“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Nina.”
“My turn,” Callum says. “I’m the best-looking brother. Callum.”
“Your Royal Highness.” Nina curtsies again.
I introduce her to my sister Eleanor, along with my brother Frederick and his wife, Catherine.
Once the introductions are finished, Nina and I sit in uncomfortable chairs, facing the others as if we’re in a job interview.
Because, of course, we are.
“I trust your travels were pleasant,” Father begins. He hasn’t broken a smile.
“Yes, thank you,” I reply.
“How did you meet?” Eleanor asks, breaking the uncomfortable silence.
“She ran into me. Literally.”
“On accident,” Nina clarifies and smiles. “I didn’t see him there.”
“And then you got her number?” Callum asks.
“No, she wouldn’t give it to me.”
Everyone’s eyebrows climb, making me laugh.
“I was taught not to give my phone number to strangers,” Nina says with a shrug. “Even handsome ones.”
“Especially handsome ones,” Catherine says and winks.
“Then I saw her later that night in a restaurant. I still didn’t get her number, but we have a mutual friend. Jacob,” I add and take Nina’s hand in mine. “And he told me where she lives.”
“He showed up the next morning while I was out on the lake on my boat. I have a lake house. And I asked him if the royal family was aware that they have a stalker on their hands.”
This actually makes everyone laugh. My father even smiles, which shocks the hell out of me.
“I can’t say he’s ever been arrested for stalking,” Mum says.
“I couldn’t resist her,” I say and kiss her knuckles. “She’s obviously beautiful, but more than that, she’s a challenge. And an intelligent one at that.”
“She snagged herself a prince, didn’t she?” Father asks, speaking for the first time.
“I think I’m here despite that fact,” Nina says before I can reply. “I mean no offense, of course. My background is in publicity. My brother is Christian Wolfe, the actor—”
“Oh, he’s hot,” Eleanor murmurs, earning a glare from Mum.
“—and I’ve worked as his public relations manager for close to a decade. I know what it is to be scrutinized every step you take. I’ve always counted my blessings that it wasn’t me in that spotlight. At least not at the same level as my brother. So, when Sebastian asked me to marry him, I had to consider that and give it a great deal of thought.”
“And yet, here you are,” my brother Frederick says.
“Here I am.” She looks up at me and offers me a wide smile. “I don’t think I’ve ever known anyone quite like your brother.”
“Your ring is quite beautiful,” Mum says, gesturing to the diamond on Nina’s finger. “Who made it?”
“A goldsmith in Montana,” I reply. “He’s well known in the area, and his work is impeccable.”
“It’s lovely,” Catherine adds.
“It will be replaced, of course,” Mum says.
Nina looks down at her ring with a frown. “I quite love this ring.”
“It should be a piece from the vault,” Eleanor explains kindly. “It’s tradition.”
“She’ll wear what she has for a while yet,” my father says firmly. “Until we’ve decided that she’s staying, she’ll keep the new ring.”
I glare at my father. “That’s not the way I was taught to treat guests.”
“I’ve never suggested giving the royal jewels to guests,” he says. “Until she has my blessing, she won’t be in the vault.”
“I’m happy with this ring,” Nina insists, looking up at me with pleading blue eyes that say, “just drop it.”
For her sake, I will. For now.
“When do you plan to marry?” Callum asks.
“Next week,” I reply.
“Absolutely not,” Mum says, shaking her head. “I won’t have it. There is protocol, and you’ll give us the proper amount of time to plan a suitable wedding.”
“Mum—”
“I will not budge on this,” she insists. “You’re asking us to accept quite a lot here, Sebastian. The least you can do is compromise and let us plan this wedding correctly.”
I glance down at Nina. She’s already nodding. “It’s the right thing to do.”
“How much time do you need?” I ask Mum.
“Six months, at least.”
“I’ll give you six weeks.”
