Once Upon a Royal Christmas

by Robin Bielman

  After double-checking to make sure the lip gloss she’d put on in the car was actually on her lips and not around her mouth, too, she handed over her ticket at the ballroom door and stepped inside. The Daughters of Montana had really outdone themselves. Silver and red helium balloons covered the ceiling, adding a lustrous glow alongside the hanging crystal chandeliers. The tables were elegantly decorated with poinsettia centerpieces, china and crystal, and wow. Rowan looked a little more closely to find the white napkins were folded like swans. That must have taken forever to do.

  Voices and laughter filled the room, and no one paid Rowan any attention as she looked around for a familiar face before moving further into the party. That was a lie. She really was searching for one person in particular. And she found him a split second later.

  Good Lord, he looked amazing in a black tuxedo and white dress shirt open at the neck. No tie. That little fashion statement sparked warmth low in her belly and made her throb between her legs. I’m in big trouble.

  Several people surrounded him in conversation, but pretty much everyone else in the ballroom had at least one eye on him. To Theo’s left was Peta Dixon in a gorgeous red dress, and was that her ranch foreman, Hal, with her? Hmm. Next to them stood flirtatious Maddie Cash in a sparkly dress, Maddie’s stepsister, Cynthia, and Cynthia’s boyfriend Chad. To Theo’s right were Brock and Troy Sheenan and their wives Harley and Taylor.

  Theo would no doubt be the center of attention all evening, given the large number of guests with the opportunity to chat him up.

  Having everyone’s interest bothered her a little, even though it shouldn’t. She had no claim to him. Thankfully, they’d prearranged to sit at the same table with their families for dinner so she’d get some time with him.

  She should at least go say hello so he knew she’d arrived. He had, after all, asked her to be here. The women standing around him laughed at something he said, then his gaze slid to hers. She gave him a smile. He said something to his companions. They nodded and watched him walk across the dance floor toward her. His warm, extraordinary eyes were zeroed in on hers like he’d been waiting forever for her. Her feet took that to mean it was time to move toward him, too.

  That silly saying, time stood still? It was a real thing. Happening to her right this minute. Her heart pounded in her chest as she and Theo erased the distance between them. Everyone except for the devastatingly handsome man in front of her faded into the background. And while she was vaguely aware of the crowd’s eyes on Theo, the prince only had eyes for her.

  They met at the edge of the dance floor.

  “Hi,” she said, keeping a respectable foot between them. On the inside, she was melting.

  “Hi,” he returned, taking her in from top to bottom and back up. “You look gorgeous. My real life fantasy girl.”

  Her entire body blushed at that, heat spreading from her cheeks to her toes. “You look pretty good, yourself.” Good didn’t begin to cover it.

  “I don’t want to look anywhere else for the rest of the night.”

  “Theo,” she whispered. It took everything she had not to reach for him. His compliments were getting harder and harder to take lightly.

  “And I’m sorry, but I think probably everyone in this room now knows that.”

  She swallowed. Sure enough, when she glanced to the right, she found Emmaline staring at them. Crappers. She quickly turned her attention over her shoulder where it was clear from the dozens of fixed observations on Theo that he was right.

  “What should we do?” she asked with barely a move of her lips. Her entire body had frozen. Could people also see how much Theo affected her?

  “Find our table?” he suggested.

  “Good idea. Hopefully, everyone will follow suit and quit looking at us.”

  Theo put his hand on her lower back, his warm palm meeting with her bare skin. He made a sound, something between a groan and a moan, before he leaned back just slightly and checked out her backside out of the corner of his eye. “Damn,” he said under his breath.

  A shiver worked its way down her spine as they made their way to where Bea and David sat with her parents. Hawk was there, too, working his charm on Bea. Nick and Cass stood nearby talking to Meg and Linc Brady. Like Rowan’s brother and best friend, Meg and Linc had also gotten together after a bachelor auction.

