Today, it’s just as difficult to forget why I should keep my distance.
“He’s really good with the children, isn’t he?” I step up beside Dr. Rees the pediatric pulmonologist.
Quinn is climbing in the ball pit in his fancy suit covered in children as they try to pull him down. His expensive leather shoes sit in a pile with all the children’s shoes. Clearly not worrying that something could happen to them. The colorful balls fly everywhere as he dives into them and the children explode into giggles.
“Yes, they love when he comes to visit them.” She sighs and leans on the counter to watch Quinn as the kids try to circle around him.
“What do you mean? He comes to the hospital?” I ask, my voice an octave too high in my surprise.
“At least once a week. It’s sweet really. He brings little gifts and treats and is always offering help to the parents.”
He wasn’t going to tell me? He had to know I would find out.
“I had no idea.” Maybe he really isn’t the same playboy I’ve been warned about. Everything I’ve seen has proven the opposite. He’s only ever shown me he’s kind and considerate.
“You know he’s the one who donated the anonymous money to the hospital.” It can’t be him. Quinn? The duke who doesn’t ever take anything seriously, who has so much free time he’s spent the entire summer at the castle with my family…his family. The only family he has. I look at him with the kids trying to climb up the slide to get away as they pull him back in by the feet.
“No. Really? How do you know that?”
“Everyone is talking about it. I don’t know who found out or let it slip but the entire hospital knows.”
“Does anyone else come to volunteer?” Although I know the answer, I’ve never seen another person here besides Lord Bachran in all the times I’ve come.
“No ma’am just you and the duke.”
“I can’t believe he’s the donor and didn’t tell me.” He’s completely different than everything I thought he was. Here he is doing the sweetest, most generous thing and no one even knows about it. He could have been like all the other nobles showing off how much they donated but he didn’t. He could be using his time at the hospital for photo opportunities, but no one even knows.
“Princess. Princess.” A tiny girl with dark brown girls pulls at my sleeve.
“Yes. What is it sweetheart?” I kneel to her level to talk with her better.
“Lord Herington said that you’re his best friend. Is it true?” I look back to Quinn, he’s got the children settled around in a circle to read to them, some of the more ill ones have been wheeled over and he stops and talks with each one before settling in to the story.
“It’s absolutely true. He’s the kindest friend I know. Go on, you don’t want to miss the story.”
Chapter Twelve
I wasn’t going to say anything to Quinn after finding out he’s the anonymous donor. He didn’t want anyone to know and went through a lot of trouble to have lawyers do all the contacting. I didn’t say anything at the hospital or on the ride back to the manor. I didn’t say anything at dinner either, but now lying in bed staring at the dark ceiling, the silence is roaring in my ears, I can’t sleep and it’s all I can think about.
He’s done so much to make my project possible and regularly visits the hospital to do even more. Every week he spends time with the children, makes them feel important and helps their families. He treats them like equals not like they are beneath him or less than him.
I throw back the blankets and slip out of bed. I have to say something. The light peeking beneath his door guides me down the dark and silent hall. My knock echoes off the walls.
The door opens, and Quinn stands shirtless with a towel around his shoulders and his normally perfect hair in disarray and still wet from his shower.
“Adella, is everything okay?”
“Why wouldn’t you tell me you were the donor?” Not how I wanted to say that. I want him to know I’m grateful and I appreciate everything he’s done to provide so much for the children.
He blinks a couple times then gives me a sheepish smile. It’s something I’ve never seen from this guy who is always flirting and scheming.
“I didn’t want you to think I was doing it for you or for the wrong reasons. I do care about the children and my country. I did it for them. I know what it’s like to feel alone and helpless. I lost most of my family as a teenager in an accident, it’s not the same but if I can help even one child not feel scared or alone then I’ll do it.”
“I wish you had told me. I wish you had trusted me.” I reach out to touch his arm, wanting to comfort him and thank him.
His warm hand surrounds mine. “I do trust you. I also trust you can understand why I didn’t tell you.”
My sigh slips out. “I do.”
He leans down to kiss my cheek lingering once his lips touch my skin. The smell of fresh soap surrounds me but is mingled with his own scent. I step in the doorway close to his body peering up at him, standing on my toes so I can kiss him. He kisses me back gently and I slide my arms around his neck pushing the towel off his shoulders to fall to the floor and press closer against his body. He pushes the door shut and his hands slide up my back.
I’ve spent every moment fighting what I feel for him, believing he was something he’s not. He’s sweet, caring, and genuine. He treats me like I’m precious and makes me feel like the most treasured person in the world. I’m done fighting. He’s not trying to use me. He won’t hurt me. Relationships end all the time and the world still spins. I can’t be afraid to be in relationships always worried about the ending. I can’t have one at all if I don’t even try. A relationship can’t end if it doesn’t begin and it keeps you safe, but is that a way to live?
“You won’t turn me down tonight, will you?” It was embarrassing enough the first time when bits and pieces of our last encounter came back to me. I don’t want a repeat of that tonight.
