Box Set: Puppy and the Prince

by Nikki Steele

  She looked toward him, then motioned for her guards to block him, too. “This does not concern you, Fredrick.”

  The man bristled. “My announcement was supposed to be the first tonight.”

  The Queen, from her podium, raised a perfectly manicured eyebrow. He quickly settled down, though not before mouthing something under his breath about things changing, and having a bigger army. Then she turned to me. “Well go on, girl. What do you want? Land? A title? As many gems as you can carry?”

  I drew a breath. “Actually, Your Majesty, there’s only one thing I want.”

  “Speak up girl—out with it, I’ve other business to attend to tonight.”

  I raised my voice; it carried over the held breaths. “Your Majesty… I love your son,” I said, the words leaving me in a rush. “And I know that he loves me. I ask that you give your blessing for his hand in marriage.”

  The Queen’s eyes widened. A gasp travelled through the crowd, voices talking loudly over the top of each other. Then she seized me by the shoulders, dragging me to the back of the dais. “Foolish girl,” she growled in a harsh whisper. “You ask me for the one thing I can’t give.”

  Behind me, I could see Fredrick and Xander both struggling against the guards. My eyes met Fredrick’s, full of hatred, and Xander’s, full of love. My back straightened and my shoulders squared. “Yet it’s the one thing I want, in all the world.”

  “I can’t give it. Choose anything else—a chest full of diamonds. A castle. The contents of my treasury, if you wish.”

  I shook my head. “It would all be meaningless without Xander beside me.”

  Her head dipped slightly. She looked at me, really looked me in the eyes. And then she sighed. “I have been harsh on you, I know that. And I would have you as my daughter if I could. You would make a strong queen.”

  She held up a finger at the spark of hope that entered my eyes. “But! It cannot be. Fredrick must marry off his daughter for her title to have legitimacy. The merging of our countries is the only way she can retain power with the Star of Succession gone.”

  “There is another way. Let Xander abdicate. Give Fredrick the throne.”

  “You don’t think I’ve thought of that?” she hissed. “I would no sooner do that than marry Fredrick myself, which” she said, eyebrow arched, “I have considered, trust me.”

  She drew a deep breath. “Fredrick is not a good ruler. As king, my own country’s laws would give him power over me. My people would be as helpless before him as his own are. No,” she sighed. “Xander, as the only male left in my line, must marry. It is the only way I can protect my people.”

  Behind us, Fredrick managed to push his way through the guards, who were dealing with Xander’s ever increasing struggles. He climbed toward us. “What is the meaning of this,” he demanded, mustache quivering. “Who is this girl? I warn you Maria, if you’re trying to renegotiate our deal after all this time, I’ll have my army on this castle’s doorstep before you can say-”

  “Oh hush,” the Queen snapped. “No one is doing anything of the sort.”

  She strode toward the front of the stage, facing the audience once more. “The request,” she said loudly, “has been denied.”

  Once again the room erupted into uproar. Fredrick pushed past me with a satisfied smile, but I didn’t respond. The noise from the crowd was overwhelming, a cacophony of scandalized gossip, but only one thing was registering inside. I had failed.

  Because the Queen was right. Xander had to marry the princess. I’d said it myself, when I saved her from choking. I was a nurse. Life would always rank higher—even than my own happiness.

  I collapsed slowly to the floor, and as I did, the crowd quietened. All eyes were on me, but I didn’t care. I didn’t care about anything, anymore. I couldn’t marry Xander.

  At the back of my mind a little voice told me that maybe I could still be in the picture. If he married her, maybe I could be his mistress. But I knew that wasn’t true. Fredrick wouldn’t let it, and I wouldn’t want it. They’d have to have children to further the royal line. The thought made me feel physically sick.

  I stood, tears in my eyes. Every person in the room followed my movement. Then I walked, slowly, down the dais. The crowd parted quietly before me.

  I would go home. For real this time. Despite Xander’s protests. Despite my own. Tears began to stream freely down my cheeks. I would go home, and I’d never, ever fall in-

  I paused. What was that?

