The guards were bursting in from outside, weapons raised.
She barely registered them. She clung to Miklos’s strength, to the thought that they were both alive, that she couldn’t have lived if anything happened to him. And she knew that she would not be taking a cab to the airport anytime soon; she wouldn’t be going back to Washington for a while yet. She had found something with Miklos that she had never had in D.C. She might not have known him long, but she knew all she had to know. As much as she had fought it, she had fallen in love with the prince.
Not the smartest thing she’d ever done. Even back when he did want to marry her, he’d been clear about the fact that theirs would be an arranged marriage, a marriage of convenience. Love was never under discussion. More fool she.
He could have given her castles and jewels, the life of a princess. But his love was the only thing she wanted.
LATE MORNING, WHEN the castle had been cleared of the dead and the injured, and security restored, the castle yard cleaned, Judi lay on a recliner on the balcony of one of the guest suites, wrapped in a sumptuous down comforter.
She’d been asleep already, awakened by a bad dream of bloody fighting and wanted fresh air and to look at the stars above, needed a moment of reconnecting with the universe. The past few days had been so insane that in hindsight she almost had trouble believing that they’d actually happened.
She needed to make some decisions about her future, about Miklos, and she couldn’t make them inside the opulent room, which completely overwhelmed her.
And as if conjured by her thoughts, she heard his voice on the balcony beneath hers. He was talking to one of his brothers.
“She’s magnificent,” the brother said.
“She’s mine, Benedek.” Miklos’s voice carried a tone of warning.
Benedek laughed. “I think I’m half in love with her. So are Arpad and Janos and Istvan and Lazlo.”
Miklos grunted. “Get your own princess.”
“We’re even willing to forgive her for bringing down the general.” Benedek paused. “The villain should have been vanquished by one of the Brotherhood.”
“She’s an extraordinary woman,” Miklos agreed, his words filling Judi with warmth.
“So you’re in love with her?”
Judi held her breath.
But Miklos didn’t answer his brother’s candid question.
“I don’t think I’ve ever been in love,” Benedek mused.
Hard to believe, Judi thought. Benedek didn’t have his twin brother’s wild streak—with Lazlo, she had a feeling nobody knew what he might do next—but he did have that jaw-dropping, masculine gorgeousness that all the Kerkay brothers possessed. She’d seen the queen’s ladies-in-waiting swarm around him earlier. But something in his voice talked of past history and regrets. His tone was too light, forced, as if manufactured to cover secrets.
And Judi was starting to feel uncomfortable. The brothers were having a private conversation. She stood slowly, without making a noise, and retreated toward the door.
The last thing she heard was Miklos saying, “Maybe you need to let go of your infatuation with that American opera-singer diva first. You need to find yourself a real woman. You’re still a young pup. It can still happen.”
She lay on her carved four-poster bed, feeling alone in the opulent room with its ceiling frescos of snowcapped mountains and the work-of-art crystal chandelier. The room would have made anyone feel like a princess, but she felt only uncertainty.
When Benedek had asked Miklos if he was in love with her, he hadn’t responded.
And he hadn’t come to her. She’d been moved into this guest suite from Miklos’s bedroom by a flock of servants. That, in itself, was telling.
Not long ago, he’d told her he no longer wanted to marry her. Looked like he meant it. She squeezed her eyes shut and groaned into her pillow.
She wasn’t princess material. She knew nothing about royal protocol. In fact, she hated rules and regulations. He knew it, she knew it. He was making the right decision, she tried to tell herself.
But knowing that didn’t help her heart to ache any less.
He’d asked her once whether she was like the princess in her children’s video games, living in her own little labyrinth. He’d meant living with limited choices. And she realized now that maybe she had been, limiting her own choices to make sure she avoided hurt and pain.
Losing her parents had been hard, but losing her stepmother had been harder still. She remembered her stepmother more than either of her biological parents and, right or wrong, missed her more. At one point she had decided that she didn’t want any more loss and stopped getting attached.
The boyfriends who accused her of being commitment phobic had been right.
An arranged marriage would have been her worst nightmare—all the commitment without any of the love she craved.
MIKLOS WAS MORE THAN ready to grab some rest when Assemblyman Egon stepped in front of him. The man had rushed to the castle to have an emergency meeting with Arpad in the wake of the night’s violence. Egon had been Chancellor Hansen’s right-hand man, very likely the person who would replace him.
“A word, Your Highness.” Tall as a beanpole, with the eyes of a fox, he stood squarely in front of the prince. Daring, but the new chancellor would need that quality.
“Tomorrow.” Miklos stepped around him and kept walking.
The assemblyman fell in step beside him. “I understand the Lady Judit is still in the castle.”
“She’s resting.”
“Have any commitments been made?”
“No.”
“Good.” His sigh of relief was audible. “The Assembly has been considering, Your Highness. She might not be the right choice. In fact, we believe she is not. It has always been only Chancellor Hansen who pushed her as the best candidate.”
“Chancellor Hansen died last night for this country,” Miklos reminded the man sharply, not liking the direction the conversation was taking.
