Wrong Prince, Right Lover

by Glover, Christine

  Her vision blurred, and she snuggled closer to him. Sure, her mother had strict guidelines and held Ilsa to a higher standard, but she’d never doubted her mother’s love. “So you got into trouble a lot, didn’t you?” she asked, knowing the answer as she caressed his cheek, then tunneled her fingers through his thick, dark hair.

  Santiago gave her a guilty-as-charged look. “As much as possible.”

  Oh, how her heart ached for the boy inside the man. The one who’d been so desperate to get attention he’d settled for the negative kind. And yet, the man who’d made her his in every way and who would become Valdoria’s King in less than a month hadn’t let his family’s lack of faith in him destroy his optimism or his desire to prove his worth.

  “I don’t know what it’s like to grow up without a parent’s affection,” Ilsa said. “And I’m sorry you had to live without it, Santiago.”

  “It’s not like I lacked for anything. There are kids all over the world who have it far worse than me.”

  “True, but no child should have to beg for love,” she said fiercely. “Our children won’t have to earn our love. I promise you. And they won’t be used as pawns either.”

  “Regrets already?”

  “No,” she said quickly. “I don’t care about the reason we’re married. Sometimes life surprises you in a good way. This is one of them. I’m happy I’m your wife, Santiago. I wouldn’t go back and change my decision to go through with the ceremony.” No. She’d fallen in love with her husband, but her courage only extended so far. Ilsa didn’t dare tell him the deepest feelings in her heart.

  Not yet.

  Santiago smiled and his hands grew hot on her skin. “Then I suggest we start making niños.” He rolled her over to lay on top of her. “How many do you want? Two? Three? Five?”

  He raised her nightshirt’s hem and slipped his fingers beneath it to stroke her legs, then higher until he reached the apex of her sex.

  Heat filled the void, warming her from the inside out. Every cell in her body was attuned to Santiago. She craved his touch… him. Not only because he had the stamina of a thousand men with the power to bring her to the heights of pleasure over and over. But because she craved the connection they created when they let down their defenses in the bedroom.

  While she didn’t know if he’d ever truly love her, she didn’t doubt he wanted her and cared for her. So much he’d bared his soul to her, trusting her with his story. And that was a powerful aphrodisiac. “Let’s start with one and take it from there,” she said, her sex pulsing in anticipation and wet.

  “One works,” he said, then he caressed her folds and began to stoke the fire constantly simmering beneath the surface… and when he entered her in one stroke, filling her all the way to the hilt and began to move inside her again, she met him, loving him with everything she had in her.

  Showing him what was in her heart with her body and drawing him closer to her than she’d ever imagined.

  * * *

  “We should arrive at the second site soon.” Santiago stared through the limo’s window and tried to focus on the day ahead of him, not lose himself in Ilsa’s mesmerizing way of keeping him a little off-kilter. Ever since he’d opened up to her about his childhood five days ago, he’d been questioning why he’d told her anything at all.

  “I’m glad we got the royal council’s unanimous approval for the incentives package,” Ilsa said.

  Her unique scent filled the interior, making his mouth water. Dios. Sex definitely clouded his judgment, but he couldn’t get enough of her. Though they’d been swamped with work from the minute they’d returned to the castle. Still, he’d create a little distance between them before he let himself start believing she actually cared about him.

  Their limo rounded a corner and the property Santiago had chosen for Pinnacle’s CEO to evaluate as a possible location for the office complex came into view. They followed their security detail’s SUV until they arrived at the uppermost piece of land which overlooked groves of citrus trees and the turquoise waters of the Mediterranean Sea below.

  “Sí,” he said. “The extra push you gave Delmar last week swayed her.”

  He took her hand without thinking. Bad move. Now he wanted to do a lot more. Things like slipping his fingers beneath her pencil skirt’s hem and playing with her pussy or sliding his palm under her silky blouse until he reached her breasts to tease her responsive nipples into tight buds.

  His cock hardened and beside him, Ilsa shifted. “Santiago,” she said. “Not here.”

