Doran smiled at Seraphina. He’d seen his father’s worried look before the dance started, and now the man was wiping his eyes and absolutely beaming with pride. “That’s my boy!” he screamed to the crowd.
All thanks to this stubborn, wilful, wild, kind, beautiful girl that he loved with all his heart.
He bowed as she curtsied. His heart was pounding. He loved her. He loved Seraphina. God, he wanted to kiss her so badly, but he stepped back instead. “Thank you to my dance teacher, Seraphina,” he said to the crowd.
She didn’t show any restraint. She threw her arms around him in front of everyone and a roar of approval flowed through the room.
Brody was laughing and wiping away his own tear. “I taught him that step!” he said proudly, clapping and cheering heartily, and whistling through his fingers. Seraphina and Doran, holding hands, bowed to him as well. Brody was thrilled, so he clapped and whistled even louder.
Murdock, who was standing beside Brody, was not clapping. His hands were clenched tightly behind his back. He was furious at Doran and Seraphina’s lewd dance—they had mocked Brody in front of all these people, even if no one realized it. Murdock tried to remind Brody that it was his bride, AHEM, that had been rubbing her body against another man’s, in public, he added.
“It’s just dancing, Murd,” Brody replied. “I’ve held Doran, myself, you know. It’s no big deal.” He looked at Ava and smiled. He headed over and asked her for the next dance. She curtsied gracefully and put her hand in his.
Murdock looked at her and Brody and scowled. There was something off here. He knew it, but he just couldn’t put his finger on it. “Bah,” he said with disgust as everyone dispersed to either dance or eat. He headed out to the balcony for some air, his annoyance making the ballroom too hot to bear.
As he stood on the balcony, fuming, a man’s voice came to him from the garden.
“Are you Murdock, counsellor to King Larwick and babysitter to Prince Broderick Bertram Bartholomew Larwick?” the man asked with a sneer.
Murdock couldn’t see the man, who was standing in the shadow of a tree in the garden. “What if I am,” he asked grumpily. No denying, he was that dummy’s babysitter.
“I have information that would ruin Brody’s chances of marrying the Ranier princess. In exchange for my silence, I require access to the Ranier guard. Do you want to talk?”
Murdock looked around in a panic. He desperately hoped no one else was outside and had heard that. He seemed to be alone, and he thanked his lucky stars. “Keep your voice down or it won’t go well for either of us,” Murdock hissed, taking the spiral staircase down into the garden. The man stepped out of the shadows. He looked a little worse for wear. “What’s your name, sir?”
“Trevan,” the man said. “I have a score to settle with Doran Silversmith.”
Murdock’s eyes gleamed with pleasure. “As do I,” Murdock muttered, remembering the way Doran and Seraphina were looking at each other. Fear that his plans were crumbling flooded him. He stuck out his hand. “I think you and I will work very well together.”
As the night wore on, the ballroom doors and windows were opened to let in the breeze and the smell of coming summer. Brody dutifully asked Seraphina to dance again, and then they headed out to the balcony to chat.
From across the room, Doran was nursing his third drink, not of the evening, but since Brody and Seraphina had started dancing together. Faith drifted over and put her hand on Doran’s arm in sympathy. She looked over at Zuric, who had done exactly what Faith had requested and had danced with every young girl in the room but her. He’d also had way too much to drink. Faith was despondent.
“He’d better not kiss her,” Doran mumbled antagonistically.
Faith smiled. “And put his life in jeopardy? There is no way Brody will put a move on Seraphina. He’s dumb, but he’s not that dumb. He has great survival instincts, being the hunter he is.” She stared at Zuric again. He was surrounded by giggling girls and appeared to have discovered his voice. He was chatting up a storm.
“My plan isn’t working,” Faith said sadly.
Doran shook his head at Zuric. That guy was a dummy. He rallied his spirits and put his drink down, offering his arm to Faith. “I think now is a perfect time to work on that,” he said and swept her out onto the dance floor. Doran saw Zuric’s eyes follow.
