“That’s a good thing. An honor.” I pull her into my arms, and she wraps her arms around my middle, pressing her cheek to my bare chest. All of me relaxes. Her body fits perfectly against mine. Nothing has ever felt so right.
I kiss the top of her head. “Hopefully Mila will have some of your spirit.”
She lifts her head. “She’ll be so much better than me. Her parents expect great things. Mine expect me to stop being so headstrong, impulsive, and out of line.”
“You are not the least out of line.” Though it could be argued that seeking me out in the middle of the night is out of line. I don’t care. All of these traits are her, part of what makes her so vibrant. Besides, if she wasn’t that way, we probably never would’ve met because she never would’ve made an escape to the US, which was where she connected with Anna.
“Then what am I doing here with you?” she asks.
I try for a light tone because I know just thinking about what awaits her back home will make me furious. Beaumont doesn’t deserve her. “You can’t resist me. Obviously.” I scoop her up in my arms and carry her to my bed.
“Oscar?”
“Yes?”
“I want you to be my first.”
I nearly drop her. I swallow hard and gently set her on the mattress. She must be a virgin until marriage. That’s the rule in her kingdom. She’s abided by it, and I’ve respected her decision.
She sits up and shrugs her robe off. “I choose you.” She pulls the covers back and looks at me expectantly.
If I cross this line, she won’t be allowed to marry in her kingdom, which means she’ll never be queen. She would only choose to do this with the man she intends to marry. Me. It’s how she was raised. That means she’s choosing to stay with me here on Villroy. She’ll be mine to keep.
But she’ll be giving up her kingdom.
Why would she do that unless she loves me? This must be her grand gesture for me. I gave up my vineyard; she’s giving up the crown. It’s not at all the same, but maybe that’s how love is. You give without thought of keeping things balanced out. Her family won’t accept her for breaking away from their dictates, but she’ll have a place here, working and living with me. And she has family here too with Anna and now Mila. This right here is the tantalizing solution to all of our problems.
I strip naked and join her in the bed, pulling her down to lie next to me, side by side. I tuck a lock of hair behind her ear before cupping her jaw, and she leans into my hand, enjoying my touch. “Are you sure, Pol?”
She slides her fingers into the hair at the nape of my neck, her gaze direct. “I’m sure. It has to be you.”
Euphoria rushes through me, my pulse racing, all of me alive and aware. There are no words that can match the incredible happiness I’m feeling, so I don’t try. I roll on top of her, kissing her with all the love I’m feeling, and she returns the kiss passionately, her hands roaming over my back and then gripping my ass, pulling me close. Urgent need that I’ve fought back every night suddenly gains freedom.
I shift off her and pull her up before lifting her gown up and off. Her long curly hair cascades over her bare shoulders, her skin glowing with good health, her nipples hardening under my gaze. I want to memorize this moment. I slip off her panties, admiring her all over again as if I’m seeing her for the first time. And then I realize this is her first time, and I need to take it slow.
She spreads her legs and crooks her finger at me with a sexy smile.
My cock throbs. I cover her, kissing her smiling lips, lingering there for a deeper kiss before shifting to rain kisses down her throat, across her collarbone to her shoulder. Her sweet shoulder, so soft I have to take a nip at it before levering lower, lavishing attention on her breasts. She moans softly, holding me to her. It’s different now, urgent, yes, but also reverent and tender. That’s how I feel accepting this incredible gift. Her hips move restlessly under me, and I slide a hand down to ease her ache as I draw her nipple deep into my mouth. She arches into my hand, hot and wet and needy.
I shift lower, kissing my way down her flat stomach. She quivers under me in anticipation, and I don’t disappoint, shifting lower still to lap at her. She groans long and loud, so I give her what she needs. What I need too. I need to see her break, need to taste her desire and drive her out of her mind. She arches up, and I clamp her hips still, which makes her crazy. She gets hotter, her body trembling, my name a chant from her lips. She’s only known me, and it will always be my name on her lips. I love that. I love her. She tenses, and I send her over, letting her rock with it, a keening sound ripped from her throat. Finally she goes limp.