  Damn. She could read his intentions without even looking at him. Get your shit together. You don’t want to blow this business deal.

  “Agreed.”

  Even with his brother’s murderer on the loose, possibly still posing a danger to him and Ilsa, he had no intention of wasting time after he got the necessary votes to pass his spending bill. Fortunately, Pinnacle’s founder and CEO agreed.

  Justin Thorpe had flown in a day later, and joined him, Ilsa and her uncle to tour the sites for the man’s appraisal. If he could conclude the final negotiations before his coronation in ten days, he’d start his reign on a positive note.

  “Yes.” She twined her fingers through his. “This deal is too important for us to get distracted by sex.”

  He squeezed her hand. “We’ll convince Pinnacle’s CEO to sign on the dotted line.”

  “Which means we won’t be able to relax again until we do.”

  They’d spent their honeymoon weekend hiding from the world. For forty-eight hours Santiago and Ilsa didn’t think about anything but how many ways they could take each other.

  And there were plenty.

  “You sure you mean relax?” Santiago raised her hand to his lips and gave her a light kiss while holding her eyes with his. “We lost a lot of sleep last weekend.” And after they’d exited the cabana to return to the castle and resume their duties, real life pressed in on all fronts.

  Ilsa may have been a virgin bride, but she had no inhibitions in the sex department. He’d even coaxed her to make out in the clear Mediterranean waters while their security detail monitored them from a safe distance. An image flashed of her coming apart while he played with her nipples and finger-fucked her.

  Her cheeks flushed and desire darkened her gaze. “Sleeping is overrated, but necessary to keep our strength up for everything else we want to do,” she said.

  The woman was wild. And he loved that about her.

  She was also incredibly smart. And he loved that too.

  Both qualities made him wish they were alone again. Because his cock seemed to have a mind of its own where she was concerned. And the more often they were together, the closer they became in other ways. Ways which made him believe she might have real feelings for him now. “We can prove it to each other tonight,” he said as the limo pulled to a stop behind the first security detail.

  The limo carrying Ilsa’s uncle and Justin parked beside them, then the second SUV ferrying the rest of the royal secret service arrived. The armed personnel secured the area and positioned themselves around the perimeter before the royal entourage stepped out of their limos. After greeting each other, they began their tour.

  “This location has potential.” Justin shaded his face with his hand while looking over the seaside, then back to the groves of trees. “Excellent access from multiple directions. Close to a decent-sized town. What’s the housing availability and cost-of-living projections?”

  “Relocation expenses will be trivial,” Santiago said as they strolled along the pathway which led to another scenic overlook. One would never know the man was worth billions by the casual way he dressed—jeans, a simple button-down striped shirt and casual shoes, but no one could doubt Justin’s genius-level IQ.

  “The locals won’t have a problem during our construction phase? Or the subsequent influx of extra traffic and potential crowding?” Thorpe asked.

  Ilsa’s uncle huffed. “They won’t object to the new jobs and incomes,” he
said. “Now that we have full approval from the council to move forward, we’ll have the necessary funding to improve the existing infrastructure.”

  Pieter’s ruddy face had gotten redder. The exertion clearly tired the heavyset older man. “Sí,” Santiago said, stopping to give the man a break. The last thing he needed was another high-profile death, even one brought on by natural causes.

  “Does anyone have any additional objection to Pinnacle building here?” Justin withdrew his cell phone from his back pocket, pushed his glasses up his forehead, then took several pictures while speaking. “Once I make my mind up, I’ll send someone out to take a formal survey of the property I select.”

  “Our last holdout was concerned about the environmental impact to the Anolecian Costa,” Ilsa said. “Easy enough to demonstrate all her concerns were unfounded with the study our scientists conducted last year.”

  “You did a great job pulling a solid case together.” Justin pushed his glasses up his nose, then tapped notes into his cell phone. “I’m impressed.”

  “Santiago did all the initial ground work,” she said. “I merely plugged in and smoothed out the numbers.”