  For the second time tonight, I heard a muffled bark.

  CHAPTER TEN

  I stopped, waiting for my dog to come to me. Perhaps it was because I needed him close in my darkest hour. Perhaps it was because I had no energy left to go to him. All I wanted to do was leave this place. All I wanted to do was go home, and cry without anybody watching.

  Baxter yipped again in the silent room, his bark muffled. Then I heard a ting, like something hitting the floor, and his bark grew louder. Commanding. The crowd parted between us, to reveal a little dog even dirtier than the last time I’d seen him. He bent down to pick up the thing he had dropped once more.

  I had to smile, even through my tears. His tail was wagging so hard. The poor dog didn’t know my heart had been broken. All he knew was he’d found some pretty thing at the bottom of a hole, and he thought it would make me happy.

  I crouched down, my dress flowing out around me, as I wiped away my tears. “What is it boy? Have you brought mommy a present?” I didn’t care that the crowd might think me an idiot. My day had been ruined. I wasn’t going to ruin his, too.

  He stopped before me, then sat down on his haunches, tail thumping, with a look in his eyes so proud you’d think he’d eaten the postman. Then he barked, once, and dropped the object at his feet.

  It fell with a clear ring that resonated throughout the room, like crystal glasses clinking, but sweeter. The object threw blue light in sparkles as it tumbled, then rolled to a stop at my feet. It was a blue gem, the size of a golf ball. A diamond.

  I heard an intake of breath from the dais. Fredrick had seen the diamond too. “The Star of Succession,” he mouthed. He moved as quickly as his bulk allowed down the steps. “Give it to me!” he demanded urgently.

  I looked in wonder from Baxter, sitting pleased as punch before me, to the gem. And then I picked it up.

  Fredrick froze.

  “This little thing?” I asked, polishing it on the hem of my skirt. It left the dress dirty, but I didn’t think Mara would mind.

  Fredrick approached more cautiously. “It means nothing to you girl. A trinket. Give it to me.”

  I held it up for everyone to see. The Queen’s eyes widened in shock, and those closest to me, who could see its beauty, began to mutter. I fluttered my eyelashes. “But what if I wanted to keep it?”

  Sweat beaded suddenly on Fredrick’s face. “Your weight in gold. Give it to me, and I’ll give you your weight in gold.”

  I shook my head. “I like it. I like the sparkle.”

  “My weight in gold!” he said desperately. “You’d be an instant millionaire! And all for a trinket.”

  “You know,” I said, finger going to my chin. “It’s a funny thing, but I heard a story once, about a blue diamond roughly this size. I think,” I said, “it was called the Star of Succession.” I looked at him. “Do you think this might be it, perhaps?”

  All pretense of innocence dropped from his eyes. “Give it to me,” he snarled. “It’s mine by right.”

  He leapt toward me, but I stepped back, wagging my finger. “Whomsoever holds the Star of Succession bears the right to ascend the throne. Isn’t that how it goes?”

  His eyes widened. He staggered to a stop.

  “Does that make me Queen, I wonder?”

  A murmur ran through the crowd. It began to grow louder.

  I held the stone out before him. All noise stopped. “As Queen, I declare that all previous contracts with Alonia are now null and void,” I announced in my loudest voice. I
hardly knew what I was doing, but I knew it felt right. “Furthermore…” I hesitated, then I flicked the gem toward him. “Screw it. Just let me marry Xander. You can take your kingdom, and your army, and get out.”

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  The wedding would occur next fall—as quickly as we could arrange it, considering the complexity it entailed. I’d always imagined something small, which I could organize myself. I’d never thought I’d need a wedding planner, let alone a team of them.

  “So this is really happening.” We were in the throne room, where the wedding would eventually be held.

  Xander chuckled. “After the scene you made last night? If we don’t marry it will be a royal scandal!”

  “But your mother. She approves?”

  He nodded. “More than that. She’s like a new woman. I guess I never realized the burden she carried all these years.”