“Mmm,” she hums, a big smile lighting up her face.
“Mmm is right.” I roll her to her stomach. She merely lies there, not questioning my motives. She’s trusted me from the very first night. I shift her hair to the side and sink my teeth into the nape of her neck.
Her breath hisses out.
I slide a hand down her spine, caressing her shapely ass before nudging her legs apart.
“Oscar, I want to look at you for our first time.”
I kiss her neck. “You will.” And then I kiss and taste and nip my way over this side of her. Every inch of her is mine. She moans softly into the pillow.
Finally, I roll her over and cover her, holding my weight on my forearms. “Are you ready?”
She holds my head in her hands. “So, so ready. I’ve waited my whole life for you.”
My eyes sting. “I feel the same way.”
“Now. I want to join with you.”
I belatedly remember the condom and shift off her to get it from the nightstand. I return to her welcoming warmth and kiss her tenderly. I’ve never been with a virgin before. I guide myself into position. Slow, slow. It’s tight velvet heat.
Her nails dig into my shoulders. “Just do it.”
I kiss her. “I’m taking it slow for your sake.”
“I want fast.”
I close my eyes, drawing on every ounce of willpower I possess. She doesn’t know what she’s asking, and the last thing I want is to hurt her. I kiss her, easing in, and then I feel it, the barrier between us. She’s right. One quick thrust will be easier on her. I nuzzle her neck and then I sink my teeth into the cord of her neck, distracting her with the bite as I thrust fully into her.
She cries out.
I lift my head. “You okay?”
She nods, but she doesn’t look okay. Her expression is strained, her lips clamped tightly together like she’s bearing through it.
I keep still, buried deep, and shift to her ear. “It’ll get better, I promise.”
She pats my shoulder in acknowledgment, still uncharacteristically quiet.
I shift enough to reach my fingers between us and stroke her. She arches up into me with a moan. Yes. I kiss her and rock into her at the same time, cupping her jaw with one hand. I feel the moment she relaxes under me, and take full advantage, increasing the rhythm. I need so much more, but I hold back, waiting, waiting, waiting.
I gaze into her eyes, our breaths mingling as we join, and suddenly there’s nothing but this elemental bond. I never knew what it meant to make love until now. I tilt her hips up for a better angle, and then I hit it just right.
“Oh, oh, oh!” she cries, her nails digging into my ass. “Oscar.”
“Surrender,” I tell her in French. She doesn’t notice when I change languages, but deep inside she responds. She goes off, her body squeezing me rhythmically, and I lose control, thrusting hard and deep, racing to my own release. It slams into me, an explosion of pleasure as I pump into her, dimly aware of her soft moans. I’m spent.
She hugs me tight, and a smile tugs at my lips. I kiss the side of her neck and close my eyes, sinking into her love.
Chapter Twelve
Polly
I snuggle closer to the heat of a naked Oscar in bed. It’s just before dawn and he’s sound asleep. I gave him my virginity last night freely, an expression of my love. I’
m confident it was the right choice. I must be in denial over what this all means, but I just feel too good lying here with him to feel anything but happy.
I made my choice. No regrets. Oscar is good to me, protective and tender. He even changed the sheets while I cleaned up in the bathroom last night, so the servants wouldn’t notice the evidence of my virginity. He cares for me deeply, and I feel the same.
I’m not ready to sneak back to my room yet. I pull the covers off us to help wake him up, and then throw my arm and leg over him, where he’s sleeping flat on his back.
I whisper in his ear, “I want to try sex when there’s no virgin barrier in the way.”
No response.
I climb on top of him and kiss his scruffy jaw, his neck, and finally his lips.
He wraps his arms around me. “Pol.”
“One more time before I have to go.”
His hand strokes down my back to cup my ass. “You’re going to be sore. Marge is going to wonder why you’re walking funny.”