“Forgive me.” The man had the good sense to look chastised. “But the issue of the Lady Judit—”
“Is my decision entirely.”
“Certainly, Your Highness. I’m merely suggesting that the general’s daughter—”
“Are you jesting?” They reached the staircase and Miklos stopped to face the man.
“The general’s death, coming at the same time as Chancellor Hansen’s, will shake the country. There will be fear of retribution for the rebellion. If the monarchy is seen as too heavy-handed…A gesture of forgiveness would be best, Your Highness. And the general’s daughter is a native daughter of our country. She is dedicated to youth and charity.”
“She is a youth. She wants to marry me?” he asked incredulously. “I rather imagine the girl would be grieving.”
“After a suitable period of mourning, of course. She will be persuaded that the marriage would be the best thing. She will do her duty, I’m sure, to save her family from disgrace.”
“Her father’s actions are no disgrace of hers.”
“Certainly, Your Highness. And your understanding will raise your popularity among the people. I knew…The Assembly is confident that you will do your duty. I will make arrangements for the Lady Judit to be returned to her home before the day is out.”
“You will not.”
“Your Highness, duty—”
“Duty be damned.” He turned his back to the man and took the steps two at a time to see Judi.
HER THOUGHTS DRIFTED to all she and Miklos had survived together in the last couple of days. Whatever happened next, the most important thing was that he was alive. He’d fought in the terrifying battle to take back the castle, and he’d made it.
He was a warrior prince.
He was the kind of man daydreams were made of.
He could have been hers. She could have been his.
Don’t think about that. If she could fall in love against her will, then, maybe, if she worked hard enough, sh
e could fall out of it.
He liked her, but not enough to overlook the fact that she’d make a lousy princess. He’d told her as much after they’d made love in the general’s prison. But despite that, she couldn’t regret that night. At least she would have those memories of him. Her mind went back to those heated and all-too-brief moments between them. She was tired to the bone. Her thoughts drifted, her body still exhausted. Judi was nearly asleep again by the time a muted knock sounded on her door.
“Come in.”
“Did I wake you?” Miklos stopped, his silhouette tall and wide-shouldered, just inside her bedroom door.
Her heart started into an erratic rhythm. She shook her head with a nervous smile.
“Sorry I didn’t come sooner. I took the chopper to the hospital. Dr. Arynak wouldn’t let me rest until I had the hand checked out.”
“How is it?” She sat up in bed.
“The bullet went through. One of the bones shattered, but not too badly. They put the pieces back together.” He came closer.
She noticed the fresh, white bandage. Relief filled her. She’d been worried about that. “They let you leave?”
“They weren’t given a choice. I had to come back to talk to you,” he said softly, reaching her bed. His eyes were dark with unnamed emotions.
Her heart clamored in her chest.
He reached out his good hand and cupped her face. “I’m sorry you were drawn into this mess. I can’t stand the thought that something could have happened to you.” He was leaning toward her.
She still couldn’t say anything, and when his lips touched hers, her last coherent thoughts disappeared.
His kiss and touch were gentle. She let him lay her back down onto the silk sheets, and moaned in pleasure when his body covered hers.
He pulled away only long enough to remove the comforter from between them. Then raised an eyebrow as he took her in.
She wore some antique reproduction of a princess nightgown, made of white silk and lace. One of the maids had given it to her. In the early morning sunlight that poured in the window, the gown left little to the imagination.
She felt self-conscious all of a sudden as her nipples puckered under his heated gaze. And since he was the kind of guy who rarely missed anything, he caught that and focused on them. A sexy smile spread across his lips.
“You should have come to Valtria sooner.” His mouth brushing a nipple through the silk took away her ability to answer.
His good hand ran up under the gown, caressing her heated skin. She arched against him in wanton need as she kneaded his shoulders.
“I don’t think you should be princess,” he said.
Her heart sank. Here it came. She needed to steel herself and be reasonable. He was one hundred percent right about this. She hated that the words hurt anyway.
“You grew up with different ideals. A lot more freedom. It would be hard on you. More than I can ask.”
Her breath caught in her throat.
“But I’m going to ask it anyway. I don’t want you to go,” he said.
She was too stunned for a second, needing a gulp of air before she could respond. “I won’t,” she breathed.
“I mean not ever.”
Her gaze locked with his.
“I want you to marry me,” he went on. “I know that for you this seems too old-fashioned and too sudden, but—”
She reached up and silenced him with a kiss. Her heart sang. Her body was shaky with need.
Long minutes passed before they separated again.
“Marriage to me…I can’t guarantee that I’ll be worth the trouble, no matter how hard I’ll try,” he made a point to tell her.
“You’re worth it.”
He grinned. “I love you.” Then he turned all serious, and said, “I love you” again.
“I love you, too, Prince Miklos.”
“Princess Judi.” He tasted the words. “I’m going to love saying that.”
He kissed her before she could respond. And, really, what response was there to give? What they had between them was pure joy, pure love, a gift from heaven.
“I’m sorry I don’t have a ring. I want something of historical significance, but the most important royal jewels are kept in the treasury. Even I have to make an appointment to take something out.”