  I looked at him hesitantly. “And… you want it, don’t you? I mean, all that stuff last night, it just sort of came out. I had that conversation with your mother, and then that diamond came along and suddenly there was a chance… but I never actually asked if you wanted to.” Suddenly, I was nervous. “You do want to, don’t you?”

  The smile fell from Xander’s face. His hands went to his pockets. “About that.”

  I stepped away from him. Oh no. If this wasn’t what he wanted... if I’d misjudged everything… He looked nervous. I’d never seen him look nervous before.

  He licked his lips. “Here’s the thing,” he said. He cleared his throat, then started again. “Here’s the thing. When you got up on that podium last night, you kind of stole everyone’s thunder. I wanted to talk to you. I had plans. But then you saved my mother, and Baxter found that diamond…”

  A million thoughts began to tumble through my head. I was frozen to the spot. I didn’t want to hear what came next, but I was unable to look away.

  “Like I said, you stole my thunder,” he said. He looked around. We were alone. “I was going to do this last night, but…” He pulled a tiny velvet box from his pocket, then got down on one knee.

  “Katherine Emily Wilmont. Will you marry me?” He opened the box to reveal the most beautiful diamond ring.

  My hand went to my heart, and I stood there, mouth open, unable to make a sound.

  Xander shifted, uncomfortable. “Kate… are you okay?”

  I tried to talk, but my mouth was dry. I swallowed, then tried again. “Yes,” I said in a tiny voice. Then louder. “Yes!”

  He stood up, laughing, as I leapt into his arms, lifting me off my feet to twirl me in circles. “Oh Kate, you make me so happy!”

  He set me down, then slid the ring on my finger. It was an old ring, obviously an heirloom, with a large diamond surrounded by smaller gems, like petals on a flower. “You had me worried there for a moment.”

  “Me!?” I exclaimed. I slapped him across the cheek lightly, enjoying the way the ring sparkled. “You had me worried? What about-”

  He cut me off with a kiss. We broke apart, breathless.

  “Xander, I’ve got something to tell you, too.”

  He laughed, picking me off my feet and twirling me again. “Do you still want to get married?”

  “Yes, of course.”

  “Then I don’t care. Whatever it is, it can wait.”

  “No, but Xander…”

  He put me down, then began unbuttoning his shirt. “You’re the most beautiful thing I’ve ever had the pleasure to lay eyes upon.”

  “But Xander…”

  “Sexy, and amazing, and charming, and delicious,” he said, stalking toward me, pushing me backward. He began unbuttoning my top too.

  I was losing my train of thought. “Xander, people might see.”

  He shook his head. “I asked to be alone. So I could propose.”

  “But Xander, we need to-”

  His finger went to my lips. “Shh. We need to celebrate.”

  Something cold pressed into the back of my thighs. I glanced around quickly, to find I was up against the throne. His shirt slid to the floor. My top and then my skirt quickly followed.

  I couldn’t believe it was actually happening. I was engaged to the Prince of my dreams. My hands ran over his strong chest. My lips met his as we kissed once more. It was alright. Everything was going to be alright.

  The kiss lingered, long and slow; both of us reveling in the newfound knowledge that we could take as long as we liked—I wouldn’t be leaving ever again. My hands began to explore his hair, then moved onto his shoulders and broad back.

  I had overcome so many obstacles to be here in this moment. But it had been worth it. I’d do it all again, for him. Because I knew he would do it for me.

  My kisses became more urgent—I loved him so much. His body responded, thick and hard against my thigh, and we removed the last of our clothes. He picked me up, laying me back upon the golden throne. My legs parted. Then he slid inside.

  A thrill ran through my body at the feel of him within. His thickness, which gave both pleasure and comfort; a physical expression which unified our souls.

  My arms wrapped around his neck. Already I could feel a quickening, a delight that was physical, but more than that, too. I placed my hand upon his heart—I could feel it, beating in time to my own.

  “I’m so glad I’m here, Xander,” I whispered. “I’m so glad you didn’t let me go.”

