Finn strode over to Alex with a pleasant expression and bowed. “Your Highness,” he said and held out his hand. Alex gave a short bow and reluctantly shook Finn’s hand as his narrowed eyes darted between her and Finn. “I’m Prince Finn de Bara. Welcome to Brazenbourg. I apologize for not meeting you earlier.”
Finn was charming, unperturbed at being caught with his arms around a visiting princess. Arianna could tell Alex was holding back his anger, whether for her or for political reasons, she didn’t know.
“Prince Finn. Would you care to tell me just what you were doing with my sister?”
With a contrite expression, which may or may not have been genuine, Finn said, “I take full responsibility. I wanted to apologize to the Princess for not receiving her earlier, as I have just done to you. When I knocked, however, she must have been expecting you, as she asked me to come in and assist her. She was surprised to see me there, as you can imagine.”
Alex gave him a fierce stare, though Finn remained undaunted. A look like that from Alex would fell most men, but apparently not Finn. “That still doesn’t explain why you were accosting her in her own room,” Alex said, his anger evident in his voice.
“Alex, it’s not his fault,” Arianna said and both men turned towards her. Why had she spoken up when she really wanted to crawl away and hide?
“Really?” Alex asked with disbelief.
“Yes. I was having trouble with my dress and he was helping me.”
“Is that what they’re calling it these days?” Alex muttered.
“Your Highness, please don’t blame the Princess.”
Alex crossed his arms over his broad chest. “Do you honestly think I would place any blame for this situation on my sister? Who the hell do you think you are?”
“I’m Finn,” he said with a slight smile, still not reacting to Alex’s anger. “Listen, it was an honest mistake. I certainly didn’t mean to intrude and I meant no harm to the Princess. What say we head down for some pre-dinner drinks and put this behind us?”
Alex considered for a moment and glanced at Arianna who nodded her approval of Finn’s suggestion. “All right,” Alex said. “We’ll put this behind us, but know this: you harm my sister in any form or fashion, you will regret it. I don’t care who you are.”
Arianna saw Finn’s smile slip slightly at Alex’s intense words, but he recovered quickly. “I would expect no less, Your Highness,” Finn said.
“Call me Alex. Now, if you’ll wait outside for us, we’ll need a few more minutes.”
“Of course,” Finn said with a charming smile and a small bow. “Alex. Princess,” he said and walked out, shutting the door behind him.
“Are you all right?” Alex asked as he walked over and placed his hands on her shoulders. His eyes searched hers for any signs of trauma. He had given her the same look years ago when she had made another mistake with a man.
“Yes, I’m fine,” she said, giving him a small smile and hoping he would believe the lie. “It was a misunderstanding, that’s all.”
“Take care, Ari. His reputation with women is deplorable.”
“So are Nate’s and Lorenzo’s,” Arianna said, referring to two of their brothers. “But you don’t take them to task.”
“That’s where you’re wrong. I frequently scold them, and so do our parents, but don’t try to change the subject. Was he telling the truth about what happened?”
“Yes, he was. They didn’t supply me with a maid or assistant to help me dress, so there was no one to answer the door. I thought it was you, in any case, but I should have checked first. If anything, it was my fault.” It was always her fault.
Alex gave her shoulders a squeeze. “Don’t say things like that. We’re a guest in his palace. If anything, he should have known better.” He sighed. “Look, if you tell me to drop it, I will, but I’m still going to keep an eye on him.”
“Really, Alex, it’s fine. Don’t make this into something it’s not.” That was advice she would use herself. “Why were you late tonight anyway?”
He frowned and stepped away, taking a seat in a small sitting area near the window. Arianna took a moment while his back was turned to adjust the front of her dress, then walked over to join him. “I was on the phone.”
She put a hand over his. “Is something wrong? Is someone hurt?” Their brother Marcello, who was Valleria’s Minister of Security and Defense, had been injured about a month ago while on a top secret mission.
Alex gave her hand a squeeze. “No, nothing like that. Don’t upset yourself.”
“Oh. Well, were too busy talking to Rebecca to remember your dear sister?” she asked with a smile on her face. Alex lifted one corner of his mouth in amusement. “I did speak to Rebecca a little while ago, yes, but I was actually speaking with Marcello. He’s concerned.”
“Is Grace all right?” Grace was Marcello’s lady love and a long-time friend of their sister Catharine. Marcello and Grace were currently in England, where Grace had a home, while they awaited trial of the man who had attacked Grace and Cat over a month ago.
“Yes, he told me they actually won’t need to go to trial and are pursuing a plea deal. The sworn statements from Grace, Cat, and others are enough to ensure his guilt. However, since he attacked Cat, a royal of another nation, I doubt he’ll ever breathe free air again.”
“That’s excellent news.”
Alex nodded. “What isn’t excellent is the fallout from the covert mission Marcello completed.”
“Do we need to go back to Valleria?”
Alex shook his head. “Not tonight. Marcello is having his team do some more digging.”
