A Princess for a Bride (Rothman Royals Book 2)

by Noelle Adams

  It felt so good—and so unexpected somehow, despite our position—that I gasped and arched up into his touch.

  Both of the guys I’d been with before had made a big deal about telling me how beautiful I am, how much they liked my body. Their words now seemed kind of empty compared to the look of near awe in Edward’s eyes.

  I arched again when he continued to stroke my breasts, sliding his hands down to my belly and hips occasionally. Soon, he started to use his mouth, moving from my neck to my shoulders, to my breasts. And it felt so good and I was so aroused that I had to clutch at the mattress beneath me, digging my fingers in helplessly.

  When one of his hands found the side of my panties and started to tug them down, I lifted my hips to help him.

  I’d managed to mostly stay as quiet as him, not wanting to break the exquisitely intense pleasure of the silence, but when he slipped his fingers between my legs, I couldn’t hold back another soft whimper.

  He raised his head from my chest and met my eyes. “Have you done this before, Victoria?”

  I blinked, taking a minute to process the question—since I hadn’t expected him to speak. “Yes. Of course.”

  He nodded. He didn’t look disappointed, so that was a good thing.

  Then I added, “But don’t tell my mother.”

  He gave a huff of amusement and leaned down to kiss me again.

  This time, as we kissed, I grabbed the waistband of his pajamas and started to pull them down, carefully bypassing the prominent obstacle of his erection.

  I eventually had to pull my mouth away from his kiss in order to complete the task, and he then made quick work of the pants, kicking them off over his feet.

  I got a good look at his naked body then and was definitely not disappointed. He was very nice looking all over.

  He didn’t give me time to admire him too long. He moved back over me, parting my legs as he did. I wrapped my arms around his shoulders as he lined himself up at my entrance. I was definitely ready for him, and it felt so good and full and tight as he started to edge himself inside me that I couldn’t hold back a few eager gasps at each retreat and advance.

  He met my eyes as he finished the thrust. My legs were bent up around his hips, and the shared look felt deeply intimate in the deep shadows of the evening, the glancing moonlight, and the carefully designed deck lights.

  I started to say how good it was, but I realized I didn’t need to. He had to be able to see my pleasure on my face, in the eager grip of my hands on his shoulders.

  After a minute, he started to move over me, thrusting in hard, slow, deep moves that shook my body. I rocked with him, the pleasure tightening inside me with every move.

  His expression was growing tenser as his motion grew more eager, and I could feel the shuddering desire in the tight muscles of his arms, his shoulders, his back as I clutched and clawed at his skin.

  All of our motion, our connection, was building up, was culminating. The coiled pleasure at my center was deepening, clamping down. I couldn’t hold back a soft sobbing sound as it was so close but I couldn’t quite reach it.

  I rolled my hips against his thrusts and dug my nails into the back of his neck.

  With a huff, he straightened up. He’d been watching me the whole time. I could feel it even when my eyes were closed, but now his expression looked a little different as he stared down at me.

  He readjusted himself on his knees, his erection still penetrating me deeply as he held himself still, and he reached down with one hand to apply pressure to my clit.

  I bit down on my lip to keep from crying out from the sharp pleasure of it.

  He’d stopped thrusting so he could do this—so he could make sure to please me. This knowledge as much as the physical sensations quickly pushed me over the edge.

  Soon, the combination of the full pressure of him inside me and the caress of my clit caused an orgasm to tighten and release. I shook and moaned as it rippled out, and then my arms flew up to grab at the pillow above my head when he continued the massage, stretching out the climax until it was almost unbearably good.

  I was gasping and exhausted when he finally moved his hand. Propping himself up above me, he started to thrust again.

  It was even better this time, after my orgasm. I just couldn’t stay as quiet as before. Every time he levered his hips forward, I gasped harshly in response. I reached down so I could hold on to the tightening muscles of his firm ass as he moved.

  He’d started out with a steady rhythm, but he couldn’t hold it steady for long. His motion grew faster, harder, more uncontrolled. I got more excited as it intensified.

  I couldn’t wait for him to let all of it go—all of his control, all of what he always held back.

  As his thrusts grew harder, I started to gasp out, “Yes,” as he pushed into my body. This felt just as good as the orgasm had—maybe even better.

  Finally, he made a throaty sound and froze inside me. Then his body shook helplessly as he found release. I could feel it—against me, inside me. His breathed out, “Victoria,” as he came.

  Almost the only word he’d spoken the whole time, except for his brief question earlier.

  He collapsed beside me afterward, and I could see he was just as spent as I was.

  I’d had a decent time in bed before, but I’d never known sex could be like this—so genuine, so intense, so amazing.

  He looked over at me as he caught his breath, and I could tell he was once again checking my expression, trying to see what I thought.

  “I don’t actually have to say it, do I?” I managed to ask. My throat felt scratchy, as if I’d been screaming, although I definitely hadn’t been.

  He gave a faint chuckle. “I wouldn’t mind if you do.”

  “It was great. Incredible.” I released a long sigh and closed my eyes as my body started relaxing deliciously. “Incredible.”

  “Yeah. It was.”