His hand is in my hair holding me to him as his lips roam over my neck and shoulder. He picks me up to carry me across the room stopping near the bed.
“Nothing could stop me. Are you sure about this? What happened to only being friends.” He grins at me like he knew being friends was destined to fail all along. Maybe I did, too.
“It’s hard to only be your friend when you are the way you are.”
“I don’t know what that means.” His forehead crinkles as he looks down at me.
Taking a step back from him, I slide the straps of my gown off my shoulders, letting it fall to a silky puddle at my feet. I stand before him wearing nothing but a lacy pair of panties. He pulls me back into his arms, kissing me and lying me gently on the massive bed. Hovering over me, I sink into the plush blankets. His skin warms mine everywhere it touches. His chest against mine, his hands entwined with mine, his lips as they roam, it all sets little fires all over my body. Light kisses trail across my cheek to my neck and shoulder and then my breasts. He shows each attention with his hands and tongue as I squirm underneath him, eager for more of his touch. He takes his time with every caress until I want to beg him to hurry up and touch more.
My breaths come in pants as the anticipation builds, his hands skimming ever closer to the place I want him to touch the most and he is deliberately avoiding.
After an eternity of leisurely caresses, he slides the lacy material to the side finding how ready I am for him. I moan, and he groans before he presses a hard kiss against my lips. His fingers continue to bring sounds out of me as he works to bring me closer and closer to falling over the edge. He kisses along my collar bone then back to my breasts alternating with his tongue and teeth while working his fingers faster until I shatter. I cry out, and he smiles against my skin dotting kisses along my chest as he inches back to my lips.
He stops and groans. Lifting off me enough for the air to chill me where his skin was just warm against me.
“Don’t move.” He kisses me and gets up to go dig through his
overnight bag, groaning again as he continues to toss things out of the bag onto the nearby chair.
Once I’ve caught my breath, I lean up on my elbows to watch him.
“Everything okay?”
“I hope.” He pulls out a shaving kit and digs through it before dumping the contents on the dresser. He exclaims and holds up a little square packet.
“Oh.”
“I never imagined this would happen. I didn’t think I needed to be prepared.”
“Seems to have worked out.” I won’t think about who that was intended for, he isnt that same guy anymore.
“Luckily my housekeeper likes to slip them into my bags just in case.”
“Well, thank goodness for meddling housekeepers.”
He stalks back across the room and crawls back on the bed to lie next to me. His kisses are soft and slow, taking his time as his hands begin to roam my body again. He grips my hips pulling me flush with his body. I slide my hands down his back feeling every muscle under my hands. When I reach the waistband of his pajamas, I push them down wanting to feel more of his body against mine. He kicks them off and slides down my panties.
Once there is nothing separating us, our touches become more urgent. He continues his exploration of my body with his mouth while he slides on the condom. Making his way back to my lips, he kisses me while gliding in slow, filling me perfectly. Soon, I’m shuddering beneath him and his climax follows mine.
Quinn places tiny trails of kisses from my lips to my neck and tucks me in close to his body as my eyelids become harder to keep open. “Tesoro mio. Sei incredibile.”
My eyes open to a room that isn’t mine, Quinn still has his arms wrapped around me holding me to him and my smile spreads. We have a lot to talk about, but I have a phone conference this afternoon with Dr. Rees and need to get back to the castle.
Quinn and I are together now. I think. We can figure out what we are later, nothing is going to change before I see him later this afternoon.
I turn in his arms whispering. “Quinn, I have to leave today.”
“Mmm.” He shifts wrapping his arms tighter around me and nuzzling his cheek against my neck and shoulder.
“I’ll see you back at the castle.”
“Okay.” His light snoring begins again almost immediately. I pull out of his arms and grab my night gown from where it still lies on the floor. Dad will be back in a couple more days and I want my proposal ready for my next (endeavor). The complete outlawing of plastic shopping bags, but by providing every household with reusable bags so there is no initial cost to them. We have many beautiful beaches and water surrounding the island, work needs to be done now to ensure it will stay that way for many years.
I pack quickly, and a car has me back at the castle by ten am. After running to my room to shower and change into something a little more suited for business than my capris and blouse, I head back down to my office. Lord Bachran is as invested in these programs as I am, and chances are, he’s sent over plenty of work for me to look over.
A quick look at the mail bin on my desk and my inbox when my computer boots up, verifies he’s been a busy man in my absence.
After two hours of work, the knock at my door doesn’t even slow me down. “Come in.” I call out not bothering to look up from my email about the new youth facilities. I would love to have them in most of the larger cities in the country by the end of next year.
“Good afternoon, Adella.” Cristian gives me a little head bow when I look up at his voice. “How was your stay at the beach?”
“I enjoyed it. What can I do for you?” Turning my attention away from the computer I cross my arms on top of the desk. With any luck this will be quick. My days off at the beach were much needed but now I have a stack of things to do.
He crosses the remaining distance in the room and takes a seat in one of the chairs facing my desk. “I was hoping to collect on that promise for lunch.”
