It was so embarrassing, so humiliating that he could make her like this, lost inside her desires with a single touch, with no power to say a word, let alone “stop.” Even worse that he knew it, had to know it.
“We’re almost back at the palace.” It was all he said, yet the quiver ran down her spine and into her toes, her core. He made it sound as if they stood at the door of a sumptuous hotel, or her bedroom.
When he lifted his hand from her skin, she wanted to cry out in protest.
“Can you speak to the King for me when we return? I think it’s time for a family conclave on what’s best for Hellenia. It’s time to go forward.”
Yanked from her sensuous daydream, she lifted her brows. Theo Angelis had been icily civil to Toby since that first ten minutes after they’d met, making it clear that what Toby thought and felt about Hellenia was irrelevant.
This should prove to be interesting, to say the least.
“Toby wants to call a family conference?” Theo Angelis exploded. “By God, who does he think he is? The boy’s gone too far this time!”
“An informal one, Theo Angelis, in the tea room. After dinner, if it suits you.” Lia’s lips twitched before returning to her customary gentleness with the King. She knew him well by now, he was so much like Papou, and Charlie for that matter. He needed the illusion of control to feel safe. It was a rare source of fun watching him trying to lock horns with Toby, who needed no such illusion, had no ego: he just saw what needed to be done and did it with a minimum of fuss.
“You might find what he has to say is interesting, Theo Angelis. He’s been touring the cities and villages the past week with Charlie and Jazmine and I.”
“You’ve been alone with him?” Theo Angelis growled.
It was a strain, but she smiled as she assured him, “I’ve been alone with him for years, and it’s never been a problem.”
“The boy’s shown his hand. He wants to take you back with him.”
It was more of a struggle for her to remain calm than she’d show, but she shrugged. “Of course he does. He’s been estranged from his own family for a long time.” She met the King’s eyes. “He is our family, Theo Angelis, and if we care about Hellenia, so does he.”
The King grunted, but his gaze was sharp on her. “He’s going to do whatever it takes to make you return with him. Especially if you show a moment of weakness.”
It was getting harder each day to remain wrapped in the shell of serenity she’d been using since she’d been in the clinic. Not only was the King suspicious, but spending time with Toby these days was like handling a live grenade. Without warning, he’d give her that look, that smile, and all her strong resolutions and good sense would vanish. Half the time he had to remind her what she’d been saying, or what he’d been saying.
And she spent far too much time wondering why he hadn’t kissed her again.
“What time shall I tell him we’ll meet?” she asked briskly.
“I’m not going to soothe you all. Hellenia’s split in two—the Orakis and Marandis camps. The problem is, the ordinary people are the Marandis power base, and they’re tired of fighting. The Orakis faction seems to thrive on it.” Toby didn’t bother to look around for reactions. “You all know this. What I’m saying is just a prelude. Charlie and Jazmine are clearly on track with what’s needed. Their plans are helping villages and towns to be self-sufficient. Giulia’s plans for widows, divorced women and orphans are falling into place.” He smiled at Giulia, striving for friendliness, but knew he failed: his old self-control, once slipped, was like a broken mask he could no longer fit to his face.
“The last thing the nation needs is more war—but if Orakis doesn’t get what he wants he’ll bring it on. His people are more reactionary than those who love the Marandis royal family—or so it seems. So what the country needs is defences.”
As one they all stared at him. He could see the doubt, the confusion in all eyes, except in Giulia’s. The little smile told him she knew what he was going to say, and in her manner of quiet wisdom was willing to wait until last.
“You call a meeting to waste my time giving me unusable solutions?” The King leaned forward in the tapestry-covered wingback chair; his tea cup rattled as he thunked it down on the exquisitely carved chess-table. “I won’t waste money set aside for roads, housing, hospitals and schools on guns!”