  “Excellent job,” Justin said. “Pieter’s also been instrumental in explaining the complexities of combining your countries’ economies and traditions.”

  “Then we can proceed,” Santiago said.

  “Right now, the only thing we have to worry about is the investigation into your brother’s death,” Justin said. “I want this deal, but negative publicity will impact my company’s reputation. That’s a risk I’m not willing to take in today’s insane world climate.”

  Santiago bristled. Then why the hell did Justin come to Valdoria? He didn’t voice his question. “Understood,” he said. “We should head to the next property before sundown.”

  “Are you angling for more money based on rumors and innuendo?” Ilsa asked sharply. “Because the incentive package our country offered is extremely generous.”

  Justin shook his head. “Of course not,” he said. “I won’t let rumors change my mind about bringing Pinnacle to your country. Your government’s been more than generous.”

  Santiago suddenly felt like he’d grown another foot. He loved hearing Ilsa claim Valdoria as hers too. The ground beneath his feet seemed to sway. It was as if she’d claimed him too.

  “We’re glad you see things that way,” Santiago said. “Frankly, I’m confident the Valdorian secret service will apprehend the culprits soon. We’ll wrap up this quick survey and go to the final area I believe will suit your company’s needs too.”

  “I can’t wait to see it.” Justin’s intelligent hazel eyes appraised Santiago as if judging him and then he raked his gaze over Ilsa appreciatively for a brief moment before tucking his smart phone in his back pocket. “Though I doubt the interior geographical location will top this coastal one.”

  Spots flashed in his vision. He didn’t want any man looking at Ilsa that way. She was his. “Likely not,” Santiago said curtly. “We should leave now.” He put his arm around her slim shoulders and his hips brushed hers as they walked along the property’s pathway toward the waiting limos.

  The scent of citrus and ocean filled the air and mingled with Ilsa’s unique feminine aroma. Behind them, her uncle huffed and puffed, the exertion wearing the stocky overweight man down.

  “I’m glad Justin’s not the kind of guy to let gossip influence his decision,” Ilsa whispered in Santiago’s ear.

  Her breath tickled his skin, made every cell in his body stand on alert. Ready. Eager to get her alone. Damn. “Claro,” he said quietly, pulling her closer to his side. “Everything’s going according to plan.”

  He’d been building a relationship with Pinnacle’s CEO for over a year. When Javier refused to agree to bring the idea to the royal council for a vote, Santiago had almost lost hope. When he’d promised his brother he’d find a way to bring Pinnacle to Valdoria regardless of Javier’s objections, he’d known his oath had little chance of succeeding.

  But now? With his beautiful, brainy wife’s support, he had pulled off the next-to-impossible.

  Nothing marred the pristine scenery. The high sun in the azure sky and warmed him. A gentle breeze rustled throughout the citrus trees carrying crisp, tart aromas that had always given him a jubilant, alive feeling. Today had gone perfectly. Nothing could go wrong.

  Birds called in the distance as Santiago and the rest of the entourage reached their limos. A splattering of the gulls’ signature white plops of shit dotted the silver Bentley’s hood.

  “Mierda.”

  “Hazards of being outside, especially on the coast,” Ilsa said. “Uncle Pieter. You look exhausted. Why don’t we take Justin in our limo so you can return to the castle and rest?”

  “Excellent idea,” her uncle said. “That’ll give me time to review the rest of the package we’re offering...,” he paused, withdrew his cell phone from his coat pocket and his ruddy face turned sheet white.

  Santiago’s cell vibrated just as Ilsa brought hers out of her clutch while Justin jerked his from his jeans’ back pocket at the same time. Simultaneously, they read their screens.

  Ilsa gasped, “No. This isn’t true.” She locked her wide eyes onto his. “Santiago and I never had an affair. I loved Javier. Who would tell such a monstrous lie?”

  Anger reverberated throughout him, tightening every muscle he possessed and pinging pain into his temples. Ilsa had been a virgin when they’d gotten married. Still, hearing her say she loved Javier added fire to his fury. “I don’t know,” he said. “But I’ll put a stop to these lies.”

