“If I had, we wouldn’t be in the position we are.” Reaching out, he trailed his fingertips down her cheek and then over her lips. “So soft.”
“Are you trying to distract me, prince?”
“Is it working?”
“Yes, I think it is. Continue, please.”
“Shall I kiss you?”
“You’d better.”
His low, husky laughter sent a shower of tingles up and down her spine. His warm breath against her mouth made her moan.
A very good distraction indeed!
Belle stretched her neck to catch the passing scenery as the caravan of black royal vehicles sped from the airport down the many miles of roads. “Look, so beautiful! The cute buildings—stone and wood—and it’s so green—everything—and the colorful flowers—”
“I am delighted that you like my country.” Stephan chuckled. “I will show you more, of course. There is a great deal to see. This is just a taste.”
She yanked herself away from the window and turned around in her black leather seat to look at him. His eyes gleamed and a devastating smile played around his incredible lips, making her breath catch in the back of her throat. “I can see why you love this place so much.”
“Home. It will be yours also.”
Her insides jolted. Could she ever live up to the responsibilities? The longer she was away from her exciting, hectic life in Dallas and introduced to the grandness of her surroundings on the private jet, the gorgeous lush, rugged land of Stephan’s country as they flew over it and then landed, the more she grew concerned with where or whether she fit in any of it.
“You belong with me.” His quiet yet firm conviction rumbled through the interior of the elegant vehicle.
She sighed. “And you know me well.” Belle eased closer and lowered her voice so his guard and driver in front couldn’t hear. “It’s such a different world, Stephan. I may embarrass you.” No, I will. Let’s face it, I’m not graceful in the least.
“As yourself? Never.” He kissed her cheek.
The soft, sweet gesture wrapped around her heart, warming her. “Did they teach you how to say just the right things?”
He tensed slightly. “The…officials? Not at all. My mother.”
Now she witnessed the emotions cloud his usually guarded gaze. “I wish I could have met her.” She gulped, reaching out and twining her fingers with his warm, strong ones. “And thank her for raising such a beautiful man.”
The pain lingered for a moment and then cleared. Stephan chuckled, low and deep. “Men are not beautiful.”
“You are. Every bit of you.”
“May I remind you, Bella, you haven’t seen all my bits yet.” He nearly growled the last.
A shiver went down her spine at the image of seeing all of him. Delicious heat burned low and bright. She breathed in. “And you smell divine. I don’t need a Rico whiff to figure that one out for myself.” She giggled at his mock scowl. “But I meant you have such a beautiful heart, my Stephan.” Belle gulped at the well of love rising up inside her and spreading as she gazed into his fathomless blue eyes. Her world tilted at the intense light in his.
“My wish,” he whispered with a huskiness in his voice, “is that you will always look at me as you do at this moment and that you see me like that always—that I live up to it for you and our children to come.”
“You will never disappoint me, Stephan.”
“I hope you are right, Bella.”
As the car drew into the quaint village, Belle sensed a building excitement as people dropped what they were doing to line the streets. They waved, with big smiles on their faces—men, women, and children. Even dogs barked and jumped.
Belle waved back.
“I’m afraid they can’t see us, not clearly.” But Stephan leaned around her and powered down the window, the blast of chilly air hitting them. The joyful noises of his countrymen followed.
“Sir!” Oscar’s reprimand bellowed through the sleek car as he jerked around in his seat.
“Not for long,” Stephan promised. “We can wave now, Bella.”
She did—using her best friend Princess Sophia’s royal wave she’d made Belle practice for an occasion like this—and the crowd surged forward, cheering loudly. Belle sucked in a sharp breath at the overwhelming flood of well-wishers. “They missed you.”
“Not just me. They’re here for you, too.” He was there, touching her back and her shoulder with his solid chest as they both greeted the enthusiastic crowd.
“Prince!” many called out.
“Welcome home, sir!” some shouted.
“She’s a looker!” A man surged forward with a huge grin.