It was cool on the balcony. Seraphina and Brody stood together in an uncomfortable silence. For once, Brody was at a complete loss for words. Murdock told him he had to get to know his fiancée, but he didn’t know what to say. Stupid Murdock.
Seraphina, desperate to break the silence, but not to hear anymore hunting stories, quizzed Brody. “So…was this arrangement of our fathers as much a shock to you as it was to me?”
“What?” he asked.
Seraphina smiled in the dark. “Our betrothal, silly.”
“Oh, yeah, well, no.” Brody started. “It’s time for me to settle down and my father thought we would be compatible.”
“Compatible?” Seraphina said, confused. They were complete opposites.
“Well, I’m strong physically and you’re strong mentally. We would have great kids with my brawn and your brain.”
“Oh,” she said slowly.
“Also, I’m tired of being the smallest and the youngest. I want to run my own castle. I’m tired of taking orders from my father and my brothers. They treat me like a baby.”
Seraphina stared at the very large man in front of her. Of course, she’d seen his brothers and father. He had a point.
“So, when they talked about me marrying you, I thought it was a good idea. I mean, you’re very pretty, and I can hunt like there’s no tomorrow. It’s a match made in heaven. I thought it was a good idea at the time.” He seemed hesitant now. Had he changed his mind? She certainly hoped so. If he was feeling as freaked out as she was, there was a chance the future could change. She cheered up.
“Do you want to kiss me—see if we’re compatible?” Seraphina asked bluntly. She didn’t want to kiss Brody, but he was her intended and this was a test. Most men wanted to do that on a balcony, under the stars, but she suspected that Brody didn’t for some reason. She wanted a kiss on the balcony under the stars, but from Doran.
“Why, do you want me to?” he asked, aghast.
Seraphina gave Brody a genuine smile. His reaction wasn’t flattering in the least, and she was thrilled by that. “To be honest, no,” she said matter-of-factly. “I think that can wait until our wedding day.”
He seemed relieved. “That works for me, Seraphina.” He thought of Ava, and how she was like a live wire in his arms. He didn’t want to kiss anyone but her right now, especially considering what he was planning to do with her later. He owed it to Seraphina to start their married life with an honest heart, and that would be the day of their wedding.
“I say we rejoin the party,” she said, smiling. He nodded in agreement and they walked back in together. Her eyes swept the room, and excitement rolled in her belly when she spotted Doran leaning gracefully against one of the columns decorating the room, watching the balcony door. She wanted to kiss him so badly she physically hurt in interesting places. He perked up when he saw her, and she made her way through the room to him.
“Did he kiss you?” he asked, trying to disguise the agony lacing his voice. He looked at her with beautiful grey eyes filled with longing. She stared back. Was it his longing she was seeing reflected in his eyes, or hers? She knew she was more beautiful tonight than she’d ever been, and she knew deep down that he wanted her. She was going to use that to her advantage. She would get her kiss if she had to tie him up to do it.
“No, I told him I didn’t know how,” she lied. “We agreed to wait until our wedding day.”
He looked relieved.
“But Doran, I need kissing lessons. I’ve never kissed a man before.”
Doran reddened. “Kissing lessons?” he asked. “From whom?” he asked with some outrage, looking at her.
>
Seraphina noticed her father making his way toward him. “I guess someone who knows what they’re doing,” she said offhandedly. “Look, meet me in the garden by the apple tree at the south wall in one hour. Daddy is coming so we can say goodnight to all our guests. We can talk about it then.”
Flustered, Doran nodded in agreement and then King was there, taking her arm and herding her away. He looked at Doran and winked. “Mighty fine dance moves out there, son. I knew you had it in you. Your father is one proud man, and I won our bet.” He guffawed loudly as he led Seraphina away.
Their bet? What bet? Doran wondered.
“One hour,” she mouthed as she looked back.
The music ended with a flourish and there was a lot of chatting and fanning as people left for their carriages or their rooms. Doran made his rounds, saying goodbye. His brothers came by with the Larwick princes. A bevy of girls surrounded them. The Larwicks were carrying a couple of them.
