Alexander & Rebecca (Royals of Valleria #1)

by Knightly, Marianne

  She gingerly stepped into the hot water, wincing slightly when the heat brushed her injuries for the first time. They both sat down in the cavernous whirlpool bath and sighed in relief. It struck her that perhaps Alex’d had just as long a day and night as she’d had yesterday.

  Under the water, she caressed his thick, corded thigh nestled next to her hip. “I never really asked you how you were doing with all of this.”

  He gently brought his arms around her, aware of the superficial injury on her ribs, and kissed the top of her head. “Thank you for asking, but I’ll be fine as soon as you are.”

  “Sounds simple,” she said, sighing as he shifted and began to gently massage her arms and shoulders.

  “Love is never simple, as I’m discovering, but my happiness does appear to be.”

  “Happy girlfriend, happy life?”

  “That’s ‘happy fiancée, happy life’, darling.”

  She giggled. “It’s good you realize that now.”

  “I’m sure it is,” he murmured. “Did you want to wash your hair?”

  “God, yes,” she said and dunked her head into the water. When she emerged, Alex was rubbing shampoo onto his hands and began to massage her head. God, his hands were talented.

  After washing her hair, he gently began washing the rest of her. Her long legs and arms, her neck and back. He was so gentle, she felt as though a cloud were whispering over her, rather than the soft cloth he used.

  When he finished with her, she felt fresh again. She also felt strong enough to take care of him for once, so she picked up the cloth and said, “Your turn.”

  “Darling, I don’t think that’s a good idea,” he said as he shifted uncomfortably, causing small waves in the water.

  With a wicked smile she said, “Oh, I think it is. Shall I start with your hair?”

  Resigned, Alex dipped his head into the water and came out wet and gleaming. Rebecca licked her sensitive lips, again tasting the horrible medicated lip balm, but right now it did not matter. She knew her body was healing, but she needed Alex. She needed to feel power over a man again, and knew that he would understand.

  Rebecca slowly massaged and washed his hair as he had done to her, then slowly began to wash every delicious inch of his body. Her slim fingers caressed his sculpted chest, slightly narrowed waist, and broad hips. His groan spurred her onward.

  She waited to wash one particular part of him last. When her hands dipped between his legs, she found his thick erection bobbing in the water, desperate for attention. She wanted to be inside him, but this would do for now. She wrapped the cloth around his penis and began to rub him up and down, up and down, up and down.

  Alex’s hands gripped the edges of the tub and his head fell back. “Fucking hell, Becca. You don’t have to.”

  A surge of power flowed through her, more healing that the bath she’d just had. “But I want to, Alex. I love you.”

  His eyes flew to hers and connected. The love that shone in his eyes for her was raw, basic, and bare. The love they shared was another type of power, this time used to heal them both.

  “Becca,” he groaned when her hands began to move faster until she felt his balls tighten underneath. A moment later, he exploded into the water between them in long, powerful bursts.

  “Holy hell,” he said after a minute and brought her into the warmth of his arms. “God, Becca.”

  “I think you liked that.”

  “I like you more. I don’t know what I did to deserve you, but I thank God for it.” He lifted her face to his and kissed her forehead. “Thank God for you.”

  After a quick shower, they dried off. Alex reapplied her bandages, and they slipped into bed for a long nap.

  Chapter 21

  More nightmares had plagued Rebecca in her sleep, but Alex’s comforting presence had driven most of the bad memories away, at least for now. Alex may not want to spend another night without her, and she definitely did not want to spend another night away from his comforting arms and lips.

  Rebecca was dressed in Alex’s silk robe when the she heard a knock at the door. She had sent a maid to get her things from the guest room and so went to answer the door, thinking it was her. Although Alex had not minded that she had been either naked or dressed in a robe for the last several hours, she needed a dress for dinner.

  “Marie, did you find everything?” Rebecca said, her voice trailing off when she saw not the maid, but Catharine outside.

  Catharine was holding a bag, one Rebecca recognized as her own, and she was wringing her hands on the handle. Catharine was already dressed for dinner in an elegant, fitted, rose-hued dress.

  "Oh, Becca,” Catharine said as she dropped the bag and pulled Rebecca in for a fierce hug. Rebecca winced as Catharine’s hands rubbed against the scratches on her back.

  “Ow. Catharine, please,” she said, foregoing formality.

  Catharine let go suddenly, causing Rebecca to falter slightly before she balanced herself again. “Did I hurt you? I’m sorry. I’m just so glad you’re all right.”

  “Are you?” Rebecca murmured as Catharine picked up the bag and stepped inside without an invitation first.

  “Rebecca? Who was it?” Alex said as he rounded the corner in another robe. “Oh, it’s you, Cat.” He flicked a glance to Rebecca as his brows furrowed. “We need to get ready for dinner.”

  “I know. I’ve brought Rebecca’s clothes. I saw Marie in the hallway. She’s bringing everything else, but I wanted to see you before dinner. I can help you get dressed, if you like,” Catharine said with a bright smile.

