“Sure,” Grace said with a small nod.
“You’ll be here for a week. The interview won’t take up much of your time. I promise I’m not that interesting,” he winked. “So, try to have some fun. You can borrow my limo. Take Elle and go to Paris. I’m sure she’d love to go with you. It is four hours away. If you are too tired after your day, you can spend the night there and come back the next day.”
“You’re too kind. But I think it’s best if I stay here.”
“Grace, how often do you get the chance to go to Paris?” Luca smiled. “Please, do me this favor. You’ll leave tomorrow and come back when you’re ready. I’ll be here, willing and eager, waiting for our interview. But for tonight, you’re all mine.”
“What do you mean?” Grace asked, worried he was already going back on a promise they’d made seconds before.
“Not like that,” he laughed. “We’ll just go out for dinner. Wait here. I need to get out of these wet clothes.”
“Oh…” Relief flashed in her eyes. “Alright, then.”
Luca gave her one last smile and walked around her. Her short response had confirmed his fears. It was clear to him that she had been hurt somehow and was still recovering. At any rate though, he would do everything in his power to make her life better, even if it was only for a short time…
Chapter Six
The moon was high in the sky on that cold winter night as Luca’s garage door slid slowly open. A gentle press down on the throttle of his newest car was enough to make the powerful engine roar to life and he slowly drove towards the entrance. He knew that keeping things professional with Grace was the right thing to do, but it was hard to remember why as he glanced over at her in the passenger seat. She looked stunning in a simple black dress and matching sweater, which brought out her bright sparkling eyes.
Damn… he thought as he sighed with exasperation. She is truly beautiful.
“This is quite a car,” she commented nervously, checking the buckle on her belt to bake sure it was secure. “Have you always collected sports cars?”
“Miss Brewster,” Luca smirked, as the iron-gate out on to the road slid upwards. “This…” he turned to face her, “is a supercar.”
Their backs were pushed into the seats as he pressed his foot hard down on the throttle. The massive engine revved and the wide tires kicked up water and gravel from the ground as he drove off. Upon reaching the last gate, Luca turned right and onto a narrow road, smiling happily, without a care in the world.
“Oh, my God!” Grace squeaked, her eyes wide open with terror. “This thing is a monster!”
“I couldn’t agree more,” Luca said with a grin. But then he noticed the look of actual fear on Grace’s face and realized he was being kind of an ass. “It’s a tamable monster, though,” he added calmly, easing down on the throttle. In a split second, the car slowed down. It no longer sounded so terrifying. As a matter of fact, they couldn’t even hear the engine anymore.
“Jesus…” she sighed in relief, closing her eyes as she tilted her head down. “Do you have a death wish or something?”
“You’re safe, I promise,” he said seriously. “It only lasted a few seconds. If I wanted to scare you, trust me, I could have done a lot worse.”
“Where are we going?” Grace asked, clearly hoping to change the subject.
“Venicia,” Luca said. “It’s a lovely little village, about four miles from the castle. It’s quaint and quiet… nothing like what you’re used to.”
“So…” Grace started. “How does it feel to be a king?”
“I expected more interesting questions from you, Grace,” Luca said with a sly smile.
“I’m sure you did,” she agreed as she pulled a small recorder out of her purse. “But it’s an obvious question and people like to have obvious questions answered. So, what is your life like?”
“My life is mostly lonely,” Luca answered, betraying his usual façade of arrogance. “You don’t know who to trust. But there are good moments. I have a lot of time to myself, though the solitude can become be exhausting.”
“You do realize that this is going to invite a lot of attention, right?” Grace inquired, gesturing with the recorder. “The interview, that is.”
“I do,” he muttered. “But my team seems to think some attention might do me some good.”
“Really?” Grace raised her eyebrow. “Why is that?”
Luca looked down at the recorder. “Off the record?” Grace clicked it off, then pretended she was zipping her lips shut and throwing away the key.