“I don’t need a fancy ring.”
“You’ll have a ring that’ll be the envy of princesses around the world.”
“You just want everyone within a mile to know that I belong to you.”
“I suppose you haven’t called me archaic in days, so I was due for a reminder.” His eyes danced. “But you do speak the truth. You belong to me.” He turned thoughtful. “Do you think we could have a T-shirt made? Aren’t those things a custom in your country?”
She swatted at him playfully. Then she thought of something and giggled.
He pulled back. “What is it?”
“To think that I almost went to Puerto Vallarta instead.”
“Why didn’t you?”
“Aunt Viola talked me out of it. She said they had lizards, and giant spiders, and snakes and bats.”
“At the resort?” His voice was skeptical.
“In hindsight, she might have exaggerated. She was adamant that I should come here.”
“I’ll see to it that she receives a royal commendation.”
“Oh, she would like that.”
“Do you know what I would like?”
She grinned. “From the look in your eyes, I have a couple of pretty good guesses.”
His smile turned wolfish. “I do love smart princesses.”
“Just the one, I hope.”
“I love my princess,” he corrected. “I love you, Judi Marezzi, soon to be Kerkay.” He gave a low growl deep in his throat. “Can’t be soon enough for me.”
The kiss he gave her made her head spin. His hand worshipped every inch of her body, removing all obstacles.
The sun bathed the room in golden light.
He was naked.
Wow.
Magnificent.
They’d been partially undressed when they’d made love at the general’s compound, thinking that might be their last day alive, but their prison had been nearly pitchdark. This was the first time she could really see him.
She let her gaze glide over the smooth hills and valleys of his body. Everything in perfect order and then some. Wide chest, flat abdomen with ripples of muscles in orderly rows. Even his body looked disciplined.
She reached out. His skin was warm beneath her hand. She could feel the steady beating of his heart.
She leaned forward, brushed her lips against his. “I didn’t want this to happen.”
“I did,” he said matter-of-factly and grabbed her hips to fit her to him.
“Since when?” She pulled her head back to look into his eyes.
“Since you walked off the plane.”
Satisfaction, pleasure, vanity—or something akin to those—thrilled through her.
“I thought you were airport security.”
He gave a short bark of a laugh at that.
And kissed her hard. And somehow maneuvered her to right where he wanted her. Then began the slow process of seducing her body, touch by touch, nibble by nibble, driving her to the edge with his seemingly endless patience. But he made her wait, made her hotter with every touch, made her need him.
He was perfect. He was her prince. He loved her. Her head was spinning. He touched her so tenderly that it made her heart ache. She couldn’t keep her roaming hands from exploring him.
She needed him to blot out the images of the violence of the last couple of days. She wanted to do the same for him. She wanted to make him forget his injury.
“Shouldn’t you be careful with your hand?”
“They shot me with enough painkillers that I won’t have any feeling in it for at least another hour. I want to take full advantage of that hour. The rest of my body has plenty of feeling in it. I’m t
hinking we should focus on the positive.”
She laid him down on the bed. “Let’s just keep the hand out of harm’s way.”
“Will you play nurse to your wounded soldier?” His wolfish grin widened.
“You bet.” She bent to kiss him. She loved his sensuous, masculine mouth.
That mouth could make her do just about anything, she reflected long moments later, her body vibrating with tension and pleasure.
He shifted their positions and turned her under him, supporting himself above her on his elbows, bringing his good hand up to her chin as he dipped his head to kiss her again.
His corded muscles betrayed that he was as much on the edge as she was, but he held back, took his time with her. He trailed kisses down her cheek, her neck, moving with excruciating slowness toward a peaking nipple that begged for his attentions. He heard the silent call and proved to be extraordinarily accommodating.
He seemed to know what she wanted and when, in exactly which way. Heat pulsed between her legs where their bodies touched, and she could feel his hard desire. Her knees came up; her legs wrapped around him.
Now. She wanted him now, all of him. She’d never wanted anyone or anything with such desperate urgency.
But he took his time with her other nipple, melting the bones in her body. Now. Now. Now. She couldn’t take much more of this. Patience was a virtue she was momentarily missing.
“Please,” she whispered.
He moved to the underside of her breast, then trailed hot kisses lower and lower.
She lost the ability to breathe.
And then they made sweet love to each other, the princess and the prince.
Epilogue
“How is my Princess Judi?” Miklos came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her growing belly as she checked her hair, which the royal stylist had prepared to perfection an hour earlier. “I can’t wait to hold our baby.”
“You and me both. He’s been pretty active today. I swear he’s practicing fencing in there.”
“Never too early to start. Ready to go?”
“Sure.” Going to dinner at the royal palace still put butterflies in her stomach, though. Buckingham Palace in London had nothing on the royal palace of Valtria, which was majestic in both size and splendor. She still hadn’t gotten used to the army of servants in residence. Her own ancestral castle at the foot of the mountains seemed more manageable by comparison, although she was still overwhelmed even by that. For now the castle was all she could handle.
Natural-Born Protector / Saved by the Monarch Page 31