Forbidden Royal

by Victoria Pinder

  Kristin's blush made Amy pause and take in every word. "Yes, with her fiancé. Michael seems to be the only one unaware that your sister is still interested in your Lucio. Now that we’ve met you, we thought it fair to warn you to be on guard."

  Right. Evie had first dibs on Lucio and as a teenager, spoke about him every day to deliberately torment her. Amy had always stayed silent and let her sister have her way, but this time, her parents had sworn to back her up and keep Evie away.

  Someone knocked at the door to her bedroom. Amy stared at both of them as Lucio wouldn't knock. "Could that be my parents?"

  "Probably. They’ve been waiting to speak to you since your arrival yesterday, and then again this morning."

  She didn’t regret yesterday. "We were only slightly delayed. The drive through the mountain hit a snag as a tourist bus went off road. Lucio went to help, but that was only twenty minutes off schedule."

  "They wanted yesterday," Renee clarified.

  Kristin and Renee finished their tea as a servant answered Lucio’s door. Amy heard her mother's sigh and stood, her knee bumping the table. Her nerves were a wreck.

  Renee rose as well, dragging Kristin up with her. "We'll leave you all alone to catch up. It was lovely to chat with you."

  Then both of the princesses reached out and hugged her. Amy assumed it was their American attitude but thanked them both. If she could have convinced them to stay, she would have, but she got the feeling that they’d already formed an unfavorable opinion about her folks.

  A servant brought her parents to the balcony as the princesses left. A uniformed young woman changed the tea cups and cleaned the table. Amy pointed for them to both sit and they did so. Her mother’s gray hair was now chestnut brown and almost matched her father’s perfectly. They must have used the same bottle, but then she’d expect them to look spruced up as they were guests in a royal palace. A fresh pot of tea was placed on the table, and Amy scooted her chair further in. "Mother. Father. I heard Evie is here as well."

  Her mother picked up a small scone and placed it on her plate. "We'll ensure she doesn't ruin your wedding."

  Her heart hammered in her chest. This time, she had her parents and Lucio's promise, but the image of Evie kissing Lucio at the table beside her in the library replayed in her mind. Now that she'd kissed Lucio, she understood his appeal, which made her want him even more.

  Evie could be major trouble, but Amy picked up her cup, had another sip and let the tea help bolster her courage. "And my potential happiness after the wedding?"

  Again, her mother spoke, as if she was the family spokesman. "That's entirely your choice, dear, though we hope you live forever in love and happiness with Lucio."

  Good. They were all on the same page. She picked up her tea cup. "You swore to give me time alone with Lucio. I wasn't expecting Evie here this fast."

  Her father chimed in as the bedroom door opened. "We didn't think she'd be here either, but Evie believes you'll marry quickly and wanted to be here for it."

  Amy understood better than her parents. Evie might not want to say it, but she didn't want Amy to marry Lucio, who waited now at the bedroom door. Amy looked into the haunted brown eyes of her fiancé, and prayed her sister made no trouble for either of them.

  "Can you please excuse us? I need to speak to Lucio."

  Her parents both stood as Amy walked into the bedroom and reached for Lucio’s hands. Whatever caused that look in his gaze, she'd help him. If they had any chance at a future, they had to work together. As his fingers closed around her hand, she felt more secure. They had to have their shot.

  11

  Lucio waited until Amy’s parents left the bedroom. His parents’ discussion was still fresh in his mind anyhow, but Amy seemed quiet and more pensive. He guided her by hand to sit on the balcony again. He’d have a cup of tea and give her time to unwind and open up again. She slid back into her seat and he took the seat beside her.

  Amy poured him a cup. "Your parents found you quickly."

  "Evie is here." She said by way of answer as she placed the tea pot in the middle of the table without looking at him.

  Her sister wasn't half as interesting as she was to him. Clearly his teenaged brain was soaked with misplaced hormones. He covered her hand with his and leaned closer. "I told you I went to see her before you—I felt nothing. Evie shouldn't be a problem."

