Arianna & Finn (Royals of Valleria #3)

by Knightly, Marianne

  “I apologize Miss Campo,” he said with a smile as he bent down to kiss her forehead. “What’s wrong with your shoulders?”

  “Oh, it’s just tension I suppose. I’m nervous about the ball.”

  Alex stopped massaging her shoulders and walked around to face her. The antique chairs used in the palace offices were beautiful, but not made for swiveling. “Why are you nervous?” he asked as he leaned against the desk and placed one of her slim hands in his. Just the feel of her skin against his - really, just the thought of her - always sent his blood racing. Some days he still couldn’t believe they were really engaged, and that he would get to spend the rest of his life with her.

  “I’m nervous because it’s our first big event together. What if I trip or make a mistake? I wouldn’t want to do anything to embarrass you or Valleria.”

  He felt a surge of pride; Rebecca was often concerned about Valleria and its citizens. It was just one more reason why she was perfect for him, and perfect as the future queen. “You won’t do anything to embarrass us, I assure you.” He gave her hand a kiss, his lips lingering a moment too long, or perhaps not long enough. “You did brilliantly last month when we visited the British royal family, didn’t you?”

  “Only because you and Cat were there to help.”

  “Darling, it was you,” he said and pulled her up and into his arms. She fit perfectly against him.

  “You’re almost my husband. You have to say that,” she said as she wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed her delicious, curvy body against him.

  Alex growled. “I wish I was your husband already. Some antiquated law is forcing us to stay engaged for a year.” The Marriage of Royal Heirs Act of 1702 forced any heir to be betrothed for a year before the marriage could take place, which was aptly named the Royal Marriage Notification Year.

  “You’re my husband in almost every way that matters,” she said softly and rested her forehead against his. “I love you, Alex.”

  “Rebecca,” he said, overcome as the declaration fell from her lips. They said it to each other several times a day - sometimes with actions instead of words - and each time made his heart flip. “I love you, my darling fiancée.”

  She giggled. “You’d better. I’m going to be Rebecca Frances Santoro di Valleria soon.”

  “Don’t you mean Princess Rebecca Frances Santoro di Valleria?”

  She giggled. “Hard to forget that part. But that’s not my name yet.”

  “Don’t remind me. It will be your name in nine months, two days, ten hours, and thirty-three minutes.” She laughed, and the movement of her breasts against his chest gave him other ideas. He nuzzled her neck. “Let’s go back to our apartment, darling.”

  “Think you can make it all the way to the other side of the palace?” she asked as her breath grew short and her eyes shut.

  “Probably not,” he said and took a nibble just behind her ear; she let out a soft moan. Primitive instincts roared inside him and he wanted to shove everything off her desk and take her then and there. Only the camera situated in the corner of the room kept him from doing so.

  “Alex, please,” she said and he felt her body heating under his attentions.

  He took a deep breath, inhaling the soft lavender scent of her hair, a scent that followed him wherever he went, and happily so. “Are you finished with work for the day?” he asked, still holding her close.

  “I don’t have time for anything else anyway. We’ve got the family dinner tonight.”

  Alex groaned; he’d forgotten about that. He had hoped that the two of them could enjoy a private dinner in their apartments, followed by several hours in her arms. He hadn’t made love to her for days, not since the morning he left for Brazenbourg, and was aching for her now.

  “It won’t be so bad, Alex.”

  “My plans for the evening did not involve anyone but you,” he said as he stood and put a few inches of unwanted distance between them.

  She smiled; it was a smile just for him and filled his heart to bursting. “We’ll have time later,” she said as her hands shifted up to tangle in his thick, black hair. “I promise.” She pulled his face down to hers and let the heat of her tongue and lips cement the vow she’d just made. Alex tangled his own hands in her rich, chestnut-colored tresses, which hung in soft waves down her back.

  “Becca,” he moaned as he pulled away, using the nickname that usually came out when they made love.

  “Sorry,” she said, clearly not sorry at all. “I couldn’t resist your lips any longer.”

  “A fine excuse,” he said as he took a deep breath and stepped away from her, hoping to get his erection under control before they walked the long path back to the Royal Wing.

  “Oh, it was much more than ‘fine’, don’t you think?” she asked and giggled.

  Alex huffed a laugh. He couldn’t argue with her there. The physical intimacy he shared with Rebecca was definitely more than ‘fine’ and, coupled with their emotion connection, made it the most explosive experiences of his life. Even a mere kiss had him hard in seconds.

  “Come on,” he said a minute later, holding out his hand for her. She picked up her purse and linked her hand with his; her slim fingers fit perfectly between his longer, stronger ones.

  “How did everything go today?” she asked as they made their way down the ancient halls, Royal Protection agents trailing ahead of and behind them. He loved these moments with her at the end of the day, both of them together and sharing their burdens and fears.

