Shy Queen in the Royal Spotlight

by Natalie Anderson

  ‘They’ll never believe it, of course,’ she groaned. ‘But I can pretend.’

  ‘They’ll believe it,’ he said. ‘It wouldn’t surprise them to hear I’ve been a jerk.’

  She shook her head. ‘You weren’t that bad. You just needed to find some fun, right? A blow-out now and then. Especially given you never get a day off.’

  He didn’t regret his past actions, but he didn’t feel any desire to replicate them. The thought of being with anyone else now was abhorrent. Irritation needled his flesh. He didn’t understand how everything had changed in such a short amount of time. He urged Jupiter to move faster, taking the excuse to hold her more tightly. Her breathing quickened, but her body moved with his. In the forest it was quiet and felt even more intimate. Through the trees he spied the blue sea and felt that familiar exhilaration and peace. ‘The view is amazing, isn’t it?’ he said.

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘And then there’s this.’ His very favourite place in the world.

  ‘Is that steam?’ Hester asked. ‘Is it a thermal pool?’

  ‘Yeah.’ He smiled; smart cookie. He guided Jupiter carefully around the large rocks and to the left of the small steaming pond.

  ‘Can we swim in it?’

  ‘Yes. No one else comes here. It’s completely private.’ It was his.

  ‘And those rocks—they’re amazing.’

  ‘Yeah—there’s volcanic glass—obsidian—in them. Sometimes I find pieces broken off.’

  ‘It’s the colour of your eyes,’ she murmured. ‘This is your wait-and-see moment.’ She was very still against him and her voice was the thinnest whisper. ‘It’s like some ancient fairyland. It’s just incredible, Alek. It’s like...a fantasy. There’s nothing more, is there? Because what with the palace and the castle and the homestead and now this?’

  ‘This is the best place in the world, Hester.’ His chest warmed as she softly babbled on, for once not holding back on expressing anything. And he was happy to confess his own secret love for it. ‘I think so, anyway.’

  ‘But am I going to have to get off this horse now?’ Her voice had gone even smaller.

  He chuckled, tightening his arm across her waist. ‘It wasn’t so unbearable, was it?’

  It had been completely unbearable. The raw sexuality Hester felt emanating behind her was making her steamier than the gorgeous-looking thermal pool. She hadn’t been able to resist pressing back, indulging in his heat and strength, the security in his hold and the danger in the press of his thighs as he’d guided the horse to a faster pace. The wind had whipped her hair and stolen her breath before it could reach her lungs, exhilarating and liberating. She’d become appallingly aroused and he’d brought her here—to paradise. She never wanted to return to reality.

  ‘Stay there a sec.’ He swung and leapt off the horse, landing so easily all the way down there on the ground.

  He turned back to face her and held his arms out to help her down. She literally slithered off the saddle and into his embrace—somehow ended up pressed against his chest. His hands ran down her back, pushing her closer against him, and she shut her eyes tightly, savouring the moment before he pulled fractionally away.

  ‘Hester.’

  She didn’t answer, didn’t move, didn’t open her eyes.

  ‘Look at me,’ he said softly.

  Neither her fight nor flight instincts were working. She’d frozen with the worst emotion of all—longing.

  ‘Hester.’

  She opened her eyes, lifting her chin to gaze at him, pinioned by a riot of yearning. She’d thought—so naively—that once that curiosity had been quenched, it would end. That it had mostly been only curiosity driving her to let him in. Instead, she’d discovered the utter delight of him and she wanted more. There were myriad things she secretly desired to do with him now. To do to him. She’d not thought she’d ever want to share any part of herself, ever. But with him?

  ‘You know you can practise your riding skills on me any time,’ he said huskily.

  Oh, he was just pure temptation.

  ‘What, as if you’re some stallion who needs breaking in?’ she muttered, but couldn’t hide her breathlessness.

  His eyebrows lifted and his eyes widened. ‘Maybe. While you’re the skittish filly who needs a gentle touch to bring her round.’

