“Maybe you’d be the one doing the dumping,” Chadwick pointed out.
“And what if there is no dumping?” I said the words quietly.
“You mean, what if you guys decide to tie the knot and make adorable little babies?”
“I hadn’t thought about babies, but what if we fall in love? Where does that leave him and his title? I just can’t imagine starting something with him, knowing there’s an expiration date.”
“Oh, honey. I think it’s too late to be worried about falling in love.” He chuckled. “And why would it affect his title? You’re a royal. There’s no reason he couldn’t marry you. Heck, The Prince of Wales in England married a commoner. The world is changing.”
“But me? I’m not from Lilaria. Not really.” I frowned. Chadwick thought it was too late for me to worry about falling in love? It wasn’t love. It was fascination. I liked him, yes. I respected him. I certainly lusted after him. But it wasn’t love. Yet.
“Royals have married royals from other countries throughout history. The key is to make the person feel loved. Let them know you would put them first.” He said something in Lilarian that made me sit up straight.
“What does that mean?” It was the exact phrase Alex had used on the plane after helping me with my dress.
“All things are possible with love.” He smiled at me. “It’s a very common expression here.”
“All things…” I let the words sink in and tried to apply them to me and Alex.
“Think about it.” He stood up and stretched. “I’m going to bed.”
“Thanks, Chadwick.” I smiled at him.
“For what?”
“For letting me be me.” I stood up and hugged him. “For poking me, for talking this out with me.”
“Ah, you’re a sap when you drink.” He laughed. “Go get some sleep.”
“All right, but I’m not drunk.”
“Good night.”
I took our glasses to the kitchen and rinsed them out before heading upstairs. Chadwick must have had someone unpack my bags because my clothes were in the closet and dressers. On a whim I grabbed one of the satin nightgowns and slid it on. The wine had me hot and the cool material felt good against my skin. I brushed my teeth and climbed into bed but couldn’t get comfortable. My mind kept going over the phrase Alex had used. Could it be true? Could love get someone through anything? I ran my fingers over the necklace around my neck.
After a while I decided to get a glass of water. In less than thirty seconds out of my bedroom door, I had stubbed my toe and ran into a small table. I held onto the stair rail and took the steps slowly. How ironic would be if they brought me back here and I fell down the stairs my first night? A small lamp in the corner of the kitchen gave me enough light to find the glasses. I poured myself some water and leaned against the counter.
I was contemplating making a snack since I had never gotten around to making my sandwich when someone knocked on the front door. My body froze in place except for my heart—it sped up. I set my glass down and made my way through the living room. Maybe Chadwick had gotten lost on his way to his house. I wasn’t crazy though and grabbed a large bust from a nearby table. Edging to the door, I tried to peek out of the small window at the top, but I couldn’t see anything.
“Who is it?” I called.
“Alex.”
Chapter Twenty-Six
A Royal Sleepover?
—Lilarian Tale
If I had thought my heart was beating fast earlier, it didn’t compare to what happened when I heard his voice. I twisted the lock and peeked out the door.
“What are you doing here?” I brushed some of my hair out of my eyes. He was standing there in jeans, a dark T-shirt, and a simple jacket.
“I have to leave tomorrow afternoon.” He tucked his hands into his pockets. “May I come in? It’s cold.”
“Oh, yeah.” I pulled the door open wider and stepped back. His eyes raked over me and I realized I was standing there in my nightie.
“What were you going to do with that?”
I looked at the statue I was clutching and set it back on the table. “I don’t know. Bash you on the head I guess.”
“I see.” He definitely saw something. His eyes were locked on me like laser beams. “I thought you slept in your underwear.”
“That was a joke.” I frowned.
“This isn’t so bad either.” He took a step forward, his fingers grazing the material along my waist. “Were you sneaking down here for a glass of milk?”
“Water.” My voice caught and I had to swallow to wet my throat. “Why are you here?”
