by Katie Dowe
“Darling, don’t you look dashing,” Amelia said with a pleased smile as she made her way towards him. The guests had started arriving and he looked around to see if she was there but she was not and he was relieved that he had not missed her.
“Thank you, Mother.” He bent to kiss her on the cheek and admired the dazzling silver gown she was wearing. “So do you.”
He was starting to think she was not coming. They had almost finished greeting the guests when he saw her on his arm. Her dress was sage and enveloped her from neck to ankles. Her hair was swept on top of her head and she was wearing diamonds dangling almost to her shoulders. She was stunning! But he already knew that. What the hell was she doing with Heath and why was he looking down at her as if they belonged together?
“Debbie, darling!” Amelia greeted them. “Heath, how are you?”
He did not greet them. He could not as he stood there watching as his mother embraced them both. His hands clenched into fists as she looked at him and then looked away. He could not say a word and stepped aside for them to pass. She had done it deliberately, he knew that, and he was finding it hard put not to create a scene and demand that the man leave his home. But instilled politeness and ingrained restraint kept him still as he watched them made their way into the huge ballroom.
He stayed behind for a minute and then made his way into the room. His eyes found them as they went over to where Leesa and Bradley and several others were standing. He could not believe it! He had made the arrangements for her to stay behind and spend the night in his suite. He had uncovered his indoor pool and had a bottle of champagne chilling at the edge of the pool. He drank steadily as he watched them and almost broke the stem of the glass as he saw Heath bent to whisper something to her.
“Hey, man! Great party!” The man appeared to be drunk as he slurred his words and lurched towards Alexander. It was an acquaintance of his and he did not have time to babysit him just now.
“Go and sit, man, you are drunk,” he told him grimly, his eyes still on the couple.
“You don’t get to tell me what to do,” he said belligerently as he poked Alexander in his chest.
“Go cool off,” Alexander warned him.
“You think because you are some big shot Prince you get to order me around?” The man took a drunken swing at him and missed. Normally, Alexander would have signaled an employee to deal with the matter and have him driven home, but at the same time he saw Heath put his arm around Debbie’s waist and he lost it! He lifted his clenched fist and plunged it into the man’s mid section sending him crashing backwards into a waiter who had a tray filled with wine. The commotion caused the music to stop and everyone turned to look at them. Alexander looked around the room and then without a word he walked away swiftly and headed up to his suite, his shoulders tense.
He was sitting in his sitting room drinking the wine he had put to cool for him and Debbie when the doors opened and his mother came in. “What happened in there?”
“Brent was being an ass,” he said briefly, not really looking at her.
“You never lose it like that, Alexander. What is bothering you?”
“Nothing, Mother. Just leave it.”
“You were in a very good mood before the party started. Did it have anything to do with Debbie showing up with Heath?” She had come to sit next to him.
He looked at her sharply and then down into the burgundy liquid. “I have no idea what you are talking about.”
“Darling, you need to tell her how you feel,” Amelia said gently.
“I have asked her to marry me but she refuses,” he said with a shrug.
“You have-” Amelia clapped her hand on her mouth.
“Don’t get too excited, Mother, she said no.”
“Then you need to convince her.”
“How?”
“Have you told her that you love her?”
“I don’t know that I do.”
“Of course you do,” Amelia chided. “You have never asked a woman to marry you yet so it is safe to say that you are in love with her. She would make a great princess,” she added softly.
“You are jumping ahead, Mother,” he said sardonically, but he agreed with her.
“You need to go down and claim her. You are a prince, Alexander, and you usually do not take these things lying down. She is still down there.”
He looked at her in amusement. “Why are you doing this?”
“I like her and I love you and I think that you two are right for each other. She does not treat you as if you are spun gold and you need someone like that.”
“She is disrespectful and does not care how she talks to me,” he muttered.
“Which is very good for you,” she told him wickedly as she touched him lightly on the arm. “You certainly do not need someone who is going to agree to everything you say!”
Chapter 8
He took her advice and made his way back downstairs. People turned to look at them but he ignored the looks, a determined expression on his handsome face. His eyes zeroed in on her, she was sitting at the table with some of the wives and he was relieved to see that Heath was talking to some of the members of the club, not that it would have mattered.
“Debbie, I need to speak to you,” he said softly as he came to the their table. He saw when her shoulders stiffened and knew she was about to say no. “Please.”
“Excuse me,” she said and got to her feet. He took her arm and led her from the room. She waited until they were in the passage way before pulling away her hand. “I am listening.”
“Not here.” He took her hand again and she pulled it away.
“Here is good enough,” she said stubbornly.
With a sigh, he bent and lifted her into his arms and strode with her upstairs.
Debbie pushed against him but he did not budge. He opened a door and closed it behind them not breaking his stride as he went into a bedroom so large that it would swallow up her entire apartment! He put her down and stood in front of her.
“I take it this is your bedroom?”
“Yes.” He took her hand and led her to a shimmering pool of water.
“We are going for a swim?”