I laugh. “Do I look different?”
He pushes my long hair out of his face and holds my head, studying me. “Well, the giant V on your forehead faded.”
“Ha-ha, I’m serious. Can you tell?”
His gaze turns tender and he kisses me. “You’ve looked relaxed and happy ever since you started visiting me at night. My magic touch.”
“I am relaxed and happy with you. Now make love to me and don’t go so slow this time.”
His lips curve up. “Just for that, I’m going to torture you and go extra slow.”
I smile and kiss him. I’m more eager this time, more aggressive with him, and he responds in kind. No slow sensual torture here. The kiss turns rough and carnal as he rolls me under him, his hands roaming my body, sure and demanding. This is him in his natural aggressive state, and I love that he lets go with me. He pulls away only long enough for a condom and then he’s back, sliding deep inside me. It takes my breath away. I arch my hips, my body stretching to accommodate him. I’m a little sore, but then he starts moving, the angle just perfect, and I’m back in my hazy cloud of pleasure.
He lifts his head, holding my jaw with one big hand, his thumb stroking the sensitive spot under my ear, his aquamarine eyes intent on mine. He stills, buried deep inside me. “You’re staying with me. Here on Villroy.”
I swallow, unsure what to say. I’ll consider staying, but part of me still wants my birthright. I hope to make Oscar part of it. I just don’t know how yet.
He lets out a breath, slips his fingers between us, and strokes me rapidly. My brain shuts down as he rocks into me, bringing me up higher and higher. I’m panting and so close. Oh God.
“With me,” he bites out.
My breath catches at the intensity in his eyes. And then I realize I’ve already made my choice. “Yes, I’m with you.”
I don’t know what he does, something wicked with his fingers and a hard thrust, and then I’m gone, my body racked with a shuddering climax. He pounds into me, carrying me along for a ride of sweet aching pleasure.
I leave the bed a short while later, knowing I need to get back to my room undetected. This ache will remind me all day of our special time together. Now I just have to figure out a strategy to have the man I want and the kingdom I deserve.
~ ~ ~
Later that morning, I’ve just stepped out of the shower, a towel around my head and a thick robe on, when there’s a knock at my bedroom door. Probably Lina to see about my breakfast.
“Come in,” I call.
Marge steps inside. “You slept late. I thought you’d be dressed by now.”
I lift one shoulder. I raced from Oscar’s room in the west wing back to my room in the east wing and straight into the shower. I cut it really close this morning. I won’t have to sneak once I come up with a good plan for keeping Oscar in my life. First, I need to buy some time and extend my stay here.
She presses her lips together in a tight line. “There’s been a hurricane warning for Beaumont. Category 4.”
My mind races with the implications. Category 4 is devastating. Winds of more than one hundred miles per hour, torrential rain, flooding, power outages. We’ve been lucky not to have such a powerful storm in decades. “How certain are they?”
She shakes her head. “As certain as weather ever is. We should keep an eye on it.”
“Are they evacuating the islands?”
“No. It’s still high tourist season, and there’s a lot of people there. They’re going to wait.”
Always the balance between tourism and our economy, but safety needs to be taken seriously. “They can’t wait too long or the airport will shut down.”
She nods.
“Thank you, Marge, for keeping me informed. I’ll keep a close watch.”
She studies me for a moment. “If the worst happens, they’ll need your leadership to see the kingdom through and give them hope. You’ve always been the symbol of a golden future.”
I take a deep breath. “I will do what I can.”
“You must do your duty.”
“I know my place,” I say quietly.
She steps closer. “Do you?”
“What is that supposed to mean?”
She lowers her voice. “I’ve seen how he looks at you. He watches you with love in his eyes.”
I turn to my closet and pull out an outfit, refusing to comment. What Oscar and I have is private and not up for discussion.
“Polly, you mustn’t let a handsome face turn your head. You must remain vigilant and resist—”
I whirl. “I’d like some privacy now, please. I’ll see you downstairs at breakfast.”
