“Sometimes, I think there are ghosts here,” I admit and take another bite of my sandwich. “How can there not be, after so much time? Battles were fought here, babies born. A lot of life has happened.”
“Oh, it’s absolutely haunted,” she agrees quickly. “And while I don’t exactly want to see Marie Antoinette holding her head, I think it’s pretty cool.”
“Marie Antoinette was French, darling.”
“You know what I mean.”
“We have a lot to teach you.” I set my sandwich aside, hers as well, and then lean in to kiss her. I don’t care that Charles and Nick are nearby. I can’t resist her.
“Me getting your history wrong turns you on?”
“You turn me on.” I nibble her plump lips and push her back onto the blanket. My hand finds its way under her shirt.
“People are watching.”
“If they know what’s good for them, they’ve gone to find something else to do.” I glance up and, sure enough, Charles and Nick have walked away. “See? They’re gone.”
“Good.” She sinks her fingers into my hair and pulls me down to her, kissing me for all she’s worth. She’s bloody intoxicating.
I never stop wanting her. I want her now, out here in the open, but I know it’s not safe. Someone could come upon us at any time.
So I slowly back away, kissing her cheek and then her nose as I do.
“We should head back.”
“Thank God, because that’s where the bed is.”
“I like the way you think, darling.”
***
“Oh, crap!”
I spin at Nina’s yelp in time to see Nick wrapping his arms around her waist and plucking her foot out of the stirrup.
We just returned to the stables, and I was busy taking the saddle off my horse.
It seems Nick is taking my girl off of hers.
“Are you all right?” I ask, rushing to her.
“Oh, yeah,” she says with a laugh. “My foot got caught. Nick rescued me.”
I give the other man a hard look, silently telling him to back the bloody hell off, which he does immediately. I tuck Nina against my side and lead her inside, then through the house up to our bedroom.
“I’m going to let you freshen up, darling. I’ll be back in a few moments.”
“Okay. I need a shower after that ride.”
I’d love to join her, but I have something else to see to.
I return downstairs and find Charles with Nick in the drawing room.
“Charles, I’d like a word.”
He nods at Nick, who hurries from the room, shutting the double doors behind him.
“What’s on your mind, sir?”
“Nick is on my mind.” I can hear the ice in my voice. “I want him replaced by someone else.”
“That’s impossible, sir.”
I cock a brow. “The correct answer is ‘yes, sir.’”
Charles sighs and shakes his head. “I’m sorry, Your Highness, but Nick is the best man I have on staff right now. All of my extra men are still in Cunningham Falls.”
I push my hand through my hair and pace away from him.
“He’s too hands-on,” I say and point toward the stable. “That’s the second time in as many days that I’ve caught him touching her.”
“She was going to fall,” Charles says. “Both times. He reported it to me, Sebastian. Are you jealous because he’s a young, handsome man and you think he’ll steal her from you?”
“Watch yourself.”
“He has no interest in Nina in any other way than as a client. He’s signed contracts that outline what will happen to his position should he cross that line.”
“I don’t like it.”
Charles is quiet as he watches me, and then he pours each of us a snifter of brandy. I take the glass and drink it in one swallow.
“Perhaps you should have this conversation with Nick.”
“I’d likely punch him, and that’s not good employer-employee relations.”
Charles turns to me in surprise. “I’ve never known you to be a jealous man.”
“You’ve never known me with Nina. There has to be someone who can be assigned to her.”
“Nick is the best man on my staff. If you love her the way you say you do, you’ll want her to have the best.”
I glare at him, my whole body quaking in anger and frustration.
“Bugger me.” I turn on my heel and stomp out of the room.
I don’t have to pretend that I’m in love with her. I’m already halfway there.
***
“I don’t want to get up,” Nina murmurs the next morning. We’re snuggled down in the bed, listening to the rain batter the roof above us. “It’s just too nice here.”