“That was the plan before I saw you with that bastard,” he told her grimly. “Why did you bring him?”
“Because I am free to do whatever I please.”
“Marry me.”
“No.”
“How long are you going to keep saying no?”
“Until you get it in your head that it is not going to happen. “She looked around. “This is very impressive. I need to go back downstairs.”
“Not until you say yes.”
“You are keeping me up here until I agree to marry you?”
“Definitely.” He crossed his hands over his chest and looked at her with a faint smile. “For as long as it takes you to agree.”
“You are spoiled and a pain in the ass, Alexander, and sometimes you are like a child when you do not get what you want,” she told him bluntly. “Why would I want to saddle myself with someone like you?”
“You think insulting me is going to make me change my mind?” he asked her with eyebrows raised.
“That was just stating a fact.”
“We could get married in December.”
“I am not marrying you!” she said in exasperation. She moved away and wandered around the room. The bed was massive as was the other furniture in the room and certainly depicted extreme wealth and class. There was a framed photo of a tall handsome man in full uniform and a little boy standing beside him. They looked so much alike that it was uncanny.
“My Dad.” He had come up behind her and before she could move had wrapped his arms around her trapping her against him. “I was ten when we took that picture. I told him I wanted to be just like him when I grew up. He ruled our people with kindness and fairness and that did not sit well with my uncle, his brother. We did not know he was planning a coup until it was too late!”
&nb
sp; She leaned back against him, her expression softening as she stared at the little boy who had grown into a man. “You miss him.”
“More than I can explain. My aunt Alexandra is working hard to make things right but I cannot help but think that I should be over there doing something to help.”
“And you would have been killed.”
He looked down at her. “Is that concern I hear from you?”
“Yes, Alexander.” She turned to face him. “Maybe what you are feeling for me now is misplaced emotion. You are missing your father and what is happening in your country you are confused. So maybe-”
“Stop,” he ordered sternly as he lifted her chin to look up at him. “I know what I am feeling. I might be spoiled and used to getting my own way but I know what I want and I want you.”
“You are going to-”
He bent his head and cut off the rest of what she was going to say with a kiss that had her sighing against him. She did not say anything when he lifted her and took her to the bed. He placed her there gently and came over her. “Say yes, Debbie,” he whispered as he eased off her dress.
“Alex-” Her body trembled as he cupped her breasts, his thumbs moving over her hardened nipples in a circular movement.
“Say yes.” His dark intense eyes burned into hers.
“I cannot think. Alexander!” She moved her body underneath his restlessly.
“Stop thinking.” He bent his head and captured her mouth with his as he eased his body down onto hers.
She did with a sigh and wrapped her hands around his neck in total surrender.
*****
“Have you seen Debbie?” Heath asked Amelia as she passed by him. She had seen her son led her out of the room and had smiled at that. Knowing him the way she did he was not going to let her go until she agreed to marry him.
“I think she was called out on an emergency,” she said smoothly.
“Oh.” He looked crestfallen and realized that the man had begun to think that he and Debbie was a couple. “I suppose I should call her.”
“I would not do so tonight, dear.” She patted his hand and left him staring after her.
*****
She woke up in the early hours of the morning to find herself trapped beneath his powerful leg and his arm thrown over her. They were both completely naked. She groaned as she remembered last night. He had made love to her and then they had gone into the pool where they had drunk the wine and swam a little before he had pulled her into his arms and made love to her in the water.
She moved slowly and his arm tightened around her body. “Stop fidgeting,” he whispered.
“Alexander, I have to get back home.”
“You are not working today so I figured we could start planning our wedding.”
“Alexander-” He bent and kissed her roughly on the mouth before getting up to reach for his jacket. He came back and handed her a velvet box.
“I am not opening it.”
“I will.” He opened it and she gasped at the sheer loveliness of the ring glinting in the light of the bedside lamp. “It’s a family heirloom passed down from one Costa bride to another.”
“I can’t-”
He ignored her and taking her hand he slid the ring onto her finger. “How about Christmas Day?”
She tore her gaze away from the ring and looked up at him. He was kneeling before her and her eyes wandered over his taut muscled body feeling her heart quivering within her.
“No.” She held up a hand as he made to speak. “You have not met my family yet and your mother-” Her gaze flew to his. “Your mother! What will she think?”
“She already knows.” He pulled her back in his arms. “We have her blessing.”
“You told her?” Her eyes narrowed as she looked at him.
“She found me up here moping because you were with another man,” he told her teasingly. “She was the one who convinced me to go downstairs and pull you by the hair if necessary.”
“Really?”
“Hmm.” He lifted her and put her on top of him. “Will you do me the honor of becoming Princess Debbie Costa?”
“As long as I do not have to say yes to everything you tell me.”
“I am getting used to hearing no from you,” he told her dryly.
"Then the answer is yes,” she said with an impish smile.
“Thank goodness,” he whispered. “I was thinking of tying you to the bed and not letting you go until you say yes.”