“I told you I’d see you before I left.” He didn’t move his hand from my waist and his fingers were causing waves of need to wash through my body. “And I found out I have to go to Paris tomorrow afternoon.”
“Oh.” I chewed on my bottom lip. “Thank you.”
“I was hoping to catch you before you went to bed, but I never expected to find you dressed like this.” His fingers slid up a little farther to trace the thin strap.
“I wasn’t expecting company.” My fingers itched to run over his chest.
“What would you have worn had you been expecting company?”
“Shorts and a T-shirt, if I have any left after Chadwick packed my stuff. He hates them and made me go shopping.” I took a deep breath when he shifted closer to me. “Lucky you.”
“Lucky me.” His breath rushed over my skin and I shivered. “Why did you want to see me, Samantha?”
His fingers had moved to brush the hair off my shoulder and grazed along the skin of my collarbone. I don’t know if it was the wine or the fact that I didn’t want to fight it anymore, but I threw caution to the wind.
“Kiss me.”
“Not exactly a request.” His eyes darted down to my lips.
“It’s a demand.”
“About damn time.” His mouth crashed down onto mine as his arms wrapped around my body. I ran my hands over his chest while I greedily returned his kiss. When he pulled me against his body, I groaned in pleasure. Spinning around, he pinned me against the front door and I could feel the bulge in his pants pressed against my hip.
He pulled away from my mouth to trail kisses over my neck, his tongue flicking over the pulse point below my ear before he bit down gently. I let my head fall back against the door and moaned. His hands ran over my waist, down to my hips, and back.
“Jesus, I can’t get enough of you.” He whispered the words right before he captured my mouth in another scorching kiss.
He wasn’t the only one that couldn’t get enough. I’d opened Pandora’s box and there was no turning back. I pushed his jacket off his shoulders and he let go of me just long enough to let it fall to the floor. His hands slid up over my body, his thumbs tracing my n**ples through the material of the nightie. Fire ran over my skin, every cell in my body alive with need.
I ran my hands under his shirt to trace the ridges of his muscles before tugging the material up. He shrugged the shirt off quickly and threw it to the side. The moonlight poured in through the windows, making his eyes glow as he moved back to me. He slid his hands down to cup my rear and lifted me from the floor. I wrapped my legs around his waist and sighed in relief when he pressed his hard body against my hot center. His mouth teased my lips open and he kissed me as if he was drowning. I shifted my h*ps in a slow move, enjoying the feel of him between my legs. Then again, harder.
“Oh, fuck.” He pulled away from the kiss and groaned against my neck.
“I want you.” I whispered the words into his ear as I moved against him again. Forget caution. Forget willpower. I wanted Alex and I wasn’t going to fight it anymore.
He stepped away from the door, still holding me against him. I kissed along his jaw as he stumbled through the house and up the stairs. When we reached the landing he moved much more steadily and we were in my new room in no time. He set me down next to the bed and cupped my face in his hands.
“You’re sure you want this?” He was breathing heavily and pressed his forehead against mine. “There’s no going back.”
“I told you.” I traced the top of his jeans with my fingers before tugging at the button. “I want you, Alex. All of you. Right now. No more games, no more waiting.” Slowly I slid his zipper down before pushing his jeans off his hips.
“Are you on birth control?” He kicked his shoes off, stepped out of his jeans, and let his boxers go with them.
“Yes.” My breath caught in my throat. He was gorgeous. “Should I worry about you being tested?”
“Done. I’m clean.” He looked at me seriously. “You?”
“After my last boyfriend. No problems.”
Taking a step closer, he grabbed the bottom of my nightgown and pulled it over my head. His eyes ran over my br**sts and down to the tiny black panties I was wearing.
“I’ve wanted to undress you since I helped you with your zipper on the plane.” He wrapped a hand around the back of my neck, tilting my head up. “If we’d been alone, I would have torn that dress off right then.” His lips touched mine in a slow, teasing kiss while his free hand ran over the outside of my breast and down to my hip. “It was torture to leave you that night in your room.”