She starts to argue, but I shake my head. “Six weeks, or we elope next week. The choice is yours.”
“Why are you in such a hurry?” Frederick asks.
“Because his birthday is in a few weeks,” Father replies.
“Because I love her.” I hold my father’s gaze firmly. “It has nothing to do with my birthday or the ridiculous law. I love her, and I want to be with her. End of story.”
“Well, I think it’s romantic,” Eleanor says, jumping up to throw her arms around Nina in a hug. “I’m happy you’re here. If you need anything at all, just ask.”
“Mary’s working with her,” I say and watch as Eleanor lights up even more.
“Oh, that’s brilliant. Mary’s perfect.”
“I’d like you all to leave so I can have a word with my son.” My father watches me as the others do as he wishes.
“I’ll walk you back to Sebastian’s quarters,” Eleanor offers, taking Nina’s hand in hers. “We’ll have a chat. Oh, this is so exciting!”
Once we’re alone, my father and I sit in silence for about twenty seconds. I wait for him to start.
“Do you understand what this means?” he asks at last.
“Perfectly.”
“You have a duty to Great Britain—”
“I know what my duty is,” I interrupt, surprising him. “It’s been ingrained in me from birth.”
“And yet you do this.”
I pinch the bridge of my nose and take a deep breath.
“I know you’ve never listened to me because it’s not what you wanted to hear, but I’ve been telling you for years that I don’t want to be king. I never have, Father.”
“We don’t get to choose!” His voice rises in agitation, which is unusual for him. He’s typically just cold. “We’re born into this, chosen by God himself. Who do you think you are, to go against God’s wishes?”
“I’m a human being,” I remind him. “With free will. I love my country and its people. I am blessed to be a part of this family, and I hope you don’t shun me and shuttle me off to France or somewhere else. I love the crown. I am British. But, Father, I don’t believe that I’d make a good king. I’m a good man, but that doesn’t necessarily translate to being a good monarch. I’m happy to continue my work. I’ve completed almost a decade in the military, and I have many causes that I want to continue working for. I have so much good to do.
“But being crowned the king isn’t in my future. Frederick will make an excellent ruler, and you know it.”
Father sighs and rubs his fingertips over his forehead.
“I’m sorry that I’m a disappointment. An embarrassment.”
“Stop.” His gaze flies to mine again. “I am disappointed, yes. But never embarrassed. You are a good man, and I think you underestimate yourself.”
I stare at him in absolute shock. I’ve never heard those words come from my father’s mouth. He’s not a warm parent.
“But if this is what you truly want, if she is who you love, I’ll allow it. I still don’t like it, Sebastian. You can’t expect me to. I have decisions to make where you’re concerned because of the choices you made. Difficult ones.”
“I’m asking you not to shun me.”
He’s quiet for a long moment. “I couldn’t live with myself if I did that. But I have to read the laws and decide if you will retain your title. And what title, if any, Nina will hold. There’s protocol here, son.”<
br />
“I understand.”
“I hope you do. You’ve just managed to change the course of the royal family forever. The history books, the lines of succession. Everything.”
“Yes, sir.” I nod, suddenly feeling like a weight has been lifted off my chest. He’s going to agree to this. For the first time in my life, I’m free to be a regular citizen.
Or closer to it anyway.
“I have things to see to,” Father says and stands. I join him and wait as he leaves the room, then I set off in the opposite direction to find Nina.
We need to celebrate.
Chapter Six
Nina
I SURE HOPE we don’t have to go anywhere else this evening because I’ve already changed out of my dress and into a tank and yoga pants.
I may not be allowed to wear pants in public, but in the privacy of our home, I’ll be wearing these comfortable nuggets of amazingness.
Please, God, let him tell me I can wear yoga pants at home.
I’ve just pulled my hair into a high ponytail and washed my face clean when I hear the door open. Hoping it’s not a member of the royal staff, I poke my head around the corner and smile when I see it’s Sebastian.