  I didn’t really need him to say it either—I’d seen how into it he was, how much he’d poured into it—but I liked to hear the words too.

  We lay together on the bed for a while, until I finally started to get chilly.

  When I sat up and reached down to find my gown, I felt a little awkward for the first time.

  It had seemed perfectly natural, but we’d never done that before. And now I wasn’t sure what would happen next.

  As I pulled on my gown and then my robe, I glanced back at him sprawled on the bed and hunted for something normal to say.

  “I’m on birth control.” It was the first thing that popped into my head, since I was intently aware that we hadn’t used other kinds of protection from the wetness between my thighs. But as soon as I said the words, I realized they were rather a strange thing to blurt out.

  He blinked at me. “You are?”

  “Yeah.” Clearing my throat, I made myself push past the awkwardness. “I… I didn’t know what would happen between us, exactly, but I wasn’t sure I… we… were ready for kids so soon. I know we need to have an heir eventually, but…” I trailed off.

  It took him a minute to reply. “I understand.”

  I slanted him a quick look. He looked stiff and rather aloof again—not like the passionate man he’d been just a minute before. But surely he wouldn’t be offended that I was on birth control. If anything, he should be relieved that he wouldn’t have to put up with a pregnant wife so soon. “That’s okay, isn’t it? I mean, it seemed like a reasonable thing to—“

  “Of course. It’s fine. It makes sense.”

  I let out a breath of relief, deciding he was probably telling the truth.

  Maybe he just felt awkward now, the way I did.

  I supposed that most couples would have talked about birth control beforehand, but I wasn’t even sure if or when we’d be having sex. Sometimes, a girl’s got to make a decision on her own, and it had seemed like one of those times.

  I reached over and handed Edward his pajama pants, watching as he pulled them on.
/>   My belly twisted strangely. I had no idea why.

  Staring back out at the ocean, I said idly, “I kind of want to sleep out here tonight.”

  “We can,” Edward said quietly. Then added, “If you want.”

  I looked back at him and decided there was no reason not to. I might as well enjoy the setting for as long as I could. I stood up and walked to the other side of the bed, opening the rattan chest where I knew neatly folded sheets and blankets were kept.

  We spread them out to prepare the bed for sleeping.

  I went inside to put up the bowls and go to the bathroom. Then I came back outside to sleep on the deck with my husband.

  He didn’t pull me into his arms or anything, but I fell asleep almost immediately.

  ***

  The next morning, I woke up as the sun was rising.

  I sat up to watch it and then was starting to get up when Edward reached out to pull me down beside him.

  I’d thought he was asleep, so he surprised me. But I wasn’t at all reluctant as he started to kiss me again.

  This time, we were slower, not quite as urgent. He kissed me all over, and my attempts to stay as quiet as he was were completely futile. I gasped and whimpered and nearly sobbed as he pleasured me with his fingers and mouth. Then he took me slowly, my legs wrapped tightly around him, and both of us came to slow, powerful orgasms before the end.

  I was drenched in sweat and panting helplessly when we collapsed side by side on the bed afterward.

  I could barely move, barely breathe.

  Edward seemed to be in equal shape. He’d obviously had a very good time too.

  When I finally found my voice, I managed to say, “You’re…. really good at that.”

  He gave a breathy laugh. “Thanks. You too.”

  That was always nice to hear.

  “I can’t believe we have to go back home this morning.”

  “Yeah.”

  “It’s been a good week, though.”

  “Yeah.”

  “And this wasn’t a bad way to end it.”

  He turned his head toward me and met my eyes, but I couldn’t really tell what he was thinking.

  After a minute, he replied, “I agree.”

  Five

  Because of the time zone change, it was very late at night when we landed in Geneva.

  It felt like the middle of the afternoon to us, so I wasn’t particularly tired, but we went to spend the night in the Geneva apartment instead of the estate, since it was so much easier to get to.

  The doorman carried up our luggage, and when he left we stood in the entryway and stared at each other.

  I felt awkward and a little excited at the same time.

  It was night, and I wasn’t tired at all. We’d had sex last night—and then again this morning. It wouldn’t be out of the question for us to have sex again tonight.

  It wasn’t necessary, of course, but I certainly wouldn’t say no to it.

  “It doesn’t feel like one in the morning,” I said at last, mostly for something to say.

  “I know. But we should go to bed and wake up at a normal time if we can. Otherwise we’ll be jetlagged for days.”

  I nodded. This made perfect sense. I wasn’t at all averse to going to bed. “Do you need to work tomorrow?”

  “Yes. There will be a lot to catch up on.”

  I tried to imagine him going into the main offices of his father’s company and working for the day, but I couldn’t really picture it. Mostly I was picturing him in shorts and sunglasses in Fiji. I knew where the company’s offices were, though. Downtown, just a few blocks away from this apartment. “Do you have your own office?” I asked, idly asking the first thing that came into my head as I tried to visualize him working.

  When I glanced over at this face, I saw he was frowning. “Of course.”

  Damn. I must have insulted him. “I’m sorry. I was just…”

  “I don’t work at my father’s feet, you know. I have a real position in the company.”