“So many people.” Belle smiled until her jaw ached and they’d passed the town as the driver sped away down long roads.
Stephan tugged her back in and powered up the window, the quietness of the interior at odds with the still deafening ringing in her ears. “That’s one of the reasons why these things are planned ahead of time.”
“Crowd control?”
“Security,” Oscar grumbled from his passenger seat. He barked into his walkie-talkie. “Four hundred meters from the gates.”
Belle cringed. Her insides flipped and then flopped. “So close? Already?”
“It’s a building.” Stephan shrugged; however, he did seem to tense again.
She turned to Stephan briefly. “A whatie?”
“So, it’s a big building.”
“Mega-sized.” The pictures rushed back to her now and she gulped. Why hadn’t she insisted on traveling with her family and friends in the second stretch limo? At least they’d know how she felt at this moment—so out of place and so over her head.
In no time at all, the car slowed and waited for the large black iron gates with the gold lions adorning them to glide open. Belle blinked at the line of saluting uniformed guards on the outside, as well as inside, of the barriers.
Then she glimpsed the dwelling—humungous and stretching for as far as her eye could see. “Oh fudge! It’s a palace!”
Stephan chuckled. “Did you think otherwise?”
“It’s just…pictures don’t do it justice.” The height and breadth of it and the ornate designs in the stone—more lions, maybe—and sculptures, not to mention the gigantic fountain in front with every color flower in the spectrum stole her breath away. Her thoughts drifted to Annabelle and Maggie. “If my fountain and flower friends from work could see me now.”
“Invite them sometime.”
She snapped her fingers. “Just like that. Oh, by the way, stop over any time. Get a load of this place.”
The long drive from the gate to the entrance soon came to a halt.
Belle gulped. A bubble or a dozen of panic rose in her belly and crept up until they grabbed her by the throat. “Steph-han, I don’t know if I can…do this…”
“We will go to my wing—”
“Wing? You have your own?”
“Of course.”
Like that helped.
“It’s private.” He kissed her cold fingers. “Not to worry, Bella. He never comes there.”
She jerked to face him, reading the concern for her in his eyes. Also, she noted the slice of hurt. His father denied him a simple visit. Belle sucked in a shaky breath. “Well, what are we waiting for then?”
Her insides quivered at what she would soon face.
Don’t screw things up!
Chapter 5
So much remained a blur for Belle as she was led down this corridor or that, lined with impeccable furnishings, expensive rugs, paintings of Stephan’s ancestors, sculptures on bases, dark wood, and gold outfittings.
This was a world she’d never seen before. Yes, her mother had been a maid and later a house manager for wealthy families, but never this complete and utter opulent decadence.
“Geez, Louise. You can’t hide money.” Peg snorted, but it carried.
“Pegster, when you have so much who would want to?!” Rico sighed. �
�O-M-G! Can you imagine doing a vlog from the palace? Can we? Can we? Please, Stephan?”
Belle jerked to face her excited friends, shaking her head vigorously and slicing her hand across her throat.
Stephan turned to her, catching her in the act.
Her cheeks warmed. “It’s tacky, guys.”
“No way. It will be classy like us—Pegster and me.” Rico moved to Stephan, with Peg on his heels. “Say yes.”
“Pretty please with a pickled pancake on top?” Peg clutched her clipboard and pressed her hands together as if in prayer.
“Don’t you mean a cherry?” Stephan smiled, slow and delicious, at Belle.
Something inside Belle warmed and unfurled. How could he flirt at a time like this? Her mother and Lewis were yards away, inspecting a nearby painting. “Not here,” she mouthed.
A wicked glint came into his eyes. “Another time. Another place. My Bella.”
He was very good. Her nerves at being here—this foreign place—eased as he distracted her yet again with wicked thoughts of being with him.
“Why not several?” Stephan turned back to Rico and Peg. “You can interview Bella and myself.”
“Wh-what? Oh, no, no! Not in the plans.” She glared at him.