  “Hey you guys,” Rowan said to the foursome. “Meg, Linc, this is Theo. Theo, Meg, and Linc Brady.” Theo grinned at her before turning to Meg and Linc and shaking their hands. Oops. Was she supposed to formally introduce him? “Meg is a freelance writer for the Courier,” Ro said. “When she’s not busy chasing her adorable twin boys or helping Linc run their ranch.”

  “Sounds like you both have your hands full. What are the boys’ names?” Theo asked.

  The six of them continued to talk until they were kindly interrupted by guests wanting to say hello and introduce themselves to Theo. Rowan took the seat next to Hawk and watched as Theo graciously chatted with everyone and posed for pictures.

  Servers filled their champagne glasses and she and Hawk toasted to the Forty-Niners making it to the Super Bowl. Theo sat beside her when dinner was served. Conversation never lagged as the table filled with the people who meant the most to her, discussed everything from her mural—she quickly changed that subject—to politics.

  A few speeches followed dinner, with a special shout out to Theo, thanking him for his generous donation to the Daughters of Montana and their endeavor to raise money for repairs to Marietta’s courthouse. Rowan had no idea he’d given a gift to help commemorate the 125th anniversary of one of the town’s oldest buildings. She gave his hand a squeeze underneath the table. He didn’t allow her to let go, instead lacing their fingers and keeping their entwined hands on his thigh.

  Music started right after that, the band opening with a waltz. Theo turned to her and said, “May I have this dance?”

  “I…” The dance floor was quickly filling up, and she was quite comfortable right where she was. “I don’t know how to waltz.”

  “The next one then,” he said easily. He put his arm around her chair and canted his head until she felt his warm breath on her ear. “Fair warning, though,” he added quietly. “When I hold you against me, I don’t plan on letting you go.”

  Her stomach quivered in anticipation. She really, really wanted to bury her nose in his neck, breathe him in, and press her body to his. Desire overruled good sense and she didn’t care who noticed.

  Not when their eyes met and his glittered with heat. Passion. Intensity. She’d never been on the receiving end of a look like that.

  She gently ran the pads of her fingers down his cheek and around his clean-shaven jaw. His face really was a work of art. “Perfect. Then I’ll be right where I want to be.”

  He captured her wrist and brought her hand to his mouth. He kissed her knuckles, then lowered her arm, opening her fist so he held her palm face-up. With his other hand, he traced a line from the tip of her middle finger over her palm. He paused to draw lazy circles on her wrist, then continued slowly up the inside of her bare arm.

  There were no words to describe how incredible that felt. She never wanted him to stop touching her. Her breasts tingled. Her stomach tightened. Her sex throbbed. And her mind was stimulated with need. Need to know every inch of his body, but also every thought in his head. Whatever this connection was between them, it took her somewhere she’d never been before, and she wanted to explore it fully.

  “Ahem.”

  Oh yeah, they weren’t the only two people in the room.

  Rowan pulled her arm away from Theo and turned in the direction of the throat clearing. Immediately, the haze of euphoria vanished. She straightened her back. “Hi, Emmaline.”

  “Rowan. Your Highness.”

  Theo stood, putting a hand to Ro’s elbow and helping her to rise with him. “Hello, Emmaline. You look lovely this evening,” Theo said.

  “Thank you.” She did look really pretty in h
er charcoal-gray dress. A touch of pink bloomed across her cheeks at Theo’s compliment. “I wanted to see how your visit was going?”

  “You mean how my reporter and I are getting along”—he gave her a knowing smile—“don’t you?”

  “Caught,” she answered cordially. “I noticed the two of you…” She looked at Rowan with a note of caution in her steady gaze.

  “Looking too friendly?” the prince supplied.

  “Frankly, yes.”

  “The article is finished,” Rowan said. “I sent you an email earlier to let you know you’d have it on Monday after I do one more read through.”

  Emmaline’s eyes widened in surprise. Rowan never finished anything early, always hitting the send key a minute before her piece was due. Theo proved to be excellent incentive.

  “Oh, okay. Wonderful. Are you happy with it?”

  “Very.” She never lacked confidence with her writing, but weirdly she hadn’t felt the usual happiness with a job done this time. She’d think about what that meant later when she was alone.