  Rebecca merely felt more and more annoyed by Catharine’s presence, and she was sure Alex was picking up on it. How Catharine could pretend to like her one minute and not think her good enough for Alex the next, was beyond her.

  “Why don’t you take a seat in my office, Cat? I need to speak to Rebecca about something while I’m getting dressed. You can help her afterwards, all right?”

  A look of confusion crossed Catharine’s face, but she agreed and walked away, leaving the bag behind.

  Alex took Rebecca’s hand and led her back to their bedroom, where he sat down on a plush couch and drew her gently into his lap. “Are you all right?” he asked as he gently rubbed her arms.

  “I’m not sure how to act around her.”

  “Because you’ll be my wife soon?” he said with a smile.

  “No,” she said, unable to return the smile except with a frown. “Because she doesn’t want me to be your wife.”

  “I don’t think that’s true, not anymore.”

  “I just keep hearing her words in my head over and over again. I’m imagining all of the other people who’ll say similar things.”

  Alex wove his fingers through her hair and gently forced her eyes to his. “Do you have any doubts about me? Or about us?”

  “No,” she said simply. “None. I really don’t. After the last few days, I know I can count on you and depend on you, even if you will be king one day.”

  “Don’t forget that you’ll be my queen.”

  “Let me deal with being a princess first before I have to think about being queen.”

  Alex chuckled and pulled her a little closer. “You’ll be brilliant. I have no doubt about that whatsoever. Everyone else, including Cat, will love you as a princess.”

  She buried her head against his neck. “Easy for you say.”

  “It is easy for me to say,” he said as he gently stroked her back, mindful of the injuries underneath. “I have spent literally my entire life with Cat; she is my twin sister after all. I pushed her out of the way so I could have thirty minutes of peace before she was born.” Rebecca laughed.

  “You laugh but those were the thirty of the happiest minutes of my life. At least until I fell in love with you.”

  Rebecca sighed. What woman could resist a man who said things like that? “I’ll talk to her,” Rebecca said as she lifted her head.

  He kissed her cheek. “Great. I know my family
can be overwhelming. Hell, they will be overwhelming tonight when we’re all together. I appreciate you taking the time for them.”

  “They’ll be my family, too,” she said, causing him to smile. God, he had a great smile.

  “Why don’t I get dressed, while you talk to Cat? I’ll still be nearby if you need me.”

  “Sounds great,” she said as she wrapped her arms around his neck and nuzzled his cheek. “Don’t go too far,” she whispered.

  “Never.”

  A few minutes later, when Rebecca walked into Alex’s office, Catharine was sitting in his chair with her feet crossed on the desk, her thumbs flying fast over her phone. Rebecca often thought that Catharine could message one-handed with her eyes closed, and still manage to type as fast, she was so adept at it. Rebecca knocked on the door to get her attention.

  “Is Alex ready? All the boys were asking for him.”

  “The boys?” Rebecca said as she took a seat on a far couch, forcing Catharine to come and sit beside her for ease of conversation.

  “Our other brothers, Nate, Lorenzo, and Ethan, arrived earlier. When you put them together with Alex and Marcello, there’s just too much testosterone in the room, if you ask me,” Catharine said as she sat down next to Rebecca and took her hand. “How are you feeling? Really?”

  “As well as can be expected,” Rebecca said as she withdrew her hand. “You didn’t seem surprised to see me in Alex’s apartments.”

  “When I tried to find you earlier, I’d heard Alex carted you in here,” Catharine said with a small smile.

  “So, you don’t have a problem with Alex and I being together?” she asked and held her breath.

  Catharine paused, a little too long for Rebecca’s taste. “No, I don’t. If Alex is happy, that’s all that matters.”

  Frustrated, Rebecca stood and paced away from Catharine for a few moments before turning to face her. “I know you’re lying.”

  “What?”

  “I heard you.”

  Catharine frowned. “Heard what?”

  “I heard you telling Alex yesterday that you didn’t think I was good enough for him, or for Valleria.”

  Catharine’s mouth dropped open and she blushed in mortification. After she recovered, she stood and walked over to Rebecca, who tensed when Catharine’s hands gripped hers. “I’m sorry you heard that.”

  “Sorry because you didn’t want me to know the truth?” she said, ripping her hands from Catharine’s again.

  “No.” Catharine almost took another step towards her, but halted at the look on Rebecca’s face. “No. I’m sorry you heard that because it’s just not true. I wasn’t upset about you, truly I wasn’t. It took me some time to figure that out, but once I heard you were kidnapped and saw how emotional Alex was, I knew he loved you.”

  Catharine paced a few steps away, then back, toying with her necklace as she did so. When she turned back to Rebecca, she said, “I was jealous and insecure, but I was never upset that you and Alex had found each other.”

  Rebecca’s eyes widened. “Jealous? Of me?”