  "She isn’t." Her gaze went up toward him and she blinked, "Lucio, what's the matter? I can tell something is wrong."

  The subject change seemed dramatic. Perhaps he wasn't the only one who was shell-shocked from this morning’s adventures. He took a deep breath and decided to share with her. "I told you that Marco dismantled the bombs in the old guard house."

  She leaned closer and their shoulders touched. "Yes, so what happened?"

  To explain, she needed a little history. He sat straight, released her hand and stared into his tea cup. "My brothers and I used that guard house as a retreat away from our parents, where we'd unwind without supervision."

  She picked up her tea and sipped. "That's interesting, but shouldn't be upsetting."

  He steeled his body against a possible threat, which was extremely unlikely considering the heightened security. "Whoever set up the bombs torched our living room. Yes, it's just furniture, but it was personal to us. And," he shrugged, "they left a note."

  Her face drained of color and her voice softened. "What did the note say?"

  "The royal family and all their progeny will be destroyed and gone from this land just like this chair." The words were etched in his mind and nothing would change that. He needed to protect his family and ensure the foreign anarchists left their kingdom.

  She sucked in her breath, but then she crossed her arms and stared at him like she was thinking everything through. "Are you getting the note analyzed for finger prints and handwriting samples?"

  After Marco had shot the leader dead when the man had attempted to kidnap Renee, his bride, Lucio had searched for more of the group but couldn’t find any legitimate remains so he thought the anarchists finally dissipated. Clearly, he'd been wrong. "It must be the work of the anarchist movement."

  She gulped her tea and placed the empty cup into the saucer on the table and rose. "Okay, so let me do some research."

  "I don't want you involved." He pushed aside his tea and stood next to her.

  She paced the room before returning to him, arms dropped to her sides and stared at him with those big brown eyes of hers. "I'm not going into the line of fire, but I've been analyzing countries and potential problems as my career for years. I won't leave the castle grounds while I run my computer programs."

  Of course, Lucio thought, she was an analyst. Running computer background checks was not his favorite task, and it was something she could easily do well while being perfectly safe and guarded. He reached out and brushed the hair out of her face. "Amy, even if I lose every penny here and my family was no longer royal, which will never happen, but you need to know that I'll keep you safe and protected no matter what. On that you have my undying word."

  She held his hand next to her cheek and gave him a saucy smile. "Undying sounds like a long time and we don't need to be dramatic. I just need my laptop to help."

  Her practical attitude helped him relax as he realized she wasn't going to look for danger. "Thank you." He opened the door to the bedroom for her and placed his hand on her back to bring her inside. "And I swore to my mother we'd pick a wedding date."

  She waited until they were in and he began to close the door behind him. The moment it clicked, she stood near him, like she had something else to say, but she stayed on topic as she said, "She likes fast. Does the day after tomorrow work for her or does she need an extra day? I know for both of the other weddings she planned, it seemed overnight."

  The air around her sizzled electric or maybe it was his reaction to her. Sleeping next to her last night had been torture—she’d been so close but he couldn't touch. This time he k
ept the space between them at least a foot. "She prefers overnight, and fast so the world press doesn't descend on our small country and cause problems for the royal nuptials."

  Her eyes widened and she nodded. "Then I'm in for tomorrow or the day after with no notice. I just want my friend, Suzie, here."

  "Good." He let his shoulders slouch as he sat back in his chair. Suzie was already planned for. "She'll be here today."

  "Perfect." She twirled one of her pearls, her gray slacks and fitted blue shirt just right for late afternoon in the castle. Part of why he’d initially asked Amy was because she would be a perfect princess. Right now, she seemed ready for the many tasks that the rank required.

  She pursed her lips.

  Curious. Did she want to talk about something else? He untied his shoes and intended to place them in his closet. "Both of my sisters-in-law complained slightly at the overwhelming amount of wedding dresses my mother provided them to choose from."

