by C R Riley
I believe I blush at the compliment. “I cannot take all the credit. Her au pairs, Helena and Beatriz, have been well trained on how to deal with her. My mother makes sure we don’t mess her up terribly and stay within the guidelines set before us.”
“Well, whatever it is you are doing; however, you are making sure it gets done, you should know you are doing it right. I am sure she makes it very challenging.”
I slouch down in my chair, which is not something I do when others are around. It makes me look relaxed and vulnerable; a King is to be neither of those things. “You have no idea.”
We don’t really say much else while we sip on our tea. Once mine is gone I glance down at my watch and notice an hour has passed. I really need to get to bed so that I am ready to deal with those who are going to bombard me as soon as I get back to the Palace.
“We have three sleeping quarters if you’d like to take advantage of one.” I roll my neck and watch the woman in front of me do the same. “You should probably get some sleep.”
“Are you heading off to bed?” I know she doesn’t mean anything by her question, but hearing her ask me about going to bed sends warmth to my lower region. “I think I may do the same. I’m still recovering from my earlier trip.”
I almost ask her if she’d like to join me in my quarters, because the thought of her warm body next to mine sounds like a splendid idea. However, I come to my senses. So instead I offer to show her to the one I know is empty.
As we walk down the small hallway, I try to figure out what would be the proper way to wish her goodnight. Once we reach the door, I grab the handle and push it open for her.
“Thank you.” Larkin tells me as she steps just inside and grabs the door. “Goodnight Antonio.”
I’m not sure why I did what I did next. I’ve never once spontaneously leaned in and kissed a woman before. I didn’t actually kiss her, I guess. I more like lean in and place a friendly peck on her right cheek, and then held it there for a few seconds.
When I pull back, I get the privilege of watching her reach up and touch the spot where my lips brushed her skin. Once again there is a nice red tint to her very light pigmented skin.
“Goodnight Larkin. I hope you sleep well.”
And before I turn to walk away, I give her a slight bow, which is so not at all appropriate behavior for a King. The King never bows to those beneath him, and since everyone is beneath him that means he bows to no one except God.
The fact that I just showed this woman that I don’t see her as beneath me has me smiling all the way to my quarters. I’m not exactly sure what that means, although I believe I have an idea. But before I can even allow my mind to go there, I have to let her know who I am exactly. I believe I know exactly how I will do that and I hope that she will forgive me for not being honest with her from the beginning.
Chapter 7
Larkin
It has been five days since we arrived in the beautiful city of Argon. I don’t really know how to describe the city except to say it is unlike any I have ever been in before. I feel as if I am in an architect’s dreamland, and often find myself gazing up at the skyline a lot while I am wandering around.
We are currently staying in one of the downtown hotels, courtesy of our gracious host. It is only a few blocks from the office space Manchester International will be using as home base.
Right now, there are only five members of our team here, and like always we will be adding to it as the projects get underway. Hiring local contractors, as well as employees to main the office.
Which is the primary reason Carmen York, our Senior Manager, is leading this venture. He will be the liaison between this office and the central office in Chicago, as well as approve all our suggestions, while making sure projects stay on schedule. His plan is to move his family here after he locates a home for them. Since his kids are young, seven and three, it wasn’t as big of a deal relocating them. Instead he said it would give them a more diverse life and teach them how to adapt.
Bradley Stanton, our Project Manager, will also be moving his fiancée over soon. They plan on picking out a home together and she will be working in our business department. They haven’t set a date yet, but if the way Bradley talks is any indication, I suspect they will marry shortly after she arrives.
Reginald Hartford III, Hope Manchester and myself are the architects. It will be our job to figure out how to conserve and restore the structures we will be working on while here. Fixing any problems we come across, doing our best to maintain the original designs, while strengthening the integrity of the buildings. We realize a few of them have some very serious issues, so it will be our mission to figure out a way to save them from further damage, and then make sure that they will stand for at least another hundred years.
We most definitely have our work cut out for us. Mainly because my two fellow architects are less experienced than me. Cameron and Bradley will both be here to help guide us and ensure we do it right; both happen to be excellent architects who have made a name for themselves.
Janice was expected to be the team leader, the experienced architect who they were counting on to teach Reginald and Hope. That new role now falls into my barely experienced lap and has landed me a promotion to a Level II Architect. I know I talked big in Zach’s office; told him I could do this. However now that I am actually here, I find myself starting to question if I got in over my head.
These last five days our team has done nothing but go over everything we know about. I have been doing my best to catch up with the others, getting as familiar with this assignment as they are. Meaning I have put in twelve-hour days easily, and then gone home and put in a few more. My plan is to continue to work through the weekend, so that come Monday I will be ready to do a thorough inspection of Aragon Palace with Bradley.
Oh, and I have also learned a few things since I’ve been here.
