by Kim Loraine
The Virgin's Forbidden Lord
Kim Loraine
Copyright © 2018 by Kim Loraine
All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
Edited by Wendy Kassler
Proofread by Allison Literary Services
Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Epilogue
Also by Kim Loraine
Acknowledgments
Sneak Peek
Chapter 1
Sneak Peek
Chapter 1
Dear reader,
I don’t know about you, but I followed the royal wedding like crazy. I love a good fairytale and nothing says Once Upon A Time better than a handsome prince, a fearless bodyguard, and a forbidden love.
I hope you love this swoony, steamy, and sweet series of novellas following the royal family of my fictional country, Corline.
Take a break, put your feet up, and let these royals give you the Happily Ever After you’ve been dreaming of.
xoxo,
Kim
Chapter 1
Kingston
“Remember, gentleman, it’s a charity auction, not a Magic Mike live performance. You’re to spend the rest of the evening with the woman…or man, whatever the case may be, who wins you.” Mila, the party planner and general in charge of this group of men stares me down as if I’m going to be the culprit who brings ruin to her event with a pair of tearaway tux pants.
“Why are you looking at me? I’m here for the charity.” I hold up my hands and grin. “I can’t help it if a little dancing gets them riled up and ready to donate.”
“Lord Haverford, really,” she chastises me.
“Come on, then, Mila. You know you liked Magic Mike as much as the next girl.”
Her cheeks go pink, and she smiles. Just a ghost of amusement, but it’s there. “Just…keep it in your pants. No nudity.”
I cross my heart and offer her my winning smile. “You have my word.”
She nods and looks down the line of us. Twenty-five eligible bachelors, some nobleman, others just good-looking guys willing to sell their company for the night for charity. Honestly, if the king wasn’t my best friend, I wouldn’t be participating in this. “Don’t come out until I announce you.”
I can’t resist peeking around the curtain. The crowd is large, lots of masked men and women dressed in their finest black-tie apparel. I catch sight of a woman I think is Princess Waverly dancing with a man I don’t recognize, and then my mouth runs dry when I see her sister, Princess Alina. She’s twirling in the middle of the dance floor, her pink gown swirling around her as she goes.
I’ve tried to avoid my attraction to my best friend’s littlest sister, but she’s like some kind of seductive fairy. She’s all big eyes and innocent temptation wrapped in a sexy as sin body. At first, it was nothing but a one-sided thing, a flirty girl who had a crush on her brother’s best friend, but now? God help me, after a year away spending time in the US with my good friend Lincoln, I came home to find a vixen had taken her place.
Someone gives my shoulder a shove, and I cast a glare back at him. “What?” I hiss.
“Mila has called you up three bloody times.”
Fuck. I take the stage, and my traitor of a cock thickens behind the fly of my trousers when Alina’s gaze finds mine. She smiles and gives me a little wave, then she licks her candy pink lips. I wonder what they taste like.
No.
No.
No.
I can’t be wondering if my best friend’s sister tastes like strawberries.
The spotlight trains on me, and Mila starts her announcement. “First up we’ve got the handsome and dashing, Lord Haverford. He’s twenty-nine years old, six-foot-five, and he’s an accomplished rider…if you know what I mean.”
The crowd cheers, but my eyes never leave Alina. She’s taken her seat, her hand is on her paddle, and I know I’m about to be in huge trouble.
The king’s little sister is about to bid for a night with me and by the look in her eyes, I don’t think she’s going to let anyone else win.
The bidding begins, and she just waits, a coy smile on her lips. She’s waiting them out. Clever girl. As the auction continues and the bidding war heats up, I lock eyes with her, a challenging smirk on my lips. Her eyes sparkle, and she grips her paddle tighter, about to raise it, but the lights in the ballroom blink off and on, and the sound system goes dead.
There’s a collective hush that falls over the ballroom, quickly replaced by a quiet murmur of concerned voices. I see security bustling around, and, instantly, a sense of unease prickles at my nape. My gaze immediately goes to Alina. I jump off the stage and go for her. She isn’t within reach of the Royal guard, and something is seriously wrong here.
Taking her hand, I pull her from her chair. “Oh, not waiting for my bid?” she teases, but I cut her a harsh glare.
“Something’s happened. We need to find your brother.” Instead of seeing Ryder, I catch sight of Clark, head of security. His face is grave. “What is it? Where’s His Majesty?”
“He’s been taken to a safe location along with the queen.”
The tightness in my chest loosens a little. “And Princess Waverly?”
Lips pressed into a tight line, he gives a minute shake of his head. “Taken. Archer is in pursuit.”
“Taken?” Alina gasps.
“We’ll bring her back, Your Highness.” Clark’s words are strong, and I know he believes them with everything he has. “In the meantime, we need you to go to your chambers and stay locked in until we give the all clear.”
She grips my hand. “How long?”
“I’m not sure.”