Drunken boneheads, Doran thought.
Kearn grabbed his arm. “C’mon little broshki,” he slurred, stumbling as he tried to pull Doran with him. “Ish time to move the party to…uh…”
“Party plashe two,” a Larwick supplied unhelpfully. He was trying to kiss the girl laughing and squirming in his arms.
“Theresh food,” Joss said.
“Oh, the main dining hall, party place two. How exciting, but no, I have other plans,” Doran said drily, removing his arm from his brother’s grasp.
“We’re going to exercise and toss these girls,” Culver said excitedly.
Doran frowned at the girls, who were giggling. “Do not let them do that,” he warned.
“Fine, leave the dud to himself,” Kearn said loudly as the party express left the room.
Doran sighed. Seraphina. Kissing lessons. What the hell? Did she want him to kiss her? He wasn’t sure. It wasn’t wise to presume anything when dealing with a girl of Seraphina’s temperament. He didn’t actually know what to do next, and she’d be at their rendezvous place in five minutes.
Doran sized up a few of the younger guards. He’d bring one along and see. He chose Guillaume, who was one of his own trusted personal guards—the same age, but slightly less handsome. He would do. “Hey Guillaume, do you have a minute? The princess may need a hand with something.”
Guillaume bowed, “Of course, my liege.”
Stomach churning, Doran set off with Guillaume in tow.
It was quiet in the garden. A soft breeze blew through the trees, spreading the sweet smell of spring blossoms.
Seraphina arrived and was surprised to find Doran had company.
“Er, hello,” she said, looking at the men with some confusion.
“I brought Guillaume, you know, so you could ‘practice,’” Doran explained.
Guillaume looked mystified, yet ready to spring into action as required.
Seraphina just laughed, and Guillaume looked at her appreciatively. “Get lost, Guillaume,” she said with a smirk. “In the end, your services will not be required tonight.”
With a wide smile, Guillaume bowed. “Your majesty,” he said respectfully, and after Doran confirmed with a nod, he disappeared into the darkness, chuckling.
Doran sighed. Great. There will definitely be talk in the guardhouse tonight. On the other hand, Doran was hopeful. She had dismissed the guard within seconds.
It looked as if his hope would pay off.
“Really? That’s what you came up with? Guillaume?” Seraphina snorted and got right to the point. “I want to practice kissing with you, you lunkhead. I’m a princess! I can’t kiss just anyone. I need someone I can trust who will keep my secret. Another royal, if you will. I taught you to dance, you teach me to kiss.” She wanted to say now pucker up, but she didn’t. She waited breathlessly as Doran’s mind processed her argument.
Doran sighed. She looked so beautiful in the moonlight. He wanted nothing more than to kiss her senseless, but Brody deserved some consideration, field of battle notwithstanding. “Seraphina, Brody’s your fiancée. Why don’t you practice with him?” He looked away, pain laced his voice and he hoped Seraphina wouldn’t realize that. “It’s not right. You belong to someone else.”
Seraphina was quiet. “Have you ever kissed anyone?” she asked softly, curious about his experiences.
“Sure, casually only.” Girls tended to plan their weddings if they thought a prince was interested in them, so he and his brothers played it cool.
She felt jealousy spear her, thinking of Doran alone in a quiet, secluded place like this, kissing a girl with his warm, beautiful mouth.
“So?” he prompted softly, staring at her. Emotions warred in his face—his sense of morality against his desire for her. He didn’t hide his feelings. She could see them as plain as day. Doran wanted her too. He wanted to kiss her. He closed his eyes and put his forehead against hers. Seraphina flushed with pleasure, her heart pounding. She finished her argument.
“Do you think your future wife would hold it against you?” she whispered, moving her mouth next to his.
“What, that I kissed other girls?”
“Yes.”
“Of course not, why would she?” he breathed, rubbing his face against hers. His hands lingered lightly on her hips.
“Exactly. I’m not engaged yet. I don’t want Brody to be the only man I ever kiss, Doran.” She whispered his name softly, lovingly. He was looking at her helplessly. She took the initiative and pressed her lips against his. There was no hesitation on his part. He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her to him tightly, claiming her mouth and sliding his tongue against hers.
