She took her job so damn seriously; he knew she would never risk it. Time, however, to lighten the mood a little. “Would it piss you off if I came inside and kissed you? Even if it meant rolling out the fondant again?”
The corner of her lip twitched. She tried to hide it, but Nate missed nothing when it came to her. “No, I suppose not.”
“It better not.” Nate made his way to her, hugging her from behind and dropping a kiss to the side of her neck. “What time did you get up this morning?”
She shook her head, avoiding the question. “I wanted to make you fresh brioche but, after I did that, I thought there’s so much to do before the Holiday Ball, and the other events going on around the palace, that I might as well work. I’ll be lucky if I can finish everything on time as it is.”
He pulled her hair free of the ponytail and sighed. “I didn’t ask why you woke up early, I asked what time you woke up. I’m worried about you, Charlie. I know you’re Head Baker for the palace, but that doesn’t mean you don’t need rest.”
She turned to face him, wrapping her arms around his neck while keeping her messy hands away from his body. “I’m not just Head Baker. When I take over Coco’s job next year, I’ll be in charge of all the kitchens, everything, not just baking. It’s a big responsibility. I have to show that I’m up for it, especially since I’m American and not Vallerian.”
He tightened his hold around her. “You are Vallerian, Charlotte-mine, and there’s no question that you’re up to the responsibility. However, you still need your rest.” One of his hands slipped underneath the shirt to rest over her left side, where a line of puckered skin was etched. “You were shot barely a month ago, Charlie. I don’t want you to push yourself too much.”
She quirked an eyebrow at him. “Really? Said the man who was also shot on his left side just one day after me? Need I remind you that I’ve been out of the hospital for five weeks now while you’ve been home for only two?”
He tried unsuccessfully to fight the smile that broke through. “I know it seems hypocritical.”
“Besides which, after what you did to me last night, I’m sure we’re both well and recovered.”
“I’m not sure our doctors would agree with us.”
“Well, we’ve always been overachievers, right?”
He pressed a soft kiss to her lips. “Yes, we have. Come to bed, Charlotte-mine. Be with me a while.”
She sighed. “All right. Let me just wash my hands.”
As she turned, he stopped her. He brought one of her hands to his lips and took each digit into his mouth in turn. “Mmmm,” he hummed. “You always taste so sweet.”
Charlie’s bold blue eyes grew darker and her tongue slipped out to lick her pink lips. “Nate.”
“I’ll taste all of you before we’re done, Charlotte-mine.” He backed her out of the kitchen and only made it halfway down the hall before he couldn’t wait any longer. He fisted the shirt she wore – his shirt – in his hands and ripped it apart, sending buttons flying. She was naked but for a pair of practical black underwear, and her body was a feast of its own, calling to him, enticing him, and he never got enough.
“Nate.” Her body tensed and he knew why. She would never be one to fall apart without some help, but he didn’t care. She wanted him, loved him, had even moved in with him to the Royal Wing of the palace. What the fuck did he care if a vibrator was part of their daily lives?
He lifted her easily in his arms and she protested. “Nate, stop. You shouldn’t pick me up. You’ll hurt yourself.”
He snorted. He may still be a little sore, but he was fine; they both were, thank God. He entered the bedroom and dropped her softly on the bed, then pushed the shirt off and away from her. When he ripped the boxers away, she laid back and sighed. “I wish you wouldn’t keep destroying all of my clothes.”
“Those were my clothes,” he said with a smile as he pulled out a condom, vibrator, and tube of lubrication gel from the nightstand and tossed them on the bed. “Besides, if you’d stop looking so fucking sexy in them, I wouldn’t.”
She shook her head against the pillow, her soft strands splayed out underneath her. “No other man has ever thought I looked ‘sexy’ in their clothes, you know.”
He prowled over her on the bed as a wave of possession gripped him. “And no other man ever will, except me.” He pressed his body into hers and his full lips took hers in a hard kiss. “You’re mine, Charlotte. Only mine.”
She fisted her hands in his hair, keeping it away from his fierce face. “And you’re mine, Nate. Only mine.”
While their mouths explored and tongues waged war, her skin warmed to a simmer under his hands. He knew her now, knew her body and her mind. He knew just the slow, agonizing pace he needed to take to pleasure her, and he took it happily every time.
A light sheen of sweat coated him. His cock, which seemed to be in an ever-present state of arousal since falling for her, was still learning patience under her hands and in her body. When her body finally began to respond, he covered himself with the condom and lube and gradually entered her, inch by inch, until he was seated fully inside her.
He soon became a man possessed with her pleasure, licking and sucking, thrusting and biting, until he felt the right moment come several minutes later. He reached for the long, slim vibrator and flipped it on low.