  The music changed in the background, the band rolling over into Nat King Cole’s “Unforgettable.”

  “Emmaline, will you excuse us? Rowan promised me the next dance.”

  “Of course. Enjoy your evening.” As Theo placed his palm on her lower back and slipped behind her, Emmaline gave her a covert wink. “Both of you.”

  “Thank you.” Ro smiled at her boss’s uncharacteristic gesture. For the first time in months, the shame Ro felt at things not going the way they should have dissipated.

  Theo guided her to the dance floor. They faced each other, arms at their sides. He had to quit looking at her like she was made of stars or she’d turned to mush right there for everyone to see. His right arm went around her waist. His left hand took her right one, and he brought their laced fingers to his chest. She put her free hand on his shoulder, and they started to slow dance.

  As they swayed, the air got lighter, like the two of them were inside a bubble that would float away if they lifted their feet off the floor. Theo tightened his arm around her, bringing her body closer to his. “Have I told you how beautiful you look?”

  “Yes.”

  “Have I mentioned how sexy you are?”

  “Yes.” He’d whispered lots of things in her ear during dinner, making it hard to concentrate.

  “And that you smell amazing.” He dipped his head to her neck and inhaled.

  Goose bumps rose on her flesh, and she was really glad she’d worn her hair up. His lips grazing lightly over her skin as he breathed her in set off sparks down her arms and back.

  They continued to move together in perfect sync. Theo guided her around the dance floor with ease as the soft tune played for the couples lost in each other’s arms. “You’re unforgettable,” he whispered in her ear as the song came to a close. “And that’s where you’ll stay,” he softly crooned along with the band’s singer.

  Rowan bit her bottom lip to stop the onslaught of feelings rising to the surface for this incredible man. When the song ended, he looked down at her, she looked up at him, and without saying a word, they told each other how much the other meant.

  Thankfully, the band picked up the pace on the next song. She and Theo danced the night away, laughing with family and friends, but not once exchanging partners. One couple in particular that Rowan met for the first time tonight, Nicki and Quincy, danced together like they’d been partnered for years. When the bandleader announced they were doing the “Cupid Shuffle” next and asked dancers to form lines, hoots and hollers sounded.

  Theo gave her the cutest clueless look. “Don’t worry,” she said. “Just follow me.” When the song kicked into high gear, Rowan lifted the hem of her red gown, followed the song’s lyrics, and performed the easy dance moves beside Theo and Cassidy.

  “You’re wearing cowboy boots,” Theo said, noticing her footwear for the first time.

  “Thought I’d add a little country to the glamour.” She danced right, then left, shaking her hips and drawing Theo’s attention there.

  Without warning, he grabbed her hand and led her off the dance floor.

  “What’s wrong?” she asked, worried that maybe he’d twisted his bad ankle.

  “Absolutely nothing except for the fact that I need to get you alone. Now.”

  Oh.

  He swung by their table so she could grab her small handbag. Next, he gave his grandmother a quick kiss on the cheek, then turned to his grandfather and said “I’ll get Rowan home safely.”

  “Goodnight,” Ro called out.

  They made one last stop to say goodbye to her parents, her mom beaming when Theo gave her a kiss on each cheek.

  Theo’s good manners had definitely put the spotlight on them now. If their families had any doubts about the two of them being more than friendly, they didn’t any longer.

  Coats in hand, they crossed the lobby toward the hotel’s entrance. Just before stepping outside, Theo helped her into her jacket. She buttoned up and then—

  He framed her face in his hands. “I can’t wait another second to kiss you.”

  She wrapped her arms around his neck. “What are you waiting for, then?”

  His slow descent contradicted his words. But as soon as he brushed his lips against hers, she understood. They only got one first kiss and the buildup was half the fun. And oh, the feather-light touch sent a burning need curling through her. “Mmm,” she murmured before running her fingers through his hair and cupping the back of his head to encourage him to kiss her harder.

  “God, Rowan,” he hummed against her sensitive mouth before parting her lips with his tongue and plunging inside.

