She clutched his hand and her entire face and neck turned bright red. Surely she was about to say no and explain a bit of her personal life.
Then she swallowed and glanced at his hand holding hers. He held his breath as he waited for her refusal, but then she tugged his arm to stand and said, “Yes. I know you have to marry soon and I’m honored, though I should discuss this with my grandmother and ask for her blessing.”
His mother clasped her hands together and acted like this last-minute union was now a royal decree. “Excellent. We’ll plan the wedding for tomorrow and send you both on an extended honeymoon to get to know each other.”
Know each other? True. Other than her dependability and timeliness where she was always where he needed her to be, he didn’t know much about Anna. He released her hand, walking to the open door where he waited by it. “I’d like to speak to Anna, alone.”
His mother wrapped her arm in the crook of his father’s and said, “I’ll begin the wedding preparations for tomorrow. Anna, don’t leave this castle without my tailor taking your measurements.”
Anna bowed as was the custom. “Yes, Your Majesty.”
His parents left in a wake of gold and blue and silence clung in the air. His office had a window that overlooked a vast green lawn and clusters of trees. A branch scraped the glass, breaking the tension.
Anna turned to the printer, gathered and stapled some papers, then handed them to him. “I finished the report on the environmental impact of deforestation of the mountains. The forestry department recommends replanting trees, Sire, before the next ski season.”
Seriously? Reports. She’d just agreed to marry him, so as of tomorrow, she’d never touch one more industry paper for him. He stood taller and noticed that the swell of her breasts in her white button-down was larger than he’d have guessed. Her shirt was big—to disguise her figure? He sat on the edge of his mahogany desk, centered in the room, to give her space. “Anna, I don’t want to talk about trees right now.”
She took a few steps closer to him and hugged the papers to her chest, keeping her gaze no higher than his chin as she disagreed. “The report sounded important.”
If she thought it was urgent, then she was probably right. He held out his hand for the report she wanted to discuss and flexed his fingers. She gave him the papers and he signed the bottom to approve the proposal. “It seems we’ll plant trees in the future queen’s honor then.”
“What do you mean?”
Business would never come between them again. He took her hand. First off, he noticed the spark again, and second, how soft her hands actually were as he tugged her closer and placed her palm on his heart, over the silk fabric of his shirt. “Anna, you just agreed to be my wife. That’s more important than trees.”
Her fingers clutched the row of buttons but then she pulled away, her face bright red. She glanced down and still acted like his secretary. “I see. Is there anything else you need from me?”
He motioned toward the cleared space on the desk. “Anna, please sit beside me.”
She squared her shoulders instead of telling him no and hopped up on the wooden desk, but lost one of her black flats. Her toes, in black hose, wiggled as she settled next to him. “Is here good?”
Until ten minutes ago, he hadn’t thought of Anna as someone he’d be with, which probably made him a snob. He’d noticed her curves, but never once spent any time imagining the color of her nipples underneath her bra. Now the question hung in his brain as he stared at her shoe on the hardwood floor and asked, “Why did you say yes?”
Anna too looked down and then she tucked her foot behind her calf as she struggled for words. Finally she said, “Because… being a queen would be a dream.”
Was there to be total truth between them? Beauty and trust were a rare combination. He traced the edge of his desk with the heel of his palm. “Even though you know about Francesca?”
She let out a deep breath and met his gaze without blinking. “You don’t love her, Sire.”
Anna sounded so sure. So had his parents. They were right, but he hadn’t claimed otherwise. “How do you know that?”
Her light brown brow rose as if he’d said something silly. “Because you wouldn’t have paid her to stay away.”
Ouch. And she was right. Anna had ensured that Francesca deposited the check she’d filled out on his behalf. His shoulders relaxed as he nodded. “Anna, maybe you and my parents are right about Francesca and me, but agreeing to marry me is a bit of leap. I expected you to laugh in my face and tell me you had a boyfriend.”
She glanced at his shoulder now as she almost whispered, “I’ve never laughed at you, Sire, and I have no boyfriend.”
Good. He didn’t need to share her, and that pleased him. Now that Anna was a possibility, he noticed the fullness of her lower lip. He looked again. Anna had the potential to be absolutely stunning. He placed one hand next to hers. “Anna, I’ve never seen you with your hair out of that bun.”
She reached behind her head and gave him the stare she gave him when handing over a report. No-nonsense. “Do you want me to take my hair down, Your Highness?”
He shifted toward her and nodded. Brown, yes, but how long? Would it be soft, or coarse? “Yes, let’s see it.”
She lightly chewed on her lower lip and took out pins. Then she unwound her hair from a tight circle and removed an elastic.
He stared in fascination as her hair was lighter brown than he’d thought. It cascaded down her neck, straight at her shoulder blade as she shook it out and said, “It’s a bit of a mess.”
Or bed-ready. His fingers ached to run his hands through the strands.
Perhaps his mother had hired Anna for him last year, hoping he’d take her. And he’d been the fool that let social status and castle politics blind him. Leo stared at her lightly pink mouth—he knew she wore ChapStick she kept on her desk. “No, no. You look kissable.”
He came closer to steal a taste. She pressed her hand to his chest as she lowered her lashes, “Your Highness…”
His lips were a fraction of a centimeter from her as he said in a low voice, “We’ll be expected to have children. I’d like to know what my future wife kisses like.”
She closed her eyes and offered her parted lips when she said, “If you want…”
“I want.” He wrapped his arms around her back, tugging her closer.