“Off the record, everyone thinks I need to get married. As of this moment, I am the last of the Tanner line and if I die a doddering old bachelor, padding around the castle in my slippers and open robe, that’s it for a monarchy in Moreno. Our bloodline dies, and the ways of our small country die with it.”
Grace tilted her head, confused. “I don’t understand. How will the interview help you get married?”
“Bax thinks that if this article gets a lot of worldwide attention, and you just happen to mention my situation, it will draw more interest from women who were previously unwilling to live here.”
“He actually said that?” Grace asked, shocked.
“He hasn’t said it, but I’ve known Bax for most of my life. I know what he’s thinking sooner than he does.”
He anticipated more questions, but what followed instead was Grace’s sweet, hearty laughter. She burst out laughing, clutching her stomach. Much to his surprise, the sound of her laugh made his heart flutter.
“What’s so funny?” Luca asked, trying to keep his eyes on the road and not on her perfect pink cheeks.
Grace couldn’t believe what Luca had told her. In what world did he believe an article like the one she was writing would bring him a woman who was interested in more than a crown? He is far more naïve than he looks. “Oh, Luca …” she said as she shook her head sadly and wiped tears from her eyes, “I wouldn’t put all your eggs in that basket. You may gain some followers on social media, but you’ll also probably be offered a reality show.”
“Would that be the worst thing in the world?” Luca laughed.
“It depends if your goal is a marriage or a ratings hike for sweeps week. Who Wants to Marry a Swiss King? Come for six weeks of freezing in the Alps, stay for the one in eighteen odds of becoming queen!”
This time, Luca burst out laughing. “You’re adorable. Has anyone ever told you that?”
Grace rolled her eyes and clicked her recorder back on. “What are your hobbies?”
“You’re in one,” Luca smiled. “Actually, you’re in two.”
“Painting and fast cars. That’s quite a contrast. I can see how the art relaxes you. But these cars are just way too…”
“… loud and aggressive,” he finished her sentence as they entered the restaurant’s parking lot. “They are, but most of them have a soul. You need to drive one to see what I mean. Get out of the car and really look at it. Then, tell me if you’ve seen anything more beautiful than this unique piece of machinery.”
Grace obliged. The moon and the stars cast their light upon the stunning Venicia glacier. Right behind it, she could clearly see the majestic, snowy peak of Mont Blanc. She liked the view so much that she stood still, speechless, unable to even form a coherent thought. Luca preferred the silence. He loved the view, but her happy expression was much more enjoyable than the sight of a glacier, and a mountain he had been looking upon his whole life.
Luca allowed himself the luxury of remembering their kiss, then chastised himself for breaking a rule they had made so recently. But suddenly, Grace did the most incredible thing, something that made Luca’s heart melt. She closed her beautiful eyes and she began to recite a poem out of thin air.
“Sheer and jagged, the rock and the stone. Beauty in the eyes of the mountain king. Noble at heart and yet so alone. From the ashes his joy shall spring.”
“Impressive,” Luca said when she opened her eyes. “You
really are gifted.”
“Thank you,” Grace whispered. “But it was just…”
“Something we have in common. You are an artist, Grace. You have to express yourself. You do it with a pen; I do it with a brush.”
Luca offered Grace his hand. She glanced down at it and hesitantly gave him her own. As he led her to one of the oldest restaurants in all of Venicia, he felt his heart pounding in his chest. Grace was different than the women he had known in the past. More than that, her artistic abilities drew Luca to her in a way he never expected. There was no question that he would respect her wishes; a gentleman would never do anything else.
But the more time he spent with Grace Brewster, the more he could see himself falling in love.
Chapter Seven
Dinner was beyond anything Grace could have ever imagined. Le Fenouil had been opened as a restaurant and inn for passing travelers in the 1800s, then passed down from family to family in Venicia for generations. Now, it was one of the foremost French bistros in the entire of Europe. Grace had read about it when she was doing her research on Moreno before she left New York, but she had never guessed she would get to eat there herself.
