Harlequin Presents--June 2021--Box Set 1 of 2

by Dani Collins

  She felt absolutely connected to this man and his arms around her in this very public place proclaimed she was his, as he was hers.

  The kiss went on for long moments until flashes behind her eyelids made her open her eyes and she realized they’d drawn the attention of some enterprising paparazzi as well as park visitors using their camera phones.

  “We’re going to be viral by tomorrow,” she husked.

  “You were agreeing to be my wife—I do not mind the entire world knowing that.”

  “Me either.” She sighed. “But I think we’ve given them enough fodder for gossip.”

  “Do you think so?” He lowered his head and kissed her once more.

  Because he wanted to show he wasn’t ashamed of claiming her? Because he was too arrogant to let her call things to a halt? Just because he wanted to?

  She didn’t know and didn’t care as she responded with a passion-filled joy she’d never thought to experience.

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  WHEN NATALIYA RETURNED to her hotel later that night, she called Mama to warn her about the formal announcement going out the next day.

  Nikolai had never doubted Nataliya’s answer even if he had been willing to ask the question.

  “Are you sure this is what you want?” Mama asked, sounding worried.

  “Why are you asking me that now? You didn’t ask me ten years ago when I signed that contract if I was doing what I wanted.” Nataliya didn’t know where the words came from.

  She sounded bitter, but she wasn’t bitter. Was she? She’d never thought she was.

  Her mother had done the best she could, but she hadn’t been raised to stand up to family pressure, or even to stand against an abusive bully that called himself a husband.

  Only it did feel like it was ten years too late to be asking Nataliya if she wanted to be a princess.

  “Ten years ago, I was still desperate to go home, desperate to return to life as I knew it.” Went unsaid was the truth that Solomia had been prepared to allow her daughter to pay the price to make that happen.

  “And I was the conduit for that happening,” Nataliya spelled out.

  “You were born into a royal family—your life was never going to be entirely your own. No more than mine has been.”

  So, why ask if marriage to Nikolai was what Nataliya wanted now? “Did you ever want something different for me?”

  “Why, when I believed that was the way life should be?” Her mother’s sigh was clear across the phone. “I’m not the same woman I was ten years ago.”

  “So you don’t still believe that?”

  “If I could go back ten years, I would insist you not sign that contract,” her mother said fiercely.

  “Why?”

  “Because at the time I didn’t realize it could mean you would end up married to the King.” And her mom’s tone made that sound like the worst imaginable fate.

  Nataliya didn’t understand why. “Not because you didn’t think an arranged marriage was a bad thing.”

  “No, actually. I didn’t want you to love your husband like I loved your father. It made our relationship too inequal.”

  “You believe I love Nikolai like that,” she said with dawning understanding.

  Her mother was worried about Nataliya being hurt the way she had been.

  “Don’t you?”

  “Nikolai is not anything like my father,” she said instead of answering. Nataliya had never lied to Mother and she wasn’t going to start now.

  “You look at him with such fascination,” her mother said, like that was a tragedy. “You always have done. Even before that contract. When the idea of you marrying Konstantin came along I thought I saw a way of protecting you from the pain of living with a one-sided love.”

  “Because you didn’t think Nikolai could ever love me.”

  Her mother’s scoffing sound was answer enough. And surprisingly hurtful. “He was infatuated with Tiana from the time he first laid eyes on her. They were of an age. She sexually enthralled him. I knew because I recognized the signs. I was enthralled with your father and I ended up badly hurt because of it.”

  “So you didn’t want me to love my husband?” Nataliya asked with disbelief. “I think that’s a little extreme.”

  “Not in the world I have always lived in. How many of our family’s marriages are based on love, or even include romantic love, do you think?”

  “Maks and Demyan both love their wives deeply.”

  “Your cousins have been very lucky and so have the women they married because incredibly, they share an abiding, reciprocal love.”

  “But you don’t think any man would love me that way?” Nataliya asked painfully.

  “My dear daughter, you are more comfortable with computers than people. You are no femme fatale, or even sexually aware socialite like Queen Tiana was. I love you with my whole heart—”

  “But you don’t think Nikolai ever will,” Nataliya interrupted. “Well, that’s fine. He wants me.” She did not doubt that at all now. “And I want him. I don’t need him to fall in love with me.”

  The secret hopes in the deepest recesses of her heart said otherwise, but no one else ever had to know about those.

  “I sincerely hope for your sake, that is true. Just promise me...” She paused as if searching for words.

  “Promise you what?”

  “If he ever hurts you, with his fists or his infidelity, you will leave. The first time. Not the fiftieth.”

  As much as her mother’s earlier words had hurt her, these showed just how deeply the Countess loved her daughter. Mama dove into the wedding preparations after that, insisting on flying to Mirrus and liaising with the official wedding planner in situ and Solomia planned to still be there when Nataliya arrived for her visit.

  * * *

  Home in Seattle, Nataliya was happy to discover that Nikolai continued to text and call as often as his schedule allowed.