  ‘Maybe I don’t need that gentle of a touch.’

  His smile vanished, leaving only raw intensity. ‘And maybe I don’t need to be controlled.’

  The electricity between them crackled. The tension tore her self-control to shreds.

  Why should this be difficult? Why shouldn’t she reach out and take what she wanted? She’d been isolated and alone and denied touch for so long. And while she knew this wasn’t going to last, why shouldn’t she enjoy everything this arrangement with him could offer?

  She couldn’t deny herself. She reached for him, tilting her chin to kiss him. His arms swept back around her, pulling her right off her feet. She clung to him as every ounce of need unravelled—forcing her to ensnare him. To keep him close. She kissed him as if there were no tomorrow. But he tore his mouth free.

  ‘I need to...uh... I need to sort Jupiter... It’ll just take a moment.’ He shook his head and firmly set her at a distance but she saw the tremble in his hands as he released her.

  The strongest sense of liberation swept over her as she faced the thermal springs. She stripped off her tee and her trousers, sliding her underwear off too. She wanted to be free. She carefully stepped into the narrow pool and then sank lower, letting the silken, warm water soothe her oversensitive body.

  ‘Hester?’

  She turned at his choked sound and saw him standing at the edge of the small pond. He was still and intent.

  Her awareness heightened and a deeply buried instinct kicked in. She stood, suddenly certain of her own sensuality as she stepped out of the water. She had no designer dress, no make-up. She was just plain, unadorned Hester. Completely bared. But the way he was looking at her? The response that he couldn’t conceal?

  He believed she was beautiful. He wanted her. He ached the same way she did.

  Pride and power exploded within her.

  For the first time in her life she was unafraid to take what she wanted. He could take it—more than that, she knew he willed it for her. For her to find that freedom to explore, to claim, even to conquer. It was almost anger that built within her—a reckless force so fierce and hot she couldn’t contain it. That searing need drove her to take what she wanted. And that was simply to get closer to him. To seek that sensual obliteration and satisfaction from him, with him.

  She unbuttoned his shirt with a dexterity she’d never imagined possessing. He said nothing but the rise and fall of his glorious chest quickened and suddenly he moved to kick off his boots. But then he was hers again. She unfastened his trousers, freeing him to her gaze, her touch, her total exploration. And she kissed him everywhere.

  She pushed and he tumbled. She rose above him, savouring the sensation of having his strength between her legs. She didn’t just open up and allow him in, but actively claimed what he was offering. She took, her hands sweeping over him, and she drew on the hot, slick power of him. She couldn’t contain her desire any more—it was utterly unleashed and she was hungry. So hungry she was angry with it. With the depth of the need she felt for him. The ache that only he filled yet that grew larger every moment she spent with him. She wanted to end it—this craving. The sheer ferocity of it stole her breath so for a second she stilled.

  He reached up and cupped the side of her face. ‘Don’t stop. Do what you want.’

  ‘I want you.’

  ‘You already have me. Hester.’

  The way he sighed her name was her undoing. She slid on him—taking him right into her soul. She heard his muttered oath, the broken growls of encouragement as he urged he
r on, fiercer. Faster. His sighs of pleasure scorched her, catapulting her beyond her own limits. Until she shrieked as he exploded her world.

  Dazed, she collapsed on him. She’d felt nothing like this kind of physical exhaustion or satisfaction.

  ‘Hester,’ he whispered. ‘Hester, Hester, Hester.’ He shuddered and his arms tightened again. ‘What you do to me.’

  Alek sprawled on the ground, holding her close, shattered by the most elemental experience of his life. He wasn’t sure his heart rate would ever recover. She was a chaotic bundle of limbs in his arms. He didn’t want this fragile connection to be severed—for her to retreat behind her emotional walls again. So he slid his hand beneath her jaw, tilting her face so he could kiss her and keep her soft and pliable and warm. But she shivered. He moved, gathering her properly into his arms and rising to his knees, then feet. He carried her to the pond and carefully stepped in, holding her to him so they were both warmed and soothed by the thermal water. She floated in his arms and he teased with pushing her away only to pull her close and kiss her over and over and over until, impossible as it was, his body hardened with need again and he slid deep into her, locking her close on him, rocking them together until the pleasure poured between them and through them, brilliant and free.