And as the waiter brought out their food, she couldn’t believe how lucky she was. Escargots, frisée aux lardons, tarte du printemps, côte de bouef… Luca ordered everything in French and everything he ordered was delicious. Plate after plate of beautiful, rustic food based on a century’s worth of perfected recipes was left at their table and Grace was intent on tasting all of it. Coupled with delicious wines, it wasn’t long before she was full, tipsy and happier than she had been in a long time.
Luca was so content watching Grace eat that he didn’t even mind they were barely talking. It also meant she wasn’t asking him interview questions and no one was harping on their kiss by the rose garden. It wasn’t that he didn’t want to talk about it; it was that every time his mind drifted to the memory of the kiss, he wanted to kiss her again. And while he hoped she might change her mind before she left Moreno, he was afraid that if he kept reminding her of it, he’d only push Grace further away.
Instead, he regaled her with stories of his failed relationships, which seemed to amuse her more than he expected.
“Then there was the Countess de Belleneau from the south of France. She traveled everywhere with her cat and when we had a state dinner, it disappeared in the castle. It turned out, she had trained it to run away. She hoped that if it stayed missing, I might fall in love with her. Guess which one of them still lives in the castle…”
Grace’s jaw dropped. “You kept her cat?”
“The cat kept me. I guess the mice in Moreno are better? But when the time came for Anouk to return to the Countess, she scratched her face and ran away. To be honest, I prefer the cat.”
Grace howled with laughter as she took another sip of her wine. She wasn’t sure if it was the second bottle of Bordeaux, or if the story was that funny, but she found that as the evening went on, her guard was dropping more and more. Grace was losing her interest in resisting Luca, though she could hardly count all the reasons it was a terrible idea. But, as he looked at her with his sparkling green eyes and his million-dollar smile, each of the reasons began to slowly disappear.
It was almost two hours after their arrival at Le Fenouil when hope lit up within Luca. Their long, friendly discussion didn’t feel at all like an interview at all. Instead, it had begun to feel like a first date… the perfect first date. In fact, Luca could sense that Grace was stealing glances at him every once in a while, which made him feel less guilty about doing the same.
Just after Luca finally paid the check, and they were about to leave, a crackling stream of lightning sizzled and flashed outside the restaurant. A boom of thunder rattled the windows, making the wooden floor vibrate. Grace looked over at Luca, her eyes wide and swimming from the wine and maybe just a little bit of fear.
“I love thunderstorms, but this is looking a little intense. How safe is that car of yours on the road when it’s raining?” Grace asked.
Luca nodded. “We should probably make a run for it.” Then he took off his coat and gave it to Grace, which she accepted willingly when she saw the rain begin to fall. Together, they dashed through the front door and out to his car, which they jumped into just as the clouds opened up above them and it really began to pour.
Luca had just started the car, but before he could pull out of the space, he felt Grace’s hand on his leg. She surprised him so much, he almost jumped right out of his seat. Luca turned to Grace, unable to hide the shock on his face.
“Grace…”
She held up a finger to his lips. “Just… shh.”
Luca had no time to react. Grace cupped his face, her fingers grazing his beard, as she leaned over him. He closed his eyes as she claimed his mouth, losing himself in her gentle, passionate kiss. Luca held her close, as she ran her fingers through his hair. When she finally pulled away, her cheeks were bright pink and Luca was sure he looked similarly. Grace flopped back in her seat with an exhausted, and almost surprised, sigh.
“This has been the craziest day of my life,” she confessed, a broad smile on her face as she slowly opened her eyes. “I’m in Moreno, a handsome man kissed me in the rain, then drew my portrait, and I ate at an incredible restaurant… I can’t believe I’m doing any of this.”
Luca was confused. “You’re an author and reporter. Is it really that unusual for you to be...”
“Never mind,” Grace interrupted, her voice suddenly nervous. She took a deep breath and turned back to him, her smile faded but her eyes sparkling with passion. “Please, take me back to the castle. I’d love you to show me the view from my room again.”