  He tasted like chocolate and hazelnut liqueur and she wanted to feast on him for the rest of the night. His kiss…his kiss took her to another place where fireworks blazed behind her eyelids. She leaned her body into his, tangled her tongue with his. Another flash of light went off. Theo’s kiss devoured her. A sharp ache settled low in her stomach. She needed him naked. Needed to touch and taste and see all of him.

  An additional flash of light flared, but this time, something seemed off. An intrusion of sorts. She opened her eyes at the same time Theo did.

  “Prince Theodore!” a man called out. “Who’s the girl? What’s it like being in your mother’s hometown?” The guy took another picture with the camera around his neck. “Is this love?”

  Oh my God. She wasn’t seeing fireworks. It was the paparazzi.

  Theo immediately shielded her from the man and hustled them out of the hotel. “I’m sorry,” he said, slight panic in his tone.

  The paparazzi followed several steps behind them, the flashbulb going off in rapid succession. He continued to shout questions at Theo, but Theo ignored him.

  “My car is right in front,” Theo said. He handed a tip to the valet, said thanks, and ushered her inside the passenger side. “Keep your head down,” he directed.

  She complied, a little freaked out by the strange attention. Theo scrambled into his seat a second later. Before she even had her seatbelt locked into place, he sped away from the hotel.

  Once they pulled out of the parking lot and it appeared they weren’t being followed, he slowed down. “You okay?” he asked, reaching over to hold her hand.

  Now that they were free from unwelcome notice, she was more than okay. So okay and amused that she twisted in her seat and smiled at him. “Wow. That was an adventure. Now I know how the Kardashian’s feel all the time.”

  He laughed. “I’m glad you’re not upset.”

  “Why would I be upset? I got caught kissing a prince. If anything, this will raise my street value tremendously.”

  “Street value?”

  “Yeah, I have no idea what I just said. I’m still kind of dizzy from that kiss.”

  That got her a bone-melting grin. “Yeah?”

  “Like you don’t know what a good kisser you are. I actually thought I was seeing fireworks until I realized it was a photographer
snapping my picture.”

  Theo made an annoyed face.

  “Hey,” she said, leaning over to nibble his ear. “I’m fine. It’s not a big deal. What is a big deal is you’re taking me home. Want to sleep over?”

  Chapter Eleven

  Rowan slipped off her coat and hung it on the iron wall rack in her small entryway. She took Theo’s coat and hung it up beside hers. Then she slipped her hand inside his much larger one and led him down the hallway to her bedroom. They didn’t talk and the silence acted like a form of foreplay, heightening the air around them, letting her mind wander to all sorts of sexy scenarios.

  All night. She had all night with him.

  At her silent maneuvering, Theo sat on the upholstered bench at the foot of her bed. “Stay,” she whispered into his ear.

  Her sleepover. Her rules.

  She’d left on the small bedside lamp, but the soft lighting wasn’t enough. She wanted to feast her eyes on him, not guess, so she walked over to the standing lamp in the corner and turned it on. Better.

  His heated gaze ate her up as she stepped back into his personal space. “The way your body moves in that dress makes me crazy,” he said.

  “Good crazy?” She slid her hands inside his tuxedo jacket, around his shoulders, and slowly slipped the coat down his arms, stopping halfway and trapping his arms behind him.

  Excitement and I’m-game-for-whatever-you-want flashed in his eyes. “Unbelievably good.”

  “I like that.” She undid the buttons of his white dress shirt, pressed her lips to his neck. He smelled so good she hoped his scent lingered on her skin and her sheets for days. “Know what else I like?”

  “What?” he asked, his voice husky.

  “You.”

  “I like you, too. Let me show you how much.”

  “After I show you.” She unbuttoned the rest of his shirt. With each open clasp, she placed an openmouthed kiss to his hot, smooth skin. A light dusting of blond hair covered his muscular chest. She moved lower to hard, sculpted abs. He must do at least a thousand crunches a day. The muscles there jumped when she kissed below his belly button.