“Plans change.”
How could he bring her out of her nerves to swirling desire and then plunge her right back down to dismay all in less than ten seconds?
“What are you up to, Stephan?”
Stephan introduced Bella and her family and friends to his small staff, who served them tea and refreshments. He’d discreetly answered questions from his guards—visual signals among the brief requests—and sent an invitation.
Still, inside, he burned. Not one official came to greet his guests. That spoke volumes.
In these situations, there was always a royal senior staff member on hand for the arrival, settling in, and proper etiquette followed to a T, with a formal dinner for the next evening announced. None came.
If there were ever a clear signal as to what his father dictated for this visit, Stephan didn’t need it to be spelled out.
They were not wanted.
Certainly, the rumors would begin and spread like they normally would. Not maliciously, but with growing curiosity on the royal family and the strained relationship between the king and prince—father and son.
Now, Stephan took off the gloves. A vlog or a dozen would bring Bella to his people in ways his father could not halt. Let them see her for the woman he adored. Allow them to witness the love he felt for her and she for him.
If only he could convince his own father of that…
For a time, while enjoying their refreshments in his cozy and intimate parlor, Stephan got lost in the conversation and antics of Peg and Rico—with the former scribbling notes on her trusty clipboard—regarding the upcoming video posts for their employer, King’s Department Store.
With each suggestion from Peg, Rico would one-up her.
“Holy royal crumb cakes! That’s perfect!”
“Wait!” Bella held up her hand and turned to her mother, who sat on the nearby loveseat with her intended. “Mama, cover your ears. Lewis, uh, you don’t need to hear this, either.”
“You’re right. I don’t, kiddo.” Lewis shook his head.
“Do you think I don’t know these things, Isabelle? I’m your mother. More so, I’m a woman.” The elegant lady sipped her tea from Stephan’s late mother’s delicate cream-colored china cup with pink roses adorning it.
Bella sighed. “All right. You asked for it. Peg, no sexy talk allowed. Rico, no sex questions. N-o-n-e.”
“Bu-but, Belle, what’s the fun in that?” Her friend pouted. “Of course, everyone wants to know what it feels like, you know, to do it with a prince.”
She groaned, her cheeks flushing pink. “And there he goes again.”
Stephan chuckled, capturing his Bella’s stare. She blushed even more, most likely reading his very wicked thoughts. Why had he made that promise to wait until after they wed?
“You’re not helping here, Stephan.”
From the entrance, a distinctly feminine giggle carried to them. “Sorry. Not eavesdropping at all. My apologies for being late to the party. And what a party it is.”
Glancing that way, Stephan smiled and rose. Relief shot through him. She hadn’t let him down. “Deidre, I’m so glad you could make it.” Underneath, he realized she’d sacrificed to meet them.
“And miss this?” But her usually soft blue eyes held a well of concern and she’d already patted her hair twice. She accepted his brief hug and peck on the cheek.
“Thank you.” He kept his voice low. “I know this isn’t something he would agree to.”
“Stubborn and spiteful, did you say?” However a gleam of determination shone in her glance. “I got away as soon as I could.” She cleared her throat. “Aren’t you going to introduce me to your lovely fiancée and our guests?”
“There is a special place in heaven for you—”
“Because I put up with him?” She laughed. “He’s impossible, yet I still love him. I have no idea why at the moment, though.”
Within seconds, Stephan walked her to where Bella now stood, wringing her hands. He went to Bella’s side, wrapped a steadying arm around her quivering body, rested his hand on her small waist, and then kissed her gently on her temple, inhaling the sweet, heady scent of her.
He introduced them.
Bella reached out first. “It’s so nice to meet you, Deidre. I can call you that, right?”
“Of course, dear. We’ll be related soon enough. Please, don’t call me stepmother-in-law, however.” She shivered and then stepped forward, taking both of Bella’s hands in hers. “It’s such a delight to meet the woman who stole Stephan’s heart.”
