His blood heated at the thought. “Whose idea is this?” he managed. “Surely not Ruben’s.”
“Oh, no,” she chuckled, a suggestive little sound. “If he knew about this, he’d be livid.” Then, as though to prove a point, she leaned in and breathed a kiss on his jaw.
Damn. He shuddered, fighting back the urge to turn his head and kiss her hard, right here in the hall. But this was so not the time or the place, so he kept putting one foot in front of the other as though her gesture had caused little response in him.
“You’ve got to put more into your acting,” she chided. “We’re supposed to be all over each other, not hanging back.”
Gritting his teeth, he nodded. Apparently she didn’t have the same worries as he did about losing control.
“Then kiss me,” she ordered. “Or touch me or something. Hurry. One of the other maids is coming this way.”
She turned into him as she spoke and giggled, exactly like a young girl flirting with her boyfriend. He responded in kind, nuzzling her neck while cupping her behind with one hand. As she pressed her full breasts into him, he had trouble remembering this playacting wasn’t real. Hiding her face in his chest, she nipped him lightly with her teeth, sending his pulse skyrocketing.
As soon as the maid’s footsteps disappeared, Alisa moved away, leaving him feeling like he’d been set adrift, desire making him dizzy.
“We’re safe,” she whispered. “She’s gone.”
Praying she wouldn’t comment on the obvious sign of his arousal, he nodded. Since he couldn’t find his voice to save his life, he continued trudging along beside her. He couldn’t help but hope someone else would come along so he’d have an excuse to touch her again.
“Here we are.” Releasing his arm, she moved away. The heavy clanking sound told him she was opening another door. Again, he wished fiercely that he could see, which pissed him off. How long would he keep longing for something he couldn’t have?
“This leads into the parking garage for employees,” she said, for his benefit. “Come on.”
Stepping through with her, he waited while she closed the heavy metal door.
“There’s the white van, exactly where it’s supposed to be,” she exclaimed as the van pulled up in front of them.
Once the vehicle coasted to a stop in front of them, though oddly reluctant to let go of Alisa’s arm, he helped her up inside the van. He felt eternally grateful when she returned the favor by keeping her hand in his and guiding him up and to his seat.
“Hello, Dr. Streib,” a softly accented voice said. “Princess Alisa.”
“Katya?” They’d sent along his assistant?
“I am to be your chaperone,” she said shyly. “I hope you don’t mind, Your Highness.”
“Of course not.” Alisa’s brisk tone would seem to indicate otherwise. “Braden—that is, Dr. Streib, certainly looks pleased.”
“I am.” Even though grinning wouldn’t seem to be the best option, he couldn’t help himself. “This is awesome. She’s trained to help me with my research. Your parents have been more than considerate sending her.”
“Yes,” she said sourly. “They certainly have.”
From the driver’s seat, Ruben laughed.
* * *
Alisa settled back, seatbelt tightly fastened and a fixed smile on her face. This was for both her brother and Katya’s benefit. The assistant certainly appeared pleased to be accompanying them to this secret location.
At first, Alisa had thought this must be because the foolish girl believed that Ruben was staying with them as well.
But then she saw the way Katya watched Braden. Her Braden. Katya watched him like she’d like to eat him up.
Hounds over the moon. She, Princess Alisa of Teslinko, was jealous.
If that didn’t beat all.
Driving slowly for him, Ruben switched lanes and gradually decelerated. “We’re going to exit here,” he announced. “I want to make sure we’re not being followed.”
As they coasted down the road, Alisa turned and looked behind them, even though Ruben continually checked the rearview mirror. They turned down a side street, drove into a wooded neighborhood of flats and the occasional house, then came back out on the same side street, heading back in the direction they’d come.
Though traffic was light, Alisa felt certain she didn’t see the same car more than once.
“I think we’re safe,” she said.
“I agree.” Ruben flashed a warm smile. “Now we can get back on the highway.”
“Where are we going?” Alisa asked. “Since we’re on the way, I see no reason why you can’t tell us.”
“It’s one of our many houses—the summer cottage on the coast.”
“I know the one! When we were children, we used to go there all the time, though you were really small and probably don’t remember.”
He shrugged. “Maybe not. Either way, Father says it’s isolated and very easy to guard. You should be safe there.”
Alisa nodded. “You know, I really hate running away. I’d much rather stay and fight.”
“I know you would.” He gave her a fond look. “But we must keep you safe. We can’t protect ourselves if we’re worried about you.”
“That’s right, put it back on me,” she grumbled. She jumped when Braden put his arm around her shoulders.
“He’s right, you know.” His low—and if she was honest, sexy—voice rumbled in her ear. “Plus, we may have better success figuring out your ability if we’re away from all distractions.”
Ah, but who would protect them from the biggest distraction of all—their attraction toward each other?
Eyeing Katya watching them, Alisa didn’t voice this concern. Something about the other woman set her off, though she couldn’t put her finger on exactly what. Maybe it was the way the assistant, now that she was to be away from the palace, wore a low-cut blouse that prominently displayed her ample assets. Which made no sense, as Braden couldn’t see. If she was trying to impress Ruben, she’d exerted absolutely no effort. She hadn’t even looked at the prince once since they’d gotten into the van.