“No, Your Majesty, of course not. I’m talking about the appearance of defences.” Still standing, as if he felt as much a supplicant as the old man wanted him to feel, Toby smiled at King Angelis. The King stared back, his rheumy eyes hard behind his glasses. “I’ve only been here two weeks. I’m an outsider, an Australian, and not a lord. I’m ignorant of the more important decisions in running a European nation. But Charlie will tell you that one of the first things we learn as firefighters is defence—how to protect ourselves and those we find in fires. And we learn how to teach people how to create defences for the future.” He smiled at his oldest friend. “The same way we learned how to be firefighters before we applied, Charlie.”
To his relief, Charlie nodded, grinning. “I see where you’re going, but the logistics, convincing the treasury to release the funds, are going to be hard.”
Giulia said softly, “They agreed to meet me cent for cent with the shelters. I think it’s possible, if they’re approached the right way.”
The King turned to her. “Jazmine, Max and I would appreciate it if you all filled us in on what you already seem to know, Giulia.”
He spoke in Hellenican Greek, a form of the old Koi. Trying to shut Toby out.
Toby had wondered when he’d try that.
Without missing a beat, Toby replied in the language Papou had taught him with painstaking care after he’d become an official part of the family. “I think if we present a proposal that saved as much money as possible, the treasury would be happy to cooperate. I’m talking about using retired experts—firefighters, builders, plumbers and the like. Teachers for the future, to teach your people how to rebuild the country their own way. Those who know the country best should be the ones to rebuild it.”
The King’s eyes narrowed, knowing he’d been outwitted. Toby didn’t smile, or acknowledge the win. He knew better than to meet fire with ice. Cool water was the trick here, and not splashed in the King’s face. He was an old man who needed his dignity as his power failed.
“It’s the same basic thought we have, sire—jobs, education, wealth. We teach locals to put out fires, to learn self-defence, to build strategic walls and clear land around villages and towns, so even planning attacks will be harder. Giving the village and townsfolk kids much-needed trades—stonemasonry and carpentry,” Charlie said, with an excited grin. “We can give older tradespeople apprentices, and retired firefighters can teach people how to fireproof their homes to show Orakis that the towns and villages aren’t as vulnerable as he thinks. We can mobilise the ordinary people for defence. They’re used to running and hiding until the violence ends. This time they need something to take pride in, to fight for.”
Giulia turned to Jazmine and the King, encompassing them both in her smile. “Charlie’s right, Theo Angelis. So far we’ve been reactive, not proactive. We’re all working so hard to heal the hurts done by the war, but while it makes the people happy it leaves them passive—and gives Orakis the chance to destroy them again. We show him we’re not putting plasters over the wounds he created, but equipping the people themselves to stand strong and choose the rulers who care enough to give them some power and say in their future.”
Toby had been involved in family dynamics long enough to know when it was time to watch and wait in silence; but, ah, if he hadn’t wanted to kiss Giulia before—and that had been basically all the time—right now he could have grabbed her and kissed her senseless in front of them all. Her quiet, well-chosen words reached down into the hearts of a royal family shattered by war, unable to see beyond the first tasks of healing. If Charlie had taken the bait and run with it, Giuli
a had given his practical proposal a Hellenican heart and soul.
The conversation took an excited turn. The King wanted to know how many people would participate in the scheme, how many they’d have to import from abroad. Max—whom Toby was beginning to like, despite his best efforts to hate his rival—said he’d go to the Duchy of Falcandis to find out. Charlie said he’d do the same in Malascos. The King told Jazmine to find out the mood of the rest of the nation on the idea, and Jazmine was smiling for the first time in weeks.
“When we have numbers we can go to the Treasury and call a meeting of the Hereditary House of Lords,” the King said as Jazmine wheeled him out of the room, Max right behind them.
At the door, Charlie grinned at Toby. “Grizz, that was inspirational.”
He grinned back and bowed. “I live to serve, Rip, my royal friend.”