  He also continued to send what he now called betrothal gifts for her online auction. And that touched her in ways she wouldn’t have admitted to anyone else. Even Jenna.

  They made plans for Nataliya to travel to Mirrus so that she could spend time with him and his family before the wedding.

  “You are aware that I have known your family for a long time now,” she said one evening on the phone as they discussed her upcoming trip.

  “But not as my future bride. Both my father and brother need to come to terms with treating you like The Princess of Mirrus.”

  Nataliya wasn’t surprised that neither the former King nor his second-eldest son, Prince Konstantin, were keen on her in the role. She’d offended them both and didn’t regret that. So how could she regret that they had to come to terms with her as the future Princess of Mirrus?

  “I notice you don’t mention your younger brother,” she teased, knowing full well that Dima liked her just fine.

  “He thinks you’re a goddess since you convinced me to allow him a gap year between the university and graduate school.”

  She laughed. “Does he know how easy that was?”

  “And let him believe I’m easy? No chance.”

  “You’d prefer he think I have undue influence.”

  “Influence yes. Excessive amounts?” he asked with dismissive candor, no teasing in his voice. “Not likely.”

  He said stuff like that sometimes that made her think she needed to ask about his first marriage, but Nikolai clammed up whenever Tiana was mentioned in passing, much less asked about directly.

  “Don’t worry. I’m not in this for my influence over the King.”

  “Why are you in this?” he asked. Then sighed. “Forget I asked that. I know why you said yes to my proposal.”

  “You think so?”

  “You would not go back on your word.”

  “So you
think I said yes because I signed that contract?” she asked, wondering how he could be so blind to her feelings.

  Of course she’d never voiced them, but he’d noticed her teenage crush when she’d thought she’d done a much better job hiding it than the love that she could no longer deny she felt for him.

  “Why else?” he asked, as if there really couldn’t be another reason.

  And she had to smile, though he could not see it. “Because I want to be your wife.”

  “You are good for my ego.” His voice was rich with satisfaction, but more than that, Nikolai really sounded pleased.

  And she thought that was definitely worth admitting that much of the truth. “I don’t think your ego needs inflating,” she teased.

  “You might be surprised.”

  “Nikolai?”

  “Yes?”

  “Were you happy with Tiana?”

  Silence pulsed across the phones for long moments. Then he sighed. “At first, I was deliriously happy. Later, I regretted ever meeting Tiana much less marrying her.”

  Nataliya had to stifle a gasp of shock. “Your marriage looked so perfect from the outside. You grieved her death. I know you did.”

  “I did, but relief was mixed with the grief. And I lamented the loss of my unborn child as much, or more than, my wife.”

  “I’m sorry.”

  “I was too, but that time in my life is over. You and I will start a new chapter.”

  “We already have.” It was no less than the truth. For both of them.

  * * *

  Despite the shortness of their engagement, Nikolai found himself unexpectedly impatient for the event in the weeks leading up to his wedding.

  Far from assuaging his desire for his intended bride, the knowledge that she would be his soon only made him want her more.

  He’d been surprised by how much he craved sex with Nataliya. Though lovely, she had none of the overt sensuality of Tiana, and the women shared almost nothing in common physically. Tiana had been a petite, curvy, blonde socialite. He’d thought she was his idea of sexual perfection.

  Then he’d started looking at Nataliya as a potential bride and discovered that statuesque five-foot-nine innocence really did it for him. He could not wait to touch and taste her modest curves, to see how sensitive the nipples tipping her small breasts were. He wanted to touch the silky mass of her dark hair, to feel her body pressed all along his length.

  She was going to fit him perfectly.

  He had a purely atavistic anticipation of becoming Nataliya’s first lover and spent more time fantasizing about their wedding night than he wanted to admit. He would certainly never allow Nataliya to know how much he wanted her.

  He’d learned his lesson.

  But that didn’t mean he didn’t crave her. He did. Nikolai had never had a virgin in his bed. Though he’d believed his first wife to be untouched until their wedding night.

  She’d laughed at his surprise, telling him not to be such a throwback.

  And he had taken her criticism to heart, realizing that it would be wrong to expect something from her he had not himself practiced.

  Because although he had never found uncommitted sex the tension relief that Konstantin did, Nikolai had had a few partners when he was at the university.

  In fact, he’d thought he was sexually sophisticated until he had married.

  Tiana had been an expert at using her sensuality to tie him into knots. Nikolai had made several decisions under the influence of his desire for her brand of sexuality.

  He would never be so weak again.

  His virgin fiancée was not going to play those kinds of games, he thought with a great deal of satisfaction. Even if Nataliya had enough sexual experience to know how to play the tease and withhold game, she would not do it.

  It was not only in physical appearance that his future wife differed so strongly from the woman he had once made his Queen.

  Nataliya had all the honor that Tiana had lacked.