  She slipped off her leather flats. "I'll handle it."

  "Thank you." He placed her shoes in the closet next to his.

  She leaned against the closet frame. "Hey, I know the princes are all taken but are there any nobles in your country that are available for me to set Suzie up with? She’s single, always working, but in need of a good date."

  Perhaps her friend was what she wanted to discuss. Light filtered from outside to the bedroom. "There are some families of Dukas, Marchesi, Earls which can also be called Conte, and Visconte and a few of them are single men near my age."

  She placed her hand on his biceps and caught his full attention. "Sounds great. Suzie’s terrific and hasn’t found a nice-looking man to go out with in months. So I want to ensure Suzie meets a few at our wedding so she can meet someone half as cute as you."

  Rambling. Something else was clearly on her mind. She smelled like vanilla cupcakes he remembered tasting as a boy. "Glad you're agreeable today."

  She traced his shoulders and collar. "Treat me right and I'll always be agreeable."

  "Sounds good to me." He leaned down to kiss her. Her lips puckered for him and she closed her eyes.

  A loud bang on the door interrupted their kiss. He moved in front of her between the door and his bed. The vision of her in his bed snuggled next to him like she had last night knocked him for a loop. He ignored the fantasy and went to the door.

  Amy fixed her pearls and pouted. "Who’s knocking at the door now?"

  "I'll leave instructions that we aren’t to be disturbed." He opened the door and felt the cold air hit his skin from the note his staff handed him that read Evie was requesting an audience. Her sister was not welcome here at the moment and he whispered they were not to be disturbed. The staff looked faint, but he'd straighten it out with them later. They had no clue and he didn't blame the servant. He then closed the door and turned toward Amy.

  "Lucio, who is it?" She stayed so still it seemed like she might be hurt.

  He took her hand in his. "I told your sister, Evie, you'd see her after lunch."

  Amy looked down at her bare feet. "I suppose I should go and see her and thank her for coming."

  "Wait. I want you to myself for a few hours." He held both of her hands until she looked up at him.

  An entirely different smile came on her face while she tugged on his arms and led him toward the bed. "Are we to talk about your taste in bedspreads?" She picked up the comforter. "This one is awful man-ish."

  Was she flirting with him? "Put that on your list of things of things to do." Whatever made her happy. "Change whatever you want."

  She sat on the bed and brought him down next to her. "I'd like to change our relationship status now."

  He stared into her huge brown eyes that reminded him of the vast forest around the palace. He didn't dare move. "How is that?"

  She swallowed, held still for a moment but scooted a leg on the bed. "I want to try and see how we fit... together."

  Confusion mixed with hope. She didn't move her leg, so he brushed the bottom of her foot. "Fit together" sounded like sex. "You're saying you want me to touch you?"

  "Yes." She crashed her lips against his and his heart beat faster. Amy was all he wanted and she tasted better than those cupcakes of his youth. She was real and he'd have to show her just how good they were together because he never wanted to let her go.

  12

  Amy, a bundle of nerves, was determined to show Lucio that she wanted him. They had the privacy of his suite, he set her blood on fire, he’d chosen her. She was ready.

  Lucio traced her face and neck with his palm, but stopped on the necklace. "Let's take off these pearls."

  "Okay." She nodded and reached behind her to take off the necklace, then the earrings. She placed them on the nightstand and turned toward him. Her pulse raced and there was a tightness in her throat she wished wasn't there. She reached for his hand on the bed. "I'm going to need you to tell me what to do."

  He traced her arm and squeezed her shoulder lightly. "Just relax." Right. She closed her eyes and told herself to do as he said. He brushed her hair behind her ear and her skin felt a tremor where his fingers left a trail. His lips next to her ear, he said hotly, "Everything I do is supposed to make you feel good."

  Warmth invaded her muscles as she gazed at him. "What do you intend?"

  "Trust me," he whispered and his lips claimed hers. Her hands wrapped around the back of his neck. Kissing him was better than breathing.