  “How the hell are you going to do that?” Justin asked when he reached their limo with Pieter not far behind. “Even I can see you and Ilsa are hot for each other.”

  The pain piercing his temples intensified. How dare this man speak to him this way? “Her Highness,” he reminded Justin of Ilsa’s royal lineage and the respect she was due as a result. “Our relationship isn’t open for discussion.”

  “It sure as hell is,” Justin said. “Sure doesn’t seem like this hastily arranged marriage of convenience was all that inconvenient to you.”

  “What are you implying?” Santiago demanded.

  “I’m not implying anything. I’m merely stating the obvious,” Justin said. “With your brother out of the picture, you were able to step into his shoes and gain not only his fiancée but the keys to the Kingdom which means you control Valdoria’s future.”

  Beside him, beads of sweat broke out on Pieter’s forehead and he turned a more dangerous shade of pale. “This information is unsubstantiated,” he said. “I can assure you my niece has an impeccable reputation.”

  “Get these rumors under control,” Justin said to Santiago. “Until the inquiry into your brother’s murder is concluded, I’m not committing to Pinnacle’s expansion into Valdoria.”

  Chapter 8

  Ilsa paced her suite, crossing the floor until she reached the door separating her from Santiago’s rooms. She raised her fist to knock, then lowered it to try to knob once more.

  Locked.

  Heat fired into her chest and seared the ends of her nerves. She didn’t dare shout his name. Not with a security guard standing outside her door. But oh, she wanted to yell. A lot. Ever since the gossip about their so-called affair had surfaced, Santiago had pulled away from her, making her question her trust in him. But still, she wouldn’t accuse him of anything until she substantiated the source of the rumors.

  When she did, she would know in her heart Santiago hadn’t used her for his own gain.

  “Damn it, Santiago.” She rested her forehead onto the mahogany wood door’s hard exterior. “I only want to help.” As did her uncle who had taken Justin to the Valdorian royal family’s private airstrip, quietly promising Ilsa he’d do his level best to convince Justin of the absurdity of the tabloid’s rumor before consulting with the Menkaran and Valdorian councils about the situation.

  Santiago hadn’t lik
ed her private conversation with her uncle, but she didn’t care. She trusted Uncle Pieter with her life. After all, he’d helped her create her post-coronation gift to Santiago. One her father had signed which would complete Santiago’s objectives to modernize both countries. So Ilsa had kept a cool head and assessed the damage. Allowing her uncle to handle Justin had been the best course of action to take while she handled Santiago before he let his emotions override his good sense.

  One of them had to act responsibly. Santiago preferred rushing in and fixing things immediately. Much like the proposal he’d given her the day of Javier’s murder. But sometimes thinking things through and moving carefully, methodically, was the best way to proceed.

  This had been one of those times. And thank goodness, she had or she would have let her fears overwhelm her from discovering who had sold the story to the press.

  Too bad Santiago disagreed. And he showed how much by retreating to his rooms without bothering to speak to her about the matter.

  Ilsa turned around and leaned on the door barricading her from Santiago. A huge weight pressed on her shoulders and prickles of pain stabbed behind her eyes. She’d grown closer to Santiago ever since their mini-honeymoon, but these rumors had created a wedge between them.

  But then she knew the truth. They’d never had an affair. He knew the truth as well. She’d cared for Javier deeply and planned to marry him even after she’d discovered his true feelings for her, which didn’t rank high on a scale from one to ten. She and Santiago hadn’t done anything beyond exchange words on occasion until Javier’s death had brought him to propose taking his brother’s place.

  On the way to the castle, she’d asked Santiago to reveal her virginity to the press. Something she hadn’t wanted to expose, but maybe if… he’d cut her off. No one had the right to know their private business, not even the Valdorian and Menkaran people.

  But sleeping in separate rooms wasn’t a solution either. More rumors would swirl about their fledgling marriage which would anger the Menkaran government, possibly igniting the war she and Santiago had been desperate to prevent. However, a quick call to her father confirmed he still backed her 100 percent.