“We could have a lie-in, we don’t have to get up for a while yet.” She’s pressed against me, her bottom snuggled tightly against my groin, facing the window. I’m already hard.
It seems I’m constantly hard when she’s near.
“I didn’t know that rain could sound so beautiful.” She wiggles onto her back and smiles up at me, dragging her fingers down my cheek. “This is the perfect day to stay under the covers and have sex all day long.”
“Now, that’s tempting.” I nibble the side of her lips and down to her jawline. “You smell so good. What is that?”
“Soap.” She laughs and then sighs when I cup her breast, tweaking the nipple between my fingers. “Oh, that’s nice. Have I mentioned you’re really good with your hands?”
“I don’t think so.”
“So good.” She arches into my touch. She’s still warm from sleep, her movements slow and groggy.
She’s blooming gorgeous.
Before I can move over her, she straddles my hips, impaling herself completely. Her head falls back, and I can’t resist sitting up to bite her neck, her collarbone.
“Can’t get enough of you,” I growl as she begins to move. My hands grip her hips, my fingertips digging into her arse as she rides me.
“I’m so sore from riding the horses yesterday,” she says with a laugh. I wrap my arm around her waist and switch our positions, kissing her as I begin to move now. I link my fingers with hers and pin her hand above her head. Her other hand digs into my backside.
“You’re strong,” she whispers. “I like it.”
I can’t speak. The orgasm has begun to gather in my spine, working its way through me. I move faster, grinding against her core, wanting her to join me.
“Shit,” she whispers, the first contractions coming from her core. She’s tugging and squeezing me, and all control is gone as I let go, spilling myself inside her.
Holy bloody hell.
“Nina.”
“Mmm. That was nice.”
“Nina, I didn’t wear a rubber. Shite, I’m so sorry.”
Her eyes spring open, but she just kisses the inside of my arm. “We’re good, Prince Sebastian. No baby princes will be made today.”
“This isn’t funny.”
She cups my cheeks and looks into my eyes. “I have an IUD. I promise, I can’t get pregnant. And I’m perfectly healthy.”
I blow out a gusty breath and tip my forehead against hers. “So daft. I’ve never lost my mind like that before.”
“I’ll take it as a compliment.” She grabs my arse again. “You were too excited to fuck me to remember the condom.”
“I don’t fuck you, darling.” I nibble her lips to keep myself from telling her that I’m making love to her. “Never that.”
“I know.” She sighs in contentment. “Trust me, you’ve shown me the difference.”
“What a lovely thing to say.” I move to the side and bring her with me, snuggling her to me so we can lay in bed and listen to the rain.
“It’s true. But if you tell anyone else, I’ll deny it.”
“It’s our secret.”
Chapter Eight
Nina
“YOU’RE GETTING MARRIED in a week!” Fallon runs to m
e and throws her arms around me, hugging me tightly. “And you said you’d never marry. Famous last words.”
It’s so good to see my friends. Christian and Jenna arrived last week, and just this morning, the rest of the gang flew in. Fallon and Noah, Willa and Max, Hannah and Brad, and of course, Grace and Jacob.
I have my whole tribe around me for the first time in over a month. To say I feel relieved is a gross understatement. I want to kiss them all on the mouth.
Me, the one who doesn’t like to be touched.
“I can’t believe we’re in the palace,” Hannah murmurs into my ear as she hugs me. “How are you? You look healthy. Should I do a quick examination while I’m here?”
“She’s in England, not a third-world country,” Grace reminds her with a grin. “But really, though. How are you?”
“Overwhelmed,” I admit and blink away tears. “It’s just been a lot, you know? But I can’t complain because it’s also amazing. And holy shit, you guys, I’m marrying a prince.”
“A freaking prince,” Willa says with a grin. “I want to see your wardrobe. I need access to your closet.”
“Done,” I say immediately. “Where are the guys?”
“Sebastian already scooped them all up and took them fox hunting for the day,” Jenna says with a smile.