“I only look out for you. I don’t want you to have regrets.”
I lift my chin. “I will have none.”
She nods once, her expression tight. “I’ll see you at breakfast.”
She leaves, quietly shutting the door behind her. I pull on my clothes in jerky motions. There’s nothing to do but wait and see about this hurricane. But I know my parents aren’t up to a major recovery effort. If disaster strikes, I must return and take leadership, and that means leading with Peter. I don’t want to marry him, but I’m not sure if I’ll have a choice. My parents’ debt still stands. Peter’s threat to the monarchy could have even more impact if the islanders are in a disaster situation without quick relief. Take away the basics and people become angry. He employs half the island; he could have significant sway with them. And I cannot leave the leadership to my ill-prepared cousin. Beaumont depends on me, and I will not let her down in her time of need.
~ ~ ~
I meet with Lucas, Adrian, and Oscar in the parlor later that day to go over casino business. Marge is better but still sticks to her afternoon nap, which she considers vital to her health. That’s why we’re meeting now. She’s unaware of my place in the business. I will reveal it only once it’s up and running and profits are coming in. By then, there will be no cause for questioning the usefulness of the venture.
We’re gathered around a long table, finishing up a debate on the height of the building. We don’t want to overshadow the day spa, but we want to be sure there’s enough space for private gaming rooms, public gaming areas, and the upscale restaurant. There also needs to be a secure space to deal with the money. A basement isn’t an option due to the water table. We conclude two stories with a rooftop terrace will be ideal. The day spa is also two stories.
Lucas grabs a grape from the large fruit bowl in the center of the table. “Next order of business: I want to hire a lawyer to draw up papers spelling out ownership and profit sharing of the casino between the three of you.” He pops the grape in his mouth.
“Never hurts to have a contract,” Adrian says.
“We’re family,” Oscar says. “Is it really necessary?”
“I’m okay with that,” I put in. “Even family can benefit from having a written record.”
Oscar’s blue-green eyes meet mine in a warm gaze across the table,
and my stomach flips, my chest warming. I see it now, clear as day—the love in his eyes. How long has it been there? And do I look the same way?
Lucas clears his throat. “Oscar, Polly, I said I’ve requested a proposal from the architect who did the day spa and, if we’re in agreement, I’ll open it up to other architects as well. We don’t want to clash with the spa, but it doesn’t necessarily have to match. It could complement it.”
We all chime in our agreement.
“I need to go,” Lucas says. “Let me know what you three come up with for must-haves for the casino, and I’ll pass it onto the architect.”
“Wait,” I say. “I may need to return home early. There’s a Category 4 hurricane heading straight for Beaumont and, if it hits, I’ll be needed at home to help with the recovery. It could be devastating. I’m not sure if we’ll have power or communications, so I just wanted to let you know I might not be able to keep up with my end of the business for a while.”
“That’s terrible,” Lucas says. “When is it supposed to hit?”
“They’re predicting landfall next Sunday.”
“You shouldn’t go home if it’s a disaster area,” Oscar says. “It won’t be safe.”
I meet his eyes. “I’ll wait until the storm has passed, but then I must go. A disaster will require leadership to coordinate supplies and recovery. My father isn’t up to the task.”
“What do you mean?” Oscar asks. “That you’ll be leading as queen? With him?” His voice gets loud at the end, and the room goes silent.
“That’s not what I want,” I say.
“You’re not going,” he snaps.
Lucas stands. “Adrian and I will give you two some privacy.”
I nod at them, feeling Oscar’s eyes burning into me. As soon as the door to the parlor shuts behind them, I say, “Oscar, please understand—”
“No. You’re not going back.”
“It is my home, my kingdom. I can’t turn my back on them.”
“Then I’m going with you.”
I shake my head. “Not yet. It will be chaos and the worst possible time for me to try to shake up the monarchy with our relationship.”
Royal Player (The Rourkes, Book 5) Page 13