“Oh, lunch today?” That can’t happen I have entirely too many things on my to do list. I hadn’t even considered lunch.
“Yes, I had the kitchen staff prepare something and set up the terrace.”
It’s already set up? “How can I say no to that?”
“I was hoping you wouldn’t. I have been waiting a spell to spend time with you.” Although it feels slightly scheming, it was wise on his part to make it hard to say no, since I always make excuses.
“You’re always so sweet, even when I don’t deserve it.” I can’t have lunch with him, not in any sort of romantic way he’s expecting. Quinn and I... are what? Dating now? I’m not certain, but a lunch date with someone else the day after we become whatever we are isn’t a good idea. I can’t make an enemy out of him either. He’s close with my father and has given funds to the hospital. He just needs to understand we are only friends
“A nice, friendly, lunch would be lovely. I’ll be finished here shortly. I just have to follow up with some emails.”
“I’ll be waiting outside whenever you’re ready.” He gives me a dazzling smile before taking his leave.
After finishing my emails and organizing my papers for the youth center project, I make my way to the terrace for Cristian’s lunch. The sweet and simple picnic lunch I was expecting is not what meets me outside. The table is set with full china and a large bouquet of roses displays proudly in the middle of the table next to a bottle of champagne. Music plays softly while two maids stand off to the side where various covered dishes are arranged on a table.
“Cristian this is a little more than I was expecting.” A lot more really. This is a date, a very fancy date.
“I want the best for you.”
“This is so kind, but too much. It’s a really lovely gesture and I appreciate all the thought and consideration you put into it, but this feels too much like a date. We’re friends.” Turning to face him I find he’s bent on one knee looking up at me.
“I had hoped it would be more of a celebratory meal. Adella, will you marry me?” He pulls a box from his pocket and opens it. A diamond the size of a grape sits surrounded by many smaller diamonds. Proposing? He’s proposing right now? I glance at the smiling maids who make a hasty retreat back inside.
“Marry you? I’m sorry if I gave you the wrong impression but Cristian, we hardly know each other. I’m certainly not looking to get married.” In fact, this is one of the only times we have spent any time together alone. I really don’t know how he decided this was a good idea.
He stands and takes my hands in his. “You don’t have to say yes right now, just don’t say no. Think it over.”
“There isn’t anything to think over. I won’t change my mind about this. I’m sorry, I can’t marry you.” We aren’t in love or even dating but this may hurt his pride a little. I start to go back inside and give him some space when he steps in front of me cutting me off.
“Your father would approve if that’s what you’re worried about. We are a wonderful match. I would support every endeavor and improvement you attempt for this country. I would support you fully. Together we could make this country so much more, everything you want it to be.” Of course that is the kind of support I would want in a marriage, once I’m ready to be married.
“I’m sure my father would approve of whoever I married, when I chose to marry them. I’m not at any period of my life to get married. Don’t you want to marry someone you love?” I know he doesn’t love me, and if he claims he does then this whole situation will reach a whole new level of worrisome.
“Love can come for us later, like your father. He has chosen that path for his first marriage there must be some value in it. We are good for each other. Good for Messalinia.” At least that relives my stalker thoughts. Cristian is a sweet guy, clearly, he thinks this is the noble thing to do, but I don’t want or need him to protect me. My relationship with Quinn is new and until people know about it I will likely still have the attention of the various dukes and their sons. I may not have a future with Quinn, but we have somet
hing, and I want to explore it. Not every relationship results in marriage anyway.
“My dad had no other choice but to get married. I’m not even certain I want to get married.”
“As Queen, you’ll be expected to.” Why is he pressing this? We hardly know each other. We certainly don’t have any sort of friendship or relationship where he should feel like he can speak so freely about this.
“I’ll worry about that when it becomes an issue. Expected and required aren’t the same thing. I’m flattered you would think so highly of me and sacrifice your own chance at a marriage founded in love for one based on honor, but it isnt necessary.” I step around him to leave again and he doesn’t stop me this time.
“Please consider it, the offer stands.” I look back at him meeting his eyes and leave the room. I don’t know much about royal engagements and marriages and both of my fathers have been marriages of necessity and duty. When he returns, we need to have a discussion about what will be expected of me.
“Dad! I’m so happy to have you back.” I didn’t think I would miss him as much as I didn’t in the short time he was gone, but I did. I’ve gotten used to having him around daily and I have so much to discuss with him.
“I missed you, too, Adella.” He pulls me into a hug and then we sit down at the conference table in his office.
I set my papers to the side, the projects I want to go over can wait. I think he needs to be aware of the things that occurred in my personal life in the past couple days. “I have so much to tell you.”
“I do as well.” His grin spreads lighting his face, his happiness shows in his entire body really. From his bouncy steps when I walked in to his overly relaxed posture as he sits across from me.
“You go first.” I need to know what has my dad so giddy.
“Eleanor is pregnant.” His eyes flash as he watches me waiting for a response.
A Royal Surprise Page 12