  Nataliya would never take bribes in exchange for influencing her husband’s political or business decisions. She had even made it clear that their marriage would harbinger a shift in her loyalties from the Volyarussian royal family to his family and people.

  Knowing how willing she had always been to sacrifice for the good of the Volyarussian monarchy, he found a great comfort in that truth.

  Yes, Nikolai had made a very good decision when he determined to make Nataliya his Princess.

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  NIKOLAI SENT HIS personal jet to fly Nataliya to Mirrus for her visit.

  That didn’t surprise her. The social secretary and public relations consultant waiting on board for her did. Jenna had agreed to travel with her as her stylist.

  The magazine was happy because Jenna was also doing a new series of articles on the personal fashions for The Princess of Mirrus, including an exclusive on her wedding dress and those of her attendants.

  “We’ve both been hired on a trial basis, Lady Nataliya,” the social secretary explained. “His Highness wants you to have final decision about the people who make up your team.”

  “Of course he does,” Jenna said. She thought Nikolai pretty much walked on water.

  Nataliya rolled her eyes at her friend. “Do you think I would tolerate anything else?”

  “Well, you are fulfilling a draconian contract that most modern women would reject outright. Even if it is to marry King Yummy.” Jenna waggled her eyebrows.

  The PR consultant looked pained. “If we could refrain from mentioning the contract.” She gave Jenna a stern look. “And from using terms such as King Yummy.”

  Unperturbed, Jenna just grinned. “Things like that contract don’t stay secrets.”

  “The contract has never been a secret,” Nataliya said with some exasperation. “And this modern woman is not naive enough to believe that everyone gets married for nothing but true love.”

  “That is true, but we would prefer the international media pick up on the romantic element to your relationship with His Highness,” the public relations consultant said repressively.

  “What romantic element?” she asked.

  It was Jenna’s turn to look pained. “Please, Nataliya. Even I can see the sparks that arc between you two when you are in the same room.”

  “That’s chemistry, not romance,” Nataliya maintained. She might love her fiancé, but she was under no illusion the feeling was mutual.

  The PR consultant looked like maybe she was regretting taking this job. Even temporarily. “His Highness has engaged in a very romantic courtship, my lady.”

  “Nataliya, please.”

  The consultant gave Nataliya a slightly superior look. “It might be a good idea to get used to being addressed by your title, before you become The Princess of Mirrus.”

  Nataliya’s mouth twisted with distaste, but she nodded. The other woman was right, but that didn’t mean Nataliya had to like it.

  However, she did have experience with formal protocol as part of the royal family of Volyarus. And she was not unfamiliar with being addressed as lady, simply not enamored of it. But she’d have to get over that and she knew it.

  By the time they reached Mirrus, Nataliya’s new social secretary had briefed her on how her visit to the small Russian country would go. As the future Princess of their King, she would be greeted on landing with a formal procession and would be attending not one, but three royal receptions in the five days of her visit.

  Nikolai had been right. It would be very different from the times she had spent in Mirrus before.

  If Nataliya had been hoping for more time getting to know the man she planned to marry, she realized that wasn’t going to happen.

  He was there, with the officials, when her plane landed however.

  Her social secretary sighed, the sound
someone makes after watching a really sweet movie. “His Highness is smiling.”

  Her gaze locked on Nikolai’s handsome countenance, Nataliya could do nothing but nod. He was smiling.

  Which she realized wasn’t something he used to do. Like at all.

  But during their courtship, he’d graced her with that slashing brilliance often. And she’d basked in the warmth of it. Even as she was not consciously aware of how uncommon it was.

  “Oh, that will make good copy,” the PR consultant said.

  And Nataliya’s answering smile slid from her face.

  Nikolai’s brows drew together, and he took what looked like an involuntary step forward.

  “Good grief. Lay off with the PR perspective, would you?” Jenna demanded of the PR consultant as she shouldered past the other woman to stand right behind Nataliya. “He wasn’t smiling at you for public relations. He’s happy you’re here, friend.”

  “This is not proper protocol,” the PR consultant reminded them. “Your stylist should not be in position to have photos with you.”

  Nataliya turned her head to look at the PR consultant. “Jenna is my friend before anything else and as such she is always welcome in the frame with me.”

  The other woman shook her head, actually taking hold of Jenna’s arm to pull her back. “She can be your friend but not in optics. She’s not from Mirrus. She’s not from the nobility. Miss Beals isn’t the right sort of person for you to favor in the PR angle.”

  “Please, take your hand off of Jenna.” Nataliya waited until the other woman complied. “We can discuss this later. I’m not sure your views and mine are on the same wavelength.”

  The look the other woman gave her said she agreed, but it wasn’t the PR consultant who had it wrong. That was going to be a problem, but right now Nataliya needed to greet Nikolai.

  She smiled and went down the stairs to the tarmac.

  The King stepped away from the rest of the dignitaries and reached for her hand. “Welcome to Mirrus, Nataliya.”

  He didn’t use her title and Nataliya’s smile returned. “I’m very glad to be here. Nikolai.”