  A long while later he lifted her from the water. As he climbed out after her, something dug into his heel. He reached down and picked up the small chunk of obsidian. He weighed it in his palm for a moment. He could give it to her so she could put it in that box of hers and remember this even when she’d walked away from Triscari. When she left him.

  He glanced at her—she looked shattered by the passion that had exploded between them. She didn’t speak. Nor did he. For once he had no idea what to say—no smooth little joke or something to lighten the intensity. He’d lost all charm, all calm. It felt as if he were still standing on something sharp and the only way to ease it was by touching her.

  So he dressed alongside her in silence, pocketing the stone and swiftly readying Jupiter because he needed to feel Hester resting against him again soon.

  They still didn’t speak as they rode back to the homestead. He knew they were going to have to address their ‘contract’ at some point. But that time wasn’t now. Now was the time to keep holding her in his arms and pleasuring her.

  But that was a fantasy too far. Instead the world was waiting for him. As soon as he saw his assistant together with his housekeeper, he knew duty had come knocking, otherwise they’d still be off-site. He cursed inwardly as Hester stiffened. Of course she understood what the welcome committee meant.

  ‘Your Highness.’ His assistant bowed stiffly while looking apologetic at the same time. ‘An issue has arisen. We need to return to the palace immediately.’

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  ALEK GLANCED AT his watch and grimaced. His eyes felt gritty and he could hardly concentrate on what it was his advisor was asking.

  The ‘issue’ dragging them back after only one measly night away was nothing that couldn’t have waited another day or three. It had just been palace officials stressed about his absence and using the smallest drama to summon him back. And that annoyed him. Why couldn’t he spend a full day making love to his wife? But now he’d stopped to think about it, that he’d wanted to do that was even more of a concern.

  It had been Hester who’d solved the foreign dignitaries issue—with a few quiet suggestions to him that he’d amplified to his advisors. She was intelligent and diligent and a damn good problem-solver. He’d selfishly kept her with him as he was consumed by meetings and obligations until he’d seen her losing colour and remembered how tired she’d been. So he’d sent her in the direction of her apartment and continued without her late into the evening. She’d been fast asleep when he’d returned to the apartment and he hadn’t had the heart to wake her.

  And now he was back there was no escape from the duties, the questions, the decisions that everyone wanted from him. He’d ended up back in conference with courtiers first thing. Which was good. Space from her would shake off that lingering concern, wouldn’t it? He’d concentrate on the multitude of tasks at hand and push back that creeping sense of discomfort.

  But it felt as if a craggy boulder were slowly and inexorably rolling into his gut, weighing him down further and further as every second ticked by. Those conversations he’d had with Hester at Triscari Stud had been too raw, raising elements of his past that were better off buried. Things he’d not thought of in for ever. Things that, now he’d recalled them, didn’t seem inclined to return to that safe stasis easily or quickly.

  He’d forgotten so much. And now he’d remembered? That stuff hurt. That stuff wouldn’t be shaken. So it was good to lurch from meeting to meeting, to force every brain cell to focus on debates and decisions and stupid, tiny details that really didn’t matter.

  Except his brain kept returning to Hester. To those moments at the thermal springs. Her unfettered incredible response had been a searing delight. He’d wrapped around her, holding her close—not wanting her to retreat. Wanting no barrier to build between them again.

  He stilled, suddenly realising there’d literally been nothing between them physically at all. He’d not used contraception. In that wild, free moment, he’d not stopped to consider anything other than getting closer to her. In all his years, in all his exploits, he’d never once failed to use protection. He’d never once risked it. But at the time it hadn’t even occurred to him. He couldn’t have cared less in his haste to have her.