“Hunting?” I ask and frown at Fallon. “I don’t think Noah will be on board with that.”
“He’s from Montana,” Fallon replies with a shrug. “Hunting is a thing there. But if there are any injured birds, he can help.”
“Hello, everyone,” Eleanor says with a smile. “Catherine and I are here to take everyone to the spa for the day.”
Jenna gives Eleanor a high-five, surprising me. In the week that Jenna and Christian have been here, they’ve grown to really like Sebastian’s family. And, to my delight, the family seems to like them in return.
It’s been an awesome week.
“I could seriously use a massage after that flight,” Grace says. “I had no idea that a red-eye could be so exhausting. I thought I’d sleep on the plane.”
“No sleep?” I ask.
“Not even a little,” Willa says. “None of us slept. Well, except Max, who can sleep anywhere.”
“Well then, the spa is the perfect way to freshen up,” Catherine says with a kind smile. I haven’t spent much time with Catherine. She and Frederick took their children to another home in Scotland for a month, so they’ve been away from the palace most of the time I’ve been here.
“Shall we go?” Eleanor asks.
“Let’s go,” I say.
***
“So, basically, I could live in your closet,” Willa says much later after we’ve all been to the spa and back again. We decided to continue the party in my apartment.
“It’s the size of your house in Montana,” Fallon says, sipping her champagne. “You have more shoes than I’ve ever seen.”
“I spent weeks being fitted for all of these clothes,” I reply. “Do you have any idea how hard it is to stand in one place for hours at a time and not get stuck by pins?”
“We do,” Eleanor says with a laugh. “And it’s quite tedious.”
“It’s the worst,” Catherine agrees. “Tell us about your home in Montana.”
“It’s on the lake,” I begin and smile as I think about my little house. “I have a boat, and I love being out on the water.”
“It’s her happy place,” Fallon adds.
“But this isn’t a bad trade,” Grace says thoughtfully. “Also, I’m so happy I can drink champagne again.”
“You had a baby earlier this year, didn’t you?” Catherine asks. “I only know that because Sebastian is so close to Jacob, and he told us all the news.”
“It’s such a small world,” Hannah says.
“I did. And now I can finally celebrate things with my friends again with a glass of champagne or wine. Don’t get me wrong, I adore my daughter, but sometimes, a girl needs a drink.”
“I understand,” Catherine replies. She’s a beautiful woman with auburn hair and brown eyes. “I have two children myself.”
Grace and Catherine sit in the living room, talking all about babies and kids. Ellie and Jenna are trying on my shoes.
Willa and Hannah follow me to the kitchen, where I pull out platters of food from the fridge.
“None of this was here earlier,” I say in surprise.
“I had it brought in,” Ellie says. “Or I asked my assistant to have it brought in. I figured we would want to go somewhere private for some girl-time.”
“Thank you.”
A knock on the door surprises me. When I open it, Nick announces, “Her Majesty, the queen.”
We all immediately curtsy as she walks into the room. When the door is shut, she just smiles, looking around the space.
“Oh, isn’t this wonderful? May I please have a glass of champagne?”
The Queen of freaking England just crashed my bachelorette party.
“Of course.” I pour her a glass and pass it to her. Then, to my utter surprise, she takes my hand in hers and holds on tightly.
I haven’t had nearly enough alcohol for this.
Or maybe I’ve had too much. I’ll surely say the wrong thing.
“I know it hasn’t been easy,” she begins. “Trust me, I understand. Although I am British by birth, I was not born to an affluent family. It was all a culture shock to me when my husband asked me to marry him.
“I want to tell you that I think you’re lovely. And I also think that despite not being British, you are a good match for my son. He smiles easier since you’ve been here. He seems happy. And at the end of the day, that’s all a mother wants for her child.”
“Thank you.” For the first time since all of this started, I feel like an imposter. This woman thinks I’m madly in love with her son, but that’s not the case.