Alisa frowned, glaring at the other woman. She’d hoped whoever her parents chose as chaperone wouldn’t even speak English. Instead, they’d sent someone who was not only fluent in the language, but who’d acted as Braden’s research assistant as well.
At least Katya had the common sense to avert her gaze instead of glaring back.
“How long a drive are we in for?” Braden asked.
“About an hour,” Ruben answered pleasantly. “At least you all are going to the most beautiful part of our country—the coast. While the beaches are a bit rocky, the sheer beauty of the cliffs more than make up for that.”
“Do you go there often?” Braden asked.
“No. Like Lisa, I haven’t been in a while. You know what, though? As soon as all this is over, I think I’ll come stay for a few weeks. I remember coming here as a child. It’s really the most amazing place.”
“How do you remember?” Alisa asked. “You’re two years younger than me.”
He shrugged. “Maybe from all the pictures Mom took. Or maybe…” He grinned. “Because Dad and I come here fishing occasionally.”
Though Braden only nodded and didn’t reply, his pained expression told Alisa how much it bothered him that he couldn’t view the gorgeous countryside.
She ached to comfort him with a touch, but both her brother and Katya’s eagle eyes prevented that. Instead, she sought to distract him with words.
“As children, our parents would bring us to the coast every summer. I don’t know about Ruben or my sisters, but those were among the happiest times of my life.”
She told him about ordinary childhood pleasures—the building of sand castles and riding an inflatable raft over the smallish waves.
“I thought the beaches were rocky,” Braden commented.
Exchanging a glance with her brother, she smiled. “They are. But our father had the
area in front of our house dredged out and truckloads of sand were brought in. He created the perfect beach area in which to let his children play safely.”
Finally, they arrived at the gated, winding drive that led to the royal vacation cottage. The lane meandered through sheer rocky cliffs, upon which King Leo had placed a guard shack. Another guard post waited at the point where the road exited the cliffs, as well as another tall, wrought-iron gate.
Keeping up a running commentary, Alisa relayed descriptions of it all for Braden’s benefit.
“Thank you,” he murmured into her ear. “It’s almost as good as actually seeing it.”
And though his smile appeared tinged by sadness, his words lightened her heart.
Again, she ached to touch him, to pull his head close to hers and kiss him. She actually swayed, so powerful was the urge. Only Katya’s deliberate cough stopped her.
“We’re here!” Ruben said, sounding relieved. When he pulled up in front of the low-slung, stone house and parked, he lifted his hands from the steering wheel and flexed them. Watching this, Alisa realized he’d been much more tense than he’d let on.
“The house is made of native cedar and stone.” As she walked Braden from the car to the front door, she kept up the running monologue.
“Wait.” Ruben stepped in front of them. He spoke a few words into his phone, then dropped it back into his pocket. “I’ve asked the security detail to run a complete check of the interior. We’re not going anywhere until I get an all-clear.”
“How do you know you can trust them?” Braden wanted to know. “You had a mole back at the palace. Who’s to say you don’t have one here?”
“All of the people stationed here have worked at this location for ten years or longer.” Ruben smiled as he spoke. “They are among our most trusted staff. That is one of the reasons my father chose this house out of all the others.”
Braden nodded. Alisa squeezed his arm, standing a tiny bit closer than was actually necessary, but not so close that anyone would notice.
In fact, she had difficulty tearing her gaze from the house. The cozy, cottage-looking facade brought back so many childhood memories, all from a time before she’d fully understood what being a princess actually meant.
Odd how so many people viewed royalty as exalted and envied what they believed to be special, privileged lives. In her experience, being a princess meant one thing. She had to live her life apart and alone, never fully able to participate in the sometimes messy spontaneity of normal life like others did.
Instead of private school, she and her siblings had tutors. Instead of classroom and recess and friends, they’d only had each other. Their play dates had been arranged with carefully selected children, almost all of them the offspring of other nobles.
Her entire life she’d been scrutinized and criticized, carefully watched, often imitated, and occasionally mocked. Only here, at this house by the sea, had she felt able to let go of her public persona and simply be Alisa. Or Lisa, as Ruben called her.
Her brother was right. She hadn’t been to this spot in years. Too long. She didn’t even remember why they’d stopped coming here. Now, she got to experience the simple beauty and near-magical enchantment of the place once more. This time, she had Braden by her side.
If the situation wasn’t so volatile, she would have said it couldn’t get much better than that.
Finally, Ruben got the all-clear. “We can go inside,” he said, giving Alisa a warning look that had to be because of how close she and Braden were standing. From the other side, Katya managed to mirror his expression exactly.
Ignoring them both, she pulled Braden up the sidewalk. Though he wouldn’t be able to actually see the interior, she’d do her best to describe it for him.
“It’s as different from the formality of the palace as night and day,” she said excitedly. “In fact, this is the only house that my mother completely decorated herself instead of using an interior designer. She did it all in a beach motif.”