Finally, he relaxed; no matter how poorly his father would treat Bella, his father’s future wife would not abide by those tactics. Deidre was someone who understood and accepted what he felt for his Bella.
“She’s lovely, Stephan. Oh, and I’ve seen pictures of your designs, Belle.” She winced. “In the papers, I’m afraid. But, I’m looking forward to seeing them in person soon.”
“Hey, Dee Dee.” Rico shifted the focus, gently extracting her hand to take hers in both of his. “You should get a load of the wedding dress design. To die for!”
Thankfully, she chuckled along with the rest of them.
“Your coloring is superb, may I say.” He charmed her.
“Yes, you may. And whenever you insist, dear fella.”
“The name is Rico. And I can put you on my speed dial.”
“I’d rather like that. A girl can never get enough compliments.”
“Do I get to borrow the diamonds, too?”
She touched a hand to her broach. “That can be arranged.”
Rico nearly swooned. “I adore her! Meet my bestie, Pegster.”
Within ten minutes, all introductions were made and Stephan breathed a little easier as Deidre joined the group.
He caught Bella’s stare and something invisible passed between them—awareness, yes, but something more. Understanding.
They’d gotten over that hurdle together.
In the back of his mind, he wondered how many more victories they could pull out on this nerve-racking trip.
“Classes?” Belle jolted awake—or rather, crashed back to reality after daydreaming as she'd gazed into Stephan’s blue mesmerizing eyes, which soon turned to naughty thoughts.
Her mother patted her on the forearm as the teacup rattled in Belle’s hand. Gently, Belle placed it back on the silver tray. Yep, pure silver.
“Nothing overly taxing, dear. Well, not at first.” Deidre made light of it. “You haven’t prepared her, Stephan?”
Belle swore her neck cracked from the speed she turned her head to the woman and then to Stephan. “Left out anything important?”
“It’s standard.”
“As in?”
“Nothing you can’t ha
ndle.” The steely look made his eyes so dark and stormy now.
That made the knots in her belly tighten more. “Explain, please.”
“Since I’m in charge of that, I’ll jump in here.” Deidre lifted her shoulder. “We’ll save the defense and security measures for tomorrow morning. The rest…Oh, the little things like proper titles to use, who you can shake hands with and who you can’t, how to curtsy—”
“Curtsy? That sounds like fun.” Rico bounced to his feet. “Let’s try now.” He snagged Belle’s arm.
Peg came to Belle’s other side, tugging. “Upsy-daisy!”
Belle relented at their insistence. “If I have to, then everyone else does, too.” Within seconds, she was joined by her friends flanking each side—Deidre after Rico, her mother, and Lewis all in a straight line. Stephan rose and watched with a sparkle in his eyes.
“Men bow.” Deidre instructed Lewis and Rico first.
“Really? But I want to curtsy like the girls.” Rico pouted.
Giggling, Belle nudged Peg. “He’ll probably be better at it than me.”
“Of course I will.” He poked her in the arm. “I’ll practice both, how’s that?”
“As if we could stop you.” Belle glanced at Stephan and a warm trickle of heat swirled in her. His half smile dazzled her again. Or was it his intense gaze? “Join in, prince.”
“Your tutor, Bella?” His low, husky tone could not be mistaken for anything other than what it was intended—an invitation for so much more.
“Promises, promises,” she mouthed at him.
“I will deliver.”
A blast of desire swooshed deep and tightened. Oh, the things he did to her without even a touch…
Rico jabbed her with his elbow. “No X-rated talkie talk or lookie looks.” He fanned himself. “I am so jealous. And your mom and Lewis are only three feet away on the other side of Deidre.”
“I can’t help myself.” Belle’s cheeks grew overly warm. “Do you think they heard?” She glanced around him and watched as her mother and Lewis followed Deidre’s motions, seemingly lost in the mini-class. Phew!
Once Upon a Royal Wedding Page 10