I can’t leave her alone. She’s afraid, and she shouldn’t be by herself. “I’ll stay with you. I’ve always promised Ryder I’d keep you safe, and I’m not going to abandon you now.”
Clark nods and escorts us up to the princess’ chambers. As soon as Clark sweeps the rooms and we get behind closed doors, Alina locks everything tight, and I draw the shades.
“Did you really mean that?” she asks.
“What?”
“That you promised my brother you’d take care of me?”
I nod. “I’ll always protect you and your family. I grew up with no one to care for me. I won’t have that happening to you.”
She crosses her arms over her chest. “I’m already grown. In case you missed it, Kingston, I’m an adult.”
Oh, I definitely didn’t miss it. It’s bloody hot in here. Loosening my tie, I pop the top button of my collar and stand. “Do you have anything to drink in here?”
She laughs. “It’s not a hotel room.” Then she gestures toward the bathroom. “I’ve got a sink.”
That’ll do. Standing, I make my way across the plush carpet and into the bathroom. I grip the sides of the marble sink basin and stare hard at myself in the mirror. I cannot give into the desire I’ve been fighting. Alina is beautiful, but she’s not on the table for me. This princess is going to marry the man her father chose for her. She’ll go on to do great things, be a great woman, and the only part I’ll play in that is as the man who kept her safe until her husband came along.
; Splashing cold water on my face, I run my hand over my jaw and sigh. Why does the thought of her living her life without me make my chest ache?
When I leave the bathroom, my mouth runs dry. Alina is standing in her walk-in-closet, dress pooled in a cloud of tulle on the floor. Her perfect curves are on full display and it’s obvious she doesn’t know I’m watching. I should feel guilty for spying on her like this, but I know I won’t get another chance to see her. The soft pink lace covering her breasts still showcases her rosy nipples through the sheer fabric, and her matching knickers make me want to pull them off with my teeth.
Bugger.
Fuck.
No.
I can’t want her. Ryder would have me executed if he knew the things I’ve been fantasizing about with Alina. I clear my throat, and her shoulders stiffen. She grins and tosses her long hair over one shoulder as she grabs a robe off a hanger and slips the silk over her shoulders.
“Like what you saw?” she asks.
“I didn’t see anything.”
“Liar.”
“I think it best if you close that robe, and I settle myself outside your door until we get the all clear.”
She shakes her head. “I’ve got you all to myself, why would I let you go now?”
She stalks across the floor, the swell of her breasts enticing from the deep cut of the robe. “I…” I start, swallowing past the lump in my throat.
“Come on, Kingston. Have a little fun with me?”
God, I want to. What I wouldn’t give to be able to worship her body like the temple it is without any repercussions.
I reach out to tuck a stray lock of hair behind her ear, but the phone in my pocket rings, jolting us both apart as though we were caught doing something wrong.
“Hello?” I say into the device that was either an instrument of my torture or my saving grace.
“All clear, Kingston,” Clark’s voice says over the line.
I hang up without responding and tuck the slim phone back into my pocket. “I should go,” I tell Alina, sidestepping her and heading for the door.
“Your loss, Lord Haverford.”
After leaving the room, I rake a hand through my hair and sigh. My loss, indeed.
Chapter 2
Kingston
Three months later
Princess Alina of Corline walks past me with her long hair pulled up into a ponytail and tight riding pants hugging her equally tight arse. Try as I might, I can’t seem to keep my gaze from lingering. She’s blossomed into a beautiful woman seemingly overnight. The stablehand looks to have noticed her as well. His gaze is trained on the perfection that is her rear as she bends down to fix her boot.
“Did you need something?” I ask, making him jump in surprise.
“Lord Haverford, I’m sorry. I didn’t see you there. Going for a ride?”
Alina stares at me, one eyebrow raised in challenge. “Yes, Kingston, are you?”
I’m not dressed for a ride. Not in the slightest, but I also don’t want her going alone. “Are you going out unaccompanied?”
She rolls her eyes. “I’m not a child. I ride on my own almost daily.”
“Not after your sister was just kidnapped, and you were a target as well.”
The princess waves a hand. “It’s fine. They caught the bastards who were plotting to use us as bait. I’m perfectly safe. Honestly, I’m more disappointed their plot interrupted the charity auction. I never got a chance to bid.”
Gritting my teeth, I work to control my need to offer a snide retort. She doesn’t know anything. The men who kidnapped her sister during the charity auction planned to kill King Ryder, force Waverly into a marriage, and keep Alina at their disposal for leverage. Who knows what they would’ve done to her? “I won’t let you go alone. I’m here anyway. I suppose I’ll be joining you.”
“You’re not even dressed for a ride.” Alina’s tone is indignant, but there’s a sparkle in her eye. She loves to challenge me.
The stablehand interjects with a bow and a slight cough. “There are extra boots in the tack room, my lord. I’ll fetch you some.” Then he scurries off in the direction of the tack room, and I’m alone with the princess.