He pressed it between them, and her clit hardened almost instantly. Her back bowed against the bed, her hands tugged at his hair, the biting pain spurring him further.
When she finally convulsed around him, she let out a cry of release, and he let himself go with a roar.
He collapsed briefly on top of her to catch his breath before rolling away and off the bed to dispose of the condom. When he returned, she smiled as she held the covers open for him – a simple, caring act that sent his heart stuttering.
He pulled her into his arms and they snuggled against each other. “I love you, Charlotte-mine.”
“I love you, Nate.” She pressed a soft kiss to his lips. “I love you so much.”
Content, they fell asleep for a little longer, wrapped in each other’s arms.
***
Back in Alex and Rebecca’s apartment, Alex thrust into Rebecca again. Her moan spurred him on, and his cock itched to possess her even more. Harder and harder he pushed into her, causing her body to shift up the bed.
“Alex, please,” she cried, and he knew what she wanted, what she craved.
His hand reached between them to torture her nub below and she moaned again. Her body contracted once around him, but it wasn’t enough; not nearly enough.
Harder and harder he thrust, over and over and over again. Her back arched and her body spread wide, giving itself over to pleasure.
When her orgasm hit, a fierce pounding came on their apartment door. Alex roared as anger at the disruption warred with the painful cock buried inside his love.
He let go, filling her, claiming her with everything he had, giving her every bit as much as she’d given him.
He collapsed on top of her, their sweat mingling with the delicious scent of their lovemaking and he took her mouth in fierce possession.
When the pounding on the door continued, he growled and pushed away from her. “Whoever dares bother me this morning will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
She giggled in between gasps of breath. “It sounds like it’s important, whatever it is.”
He slid off the bed, giving Rebecca’s body one long, last, lingering look.
“You’d better stop looking at me like that or else you’ll never answer the door,” Rebecca said.
“Don’t you dare cover yourself, darling. I’m going to take you again as soon as I have someone arrested.”
He heard her giggle again as he shuffled on a robe and left the room, closing the door behind him. He made his way down the hall and towards the foyer, where the knocking had become more insistent.
“I’m coming, for Christ’s sake. What the h
ell is so important?” He’d just finished tying the robe when he reached the front door and wrenched it open. His mouth dropped open in shock.
“Papa? What are you doing here? What’s wrong?”
King Gabriel had a fierce scowl on his face and a newspaper in his hand. He strode in, his boots tapping swiftly against the floor while he did. Since he was already dressed for work, Alex could tell he’d been up for a while already.
“Where’s Rebecca?” Gabriel asked.
“She’s in bed. What’s happened? Is it her parents? Has something happened to them?”
Gabriel shook his head. “No, my son, it’s not that. It’s this.” He slapped the newspaper into Alex’s hand.
Curious as to what would make his calm, level-headed father lose control, Alex unfolded the newspaper and took in the headline. His eyes widened and his mouth dropped open in shock.
“Well?” Gabriel asked impatiently. “Is it true? You do realize we are fast approaching the Holiday Ball, which will double as your engagement party? What do you have to say for yourself?”
The headline was bold and clear: Prince Alexander’s Mistress.
A picture beneath the headline took up most of the space above the fold. Though the picture was dark and taken at nighttime, it was clearly him, and he was clearly kissing someone not quite visible in the shadows.
Alex ran a hand through his hair. “What the fuck? This picture was taken in the palace gardens. There’s no way anyone could have gotten this without long-range lenses. Fucking vultures!”
“I don’t care what kind of lens was used to take it, I want you to explain yourself.”
“What’s going on?”
Alex turned to see Rebecca, who looked so cozy and fucking cute all cuddled up in her robe. “Gossip again, darling.”
“Are you sure she should see that, Alexander?” Gabriel asked.
“Of course,” Alex said easily and handed Rebecca the newspaper.
As Rebecca took in the picture, her mouth, too, fell open.
Then she began laughing.
A deep, full, belly laugh that had Alex smiling broadly at her.
“Would someone care to tell me what’s so funny?” Gabriel asked, his arms crossed over his chest.
“That’s us,” Alex said as he gestured between himself and Rebecca. “They got a picture of us making out in the gardens one night. My guess is a couple weeks ago.”
Realization dawned on Gabriel’s face. “I see. You always favor nighttime walks in winter?”
Alex shrugged. “Rebecca likes to run, and sometimes we go together. Lately, we only get a chance for it later in the day, when it’s already dark. We thought we were safe enough. Even the Royal Protection agents who are assigned to us keep their distance, even though they’re running with us. More than that, the grounds are closed to the public in winter, so no one should have seen us.”
“Unless they have long-range lenses,” Gabriel added.
Alex nodded. “Now that we’ve got that sorted out, perhaps you can tell me why you thought I would cheat on Rebecca with anyone, ever? I mean, Jesus, Papa. Really?”