“What really happened, Alex? Neither you nor Marcello ever said.”
“It was to protect you, all of you. However, since I’m going to be distracted with it, I think you deserve to know. You know as much as the media does, correct?” She nodded.
“Good. Then you know Marcello led a mission into Gardar Rus, one of the largest countries in the world. Their leader, Vlad, who was arrested afterwards by the International Police Force, was threatening to invade three nearby countries. What no one knew, however, was that two of those countries had teamed up with Gardar Rus to ambush Marcello and the others. Fortunately, our brother had the foresight to realize that and had planned accordingly.”
Arianna’s head was reeling. She shuddered when she thought of what could have happened to her older brother. “Is that all?”
“No. Marcello learned that night that another country, not present during the mission, was also involved in the ambush. Marcello thinks he’s close to finding out who it is.”
“Oh my God. Are we safe? Would they come after us?”
“We’re fine, Ari. Believe me, I never would have left Valleria if I didn’t think otherwise. Brazenbourg may be able to help us, and that’s why we’re actually here. I don’t care much for Henry, but if his intelligence forces have picked up on anything, it would help us a great deal.”
“Do you think he’ll help you?”
“I don’t know. I also don’t know what he’ll want in return. Brazenbourg is a small country, but Henry, from what I’ve heard, has big ambitions.”
“Well, I’ll do whatever I can to help. Truly.” When the clock chimed, they both glanced up. “I think we’d better go. If we need Brazenbourg’s help, we don’t want to be too late to dinner.”
As they both stood, Alex said, “We’ll blame it on Finn.”
“Alex,” Arianna said in a warning tone.
“Don’t worry, I’ll be good.”
“See that you are, or my first call will be to your fiancée and the next call will be to Mama.”
“Arianna, that’s not necessary.”
Arianna laughed at the worried look on his face. “Come on, big brother. Let’s not keep them waiting.”
***
Finn paced lightly in the hallway while he waited for the Vallerian royals to come out of the Princess’s room. He adjusted his pants yet again at the thou
ght of the Princess and her voluptuous curves dressed in sinful lace, and wondered if the rest of her lingerie matched her bra. He had wanted to bury his hands in her rich caramel-colored hair that had eyes to match, and kiss away the color on her full painted lips.
He ran a frustrated hand through his hair. It was his fault for intruding on her privacy - he may never forgive himself for that - but, Jesus, she was sexy. She was one of the sexiest woman he’d ever met, and he’d known a lot of women.
When his arms had gone around her, pushing her full breasts against his chest, he’d felt more than a punch of desire. He’d wanted to hold her and kiss away the surprise that still lingered in her eyes. She’d felt desire for him, too; he was experienced enough to recognize that.
With a sister like that, it was no wonder that Alex wanted to rip his head off. Finn, who was used to even worse tirades from Henry, hadn’t batted an eye at Alex’s anger, at least for the most part.
The sound of her sultry laughter carried into the hallway. Jesus, she even laughed sexy, and the palace seemed brighter as a result of it. When she and Alex exited a few moments later, her bare shoulders were covered in a sparkling jacket. Pity. Even if he couldn’t touch her soft skin again, he’d love to see it, and imagine what it would taste like.
Her eyes were bright and both she and Alex were smiling. He wondered what it would be like to have a woman like her smile at him. He’d had women smile and flirt with him before, but she was different and he wasn’t sure why. Even the dress she wore was in Brazenbourg colors, the jewelry a symbolic mix of their two countries. She could easily be a Brazenbourg bride dressed as she was, and the thought unnerved him.
“All set?” Finn asked, his voice a little gruffer than expected. He cleared his throat.
“Yes, thank you,” Alex replied as they began walking down the hall, security following in their wake. Arianna slipped her hand under Alex’s arm for support; he wished her arm was resting on his.
“Allow me to apologize again,” Finn said. “I certainly didn’t mean to intrude or offend either of you, and I hope you’ll not think poorly of Brazenbourg because of it.”
“Think nothing of it,” Arianna said and gave him a small smile, which did strange things to him inside. He nodded in return even while an ache seemed to settle inside him. Try as he might, he had a sinking feeling he could never think ‘nothing’ about what had happened.
As they walked, Finn began gesturing to various points of interest around the palace, things he loved or that had a bit of interesting history attached to it, anything to keep his mind off the woman a few feet away from him and the soft click of her heels.
When they finally reached the sitting room, Henry was waiting. Finn could already tell he was in a surly mood. Henry’s moods turned faster than a breath these days, so Finn hoped he became more pleasant soon.
Before Henry could berate them for being tardy, which Finn knew he would do, Finn spoke first. “Sorry for the lateness, Henry. You can blame it on me.”
“We share equal blame, I’m sure,” Alex said as he led Arianna to a couch near the fire.
“Prince Henry, I’m afraid they’re both just covering for me. I did take a little extra time getting ready this evening,” Arianna said with a demure smile.