Charlie threw a paper clip at him. “I’m off to Malascos tonight. It’s not like anyone needs me here at the moment. With His Majesty’s forty-fifth celebrations in swing, I only seem to be in the way.” He pulled a face. “I’ll be back for the party, of course. I have to show my face, if nothing else is needed.”
So things still weren’t right between Charlie and Jazmine. He’d have to make time for Charlie soon. He’d hoped they could work it out if left alone. God knew he had his hands full trying to find a way to gain Giulia’s trust. Without that, all the wanting in the world was useless.
“What can I do to help?”
Her soft voice, with the slightest touch of kitten-purring, made him realise they were alone. Did she know she only had that intimate touch to her when no one else was around? “You did it already.” He looked over his shoulder at her with the smile he only ever gave her, the smile he only felt when he was with her. “You turned my thoughts to reality by convincing the King I’m something more than the man who wants to take you away. You showed him that I care about this place.”
She took a step towards him, her face wise, lovely and so uncertain. “All I did was to show him the truth. Your plan was wonderful, Toby. You showed the King you care about Hellenia.”
Her hair was tumbling to her shoulders, as she always had it when she was off the princess leash. Her eyes were locked on his mouth, deep, sleepy pools he wanted to lie down in. Her sweet mouth trembled.
She wants me. And even though he’d known that truth for days, every time he saw it again his body ached and throbbed, and a streak of white-hot heat ran through him like jagged lightning. She still wants me after all these years. I didn’t destroy it…
“Both are the truth, my Giulia. I do care about Hellenia—and I want you.” He didn’t move, but willed her closer with smile, eyes and heart. Come to me, my beloved girl. Come to me and touch me.
Her lush mouth parted. Her tongue ran over her top lip, slightly fuller than the bottom one; delicious. Edible. He’d ached to nibble on that lip for years.
Soon. Soon…
“Princess Giulia, the King would like to see you at your earliest convenience.”
As if she’d awakened from a dream, she blinked, and her head snapped round to where her new PA, Lady Olga Kanakarides, had spoken. “I’ll come now.”
As she passed him, he willed himself to be still, to let her go. He had to wait, even though it felt like that was all he ever did.
His patience was rewarded this time. At the door, she turned and gave him a slumberous smile. The smile of a woman almost ready to understand that the man she was smiling for wanted her.
Then the smile faltered; she turned back to the world outside this room and the delicate magic of one moment in time faded as a star at sunrise.
Whatever secrets were inside her remained locked there. For now.
The Wedding of His Royal Highness, Crown Prince
Kyriacos to Her Royal Highness, Princess Jazmine
“I’d like to ask the bride and groom to take the floor for the traditional bridal waltz. Prince Kyriacos personally chose the song, and wishes to dedicate it to his bride.” In his combined duties of best man and master of ceremonies, Toby smiled and made a sweeping motion with his hand. He had the knack of royal behaviour down pat, despite not having the bloodline. He seemed to fit in with the beautiful people of Europe with no apparent effort.
Did nothing faze him, ever?
Lia smiled as she watched her brother Charlie take his bride’s hand and lead her to the dance floor. Beneath her outward serenity, though, her heart was beating hard and fast. As maid of honour, she naturally must waltz with the best man.
She’d be in his arms for the first time in weeks, since the first day he’d arrived.
Though he’d touched her and told her how much he wanted her, she didn’t know what to believe; how could she believe it? So she hadn’t touched him at all, apart from taking his arm back down the aisle four hours ago. And she hadn’t been alone with him since that family conference in the tea room: Theo Angelis had made certain of it, and for once she’d been grateful for the King’s interference.
Yet all the contrived avoidance in the world hadn’t stopped her thinking. She couldn’t stop reliving the bare few moments when she’d been in his arms, not as friend but lover, and she still felt his lips on hers.
Her entire body pounded with excitement whenever she thought about it. And tonight, even the King couldn’t stop them touching.
“Shall we?” Before she was ready, a hand she knew as well as her own was in front of her, strong and bronzed as the rest of him.