“Okay,” Luca nodded, as his heart leapt with joy. He had no idea why she had changed her mind, but he did not dare ask. Eager to be alone with her, he smiled to himself, imagining the glory that awaited them, just a few miles down the road…
Chapter Eight
It was almost midnight when Luca and Grace returned to his castle. He was planning to take full advantage of the absence of his staff, but as soon as they pulled into his garage, she jumped out of his car and ran inside. Before he could think about it too much, her words flashed into his mind:
I’d love you to show me the view from my room again.
“What is she up to?” he wondered out loud as he climbed the stairs. Her bedroom door was wide open and Luca could feel the cool breeze as he approached it. Stopping under the doorframe, he saw Grace standing by the open window with her back turned to him.
“You could have waited for me, you know,” he teased.
“That’s true,” she smiled, looking at him over her shoulder as a blinding flash of lightning lit up the night. “But I had something else in mind.”
“What would that be?” Luca said as his lazy footsteps brought him closer to her. This time, though, Grace did not speak. Hugging her from behind, he bent down and placed a soft kiss on her cheek as he interlaced their fingers over her stomach.
“This,” she whispered, eyes closed and tilting her head back. A deafening crack of thunder ripped through the air as she reached back. Grace touched his cheek, as he peppered kisses across her silky skin. Grace felt every nerve in her body come to life as his touch; it was like nothing she had ever felt before in her life. Luca hooked his index fingers under the thin straps of her dress and tugged them down her arms, as his mouth moved down her neck. Grace’s dress fell quickly to the floor and she turned around to face him.
In a swift move, he took hold of her shoulders and pushed her against the wall. A short gasp of surprise escaped her and, before she realized what she was doing, she reached out and ripped his shirt open. Luca leaned closed to her and their mouths joined in a long, fiery kiss. She became feverish for the touch of his bare skin; Grace ran her fingertips along his rock-hard abs and shuddered at the strength of him.
“Oh, my God…” she whispered in his mouth and she tore away at what was left
of her shirt. She could feel Luca smiling as he unbuttoned his pants and pulled the zipper down, beckoning her to hold him tighter. They slid down his legs and he put his hands on her hips, pulling her closer. Grace relished the feel of throbbing manhood pressing against her; she wanted more of him. And the way he couldn’t stop touching her made her sure he wanted her just as badly.
“This body…” Luca said, his voice full of lust. “I could worship you for hours.”
Just the sound of his voice was making her crazy and she felt herself sinking her nails into Luca’s strong back. He moaned in a combination of pleasure and pain, which only made Grace more desperate for him. Luca reached up and gently squeezed her breasts at the same time, rolling her nipples between his thumb and index fingers. Grace’s long, lustful sigh served as his reward. Desperate to intensify her pleasure, he closed his lips around her left one, as he squeezed both of her breasts.
“God that feels so good…” Grace whimpered, holding her eyes shut, as he pulled her nipple into his mouth. He licked the area around her nipple, and then let his fingertips trace down the edge of her panties. Sucking on her breast, he slipped his hand into lace of her underwear, eager to feel her wetness.
Grace gripped a fistful of his hair as his middle finger made contact with her hard, swollen clit. He began to rub slowly in little circles around it, while she glided her left hand up and down his back. She grabbed and held onto his shoulder blade, her sexy moans audible over his grunts, as he nibbled on her nipple.
But Luca wanted to do much more to satisfy her. So, he planted more, sensual kisses all over her breasts, taking his hands completely off of her. He pulled his boxers down, releasing his rock-hard cock, before reaching towards her again. Hooking his thumbs into the waistband of her panties, he rolled them down her legs. Grace moved her legs apart slightly, as his lips reached her bellybutton. Luca slowly moved his hands up her inner thighs, his breath hot and heavy as he flicked his warm tongue into her bellybutton. Kneeling, he squeezed her supple flesh and pushed her body upwards. A husky smile spread across Grace’s face. She put her leg over his shoulder as he tilted his head down.
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