“Nonsense,” Henry said and returned her smile. It seemed Henry’s mood had changed just in time. “Of course you should take as long as you need, and I can see that the effort was well worth the wait.” Arianna thanked Henry, while Finn tried to wonder why Henry was trying to flirt with the Princess.
“My sister was not supplied with a maid or anyone to help her. Had I known that would be the case, we could have easily brought one of our own from Valleria.”
Henry stiffened and Finn did, too, while he waited to see which way Henry would swing this time. Fortunately, Henry relaxed. “I do apologize. You see, since our mother passed, there has not been anyone to advise us about such things. We are sorry for any inconvenience.”
“It was no inconvenience, I assure you,” Arianna said and shot a quick glance to Finn. Were his eyes deceiving him or had her skin become flushed? No doubt it was due to the fire beside her. Yes, that was it.
“May I get everyone a drink?” Finn asked, hoping to keep his hands busy and his mind distracted for a moment. As everyone stated their drinks, Finn walked across the room to make them. A few moments later, he walked over with two glasses of white wine in his hand and handed one to Arianna first.
“Thank you,” she said in her soft, sultry voice as she took the glass. Her hand brushed against his and she gasped lightly; was she feeling the spark between them, too? Maybe she was just as affected by him, as he was of her.
“You are quite welcome, Princess.” Her eyes, which seemed to glow against the firelight, grew wider.
“Alex,” Finn said as he handed him the other glass. Alex glared at him but said nothing.
“Really, Finn,” Henry scowled. “You should at least address our guests properly. I do apologize, Your Highnesses.”
“There’s no need to scold him,” Alex said easily as he relaxed in the seat beside Arianna. “I asked him to call me ‘Alex’ and you are welcome to do the same.”
“And you are free to call me ‘Arianna’ as well, if you prefer.”
“Ah,” Henry said flustered; Finn knew Henry hated to be off his game, even for a moment. “Of course, you may also call me ‘Henry’, if you choose.”
“Thank you,” Alex said as his eyes darted between the two brothers. As Finn handed Henry a glass of scotch and kept a glass of wine for himself, Finn wondered what Alex saw. “I find that formal titles can be quite tedious at times, don’t you?” Alex asked before he took a sip.
“Do you?” Henry asked with disbelief. “I find them quite appropriate. Though, with other royalty, perhaps you are correct.” Alex gave Henry an even smile, as a butler came in to announce dinner.
As they made their way down the hall, Henry held out his arm for Arianna, who graciously accepted, leaving Finn and Alex to walk a little ways behind them.
“You and your brother are very different, aren’t you?” Alex asked as they slowly made their way down the hall.
“As different as night on one planet and day on another. Aren’t you and the Princess different from each of your siblings, as well as each other?”
“Yes, I suppose that’s true. May I be blunt?”
“Blunt I can appreciate. Insults, however, I do not take kindly to.”
“Understood. Henry does not seem to be very consistent. His emotions swing faster than a pendulum.”
“You’re very astute, Alex. I won’t say you’re wrong, because I’ll speak the truth as I know it, and what you said is true.”
“Not insulted, then?”
“No. Not yet, anyway.”
“Then I hope you’ll not be offended by my next statement, either. There doesn’t seem to be any love lost between you and your brother.”
“I’m not offended. No, you’re right. However, most people don’t pick up on it. We’ve never been fond of each other, but we are still brothers,” Finn warned him.
Alex smiled. “I understand. I’d like to talk more with you, Finn. Will you join Henry and me in our conversations tomorrow?”
“I’m not involved in matters of the state,” Finn said simply. He knew the Vallerian royal children all worked in some fashion for their crown and country. Henry had always opposed such an idea when it came to Finn.
“Well, perhaps it’s time you started,” Alex said as they entered the dining room.
Henry sat Arianna near him at the head of the table, with Finn beside her and Alex across from her. His leg gently brushed hers after he sat down, and she tensed. Even through the clothes they wore, the briefest touch felt like fire against him.
As she laid her napkin over her lap, he noticed how graceful she was. Her arms and hands moved in fluid movements as she reached for her wine or her meal; he couldn’t help but wonder how those graceful han
ds would feel as they grazed and marked his body.
Though her smile seemed easy, with darkened lips sliding comfortably over impeccable teeth, and her movements even, her demeanor seemed at odds with the woman who had almost fallen apart in his arms. She had been incredibly responsive in her room but, looking at the proper woman besides him, no one would guess it.
Throughout dinner, every chance he got, he brushed his arm against hers, or his hand. He kept bumping her leg underneath the table or sliding his foot against hers. At first, she seemed to shift away, keeping her body tense, but eventually she either gave up or gave in, and he wondered which it was.
Topics at dinner were kept to general subjects, neither country willing to mar the fine meal with political discourse. Arianna, he learned, was also incredibly intelligent - far smarter than him, he realized - as she could talk expertly on any subject they discussed. Besides wanting to hear her voice, he realized he truly yearned to know more about her opinions.
Arianna & Finn (Royals of Valleria #3) Page 3