That’ll never be the case.
Of course, I care about him, and I like him very much. He makes me laugh, he makes me feel safe. What he does to me in bed should be illegal.
But love?
I’m just not capable of that.
I want to confess it all to her, but before I can say anything, Willa asks, “Your Majesty, if you don’t mind me asking, how old were you when you married? I’m afraid I don’t know my history very well.”
“Oh, that’s fine. And, if I’m honest, refreshing.” She sits on the sofa, and most of the girls sit or stand around, listening intently.
How often is it that you get a private moment with a queen?
“I was just twenty-two when we married,” she begins.
Jenna slides next to me in the kitchen, and as the queen holds court over my tribe, she whispers, “Have you heard from your mom?”
I shake my head. “No. She’s not speaking to me. She sent an email and said she wants nothing at all to do with any of this.”
“Ouch.”
“It’s a relief. I don’t want her here.”
Jenna simply nods and wraps her arm around my lower back. How could I have ever thought that she wasn’t right for my brother? For our family?
I don’t know what I’d do without this group of women in my life.
“And as for my dad,” I continue quietly, “who gives a shit?”
“I’d better be going,” the queen says twenty minutes and two glasses of bubbly later. “I know you girls want to talk freely, and you can’t do that with me here. I just couldn’t resist poking my head in to say hello.”
“I’m so glad you did.” I offer her a kiss on the cheek and hope I didn’t just break protocol. “Thank you.”
“Oh, it’s my pleasure. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
She nods and leaves, and we all stare at each other for a moment.
“That’s the Queen of England,” Hannah says. “Holy shit.”
Ellie and Catherine laugh at us and then clink their glasses to ours.
“Okay, I want to know what it’s like to screw royalty,” Grace says. �
�No offense, ladies.”
“None taken,” Catherine says with a loud laugh. “Oh, it’s refreshing to be able to chat like this.”
“I don’t know what it’s like,” Ellie says and pouts her lips. “Unless I get to shag a prince from another country, which is unlikely.”
“Someone must know what it’s like to have sex with you,” I point out, but Ellie’s face reddens, and she just sips her bubbly. “Wait. You’re a virgin?”
“Do you know how hard it is to meet people when you’re a princess?” she asks. “People who aren’t boring arses. And can I just say, yes, I’m dating someone, but he’s a total wanker, and I’m only seeing him because my father thinks he’d make a suitable husband.”
“You haven’t had sex with him?” Catherine asks in surprise. “You’ve been dating for more than a year.”
“No. He’s too handsy. And when he kisses me, he drools too much. I can only imagine how absolutely dreadful actually shagging him would be.”
“Ew,” Hannah says with a cringe. “Do you mind if I ask how old you are?”
“Twenty-four,” Ellie says with a mournful sigh. “I’m going to be the oldest virgin on Earth soon.”
“I doubt that,” Jenna says. “And you definitely shouldn’t have sex with anyone until he makes you so crazy you can’t see straight.”
“Don’t lose your virginity to a drooling bore,” Fallon agrees. “But really, though, what is it like to have sex with a prince?”
All eyes fly to Catherine and me. “You go first,” she says, sitting back with her champagne. “I’m comparing notes.”
“Who said I’ve slept with him?”
“Oh, please.” Willa rolls her eyes. “Just spill it already.”
“I mean, it’s nice.”
“Nice?” Grace frowns. “You can have nice with anyone.”
“Not Alistair,” Ellie says.
“Okay, it’s the best I’ve ever had,” I admit in a rush and can’t hold back the big, goofy smile that spreads across my face. “Like, it’s so good, you guys. Fallon, remember when you asked me if I liked it when guys made sweet, slow love to me?”
She nods, her eyes intent on my face.
“Well, no one ever has before. I mean, it’s not like they were jerks or anything, but slow, sweet sex hasn’t been my experience.”
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