell forward, and she moaned.

  He wrapped an arm around her waist, forcing her to lean back against him. “Shhh. We don’t want anyone to know what we’re doing. Those delicious sounds you make are a dead giveaway.”

  “I think when I spontaneously combust in three seconds, people will find out anyway.”

  He chuckled against her neck. “Oh, my bella. Hungry?”

  His cock slid down and teased her cunt.

  Her face turned towards his while her hands gripped his arm for support. “Starving.”

  “Then let me feed you my cock.”

  “Yes.”

  “Feed you my cum.”

  “God, yes.”

  He slipped his cock inside, agonizingly slow. He kept the movement of his hips to a bare minimum. Since she seemed to enjoy his dirty talk so much, he’d wanted to see if he could make her come from that alone.

  Of course, the addition of his cock in her cunt could speed things along, too.

  “Feel me inside you, filling you, stretching you. You’re so fucking tight, princess, did you know that?”

  She shook her head, her hair slipping slightly from its careful coil.

  “I love the way you squeeze my cock, the thirsty way your body drinks my cum.”

  “Mmm-hmm.”

  “Open your eyes.”

  She blinked them open, turned her head, and two pools of intense blue gazed at him through the mask.

  “One day, I’ll fuck you while we wear only these masks.”

  She whimpered and turned her head away.

  “In front of a mirror, so you can see your beautiful body exposed while I take you from behind.”

  “Oh.”

  His hips continued to move the barest bit, though instinct was telling him to fuck her hard. “You’ll take my cock in your cunt wearing this mask.”

  “Yes.”

  “You’ll take my cock in your mouth wearing this mask. I can see it now. You on your knees, naked.”

  She bit her lip, swallowed a moan that still escaped.

  “My cock in your mouth, surrounded by your plush, pink lips. You staring up at me with those eyes through that mask, your fingers on your cunt, making yourself come at the same time you make me come.”

  Her body tensed more; she was close, so fucking close, he could feel it. He could feel the little ripples around his cock.

  “Come for me.”

  “Rio.”

  “Now, damn it. Suck my cock dry.”

  Her body tightened, then her mouth parted in a silent scream as she orgasmed.

  He thrust once, twice, then followed her, filling her.

  She was panting and weak against him. “Rio, God. I’m just, God.”

  He smiled. “That’s what it was like our first night, bella. Not on the balcony, not that night. But later, in the bedroom? That’s how quickly you became mine.”

  She’d been responsive, even then. It had taken no time to read her, take her to the heights she’d just enjoyed.

  “I’m going to pull out. You’re going to leave my cum inside you, let it drip from
your pussy and down your leg.”

  She was breathless again. “Rio.”

  He pulled himself out, dragging his damp cock along the seam of her ass, the zipped them both up. “I want to see myself on you, taste myself on you when I take you again later. Taste the beauty that we make together when we join.”

  She mewed softly.

  He nuzzled her neck. “I think it’s safe to say we both won the bet, bella.”

  “God, you’re sweet.”

  He huffed a laugh. “I was trying to be seductive, not sweet.”

  She turned and lifted a hand to his cheek. “You’re both.”

  It hit him, completely, suddenly, unequivocally.

  He loved her.

  They were supposed to be a one-night stand. Yet they were more, even then.

  They were supposed to be fake. Yet, that had barely lasted a day.

  They were supposed to be together just one month. Yet, that would never be enough, not for him.

  Should he declare himself? Take the risk?

  She turned in his arms. “So serious all of a sudden. Are you okay?”

  He’d taken risks in business, but never in his personal life. There was always a first time for everything. If she didn’t feel the same way yet, perhaps she would in time.

  He’d tell her but hedge his bets a little. “I think I’ve probably been in love with you since our first night together. You’re beautiful when you come, did you know that? Your skin tastes ripe and flush with desire, and you light up, chasing all the dark away.”

  “You’re in love with me?”

  She would fixate on that. “I said ‘probably’ in love with you.”

  “So, you’re in love with me.”

  “Probably.”

  “Actually. You’re actually in love with me.”

  “Don’t put words in my mouth.”

  “Don’t pretend they’re not there in the first place, and I wouldn’t have to say them for you.”

  His voice was a warning unheeded. “Sarah…”

  She smiled wide. “You love me.”

  Christ, she was adorable. He also couldn’t pretend he didn’t love her reaction. “How do you feel about me?”

  That stopped her in her tracks.

  He moved deeper into her space, crowding her completely, crowding her thoughts. “How. Do. You. Feel. About. Me?”

  Her smile fell.

  He gripped her chin between a thumb and forefinger, and wrapped his other arm around the small of her back. “Answer me.”

  She mumbled and he felt the vibrations of her words against his fingers, but couldn’t discern the meaning.

  “What was that?”

  She wrapped a hand around his wrist and pulled it away from her face. “I probably love you, too.”

  “Probably?”

  Her lips were pressed together hard, as if to keep from smiling, and she nodded.

  “Does that mean you ‘actually’ love me?”

  Her eyes crinkled, but her lips stayed shut. She shook her head.

  “You love me.”

  She shrugged her shoulders.

  A desperate need to hear the words overcame him and his arm around her tightened. “Say it.”

  She stared up at him, those beautiful brown eyes wide on his. “You want to force me to say it?”

  “No. I want to hear your heart tell me you love me. Then I want to drown in the words until it fills me up.”

  Her eyes melted, her body relaxing against his. “Rio.”

  He brushed his nose against hers. “I adore you.”

  She inhaled sharply, then spoke on the exhale. “I adore you, too.”

  Something warm and weighty, like a thick blanket on a cold day, settled over him and in his chest.

  She brushed her nose against his. “I love you.”