I know there are extras. I’m the one who asked Ryder to have them there for me years ago because we regularly go riding together. Alina adjusts her mare’s bridle, and then checks the straps on the saddle before taking the reins and walking out of the stables.
The stablehand rushes back, handing me my boots as Alina leaves. I pull off my shoes, and shove my feet into the well-worn leather. She’s going to be gone before I’m anywhere close to ready.
“Tack up Midnight for me, will you?” I ask. “And be quick about it.”
He nods and rushes around as I stride toward the attached open arena in search of the princess. She’s on the mounting block, her face serious as she tries to get her small frame lined up to sit on the saddle. But, her horse is a stubborn one and keeps taking small steps away from the block.
“Bloody hell, Peppermint, stop being a cunt,” she mutters.
“Well, that’s no way to speak to a lady, Your Highness.”
She looks up at me, and her cheeks go pink. “It’s no way for my horse to behave either. She’s doing this on purpose to get back at me for not riding her the last two days.”
I chuckle, knowing she’s loved her horse since the day her father delivered her on Alina’s fifth birthday. “Perhaps. Two days is an awfully long time to go without being ridden by you.” As soon as the words leave my mouth, I realize the implication of what I’ve said. Bugger.
To her credit, Alina doesn’t jump all over that. She grabs the saddle and reins again and tries to put her foot in the stirrup. Peppermint takes a step forward, and my princess tumbles, but I’m there. I catch her before she truly falls, and Peppermint walks off, seemingly unaffected.
“If you wanted to get your hands on me, you could’ve just asked, Kingston.” Alina’s voice is breathy and teasing, but I can tell it’s all bravado. She wants me to think she’s grown up. That nineteen is old enough to know things, but there’s a lot she has to learn. I just can’t be the man to teach her.
“Would you rather I drop you in the dirt?”
She settles on her feet, and I release her. “No. I’d rather you stop treating me like I’m your little sister.”
“You’re Ryder’s little sister. That means I take care of you when he’s otherwise occupied. Currently, being king and all, he’s very much otherwise occupied.”
The stablehand comes out with Midnight tacked up and ready to go. I give him a nod, and go collect Peppermint, leading her back to the mounting block. “I’ll hold her steady; you mount.”
I know she’s annoyed with me by the clenching of her jaw, but I’m not going to let her fall again. In a few smooth movements, Alina is astride her horse. With a kick of her heels, she urges Peppermint on toward the open field taking off at a canter.
“I knew she’d do that,” I mutter.
The stablehand already has Midnight lined up at the mounting block, and I’m seated before he can step back. “Thanks, lad. Well done.”
I dig my heels in, and Midnight quickly moves into a gallop, his long legs eating up the distance between us. Alina glances over her shoulder and leans forward in the saddle, taking Peppermint as fast as she can go, but the smaller horse is no match for this stallion. I reach her side and grin.
“Slow down, princess. Where’s the fire?”
“I told you I can ride alone.”
“I’m afraid I’ve promised your brother to keep an eye on you. He thinks you’re quite the wild one. I’m here to see to it you stay safe.”
“What if I’m tired of safe? What if I want a little danger in my life?”
“Then I’ll be there to ensure that danger doesn’t end up killing you.”
That earns me another roll of her eyes, but there’s a smile too. “Well, then, how would you feel about taking a ski trip with me this weekend?”
The idea of being alone with her sends unwanted desire through me. “I don’t know if it would be wise for us to be seen alone together.”
She laughs. “Afraid of damaging my reputation? This isn’t the seventeen-hundreds, you know.”
“And you know that rules are different for the royal family.”
“Come on. I’ll invite some friends along. You can keep me safe; I can have a good time; It’s a win-win.”
I haven’t been skiing in far too long, and honestly, the prospect of Alina on a trip, staying in a chalet with people I don’t know, makes me uncomfortable. “Will there be other men on this trip?”
“It’s likely. Penny will want to bring her brothers.” I bristle at the thought. Penelope Van Horne and her two brothers are trouble.
“The Van Hornes?”
“Yes. I was chatting with Penny about the chalet a few weeks ago. She seemed keen on the idea of the four of us making a weekend of it.”
I don’t want those two bastards anywhere near her. “And you think that’s a good idea?”
She cocks a brow. “As long as I have you to protect me.”
Fuck. I can’t deny her now. If either of those two got their paws on her, they’d stop at nothing until the world knew about it, and she was forced to marry one of them. Social climbers, the lot of them.
“You won’t leave my sight the entire time, understand?”
A grin tugs at her lips. “So does that mean we’ll be sharing a bed?”
Oh, Jesus, what have I just done?
Chapter 3
Alina
We are so not going skiing today. Kingston doesn’t know it, but I’m taking him on an adventure. Maybe after this, he won’t see me as the little girl he knew. Maybe he’ll finally realize I’m exactly what he wants.