  “I know you do! I’m sorry! It was silly question. I was just trying to picture where you work.” I peered at his face and was relieved that he didn’t really look cold or offended—just his normal mild composure.

  “My office isn’t quite as large as my father’s,” he said.

  My mouth wobbled in a little smile when I saw a glint of ironic amusement in his expression. “Maybe you should lodge a complaint.” After a moment, I added in a different tone, “Does he put a lot of pressure on you? About work, I mean?”

  Edward didn’t answer immediately.

  Worried I’d insulted him—or his father—again, I hurried on, “I don’t mean in a bad way. Just in a parent way. My mother puts a lot of pressure on me—about being a princess and my royal duties and such. I thought your father might do something similar about the company.”

  “He does,” Edward replied quietly. “It’s a lot to live up to. He’s poured his whole life into this company, and his father did before him. And my great-grandfather founded the company from practically nothing. It’s a lot of responsibility—to take it on after them.”

  “Yes. I guess it would be. Almost like generations of the Villemont royal family, all resting on my shoulders.”

  He slanted a look at me. “You and your sisters and brother, right?”

  “Right.”

  “Does it feel like it’s all on you?”

  “Sometimes,” I admitted. “With Amalie in the States and Lisette so young and… and… shy, a lot of it really does rest on me. The princess stuff. Henry always tried really hard to do his duty, but it’s different—being a son.” I squared my shoulders with a purposeful smile. “I was rather angry and upset about Amalie earlier this year. It felt like she had just abandoned me.”

  “I know,” he murmured.

  I wondered how he knew, since I’d never said anything to him about it. But maybe he’d just observed enough. “But she doesn’t want to do that. I know that now. She’s going to spend all of next summer here. I’m really glad. Not just because it will be nice to have someone else to share all the princess duties, but because… because I miss her.”

  “I know.”

  For some reason, his low tone gave me a little shiver. It felt like he’d touched me, although he hadn’t.

  I cleared my throat, trying to think of what to say, how to capitalize on the intimate mood shaped between us.

  After a minute, Edward glanced away and said, “I guess we should get to bed. You’ll want to settle in at the estate and visit your parents tomorrow, I suppose.”

  “Yes,” I said, swallowing over my disappointment at his business-like tone.

  “You’ll want to get some sleep then.” He reached down and picked up one of his cases—the overnight bag.

  Now would be the time to make a move or say the word if he wanted to go to bed with me.

  I waited, but he didn’t say anything. Just glanced at me curiously when I stood like a statue, breathless in expectation.

  So it wasn’t going to happen tonight. No sense in looking like a fool. Rothmans didn’t do that. I managed to give him a little smile and picked up my own bag—the one I’d need for tonight.

  He took it from my hand and carried it into my room for me—the second bedroom—before he murmured goodnight and left me alone.

  Couples didn’t have sex every night. Most of them didn’t, anyway. Maybe he was tired and needed to get ready for a long week of work.

  It was fine.

  I might be a little disappointed, but I could manage to spend the night without him.

  I might be married now, but I hadn’t changed that much.

  ***

  The following day was busy for me.

  I was tired in the morning since my days and nights were all screwed up, but I managed to get up at a reasonable time. Edward’s driver, Claude, took me out to the estate, where I spent some time settling in. My stuff had been moved in before the wedding, but it didn’t feel like I was r
eally home there yet.

  Then I went into Villemont to eat lunch with my parents, and I stayed for the afternoon to work out the next few months’ schedule of royal events with my mother and the scheduler. It was always a negotiation, since my mother wanted me to attend everything, and that was simply unnecessary and unreasonable.

  I was married now, after all. I assumed Edward would want me to do a few things with him—business dinners and parties at the very least. I couldn’t fill all of my days with princess duties, even if I’d wanted to.

  Which I didn’t.

  It was late afternoon when I returned home, and I went to my rooms to take a shower. I was looking through my clothes, trying to decide on something pretty to wear this evening that would still look casual, like I wasn’t trying too hard.

  That was when I got a text from Edward, saying he was working late tonight and wouldn’t be home for dinner.

  I drooped, my heart sinking into my stomach for a minute.

  So much for our first evening at home.

  I rallied soon enough, though. He’d been gone from work for a week. There must be so much for him to do to catch up, and his father couldn’t be the easiest of taskmasters.

  We would have other evenings. And maybe he’d still be home early enough tonight for us to hang out a little before bed.

  ***

  Edward didn’t get home until after midnight.

  I’d waited up for a while, but I’d finally given up and gone to bed. I didn’t sleep, though, so I got up when I heard a car approach the front of the house.

  I looked out my bedroom window and caught a glimpse of Edward getting out of the chauffeured car.

  I grabbed the robe that matched my gown—both of them a gauzy white and cut in a charming, old-fashioned style—and found some slippers. Then I checked my hair in the mirror to make sure it wasn’t too messy, and I stepped out into the hallway.

  My suite, made up of large bedroom, a bathroom, a dressing room, and small sitting room, faced the front of the house. Edward’s was on the same wing but faced the back. His door was across the hall and farther down toward the stairs.