Seraphina’s body exploded with pleasure. Pent up need for Doran’s touch flooded her. She moaned and her legs buckled slightly.
Doran kissed her ravenously, his right hand tangling in the curly tresses at the back of her neck to press her against him. His body was on fire. He hadn’t realized how strongly he had held his longing for her in check. He pushed her against the stone wall of the garden, his sex swelling with raging passion, which he pressed against her. She was making soft sounds of excitement, and he was acting like an animal in heat. He broke the kiss and turned his head, moving his body away from hers. They were both breathing heavily. He needed a minute for some semblance of sanity to return.
“Personally, I think you’ve got the concept,” he said breathlessly, his heart hammering in his chest. He could feel hers too as his fingers brushed the pulse at her neck. He would give her an out if she wanted one. As for himself, he was done for. He was hers. “Do you want to continue to practice or stop?” he whispered, praying she’d say yes.
“I think I need hours more practice,” she whispered back, turning his head and putting her mouth back on his.
He pressed her against the wall.
Chapter 26 – Brody
Brody entered his suite and took off his cape and formal clothes. He’d said a gentlemanly goodnight to his intended, but guilt ate at him. He heard the door open behind him and the smell of lavender drifted to his nostrils. His body hardened to rock. It knew what was coming.
He turned around and looked at the girl that had slid into his room. Ava. The most beautiful girl he’d ever seen. She had come to his rooms to pleasure him every night since he arrived at the castle. Yesterday she had allowed him to kiss her and lick her in all her naughty places, but no penetration. He had been wild for her, but she had distracted him with other things until she’d had him screaming with release.
That particular pleasure was reserved for tonight. She’d promised yesterday, and again on the balcony today.
She’d looked so beautiful tonight, like royalty—a precious, sparkling gem. He couldn’t take his eyes off of her, even while he danced with his fiancée. Guilt swept over him again, but then Ava smiled at him and his brain froze. He teetered toward her and then stopped.
No! He thought wildly. This was wrong! What was he doing? His innocent bride, waiting for him to honour their marriage, was probably asle
ep right now in her chaste bed.
Ava could sense the war in Brody’s brain. He tried to be an honourable young man, and tried very hard to please everyone, but the problem was that he wasn’t in love with Seraphina, and Ava needed to make sure he realized it. She loved her cousin, but she knew Seraphina loved someone else, and more importantly, she wanted Brody. There was something about him that made her wild. It wasn’t just his good looks and buff body, she’d had plenty of those. There was a sweet innocence in his approach to life that tugged at her heart. She wanted this man, and she was going to have him. Screw the kings and her father. She would endure their wrath. She just had to get Brody to make his own choices and choose her. She thought of all the romantic entanglements going awry in the castle. Disguised as a maid, everyone spoke about their private lives as if she wasn’t there. She knew about them all, and she was determined to fix all of them. Everyone would get what they wanted, including her.
Ava opened her gown so that her body was exposed. Her breasts were full and jutted outward. In the light of the moon coming through the window, they looked creamy and soft, and very, very appealing. She bounced them a little.
Brody was staring at her. He was clenching and unclenching his hands. Oh, he wanted her all right.
Ava smiled and slid her hands over her stomach toward the juncture of her thighs, drawing his eyes to the movement. She walked past him, trailing her fingers on the waistband of his pants. She walked to the huge four-poster bed and stopped at the edge. She looked behind her, her back to him, and slipped her gown halfway down her back. After a moment she let it slip all the way off before climbing on the bed and crawling slowly toward the pillows, her butt swaying invitingly. The bed had been turned down, so she stretched like a cat on the soft sheets, and with much satisfaction, she could hear him taking off his clothes in a rush. She turned to lie against the rich, abundant pillows. She leaned back and lifted her knees, opening her legs in invitation. Brody was breathing heavily as he walked to the edge of the bed, watching her. He was completely naked and his sex was hard and swollen.
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