  Which meant he might’ve got her pregnant. Hester might be carrying his child.

  His vision tunnelled. He’d not wanted children. Ever. Even though he knew he was going to have to at some point, he’d figured he could delay it for as long as possible. But now?

  Now he had Hester. And she might be pregnant.

  He felt as if parts of a puzzle had slid into place without him paying attention. But now he did. If she’d got pregnant would it really matter? Wouldn’t they just stay married?

  Surprising as it was, that thought didn’t horrify him at all. In fact, completely weirdly, that rock weighing on his gut actually eased off. They worked well together—she was skilled and capable. There was no reason why this couldn’t become a successful marriage long term. It would answer all their issues, wouldn’t it?

  She would have the security and safety she’d never had. The viciousness of her cousins and her school bullies appalled him and, while she seemed well free of them now, he didn’t want her to suffer like that ever again. He could keep her safe with him. The media might have their moments, but they could shake that off. His life was constricted and that would impact on her—but surely it was better than what she’d had. Surely what he could offer her outweighed those negatives?

  He glanced up as the door opened, half hoping Hester might’ve come to check on him—drawn to him in the same way he was to her. But it was his private assistant who entered.

  ‘I apologise for the interruption, Your Highness, but you requested we update you on your wife if—’

  ‘What’s happened?’ Alek’s instincts sharpened.

  ‘She’s walking in the gardens, sir.’ His assistant flashed a deferential but reassuring smile. ‘But I don’t think she realised that it’s public viewing time.’

  Alek frowned. ‘Has she been seen by someone?’

  ‘Her bodyguard believes they might be family members, sir.’

  ‘Damn.’ Alek strode straight to the door.

  * * *

  ‘I didn’t realise you were still here.’ Hester remained still, refusing to obey the urge to run away. She didn’t have Alek and Fi either side of her, but she could handle the unholy cousinly trinity of Joshua, Brittany and Kimberly now, right?

  ‘The invitation included staying for the coronation,’ Joshua said with the faintest edge of belligerence. ‘We’re looking around the gardens.’

/>   Hester nodded, momentarily unable to think of a reply. They reminded her of crocodiles with their toothy smiles and tough skin and she was instantly cast into freeze mode.

  ‘You look pale,’ Kimberly commented with a concern that was a touch too solicitous. ‘Are you feeling well?’

  ‘Very well.’ Hester breathed slowly to regulate her skipping pulse. ‘Thank you.’

  ‘I imagine it’s been frantic,’ Kimberly added. ‘Such an unexpected whirlwind wedding, Hester. How fortunate he found you.’

  ‘Yes.’ Brittany had been watching closely with her sharp eyes. ‘You’ve done so well for yourself, I could hardly believe it was you when you walked into that chapel. What an amazing dress and make-up job.’

  Their peals of laughter reverberated with a cruel edge and Hester all but choked. Because they knew and she knew—it was all a façade, as fake as their flattery and smiles were now. Smoke and mirrors.

  ‘And now Alek can be crowned King.’ Brittany sent another stabbing look towards Hester. ‘But I’d have thought you’d look more like a blushingly happy bride.’

  Her cousins had said nothing overtly cruel. Not even they would dare spit bare barbs and bitchiness at her in the palace grounds. No, this was a subtle poison, wrapped in layers of saccharine politeness. But they’d always known where to strike for maximum hurt—mean girls from the moment she’d met them.

  Don’t reply. Don’t give them ammunition.

  But that was the old Hester whispering. The one who’d been too afraid to speak or stand up, who’d hidden every reaction, who’d run away...

  As Alek had pointed out, there was nothing wrong with choosing not to stick around to be abused. It had taken strength for her to walk out and because she had, she was even stronger now. So she wasn’t going to let them chip away her new-found confidence. She’d taken on a huge job here and nailed it. What was more, while Alek mightn’t love her, he liked her and he respected what she could offer.