  “I’m not sure.” His shoes and her heels tapped softly against the floor as they walked. “Papa’s still against Arianna marrying Henry, but that’s the father talking.”

  “I don’t think that’s true. Even as a modern king, I don’t think he’d believe in sacrificing a woman’s happiness for the sake of the country.”

  “Perhaps.” Do the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the one? Alex wasn’t sure. He didn’t think he could ever force his sister to marry, even to benefit Valleria, and it made him wonder what kind of king he might make one day. He decided not to worry about that now; becoming king was not in his immediate future, anyhow.

  “Well, if nothing else, your father can delay any sort of official announcement from happening.”

  “That’s true, and that’s what we’re planning for. Arianna seemed less sure of the idea when I spoke to her this morning. I’m going to try to have a word with her tonight.”

  “Leave her be, Alex.”

  “Why?”

  “If she’s unsure, she needs to become sure of the decision she wants to make. You hounding her for an answer won’t change that.”

  “It might.”

  Rebecca bit back a laugh. While she loved the possessive, demanding side of Alex - at least sometimes - she knew his siblings cared little for it, and weren’t really affected by it. “If you say so.”

  “That didn’t sound convincing.”

  “It wasn’t meant to be.”

  “All right, I won’t hound her. I can’t say the same for Papa, though.”

  “He’s a father; it’s different. Have you heard back from Finn yet, or our own spies?”

  Alex shook his head. “Marcello said our people don’t have any leads yet. As far as Finn is concerned, I received a message from him letting us know that he’d have more information in the morning.”

  “Maybe it’ll be good news.”

  “Maybe. I just wish I knew what Arianna was thinking. Why would she even consider this? You spent the day with her prepping for the ball; do you have any ideas?”

  “Oh, Alex. I didn’t need to spend the day with her to know. She’s lonely.”

  “Lonely? With eight other siblings, nosy parents and grandparents, and a palace full of staff?”

  “You can be lonely in a crowd full of people. The crowd only makes it easier not to get noticed, but it doesn’t change anything. Didn’t you say you were lonely before we got together?”

  Alex considered that. “Yes
, I suppose that is true.”

  “Having a large family doesn’t mean you aren’t lonely for someone to share your life with. She’s had a difficult past from what I’ve gathered, and it’s probably hard for her to move past it. She might see this as the only way she could marry.”

  “But that ridiculous. She’s an intelligent and beautiful woman; she could marry whomever she wants.”

  “Alex, darling, you may have to reconcile yourself to the fact that it could be Henry she wants.”

  Alex shook his head. “I don’t think it is. I think she might actually prefer his brother.”

  “Finn?” Rebecca said with raised eyebrows. “Because you caught him in her bedroom, helping her with her dress?”

  “I was actually thinking of breakfast this morning, though I’m sure there was more to that little dress incident than she mentioned.”

  “What happened at breakfast?”

  “I think they were holding hands under the table.”

  “Really?” Rebecca asked with a broad smile.

  “Why do you look so happy about that?”

  “Woman’s intuition, that’s all.”

  Alex groaned. “Not this again.”

  “Yes, this,” she said as she bumped her shoulder against his. “You doubt my intuition, but it was my intuition that told me it was a good idea to marry you. Was it wrong?”

  “So, it was right once. Doesn’t mean you’re right again.”

  “You can trust your intuition, but I can’t trust mine?”

  “Exactly. So happy you’ve finally figured that out, darling.”

  “Care to wager on it?”

  He stopped in the hall, only a few strides away from the entrance to the Royal Wing. “What sort of wager?”

  She turned to face him, a bemused expression on her face. “If I’m right, and Arianna really likes Finn and ends up with him, then you’ll be at my beck and call for an entire week of my choosing.” She trailed her fingers up his tie to chin.

  Lust, which he had viciously chained up earlier, broke free. As domineering as he could be in bed, he just as much enjoyed it when his fiancée took control. Though she’d been a virgin when they met, he’d very much enjoyed teaching her and reaping the rewards.

  “And if I win, which I will, because I don’t believe Arianna wants Finn long-term?”

  She stepped up onto her tiptoes and whispered in his ear. “Then I’ll be at your beck and call, my dear.” Her hand slipped around his neck and her fingers teased the ends of his hair.

  He growled and pulled her close. “And if we’re both wrong?”

  “I’m sure we can think of something.” She dropped a kiss just below his ear, a spot he hadn’t known could feel erotic before her.

  “Get inside, Fiancée.” He nodded to an agent nearby and they opened the door for him. He didn’t like having his private moments witnessed by anyone, but a future king didn’t always have a choice. Especially if they were near-constantly aroused by their future wife.

  She smiled and walked inside, her broad hips naturally shifting side-to-side in the skirt and heels she wore. Who cares if they were late to dinner? He needed Rebecca like he needed his next breath, and he would have her.