  “I wouldn’t,” he said. “Not ever.”

  “Xander,” I said in wonder, the realization striking me all over again. “We’re going to get married.”

  The thought sent joy buzzing through my body. His movements began to quicken.

  My legs lifted up, rising to rest on his shoulders. No more talking. There were other things we needed to do now. I felt him drive deeper, our hips meeting, and his movements filled my body with delight. How could he do this to me so easily? How could he conjure pleasure like this? He was a magician, and I, his willing assistant.

  “Put your arms around my neck,” he commanded. I did as I was told, and he stood, lifting me with his powerful body. I gasped as gravity drove me deep upon him, filling me with delight. His biceps flexed and I rose up his length. Then I slid deep upon him once more, clinging with arms around his shoulders.

  My mouth buried into the crook of his neck to stop from crying out. It was so intimate—my body clinging to his, dependent upon the strength of his arms and the feel of him deep inside. Each time I rose up and slid back down, muffled cries escaped my lips.

  Eventually, he put me down, my toes arching gracefully as they touched the cold marble floor. We parted, and then I turned to face the throne. I braced against the armrests; he moved into me once more, his hands on my hips.

  I groaned in pleasure at the sensation. In this position my breasts swung freely, and I took one in my hand, pinching the nipple. The pain brought back memories of the two of us earlier, in the garden. It seemed like so long ago, now. We’d been younger then, more naïve. We’d come through so much, and then out the other side.

  The thought sent jolts of joy through me, racing from my heart to join those already in my loins. I moved back into him, meeting his motions with a force that swung my breasts and made our hips meet in strong slaps. The sound was loud, but I didn’t care—our breathing was louder.

  We were going to get married. The idea sent tremors down my legs, causing them to buckle as Xander drove into them. A pleasure was building, spreading. It had started at my hips and my heart, but was now in my throat. It was making my head swim and my eyes water. We were going to get married, and I was the luckiest woman in the world. I could feel him moving into me over and over again.

  When his breathing got heavy, I spun off Xander—pushing him down upon the wide throne and then climbing to face him on top. I wanted to look my lover in the eyes; to gaze deep into his beautiful soul when that spark between us exploded into fire.

  His eyes rolled back as my body ground into his. I cradled his head, pulling it into my breasts. I c
ould feel him, inside, my movements pulling him this way and that. Each time he pressed deeper a thrill of pleasure drove through me.

  His mouth moved to suckle my breast. The suction was sharp; sweet spikes of pain that heightened everything else. My breathing quickened. We were going to get married. We could do this every night, and every day, if we wanted to.

  I moaned as the thrills inside came faster, harder. Each thrust drove me closer to the edge. Each look and kiss and touch threatened to drive me over it.

  His hands found my buttocks. He began to lift me as I rocked; the motion creating a whole new plane of pleasure as we moved in rhythmic, elliptical patterns. Faster and faster we swayed, his mouth leaving my breasts to rest against my forehead, then leaning back as we entered the final stretch.

  The pleasure was so strong I could hardly breathe. My chest was heaving as my eyes rolled back. We were going to get married. And I loved this man so much. The thought threw me flying toward the edge, and then together, looking into each other’s soul, we leapt over it.

  I didn’t try to be quiet. I couldn’t. His hands were white as they gripped my buttocks, and I cried my delight to the world; the ecstasy going on, and on, and on until I was forced to squeeze my eyes shut, and I forgot where I was, and who I was.

  When I was done, trembling and weak, Xander stood, and lifted me from the ground. Then he pierced me once more. His touch sent a renewed thrill through me. I looked up as the diamond chandelier above me sparkled, and began to bathe, once more, in euphoria.

  EPILOGUE

  “We’ll need to invite your family, of course. And then there are the European Heads of State. They’re boring, but we’ll have to invite them too…”

  I walked along beside Xander, mind wandering as he talked through his lists. I should be listening to what he was saying, but I still had that sweet ache from the throne room between my legs. Then there was that other thing we needed to talk about, too.