For instance, I learned that the actually King lives in Aragon Palace. I don’t know much about him, although I suspect that will change as we move forward. Maybe I’ll ask Antonio about him when he gives me that promised tour. Of course, since I haven’t seen him once after we landed, and he was swiftly swept away by his security team, who knows if that will really happen.
According to the adorable Isabel, her brother is an important man and often works long hours. Although she said he never missed one of her school programs or teacher conferences. Made sure to be at all her soccer games and piano recitals, no matter what crisis seemed to be taking place. And since we will be working on two of his family’s estates, along with those that are under his care, yet belong to Hermosa Islas, I have come to the conclusion that he must somehow work for the king.
It’s getting close to six, and I am about to call it a night when my desk phone rings. I pick it up as I send an email to Zack letting him know how things are progressing. “Larkin Cross.”
“What are your plans for tomorrow Miss Cross?” A unique smooth sounding voice asks me.
I swear if I hadn’t been sitting down, I might have stumbled over my feet. That would be twice now that I have had that sort of reaction to his voice. The first time was when I slid out of the chair, I still can’t quite figure out how that happened. Then again when he spoke my name as I started to leave the conference room, I nearly landed on my rear again when a shudder invaded my body. At least this time he wouldn’t be able to witness how it affected me, so I take full advantage of that fact.
Leaning back in my chair, I smile fondly to myself and decide to pretend I have no idea who he is. After all he didn’t introduce himself and it has been five days since he last made any contact.
“Who is this?” I try to make my voice sound unsure.
“I don’t believe you have been in my country long enough to have men calling you to solicit such a question.” He sounds a little upset at the moment.
“I’ve been here five days. I’ve met all kinds of polite men. A few of them may have requested to get to know me better.”
Of course, I respectfully declined any such offer, because right now I didn’t have time to socialize.
I swear I hear a low growl, followed by the solid slamming of a door. I can hear him arguing with someone, although I can’t make out what it is about exactly. There is a ding that I believe sounds a lot like the arrival of an elevator.
“Hello.” I loudly articulate into the phone.
“Names of the men who …”
“That I am sad to inform you is none of your business Antonio.” I snicker into the phone not at all really sure why he cares.
I mean he may have shocked me by placing a peck on my cheek after showing me to the sleeping quarters on the plane. A peck that packed a punch, and had me tossing and turning for nearly an hour while my mind tried to dissect what he was communicating with that bold move. I had only met him a few days before and yet it seemed like a whole lot longer. His suave move had me wondering if maybe it was a customary way to say goodbye in his country, or if it was a knee jerk reaction.
“None of my business?” He loudly barks into the phone, letting me know he doesn’t agree. “Sorry. I’ve had an exasperating week, so perhaps I am taking some of my frustration out on you.”
I hear the elevator door outside my office chime and watch the elevator doors open. I nearly fall out of my chair when I notice him standing there. He is currently staring back at me through my glass walls.
“You really should be more careful Miss Cross. Seems you and office furniture don’t necessarily get along.” He smirks as he steps off the elevator, flanked by four men, who take up position in the hallway appearing very alert.
“What are you doing here?” I question as I try to recover, sitting up straighter in my chair.
“I believe I owe you a tour.” He hangs up the phone as steps inside my office. When one of the men tries to follow, he agitates his head slightly and then closes my door. “Can you frost the glass?”
“Um. Yes. I think.” I try to remember how that feature works.
Antonio steps around my desk and wrenches my chair back so he has access to my desk. He reaches underneath the front of it and locates the button I forgot was there and presses it. The glass immediately frosts and I suddenly feel a little uneasy about being alone with him like this.
“What are you doing?” I scoot my chair a little farther back until it bangs against the file cabinet behind me.
He slowly turns around, and because of his height, I find myself looking directly at his crotch. I’ve never been one to inspect that particular region on a man, so I quickly close my eyes tightly and try to forget about the fact he is standing there.
When my chair begins to sink and tilt back, I shriek and reach out, grasping onto the first thing my hands catch. Then I shriek again when I realize what they found was the very thing I had been trying to block out. I may or may not have brushed against his private area in the process, I can’t be sure though, because I didn’t linger long.
I immediately release my grip and drop my hands. My eyes fly open to discover him perched over me. He is gripping my armrest and has lowered his body enough now that he is squatting in front of me. A dark unreadable expression is plastered on his face as he closes the distance between us. A wicked shiver works its way through my body and I may or may not shriek again.
“You really are going to have to keep it down, unless you want my men to use their imagination.” Antonio mumbles a few inches away from my face. “I am going to kiss you Larkin. If you are not okay with that you have about two seconds to stop me.”
My eyes widen, and I because I am not sure how I feel about that, I do the only thing I can to prevent the act. I turn my head so that he misses my lips and instead brush those soft lips against my cheek. If I thought that would lessen the impact on me, I was completely misguided.
“Oh, good gravy that feels nice.” I swallow and strain to keep the rest of my thoughts locked up. However, when he drops a few more light pecks on my face, until he reaches my ear, they just slip out. “Fudgesicle. W-what are you doing?”