He’s my fiancé.
Holy shit.
“Hey,” I say and walk into the living room. “How did that go?”
He blows out a breath and props his hands on his hips, watching me thoughtfully. “Better than I expected.”
“That’s…good?”
“Yes, it’s good. You look so young dressed like that.”
I smile and turn a little circle for him. “Please tell me I can wear this when we’re here in your apartment. I’ll wear skirts and dresses every day, but when we’re here, this is how I get comfortable.”
“You can wear whatever you like in here,” he confirms. “In fact, I’ll join you.”
He turns and walks into his bedroom, stripping out of his tie on the way. I hear him rustling around, and about five minutes later, he’s back wearing an Oxford T-shirt and a pair of basketball shorts.
“Wow, you’re really casual.”
“I have my moments.”
I’m sitting on the couch with my legs pulled up under me, relaxing. “Aren’t you tired?”
“To the bone,” he confirms and sits next to me on the chaise side of the couch, stretching out his legs. “It feels like this is the day that will never end.”
“It’s been eventful,” I agree.
“Would you like some dinner?”
“Do you have room service in the palace?”
“Of course, we do.” He reaches over for my hand and rubs his thumb across my knuckles. “You can have anything you want, any time of day.”
“It’s like a really fancy Four Seasons.” I take stock of my body. “But I’m not ready for food yet. I think I’m too jet-lagged.”
“Tired?”
“Hmm. I know it’s like eight here, but it’s only noon back home, and I feel like I could sleep for a week.”
“Come here.” He crooks a finger, inviting me to snuggle with him.
I have never been a snuggler.
But I said no to and about a lot of things before I met Sebastian. Maybe me trying new things is a trend.
I scoot over and lay right on top of him, my head resting on his chest, my arms wrapped around him, our legs tangled.
He’s firm and warm, and his arms are strong as they loop around me. I don’t know that I ever felt better than I do right here and now.
He kisses the top of my head, and I sigh deeply. Oh, yeah, this is great. I could fall asleep right here.
“Am I squishing you?” I ask.
“No, darling,” he says softly. My tank has ridden up, and his hand lands on the small of my back. He draws light circles with his fingertips.
Damn, that feels good.
I can’t help it. I press a kiss to his chest and then nuzzle his impressive pec muscles, enjoying the way he feels beneath me.
The circles on my lower back turn into caresses, running up my spine under my tank, and then back down again. When he pushes his hand under my yoga pants to cup my bare ass beneath, I have to hold back a moan.
Sebastian has the best hands in the world.
But instead of putting me to sleep, he’s awakening my body, making my heartbeat speed up.
“Nina,” he whispers as he guides me, lying me on the couch lengthwise before covering me with his body. “You’re incredible.”
“Likewise.”
His lips twitch before he covers my mouth with his, kissing me with lazy heat. He’s in no hurry, but he’s as turned on as I am. When he settles his hips in the cradle of my pelvis, his arousal is obvious.
And pressing against me.
Good God, he’s impressive.
He pushes my shirt up and latches onto a nipple as I take the tank off and drop it onto the floor. I arch my back, longing for more.
Give me more.
“You’re absolutely beautiful,” he mutters as he switches from one hard and wet nipple to the other. His hands are everywhere. Roaming down my side to my hip before he pushes one amazing hand under the waistband of my pants to find my core. “And you’re not wearing any knickers.”
“No knickers for this girl,” I say with a grin. “If that means underwear.”
“It does.” He kisses down my sternum to my navel and hangs out there for a long moment, circling my belly button with his nose before leaving wet kisses down to my pubis. He pulls off my pants, tosses them aside, and opens me wide, looking his fill. “Bloody hell.”
“You have way too many clothes on,” I remind him, reaching for him, but he dodges out of my way. His usually tidy dark blond hair is mussed from my fingers, and his eyes are ice-blue as he takes me in from head to toe. No one has ever looked at me with the kind of lust that’s coming from Sebastian right now.