  Her lips tingled as he ended the kiss and she craved more. She closed her eyes. "Okay. Whatever you want."

  His warm breath tickled her skin, but he didn't kiss her. Instead he traced her still-clothed body. "Look at me, Amy. I want to see if you like what I’m doing."

  She opened her eyes and he reached for the top button of her blouse. Panic began to race through her, and she opened her lips. "What..."

  "I want to tease you." He didn't move.

  This was her choice. He was her choice. She needed to show him. She nodded and reached for the next button of her shirt. She fumbled but loosened it as she met his gaze. He was worth it. "Lucio..."

  "Don't tense up on me." He reached behind her shoulders and simply rubbed them like he was massaging her. She leaned forward but he motioned for her to turn around.

  "I'm trying not to be anxious." She followed directions and unbuttoned the third and final button of her blouse. It slid off with ease.

  Lucio massaged her shoulders and his fingers trailed lower to her back where he continued his rubbing and stroking her skin. He leaned closer. "Right now, just think of this as a nice massage."

  "I’ve never had one," she admitted. The idea of someone touching her always made her giggle, but her skin heated from his work and she felt her muscles unwind.

  He continued with more pressure on her lower back and in the space between her shoulders. "We'll correct that soon, but loosen your muscles and trust me."

  She nodded and let him. In one swoop, he lifted her blouse off her, so she sat in her bra. However, the continued pressure felt too good to care. He motioned for her to lie down, but she began to tense. If she and Lucio didn’t work out, she’d never be okay, ever. "What..."

  "If you want me to stop, tell me." He didn’t budge.

  Right. This was her choice. She reached behind her and unsnapped her bra. "Let me take off..."

  He kissed her back and her skin tingled with excitement. "I'm teasing you, sweetheart. Just go with it?"

  "Okay." She unbuttoned her pants while he continued to work on her muscles.

  It felt so good to be touched everywhere. Soon she closed her eyes and just let the sensation rule. Her pants came down while he worked on her legs and she murmured, "That feels good."

  "I'm going to kiss you now." Lucio gently flipped her around. He could do anything to her now that she felt relaxed but the second his lips met hers, a whole new wave of longing rushed through her.

  She ran her hands through his thick coarse dark hair as his kiss made her ache. His
hands went lower and brushed against her breasts. "Mmhmm."

  His lips curved into a wicked grin, but he went lower and suckled on her breasts. Explosions of sensation rocked through her at once. She clung to his hair and said, "What..."

  He removed his mouth. "Tell me to stop." He immediately gazed into her eyes.

  "The opposite," she admitted. "That feels good." Her face and cheeks heated.

  He winked and did the same thing to her other breast. The rocking feeling inside her skin was jumpy, but in a good way. This time she tried to hold still, but her body rocked.

  He moved from breasts to lower. Her legs opened slightly to give him room, and when he touched her in her secret spot, the feeling that she was both in her body and leaving it hit her. She let out a soft moan.

  She saw how hard and long he grew when she looked down. Would he fit? The question stayed on the tip of her tongue, but instead his fingers played with her like he knew more about her body than she did. She laid back to give him more of her while she clutched the soft sheets.

  He moved his body over hers and said in a seductive tone, "Just wait. There is more."

  "Mmhmm." She couldn't say more. She was lost with what he was doing. This was better than anything she thought possible.

  "Now let's try this." He pressed into her. She tensed for a moment and wondered if he'd hurt her. The last time hadn’t been fun. However, Lucio inside made her feel complete.

  He stayed still while the new sensation of being completely full struck her. She reached out and held onto his shoulders. "Whoa."

  He moved a little. The rhythm he set was slow but made her needy for more. She wasn't sure how to ask. "Lucio..."

  "Let go, Amy. It's okay." He increased his pace.

  "More." Her eyes rolled backward. She felt like she was dying a little, but it was so delicious it was the way to go.

  He kissed her forehead and increased the bedroom dance they did even more, while he whispered, "Enjoy."