Antonio chuckles and lowers his head. It must land on the back of the chair, since it seems to have dipped back a bit again. Plus, I can now feel his warm breath against my neck making me shiver again.
Without much warning he stands abruptly, which has me wobbling in my chair again. Then he takes one of my hands in his and gives it a solid tug, forcing me to my feet.
“Do you have a purse?” He is looking around the room, as if searching for it.
“Yes. I keep it in the bottom drawer.” I point to my desk.
Opening the drawer I was pointing at, he retrieves it, and tucks it under his arm. “Is there anything else you need to do before we leave? Anything you need to take with you?”
I logged out of my computer right before he barged in here. While I probably should grab my leather briefcase, I can always retrieve it later, there is nothing in there I absolutely need. “No.”
Antonio reaches under my desk and presses the button to defrost my glass and then begins dragging me towards to door. “We need to talk.”
“Can’t we just talk here?” I ask as I allow this man to tow me into the hall, where four men immediately surround us while we wait for the elevator. “Hello?”
He glances at one of his men when the door opens, and after he notices the car is empty, he states. “We’ll ride down alone.”
I get the impression that none of them agree that is be a good idea, if the tightening of their jaws reveals anything.
“Alone.” Antonio presses the close button once we step inside, as he holds them all back with a stern look.
We are only five floors up, so I know the ride down will be short. “Explain all that please.”
“I will.” He squeezes my hand yet refuses to make eye contact.
“Now.” I try to yank my hand free but he only tightens his grip.
When we arrive in the lobby Isaac and a man, I don’t recognize, is waiting for us. They both look angry, although the man I don’t know looks like he could commit murder. The flare of his nostrils surely gives away his inner thoughts.
“Don’t.” Antonio utters one word and both men seem to gather their disposition. “We will be heading back, so you can stop with all that now.”
“We?” The man’s eyes land on me as he then does an inspection. “Sir.”
“Miss Cross has clearance, so I don’t want to hear about it.”
He gestures for them to start moving, which they do only stopping momentarily when a few men step outside and look around. One nod from them and we are moving again.
As soon as we step outside, I notice the three identical black vehicles parked by the curb. Antonio releases my hand as he propels me forward and into the middle vehicle, where he joins me and then proceeds to grab my hand again.
“Antonio, what in the world is going on? Are you some sort of diplomat?”
He doesn’t answer me right away. Instead he waits until the car we are in starts moving. That’s when he aims his attention on me. There is a very serious expression on his face, “How much do you know about my country?”
I shrug. “Honestly, up until a few days ago I didn’t even know it existed. And after having spent five days here I find that hard to believe. Aragon is a very beautiful city; I imagine it displays only a fraction of what Hermosa Islas has to offer.”
“It is exactly that in my opinion.” He glances out the window just past my head, as he watches the city rush past us. “I’d like to start with something I planned on doing at the end of that tour I promised you. I believe I have misled you long enough, so now it is time for me to correct my mistake.”
“Okay.” I can’t imagine why he looks so torn over something I am sure is not a big deal. “Wait? Are you married?”
The first genuine smile I have seen to date takes over his face. “No Larkin, I am not married.”
“Oh. Good.” I can’t believe I just said that, so I try to brush it off. “I mean … you know beca
use that would have made all the stuff that happened earlier seem wrong.”
He lifts my hand to his lips and places a gentle kiss to it. “I agree, and since it seemed anything but wrong …”
The car slows down as we pull through a large gated area. We follow the drive and that is shut-off by a stonewall, emerging into an open area that looks like some kind of private entry.
“Where are we?” I ask as the cars stop and the men in the other two vehicles get out quickly.
“Home.” He tells me as the door on his side opens and he climbs out.
When he reaches in, I offer him my hand so he can assist me. I glance up and try to figure out exactly where we are, except it is nearly impossible to do that when you are being ushered inside rather hastily.
Antonio hands my purse to a young woman as she approaches us. We are in a larger than life entryway and I realize at that moment that there are a number of people dressed in uniforms staring in my direction. I suddenly become extremely uncomfortable and make an effort to leave. But since my hand is still trapped in his, and he refuses to let go of it, I am stuck.
“Miss Cross and I will be in the west wing. We are not to be disturbed, no matter the circumstances.” He begins to walk and I am forced to follow.
“Where are we Antonio?” I notice a few of the staff turn when they hear my question. “Did I say something wrong?”
Releasing my hand, he repositions his to the small of my back and leans in. “They just aren’t accustomed to seeing me with such a stunning woman.”
“I doubt that.” I roll my eyes at his obvious lie. “Please tell me the truth.”
“Excuse me Your Majesty.” An older woman comes jogging after us. “Princess Isabel has asks if she can join you?”
Antonio shifts his hand to my hip and tightens his hold on it to halt our retreat. “Tell Isabel I don’t need her assistance, and to be a good little princess and mind her own bloody business.”