So, this is what the fuss is all about.
“You first.” With that, he licks me from clit to opening and back again, and I’m lost to him. I grip the edge of the couch, fisting my hand as my toes curl. As if that weren’t enough, he plunges two fingers inside of me, and I’m lost. My legs start to shake. Light explodes behind my eyelids.
This is how I die.
But what a way to go.
“Oh, God.” My back arches again, and everything…everything explodes around me. Through me.
If this is heaven, I don’t want to be resuscitated.
“I’m dead.”
Sebastian chuckles as he kisses up my stomach, then my sternum, and settles in to kiss me slowly on the mouth again. He brushes the hair off my cheeks and nips my chin.
“I’ve wanted to do that for what feels like forever.”
“Three days.”
“Longest three days of my bloody life.”
He stands and lifts me into his arms. I loop my arms around his neck.
“Where are we going?”
“To bed.”
“Mine or yours?”
“It’s ours now,” he says, frowning down at me.
“I have my own room. I thought I’d be sleeping in there.”
“Fuck that.” I raise an eyebrow. “You have your own space, yes, but you’ll be sleeping with me. This is our bed, and I’ll have you in it.”
“Bossy,” I murmur, dragging my finger down his cheek. “But I like it.”
He lowers me to the cool linens covering the ridiculously soft mattress. The bed’s already been turned down.
I bet the sheets are at least a thousand thread count.
I have a thing for good sheets.
But rather than discuss the palace’s choice in linens, I reach for Sebastian’s shirt and pull it over his head, tossing it aside.
“Whoa,” I whisper before I can control myself.
“Is that a good whoa, or a bad one?”
“Have you seen you? My God, you look like you’ve been sculpted. Or photoshopped.”
“I train,” he says simply, pepperi
ng kisses over my shoulder. “And have you seen you?”
“Are we going to spend the whole night dishing out compliments? Or are we going to get to the good stuff?”
He smiles down at me. “What kind of good stuff?”
“You know.” I let my hand wander down his ridiculously hard abs and over his shorts, cupping his hard cock in my palm. “It involves this.”
“Oh, yes. We’ll be getting to the good stuff.”
I help him out of his shorts, and when we’re finally and blissfully naked together, Sebastian surprises me by simply tipping his forehead against mine and holding me close.
“This isn’t the good stuff I was talking about.”
He smiles. “I’m just taking my time, darling. I’m enjoying you.”
“There’s no need for that.”
He frowns now. “Why the hell not?”
I shrug a shoulder and look away, but he catches my chin in his fingers and pulls my focus back to him.
“I’m used to fast and fun and then going our separate ways,” I admit.
“Oh, Nina.” He kisses my lips, just barely touching them. “That’s not how this is going to go at all. Just trust me.”
No more words are needed. He sets to methodically making me crazy. His hands, those amazing freaking hands, are on a mission to drive me insane. He plucks my nipple, then soothes it with his tongue. He drags his blunt nails up my side from my ass to my breast. His touch is firmer now, but he’s not moving faster.
Damn it, I want him inside of me!
I loop my leg up around his hip in invitation, but rather than sink in, he just uses his hand and brings me to a climax that might rival the eruption of Mt. St. Helens.
I was right, he’s going to kill me.
“Sebastian.”
“What do you need?”
“You.” It’s a sob now. I’m not proud of it, but I can’t stop it. “Please, I just need you.”
There’s rustling, the tear of a packet, and then he finally, finally covers me once more, cradling my head in his hands as he sinks slowly into my heat.
“Jesus, Nina.”
Once he’s seated as far as he can go, he stops to kiss me, long and hard. Finally, his hips begin to move in long and smooth strokes.
“You’re hitting just the right spot,” I mutter before biting his arm and clenching around him. I come so quickly, it takes us both by surprise.
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