  “Yes, of both you and Alex,” she said with a sigh as she sat down on the couch again. “You’ve found the loves of your lives, and I’ve never even come close. I was feeling so insecure about everything.”

  Rebecca sat down next to Catharine, and took her hand. “What were you insecure about?”

  “My future. Not just personally, but professionally. I know I make a lot of fuss about my schedule, but I really love the work I do. Now that Alex has his princess, I won’t be needed as much. I find I’m a little lost and I don’t quite care for that feeling.”

  “Catharine,” she said, giving Catharine’s hand a squeeze.

  “Not only that,” Catharine continued. “I’ll now also have to replace my chief of staff, who I am going to be totally lost without.” She turned to Rebecca. “You’ll be an absolutely brilliant princess and a wonderful queen one day. Please believe me when I say that.”

  Rebecca couldn’t deny the genuineness of her words and leaned in to give her a hug, which Catharine returned gently. “Thank you,” Rebecca said.

  “No, thank you,” Catharine said as they pulled back from each other. “I’ve never seen Alex as happy as he is with you. Well, except when you were in danger.” She shuddered. “I pray that never happens again.”

  “So do I.”

  “Are you really all right?”

  “Getting there. I’m sure the wedding planning will help.”

  “Wedding? He proposed?” Catharine squealed. “I hadn’t heard.”

  Rebecca couldn’t help but smile at Catharine’s enthusiasm. “We’re announcing it tonight at dinner. We already told our parents at the hospital.”

  “Mama didn’t say a word.”

  “And you won’t, either,” Rebecca said in a tone that tolerated no argument.

  “Spoil all my fun, why don’t you? All right. I’ll not say a word until you both do.”

  “Thanks, Catharine,” Rebecca said as they stood up.

  “Call me ‘Cat’. We’re going to be sisters, after all.”

  “All right, I will.”

  “Do you need any help getting ready?”

  “No, I’ll be all right. Thanks, Cat.”

  “Thank you, Rebecca,” Cat said, and gave her another hug.

  ***

  They were late arriving for dinner, and mostly it was her fault. Rebecca insisted on walking on her own, though her arm was woven through Alex’s for support.

  She had dressed in a simple, elegant black dress that had somehow shown up with her belongings when Marie had finished bringing them over; she was sure Cat was responsible for it, and was thankful at her foresight.

  A long-sleeved, shimmery sweater was with it, and would deftly cover up the bandages on her wrist for the most part. A couple of large, conveniently-placed bracelets took care of the rest.

  There was no way to cover the bandages on her ankles unless she changed and wore pants. However, tonight, on the night she would become officially engaged, she had wanted to wear a dress. She wore the smallest heels she could find, and had applied as much subtle makeup as she could to cover up the bruises on her cheeks. Her lips were still too delicate for lipstick but, as Alex had assured her, she looked beautiful.

  She wanted to look her best for her new family, for Alex, and mostly for herself.

  Alex wrapped his hand around hers and brought it to his lips for a kiss. He looked dashing in his dark suit. She just wanted to peel the layers of clothes from him and lap him up.

  “If you keep looking at me like that, I’m taking you straight back to our room,” he said with a wicked gleam.

  “I can’t help it when you look so handsome, my dear fiancé.”

  “I do like the way that sounds, darling.” He leaned into her ear. “Though I’ll like it much more when we can call each other husband and wife.”

  They entered the same sitting room Rebecca had been in just two nights ago, before her first dinner with the family. This time, however, it was full of people, laughter, and conversations. They went unnoticed at first, which gave her some time to take in the scene before her.

  Gabriel and Genevieve were seated near the fire with Rebecca’s parents, who looked as nervous as Rebecca imagined she did at the moment. Also seated near them was Alex’s grandmother, his Nonna, who usually resided on the small island of Ilva.

  The other royal siblings were scattered about the room, clearing enjoying being together again. She imagined it must be hard to gather everyone together for something as simple as a dinner when they all led such dynamic lives.

  “Ah,” Gabriel said as he stood up. “Our guest of honor has arrived.”

  Suddenly, the commotion in the room died down and Rebecca flushed when everyone’s eyes wove their way to her.

  “Everyone,” Gabriel said. “May I proudly introduce, Miss Rebecca Frances Campo.”

  “Thank you, Papa,” Alex said and gazed down at her with a smile, love n
aked in his eyes. She couldn’t help but smile back, as the love shone in hers. “And may I introduce her now as my future princess and queen.”

  Gasps and surprised cries ricocheted through the room, but Rebecca missed all of that while Alex pressed a whisper of a kiss against her lips.

  After that, it was a whirlwind of activity. Gabriel and Genevieve congratulated her first, followed by her parents. Then all of Alex’s siblings came over. Though she knew of them, she had rarely met any of them while working for Cat. The royal children all had similar features: they were mostly tall, with similar bone structures and eyes. Their hair varied some from Alex’s inky black, to Cat’s brown hair or Marcello’s dark blond, but no one could deny their lineage.