“While not terribly original,” Ruben drawled from behind them, “done right, it can be soothing. I’m guessing she did a good job, because I’ve always gotten a sense of peace when I stay here.”
The front door swung open and the staff, many of them elderly, all of them smiling, had lined up to greet them.
Alisa went down the line, squeezing hands, kissing cheeks and murmuring hellos. At her side, Braden only responded when directly spoken to, though Alisa took care to introduce him.
“Excellent.” Ruben waited for them at the end of the huge foyer. “I’ve taken the liberty of choosing Braden’s room myself. It’s at the other end of the hall from yours,” he told Alisa with a smug smile.
“That won’t work,” she responded immediately. “Since he can’t see, he needs me closer than that so I can help him get around.”
“I brought his cane.” Smile fading, Ruben’s final remark won his counterargument. “Plus I don’t want to make it so easy to take the two of you out at once. You’ll be at opposite ends of the hall, with guards stationed outside both your doors. Katya will sleep in a room close to you, Alisa.”
“But…” Alisa swallowed, unable to find fault with his logic.
“I am your chaperone, after all,” Katya put in smoothly.
“As well as my research assistant,” Braden said. “Now, if you don’t mind, I’m extremely tired. If you could show me to my room, I’d like to get some rest.”
Ah yes, she’d managed to completely forget about the fatigue that plagued Braden in the afternoon.
“And I’ve got a long drive back ahead of me,” Ruben said. “Enough of the discussion.” He looked at Melton, the head manservant. “Please show Dr. Streib to the room I’ve chosen for him. Anita will show you ladies to yours.”
As Alisa turned to follow the manservant, Ruben surprised her by gathering her close and giving her a fierce hug.
“Take care of yourself, my sister.”
She hugged him back. “You, too, baby brother. Always remember that you are heir to the throne.” Though she hated to have to warn him, she knew well how devastated their parents would be if something were to happen to him. As she would be as well.
“I will,” he responded, letting her go. Then, with a jaunty wave, he and his guard turned and exited the way they’d come.
Which left Alisa no choice but to join the impatiently waiting Katya and the matronly Anita, and go with them to her room.
As she glanced back over her shoulder to see Braden, following three paces behind Melton, she knew she’d have to figure out a way they could be together. If not in their well-guarded bedrooms, they’d at least have lab time together. Assuming the research wasn’t permanently suspended. She’d have to deal with Katya, lab assistant and chaperone, but it could be done. Then maybe she could convince him that she was more than a research subject. She was his mate.
* * *
Never in his career—hell, never in his life—had Dr. Braden Streib abandoned anything. He’d never performed any task half-assed, and actually considered himself thorough and reliable to the point of obsession. His ex-wife had mocked these very traits, calling him anal-retentive.
In a way, she’d been correct. What she hadn’t realized was that he in no way considered the term an insult.
It was because of this dedication and drive that he had succeeded at every single thing he’d ever attempted. Every single thing.
Until now. He’d traveled to Teslinko, confident that despite his blindness, he would succeed where countless others had failed. He’d be the one to discover the secret behind Princess Alisa’s amazing and extraordinary abilities. He’d even been optimistic enough to believe he’d do so in under a few weeks.
Thus far, he hadn’t been successful. Less than successful, in fact.
And now the extremists had managed to interrupt his work. In the end, their bombing and attempts to hurt him and Alisa had worked in his favor. Banished to a remote location, alone with his equipment, Al
isa and his research assistant—how much better could things get?
If he didn’t find the truth here, he never would.
Such negative thoughts were completely unlike him.
This again got him fuming.
Three weeks and three days. Twenty-four days of work and experiments and tests, in between dodging extremist assassins and bombs and snipers.
His lab had been trashed, both he and Alisa had been individually attacked, and still he kept testing. Trying. Believing.
And the results never changed. Personal feelings aside, there was absolutely nothing unusual about Princess Alisa of Teslinko. Every single indicator matched his. Every result claimed she was perfectly normal. For a shape-shifter, that is. Not one single marker pointed to any abnormality that could explain her unique abilities. Not one.
Damn. None of this made any sense. When he’d heard about the woman who could go for close to a year without changing or going mad, he’d certainly expected to find anomalies.
He’d slept surprisingly well last night, considering he was in a new place and had an armed guard stationed at his door. Though he’d missed Alisa, the entire situation meant she was completely off limits, so he’d gone to bed alone and immediately dropped into a deep, dreamless sleep.
This morning, he’d awakened bright and early, feeling rested and ready to tackle the day. While showering, he’d had another of those incidents when the all-encompassing darkness that surrounded him had inexplicably lightened, teasing him with a tantalizing vision of what he still could not yet see.
The manservant named Melton had appeared at his door moments after he’d gotten dressed, almost as if the guard had reported Braden’s status to him. After breaking his fast with a meal of oatmeal and fruit, they’d walked to the lab, where Braden was eager to get started once again, even without Alisa.
Until doubt had set in. He missed her, he truly missed her.
He tried to focus on the questions, reminding himself that an answer continued to elude him. But for nothing. All he could think about was the princess. His princess.
The Wolf Princess: The Wolf PrincessOne Eye Open (The Pack) Page 19