“Of course.” So excited she was afraid to look up, she rose to her feet.
Toby kept her hand in his as he led her to the dance floor, and took her in his arms, positioning her beautifully for the Viennese Waltz.
Nine years ago, Papou had thought it a good idea if she learned ballroom dancing, and had arranged for Toby to learn with her. Of course he’d come; she’d rarely gone anywhere without him back then. He’d always picked her up for dancing lessons once she’d finished with the kids.
She’d never have learned if he hadn’t taken her. His being six-five to her five-ten, they fit well together—and at seventeen, shy, awkward and uncomfortable with her imperfect, still-recovering body, the thought of facing a stranger, touching someone she didn’t know, had been a major issue.
Now, as a woman, touching Toby was the issue.
He danced with a grace rare in such a big man, and he had no problems with the exaggerated movements of the dance that embarrassed so many Aussie guys. He held her close, and guided her into dips and swirls, with the strong arms and back that was his firefighting legacy.
Not too close, but not close enough, and nowhere near far enough away.
She could feel the envious glances by the glittering array of women in the room. To be held by this big, tough brute of a man…
They didn’t know the truth: that the tough exterior held a heart so big and giving, he’d saved her life. He’d moved in when his parents had divorced because he’d needed her family, but he hadn’t run when they’d needed help nursing their dying Yiayia. He’d stayed when, lost in grief after Yiayia’s death, none of them had known what to do, and Papou had lost interest in life. Toby had become the glue that held her family together when it had almost fallen apart.
“Are you going to talk to me, Giulia, or are you pretending I don’t exist for the benefit of our watchers?”
Startled, she looked up at him with a tiny frown. “I didn’t think you were in the mood for conversation.”
“You’re right, I’m not.” Slowly he dipped her and brought her back up, close to his face. She saw the sensuous intent in his intense, sky-blue eyes as he growled, “I want to kiss you.”
Heat flashed through her, a wave of colour filling her cheeks.
He whirled her out, again with a slowness that felt like a seduction. He brought her back to his taut, hot body, beautifully clad in a tuxedo that cost more than she’d earned in a year back home.
He looked magnificent. Like a prince on fire. Like a man with ever
y right to touch a princess in front of three hundred important onlookers.
Trouble was, she felt like anything but a princess when he touched her.
“Can we talk about something…anything?” she murmured, when the tension, the need, in her was a thin thread about to snap.
He smiled down at her, warm, intimate. “I’m at your service, for whatever you need, my Giulia.”
A quiver streaked through her body; liquid heat pooled through her, hearing the soft possessive: my Giulia. “We’ve never discussed how it all happened, that first day when Charlie and I found out who we are.”
His face softened. “You sounded frightened on the phone.”
And though she’d started the conversation, the strangest flash of annoyance ran through her. She moistened her lip with her tongue over a smile in an attempt to cover it. “It was more of a life-changing shock than anything—and you know how Charlie reacts to shocks.”
A dimple came into play as he smiled back; his eyes were warm, like summer at the beach. “He turned ballistic, I gather, and you were exhausting all reserves to keep him under containment?”
She laughed, relieved to be finding a friendly footing with him. “Something like that.” Actually, it had been exhilarating, liberating in a way she couldn’t explain. Coming here had changed more than her name. She’d found out what she was capable of on her own.
Another dip, but this time he kept it under strict terms of dancing, and she breathed a sigh of cheated relief. “It can’t have been easy for you.”
After thinking about it, she said, “It was good practice for what lay ahead. Charlie and Theo Angelis needed almost constant mediation at first.” The funny thing was that here, for the first time, she’d felt truly needed. It had taken all her negotiating skills and learned wisdom to keep things under control between the King and her brother. Max, while pretending he was the gallant knight ready to help her, had been more of a charming lone wolf with a chip on his shoulder, and Jazmine had needed a friend, a sister, as she’d fallen in love with Charlie almost at a glance.
His Princess in the Making Page 5