“Why not do it just the same?” she said softly.
His eyes flared at that and then a wicked grin came over his handsome face as he went to get one of his ties.
*****
She refused to go downstairs and talk to his mother dressed in his oversized sweater. “I still work for her, Alexander.”
“Not for long.”
“What?” She planted her hands on her hips and looked at him. Breakfast had been sent up to them and the maid just smiled and left. “Oh, no you don’t, mister! You are not going to tell me that I am going to be a stay at home wife. I am not signing up for that.”
“When we go back home-”
He jumped a little as she rounded on him. “Go back home where?”
“To where I came from.” He sighed at the mutinous look on her lovely face. “We have to go back there eventually, Debbie. I am thinking we should wait and get married there.”
“You want me to leave everything I know and my family to go back to some remote country with you?” she asked him incredulously.
“You will not regret it.” He passed a soft buttered scone to her and she took it automatically.
Before she could respond, there was a discreet knock on the door. “Come in,” he called.
Debbie went rigid when his mother came in with a smile on her face. She looked coolly beautiful and relaxed in a simple white blouse and faded denims. “I am sorry to intrude but I wanted to know the good news.”
“Amelia, I am sorry-”
“She finally said yes,” Alexander said with a grin as he pulled her into his arms.
Debbie jabbed him in the ribs and he winced but held onto her.
“Congratulations and welcome to the family, my dear,” she said with a smile. “We are going to have to make a press release, darling.”
“A press release?" Debbie looked up at Alexander and then at Amelia.
“I am afraid so,” he told her gently as he kissed the side of her neck.
“Alexander, cut it out!” she said sharply as she used her elbow in his ribs. “I have to warn my mother and siblings. My mother!” She rolled her eyes. “She is not-”
“We don’t care who your family is, my dear,” Amelia told her gently.
“If it was that easy,” Debbie said with a sigh. “My mother is not the easiest person to get to know and my brother-” She struggled out of his arms and faced him. “I cannot marry you.”
“We have been through all that-” Alexander began impatiently.
“You don’t understand!” Debbie cried. “My brother has a criminal record.”
There was silence for a spell. Debbie started pulling off the exquisite ring when Alexander stopped her. “That is not going to stop me from marrying you. It does not matter.”
“They are going to dig up every aspect of my life and investigate everything and I cannot afford that,” Debbie told him.
“You agreed to be my wife and in my country that is as good as being married. I am afraid we are stuck,” he told her firmly.
“You expect me to believe that?” Debbie asked him dryly.
“Ask Mother,” He told her with a straight face.
She looked at Amelia who was trying hard not to laugh. They really were very good together. She had never seen her son so happy and relaxed.
“I am afraid he is right,” she said with a smile. “My dear, your family history does not concern us. My brother-in-law is a murderer and usurper. I am sure Alexander told you.”
“When you are royalt
y it makes a difference,” Debbie muttered.
“Not at all,” Amelia told her. “So I suspect I will be seeing you for dinner?”
“You will.” Alexander’s arms tightened around her waist. “We are going to meet her family and then return after we pick up her things from the apartment.”
She rounded on him hastily. “Alexander Costa, I have no intention of letting you run my life before we are even married...”
Amelia left Debbie arguing with her son and closed the doors behind her. “Please see to it that they are not disturbed,” she told the maid hovering around.
*****
“Relax,” Alexander told her mildly as she gripped his hand. She had finally called and told her sister and mother and asked them to meet her at Deloris’ place. She had also called her brother and told him and he was also meeting them there.
“Please behave,” she had told him coolly.
“I will be on my best behavior,” he had told her mockingly.
“You can say that. It is not your family we are meeting,” she told him grimly.
“How bad can it be?” he asked her as they made their way up the steps of her sister’s home. Deloris opened the door as soon as she saw them and threw her hands around her sister. “I cannot believe it! My sister is going to be a princess!” She stepped back and looked at the man towering over them and held out her hands. “It is an absolute pleasure to meet you, Prince Alexander.”
“Call me Alexander, please,” he said with a charming smile as he took her hand and kissed it. She beamed and preceded them into the living room.
“This is our mother, Delia Williams.” Alexander went over and hugged her much to the woman’s surprise. “And Derek, our brother.” Alexander shook his hand firmly. “Darcy is asleep and Derek’s fiancée Maia could not make it. Please sit.” Deloris gestured to one of the sofas. Debbie tried to take a seat next to him but he was having none of it and pulled her onto his lap.
“I looked up your country and it says that the population is very small,” Derek began, eyeing the man’s darkly handsome look and the fine threads he was wearing with envy. Probably never worked a day in his life, he thought spitefully.
“Almost thirty thousand. It’s called a slice of paradise and people have been at us to open it up for tourism. My father refuses.” His voice faltered a little and Debbie pressed her hand in his. “It is a beautiful country untouched by the pollution of many vehicles and factories. We grow our own food and are quite up to the modern trends of time. But we want it to remain the beautiful place it has been for centuries.”