  He followed her laugh down the hall towards their private apartments. As soon as they stepped inside, they tore off each other’s clothes and he took her hard and fast against the door. They would definitely be late to dinner.

  Chapter 14

  Arianna arrived late to pre-dinner drinks, but hardly anyone noticed except her father, who gave her a pointed look as she entered the sitting room. The entire space was filled to the brim with siblings, and she noticed Alex and Rebecca were missing. It certainly wasn’t the first time they’d shown up late, and they all knew it wouldn’t be the last.

  She envied them.

  After pouring herself a glass of wine, she went around and greeted everyone she hadn’t met earlier that day. Her younger brother Lorenzo, who lived in the coastal town of Masillia, and her younger sisters Carolina, who was currently working on her art in Paris, and Sarah, who was the Vallerian ambassador to Italy, had arrived just an hour ago. Catharine was teasing Nathaniel, who worked on the Royal Council as Minister of Finance and Treasury. The others arriving tomorrow included Ethan, youngest of them all, who served as a doctor in the Vallerian Royal Navy, and Marcello, who would be arriving from England with his lady love, Grace, who still had a home there.

  She loved this time with family. Even if she didn’t always fit in with her clever, strong brothers, or sophisticated, artistic sisters, she loved them all very much. They all watched out for each other, even her, and she knew she would be the center of attention if Alex or Papa revealed what was really going on with Brazenbourg.

  “Arianna,” her father said, walking up to her. “Come talk with me for a minute.”

  “Yes, Papa,” she said and he walked away towards a corner.

  “What did you do? Papa seems upset with you,” Carolina said as she gestured with her drink-filled hand, her numerous bracelets chiming against each other while she did.

  “It’s nothing.” Arianna turned to go but Lorenzo put a hand on his arm to stop her.

  “It doesn’t look like nothing.” Lorenzo gave her one of his searching looks. Arianna knew it was an inherited trait; she’d seen the same looks on her father, Alex, and Marcello, too.

  “You’ll know soon enough, I’m sure, if there’s something to tell.” Arianna easily broke free of the hold and walked away towards their father.

  “I bet it has something to do with a man,” Carolina guessed, then took a sip of cold wine.

  “Arianna? She hasn’t been with anyone since you-know-who.”

  “So, it’s about time, isn’t it?”

  “As if you would know. When’s the last time you had a date?”

  “I go on dates quite regularly, thank you very much.”

  “What?” Lorenzo’s older brother instincts were coming out in full force. “With who? Tell me their names.”

  Carolina laughed. “Oh no, dear brother. Don’t worry about me.”

  “Like hell I won’t. Are you seeing anyone right now?”

  “No, I am not. No man has been able to catch my attention long enough for a relationship.” She sighed. “Men are idiots.”

  “Thank you very much.”

  “Present company excluded, of course.”

  “A fine concession.”

  “What about you? You’re known for playing the field quite a bit. Both you and Nate do. I don’t see why I should be held to a double standard.”

  “Because you’re our sister.”

  “And you’re my brother. Do you have a steady someone?”

  “No,” he admitted. “Though I think Nate might.”

  “Nate? Really?” She started laughing, drawing the attention of others in the room. “Tell me more, Lorenzo. Tell me everything.”

  Arianna watched Carolina laugh from across the room, envious of her easy, carefree laugh and attitude.

  “Are you listening, Arianna?” her father, King Gabriel, asked.

  “Yes, Papa. I know you’re ambivalent about this.”

  “He’s not the only one,” Alex said from behind her. She turned to see the same serious express her father held echoed on Alex. She noticed Rebecca was greeting the others in the room, giving them a wide berth for the moment, just as her mother had. Rebecca must know about the situation, then.

  “Let’s hope our own agents or Finn find something first.”

  “And if that doesn’t happen?” her father asked.

  “Then I’ll do my duty for my country.”

  “At the sake of your own happiness? I won’t allow it,” Gabriel said.

  “Neither will I,” Alex agreed.

  “Stop it. Both of you. Everyone in the room knows that you’re bullying me about something; they keep looking over here and soon they’ll just happen to ‘pass by’ so they can eavesdrop. Would you please keep this conversation out
side of our family gatherings?”

  “Of course,” Gabriel said and kissed his daughter’s head, inhaling the scent of his child that was uniquely hers. “But do take care. A marriage without respect is not one at all. Be sure you can respect and look up to the man you choose to share your life with. Otherwise it will not only be a long and difficult road, but a treacherous one.”

  Finn’s beautiful face came to her mind, but she pushed it back, at least for now. Instead, she smiled and gave her father a hug, who easily returned it. “Well, it’s not my fault I can’t seem to find someone as decent as my Papa, is it?”