He moved us back until my legs touched the bed and he lowered us down carefully. The warmth from his erection against my skin was intoxicating. He slid a hand up to cup my breast while he kissed me, his fingers pinching my nipple gently. I moaned and my h*ps bucked against him.
“So eager.” His deep chuckle rumbled out of his chest. He shifted so that he could slide his hand between us, rubbing the growing moist spot between my legs. “So wet.”
Carefully he peeled my panties down my body and I helped kick them off my feet. He slid back up my body, his face skimming along my skin. I sucked in a deep breath when he nuzzled the curls between my legs, but he didn’t stop until he reached my breast. I fisted my hands in his hair when he closed his lips over the peak of my left breast. Pleasure washed through my brain and I could only form one thought. More. I wanted more.
His hand slid between my legs and I opened willingly. With sure fingers he explored between my folds and slid deep inside. I dug my fingernails into his shoulder and groaned loudly.
“You’re beautiful.”
I opened my eyes to meet his gaze as he worked my body slowly. I slid a hand between us and he shifted so I could touch him too. I ran my fingers along him, enjoying the way he sucked in a deep breath. After a moment he pulled away and slid his mouth down to my other breast to tease it gently with his teeth. When he shifted to his knees between my legs, I reached down to stroke him again, taking the time to touch every bit of him.
He growled loudly and sat back, his eyes running over my body. I was breathing heavily, more than ready for him. I leaned up enough that I could pull his head down to mine, needing his kiss, while he teased my opening. With painful restraint, he slowly entered me. Much slower than I wanted.
“Damn it, you’re tight, Samantha.”
I couldn’t respond. My breath was caught in my throat as he finally rocked his h*ps home. He stayed there for a minute, letting me get used to him, until I moved under him to let him know I was ready. When he finally started moving, I couldn’t think. I couldn’t do anything other than experience this moment.
“Oh, God.” I moaned.
He brought his mouth to my ear. “Alex. My name is Alex, not God. I want to hear you say my name.”
“Oh, God. Alex. Alex.” I said his name over and over again with each thrust of his hips.
“Samantha.” He whispered my name in my ear and I understood what he needed. I dug my heels into the bed and lifted my h*ps for a better angle. He groaned loudly and picked up his pace.
“Samantha, I can’t wait much longer.” He gripped my hip with a hand, slamming into me. It was too much and I couldn’t hold on any longer.
“Alex!” I screamed his name as I fell over the edge into oblivion. He came right behind me, burying his face against my shoulder, his hot breath tickling the hairs at the nape of my neck.
We lay there limply, our hearts thudding in our chests. After a moment, he shifted so that he was supporting his weight on one arm while he slowly kissed my neck where the charm of my necklace rested. When his mouth touched mine in a soft, gentle kiss, I sighed in contentment. He finally left my mouth, but only to nuzzle my hair. Rolling, he slid out of me and pulled me onto his chest. I traced the planes of his face with my eyes, appreciating the way his features cut sharp shadows in the moonlight. I liked the sated look he was giving me, pride and possession mingled together.
“You look smug.”
“I feel a bit smug.” He chuckled.
“I can’t think of a better way to have christened my new bedroom.”
He kissed my cheek. “Well worth the wait.”
“Maybe we shouldn’t wait so long next time.” I propped my chin on my hand and used my finger to stroke the stubble along his jaw.
“Couldn’t agree more.” He ran a hand over my hair and I closed my eyes. “But right now, I don’t think I can move.”
“This could be addicting.” I let my head slide onto his chest, enjoying the sound of his heartbeat.
“Get some sleep.” I felt him shift a bit before pulling a blanket over us.
“Are you staying?” I asked. I was in that sweet spot between wakefulness and sleep.
“As long as I can.”
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Does the Return of the Duchess Herald New Jobs?
—Lilarian Daily
The chirping of birds woke me up. I opened my eyes slowly, enjoying the laziness that permeated my muscles. I shifted and tried to untangle myself from the sheets when I realized I was pressed against Alex.