Gabriel cleared his throat. “After the story broke this morning, a woman came forward claiming that was her.”
“Well, it’s bullshit. She clearly just wants attention.”
“She wants more than that.”
“What do you mean?” Rebecca asked as she wound an arm around Alex’s waist; Alex wrapped an arm around her in return.
“She’s shopping around some pictures she states are of the two of you in ‘compromising’ situations.”
“What. The. Fuck.”
Gabriel nodded. “My sentiments exactly. All of the media outlets – even the legitimate ones – are questioning your relationship.”
Alex glanced down at Rebecca, whose forehead was creased in worry. Damn it; he wouldn’t let anything or anyone harm her. “It’ll be okay, darling. Don’t worry.”
“It may not, my son. This scandal is growing by the minute.”
Alex shook his head. “Who the hell is this? I would never cheat on Rebecca.” He looked her straight in the eyes and cupped her face. “I would never cheat on you. You know that, don’t you?”
She covered his hand with hers against her cheek. “Of course I do.”
“Who the hell is this?” Alex demanded as he turned back to his father. “Who the fuck has the gall to threaten me and the woman I love?”
When Gabriel mentioned the name of a long ago ex-lover, Alex’s face went pale.
He may not have cheated on Rebecca, but he was well and truly fucked.
Chapter 2
Alex paced inside his bedroom, shooting furtive glances at the bathroom, where Rebecca was getting ready for the day. Family breakfast was a must this morning since most of his siblings were already in Valleria for the holiday season – save for Sarah, the Vallerian ambassador to Italy, and Ethan, a doctor in the Vallerian Royal Navy, both of whom were set to arrive later that day.
He would have to face his family, and discuss this embarrassing news with them, all while Rebecca sat right next to him. Gabriel had already gone to warn the rest of them, in case they didn’t already know.
Alex shoved a hand through his hair as he thought about next steps, and the spin he’d have to put on everything to the public. His phone buzzed in his pocket and he hastily silenced it; he knew without looking that it was his chief of staff, Tavin, calling again.
The door clicked open and Rebecca stepped out, wearing a fitted dress in a deep, holiday green with a matching sweater. His Vallerian purple and gold diagonally-striped tie was not matching her today, and even his crisp white shirt and dark gray suit seemed wrong. Usually, they got dressed in front of each other, and he changed his tie to match her dress.
But not today.
Today, she’d locked the doors to the bathroom and the adjoining closet for more privacy, or perhaps for a little more time away from him.
That worried him more than any photos from an ex-lover.
“Are you ready, darling?”
“Almost. I just need to put on my shoes.” She crossed the room to where a pair of nude heels – the same ones he’d removed and tossed aside last night – lay cluttered on the floor. He watched her slip them on her feet, her amethyst and diamond engagement ring twinkling in the light as she did so.
“Rebecca,” he said, taking hold of her arm when she crossed the room again. When she turned to look at him, he saw the hurt in her eyes. “Rebecca. God, I’m so sorry.” He pulled her into his arms, needing the connection, needing to know they would be okay. When she lifted her arms and hugged him back, he wanted to sag in relief.
“Oh, Alex.”
“I know, darling. I’m so sorry. I made a stupid mistake a long time ago, trusted the wrong person, and now you’re getting hurt because of it.”
She sighed against his chest. “Tell me about her. I don’t want to know, you understand, but I need to know.”
Alex nodded and walked them over to a small sitting area in their bedroom. Not wanting to lose the connection, he sat down and pulled her into his lap.
“As my father mentioned, her name is Portia Walker. I met her over ten years ago, when I was still at university.”
“College girlfriend?”
He shook his head. “I told you when we first got together that I never had girlfriends. There were women, yes, but none of them constituted a relationship.” He cupped her face and forced her to look straight into his eyes. “And I never loved anyone before you. There was no one I wanted a relationship with before you.”
She took his hand and kissed his palm, which sent a swell of emotion straight to his heart and rippled through him. “I believe you.”
“Thank God,” he murmured, then shook his head. “Anyway, I was officially enrolled at a Vallerian university – along with most of my siblings – but we all spent time abroad. I spent a year in England, along with a semester in France and another semester in Italy, though thos
e were also for diplomatic and political reasons, since our countries are so closely tied together.”
He took a deep breath. “I met her while in Italy.”
“Was she, I mean, is she the same woman you lost your virginity to? The Prime Minister’s daughter?”
Alex wrapped his arms tightly around her. “No, though I did see her. As a visiting ruler, the Prime Minister had to invite me over for dinner and she was there. We talked, nothing more.”
“I’ll bet she wanted more, even if you didn’t,” Rebecca muttered.
A Royal Holiday (Royals of Valleria #5) Page 2