  That warmth inside him exploded, spreading pieces of it to every corner of his body from the roots of his hair to the tips of his toes. The tiniest shred of disbelief was there, wondering how a woman like Sarah could ever love him. Yet the brilliance of her words drowned it and shut it up, for once.

  It was then his phone buzzed in his pocket. “Damn it.”

  She frowned at him.

  “I’m not cursing at you, bella.” He pulled out the phone. If he wasn’t in the middle of one of his biggest events of the year, he might have ignored it.

  When he saw the country code for Valleria on the screen, he stilled.

  He cleared his throat. “Hello?”

  “Good evening,” a meticulous voice on the other end began. “May I speak with Prince Vittorio, please?

  Rio swallowed. “Speaking.”

  “My name is Corrado and I’m chief of staff to His Royal Majesty King Gabriel of Valleria. I’m calling today to invite you to visit the Royal Palace in Valentia, Valleria, to meet with the king and other family members.”

  “I see.”

  “I should note that this invitation is not a request. You are required to come as soon as possible.”

  Rio stood in mute shock.

  Sarah gave him a little shake and whispered. “What is it?”

  His hand fell slightly, and she turned to the display. She gasped at the number then stole the phone from his hand.

  “Papa?” A pause. “Oh, Corrado, it’s you. Why are you calling this number?” Another pause.

  Her lips flattened, and her nostrils flared. “Give the phone to my father. Immediately.” Pause. “Of course he’s there listening. You’re calling from his office.” Another pause. “Of course I recognize the number.”

  She crossed one arm over her chest and held the phone to her ear with the other. Rio could do nothing but stand and listen to her in all her angry beauty.

  “Papa? How are you? Lovely. Now, why are you summoning Rio? You were summoning me?”

  She started pacing. “We’re at a ball, I don’t have my phone on me. I didn’t even bring a purse since I came with Rio.”

  “But, Papa.” Another pause.

  She stopped pacing, her expression fading from anger to unease. “Papa, listen.”

  Her shoulders sagged. “Yes, Papa. I’ll be there.”

  Her voice turned soft and low, a little resigned but still caring. “I love you, too, Papa. See you soon.”

  She hung up and handed the phone back to him. “Well, it looks like we’ve both been summoned to Valleria.”

  Chapter Twelve

  Rio tried to keep his cool as they drove through the multitude of gates into the Vallerian Palace. He tried to keep his face even and his gaze uninterested.

  He knew he was undoubtedly failing.

  He couldn’t help but look at the majestic palace, which seemed to stretch out farther than his eyes could see. They passed by gardens and lawns full of graceful beauty, and history he didn’t know but could sense. One day, he’d own his family’s dilapidated estate. Sarah already, sort of, owned this. He had the fleeting thought that Sarah belonged here much more than she belonged on his family’s estate.

  They were led inside by her protection agents, and his eyes darted over the marble floors and decadent walls. Hundreds of years of palace history—and thousands of years of Vallerian history as well—filled these walls. It was a little humbling, to say the least.

  Yet, despite its grandeur, he didn’t feel the stuffiness or rigidity of most other royal palaces. It was formal, yes, but not oppressively so. If Sarah had grown up here, he could see where her easy warmth had been nurtured.

  It was nothing like the home in which he’d grown up.

  Based on everything he knew about Sarah’s parents, they’d be nothing like his own. Oh, you couldn’t be a king without being somewhat ruthless, Rio had no illusions about that. But Sarah loved her parents, that was clear. He’d seen evidence of that during the phone call that had forced them here as soon as the ball was over.

  No. No matter what the king and queen did to him, they would be nothing like his parents. Though he wouldn’t put it past her father to have him ki
lled all the same, just for sleeping with his daughter. If he had a daughter like Sarah, he’d kill any man who came near her.

  They entered the Royal Wing and, before he’d even had a chance to take it in, his back was pushed against the wall.

  A strong forearm was held against his neck, tipping his head up while he choked lightly for breath.

  His fingers dug into the forearm holding him and his feet—Christ, he was even lifted off the ground—tried to kick his attacker in the balls.

  Rio barely made out Sarah’s voice nearby as a whooshing sound filled his ears.

  Her voice was angry yet resigned. “Oh, Alex, can’t you leave him alone?”

  “No,” his attacker—apparently named Alex—replied. “Did he tell you what’s he’s done? What his parents have demanded? No one demands any-fucking-thing from us.”

  “Alex, stop! What are you babbling about? Rio didn’t demand anything.”

  The arm pressed tighter against Rio’s neck and his vision started to blur.

  “His father has demanded millions from us. Claimed he had pictures of you two in compromising positions. They’re blackmailing us to keep them from being released.”

  What? What the fuck had Franco done now?

  “What?” Sarah screeched.

  “Knee him in the balls,” another man said.

  “Twist his dick. That’ll work better,” yet another man chimed in.

  “It’s all lies, Alex! His family’s crazy. Let Rio go!”

  Rio let out a choking sound. He was seeing spots. Definite black spots now.

  “Alex!”

  Alex grunted. “Oh, all right.”

  The forearm fell away, and Rio fell to the floor, wheezing.

  Sarah rushed over. “Are you all right?”

  He was seeing two of her. That was normal, right? Two Sarahs.

  No, that wasn’t right. There was only one Sarah. He could have a lot of fun with two Sarahs, but he needed the one and only Sarah. He reached out, missed, and reached out for her again, finally catching her.

  “It’s all right. I’m here.”

  He pulled her into his lap and hugged her. He just needed to hold her. He took a deep breath, caught a whiff of her citrus scent, and centered again.

  “Rio?”

  His voice was rough and croaking. “J-Just another minute.”