She let out a sigh and then he kissed her strawberry ChapStick.
Anna’s kiss was sweet, almost innocent, though her hands wrapped around his shoulders, letting him know she wanted him back.
Leo deepened the kiss, picking up her leg and depositing it on his so her chest was pressed against his, despite the clothes.
He ran his hands through her silky hair—it was oh, so soft.
Her moan encouraged him, but he stopped himself.
The last thing the world press needed to see was her bruised lips from too many kisses.
After tomorrow, after the wedding, no one would see them for a while.
He could take his time then.
He fixed his shirt as he stood from the desk, handing her the shoe she’d dropped. She slipped it on and tried to straighten her hair as she asked, “Is that all, Your Highness?”
If they continued, he’d strip her bare, right here, and not care if he took her where he normally read over reports and had her fetching his coffee. He adjusted his jacket and motioned toward the door. “Better get going to my mother’s tailor.”
“I’ll file this on my way out.” She picked up the report on trees that had dropped to the ground somewhere in their kiss. She hugged the papers. “I will speak to my grandmother tonight.”
He tilted his head and stared at Anna, unsure what the problem might be. He was the future king. “Won’t she approve?”
She shook her head and shrugged. “Probably not, at least not right away, but I’ll handle it. We can marry in the morning.”
Why would anyone refuse his offer? Anna’s grandmother
must be interesting.
He didn’t say anything and she sashayed toward the door. He called out to her curvy backside, “Anna, wait.”
She turned around and lowered her head again like they were still boss and employee as she asked, “Yes, Your Highness?”
He crossed the room and lifted her chin. Once she stared at him, the memory of her kiss lingering on his lips, he said, “Call me Leo or Leopoldo from now on.”
She let out a sigh. “I…”
Her voice had trailed off, and whatever she intended to say was gone. He didn’t want to let her go and he ran his hands through her mane of hair, all waves from the bun. “Anna, next time we meet it will be our wedding. I promise that I’ll be less in crisis-mode and more of a gentleman.”
She turned her head like she’d kiss his hand that touched her. “You’re always a gentleman, Your High… Leo.”
The way she said his name made him pause. He kissed her cheek, and then stepped back. “See you tomorrow then, for our wedding.”
Without another word, she left. He watched the door close and only in the silence did he finally think.
Tomorrow was his wedding day. And somehow he had a bride he both desired and never expected. A few hours ago all of this seemed absolutely impossible, but now he’d spend the night wondering if that strawberry taste was all over her bare skin or just on her pink lips.
He reached onto her desk and picked up her ChapStick, tucking it in his pocket.
Also by Victoria Pinder
Returning for Valentine’s (FREE if you go to my website)
The House of Morgan
Secret Crush
Secret Baby
Secret Bet
Secret Wish
Secret Dad
Secret Heir
Secret Tryst
Secret Date
Secret Romeo
Secret Caress
Secret Match
Secret Bridesmaid
Secret Admirer
Secret Cowboy
Secret Mistress
Secret Cinderella
The House of Morgan Boxed Set 1-3
The House of Morgan Boxed Set 4-6
The House of Morgan Boxed Set 7-9
The House of Morgan Boxed Set 10-12
The House of Morgan Boxed Set 13-15
Princes of Avce
Forbidden Crown
Forbidden Prince
Forbidden Royal
Forbidden Duke
Forbidden Earl
Forbidden Monsieur
Forbidden Marquis
Forbidden Count
Forbidden King
Forbidden Bastard
Forbidden Noble
Forbidden Lord
Princes of Avce 1-3
Princes of Avce 4-6
Princes of Avce 7-9
Steel Series
Legendary Rock Star
Rocking Player
Ruthless Financier
Wicked Cowboy
Powerful Prince
Cocky M.D.
The Hawke Fortune
Tempting Gabe
Tempting James
Tempting Conner
Tempting Harry
Tempting Navid
Hawke Series
* * *
Brothers in Revenge
Irresistibly Lost
Irresistibly Found
Irresistibly Charming
Irresistibly Tough
Irresistibly Played
Irresistibly Rugged
Irresistibly Strong
Irresistibly Dashing
Irresistibly Boxed Set 3-5
Irresistibly Boxed Set 4-6
* * *
Hidden Alphas
Hidden Gabriel
Hidden Raphael
Hidden Michael
Hidden Dane
Hidden Rocco
Hidden Alphas Boxed Set
* * *
The Marshall Family Saga
Favorite Crush
Favorite Mistake
Favorite Sin
Favorite Scandal
* * *
The Collins Brothers
Chaperoning Paris
Borrowing the Doctor
Gerard
Liam
Eric
* * *
Then if you also like
Science Fiction/Fantasy Romance
Hidden Dragon Series
Call of the Dragon
Dawn of the Dragon
Escape of the Dragon (Coming Soon)
The Queen Gene
Whispers of a Throne
Storm of the Throne (coming soon)
Earthseekers Mission
Makeup May Change Your Life
The Zoastra Affair
Ancient Greek Heroes
Romancing Theseus
Mything the Throne
About the Author
USA Today Bestselling Author, Victoria Pinder grew up in Irish Catholic Boston then moved to Miami. Eventually, found that writing is her passion. She always wrote stories to entertain herself. Her parents are practical minded people demanding a job, but when she sat down to see what she enjoyed doing, writing became obvious.
Visit my website and download a free novel
www.victoriapinder.com
[email protected]
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