Expecting Royal Twins! (14 page)

“Yellow then.”

“Caution?”

He placed his hand over hers. “Slow down. Otherwise you won’t be able to avoid the debris on the track.”

She ran her hands over his hips and up his chest. “Better.”

A flash of humor crossed his face. “For you.”

She laughed. “What’s it going to take to get the green flag again?”

“Ready to race?”

She nodded enthusiastically. “You?”

“I think you can answer that question.” He drew a line along her jawline. “I don’t want to hurt you, but since it’s your first time…”

If she had done this before, she would be more comfortable, confident. She would be more like the women he was used to. But in spite of her nerves she was happy she had waited until tonight. Until him.

Her hand was still on his chest. She felt the beating of his heart beneath her palm. “I trust you.”

Something flashed in his eyes. “I lapped you. Let’s get you caught up.”

Niko kissed her again until she thought her pounding heart might burst out of her chest. But he didn’t stop there. It was his turn to touch her. His fingers sent pulsations of pleasure radiating outward.

A fire ignited inside her, and she arched toward him. She wanted more, so much more.

Her heart swelled with happiness and something she’d never felt before. She pulled back enough to look into Niko’s eyes. “Just so you know, the bride box is now mine and so are you.”

He slid between her legs, and her body, awash in sensation, welcomed him.

Niko was the only man Izzy wanted. The only man she would ever need. The only husband she could ever imagine having.

Lying in bed the next morning, Niko stared at Isabel asleep. She curled against him, her legs wrapped around his. He needed to untangle himself so he could get out of bed, but he didn’t want to wake her.

If Isabel woke, she would want to know where he was going. Niko had no idea. He only knew he wanted—needed—to get away from her to think.

He pulled one of his legs out from under hers.

The sex had been great. Better than he expected. Isabel’s curiosity and eagerness had made up for any lack of experience. He’d been powerless to resist her. She’d left him satisfied, spent and wanting more.

Wind blew into the room from an open balcony door.

Damn. He had been in such a hurry to get Isabel to bed he hadn’t thought to close the door. Privacy was always an issue here at the castle. He was usually more careful. But with Isabel, he lost all control during the kiss at the ceremony.

Niko couldn’t remember the last time he had allowed that to happen. He didn’t like how losing control felt. He had wanted to make Isabel his wife, but she’d made him her husband. He wanted her again this morning. His body ached for her and his heart…

He raked his hand through his hair.

No. His heart needed to remain immune to his wife’s charms, her humor, her beauty, her seduction. Diving into the marriage
heart
first would not be a smart idea.

Niko understood how falling in love with a woman he had to be married to made sense, but he wasn’t ready to be in love. He didn’t know when he’d be ready.

Isabel may have come willingly to his bed last night, but their marriage was a direct result of his father’s underhanded tactics. Niko was not going to lie to her about his feelings, but would she be as straightforward with him?

He had no idea if Isabel was committed to this marriage or not. Loving his wife wouldn’t harm Vernonia, but she’d had no qualms about divorcing Boyd once their in-name-only marriage had served its purpose. She might feel the same way about this marriage. About him.

Niko wasn’t ready to risk that.

He needed to keep an emotional distance and not become too attached. Losing Stefan had been difficult enough. Having Isabel walk away…

Niko would not put himself through that again, no matter how physically attracted he was to his wife. He had done his duty and married her. He would continue to do his duty and get her pregnant. He would do whatever it took to make their marriage successful.

But emotions had no place in this marriage right now. No place at all.

Izzy didn’t want to open her eyes. She was sore and tired, but she wanted to spend the rest of the day in bed with her husband.

Her husband.

Heat rose as Izzy remembered how she’d responded to Niko’s kiss, his touch, him. Ready for more, she reached toward Niko, but her hand found only empty space. She opened her eyes. He wasn’t there. “Niko?”

No answer.

She hadn’t expected to wake up alone this morning. She wrapped herself in the sheet and checked the bathroom and the balcony. Not there, either.

A knock sounded.

Why would Niko knock to enter his own room? Izzy exchanged the sheet for her robe and opened the door. Mare stood with a tea cart containing breakfast. “Good morning, ma’am. The chef has prepared breakfast for you.”

A breakfast for one based on the tray and silverware, Izzy noted. That added to her unease. “Have you seen Prince Niko?”

“Yes, ma’am.” Mare wheeled the cart into the room. “He’s in his office.”

Working, Izzy realized with relief. She shouldn’t have been surprised given they were leaving on their honeymoon today. Niko must have wanted to get a few things done before they left. How responsible of him. Another trait she liked about her husband.

Izzy enjoyed her meal on the balcony. The scent of the roses from the garden smelled fresher. The sun in the sky shone brighter. The smile on her face felt wider.

And her heart…

She closed her eyes and looked up so the sun’s rays kissed her face. The heat against her skin reminded Izzy of Niko. He cared about Vernonia with a fierce loyalty and love. She hoped he would come to care the same way about her. And she intended to do whatever she could to make that happen.

Two hours later, Izzy walked next to Niko toward the helipad. She cast a sideways glance at him. This was the first time she’d seen him all morning. He looked stylishly casual in his polo shirt, khakis and leather loafers. The man always looked good whether in formal attire or his birthday suit. She smiled at the image that brought to mind. “Where are we spending our honeymoon?”

“You’ll see soon enough.”

“I hope I packed the right clothes.”

His brows furrowed. “Mare should have packed for you.”

Izzy shrugged. “I like doing it myself.”

“You must embrace your role as a princess of Vernonia, Isabel.”

Niko didn’t sound upset, but he wasn’t smiling. Maybe she could fix that. “I’d rather embrace Vernonia’s crown prince.”

He didn’t smile, but his eyes no longer looked so serious. “You must embrace both.”

The helicopter traveled north. A majestic mountain range with snowcapped peaks rose sharply into the clear blue sky. The terrain, rugged and etched, reminded her of Niko. A feeling of warmth welled inside her. Her husband shared so many similarities with this land he loved. “It’s beautiful.”

“Yes.” Staring out the window, he seemed preoccupied. Eager to make a connection like the one she’d felt last night while in his arms, Izzy placed her hand on top of his.

He turned toward her though the smile on his face didn’t reach his eyes.

She smiled back, sure she was mistaken.

But he didn’t lace his fingers with hers and hold her hand. That was…weird. After last night, she expected them to be closer, but he seemed almost ambivalent.

“Is something wrong?” she asked.

“No.”

“Too much work you didn’t get to?”

“No.”

“Tired?”

“I am fine,” he said stiffly.

“You don’t seem fine.” His aloofness annoyed her and set off alarms in her head. “You’re acting different.”

His jaw thrust forward. “I am the same as I always am.”

No, he wasn’t. He’d been nicer, friendlier the day they met than he was right now. She pulled her hand away. He didn’t even seem to notice. Hurt burrowed in deep.

Was the honeymoon already over before it began?

Apprehensive, Izzy stared out the window and told herself to give him more time. She concentrated on the scenery. Villages dotted the landscape both in the mountains and foothills and valley floor as beautiful as a painting.

She glimpsed a castle in the distance. Smaller than the one the royal family lived in, but just as fairy tale worthy with a tower and spires jutting into the sky.

As the helicopter traveled toward the castle, the structure came into clearer view. Her breath caught in her throat. A wall made of stones surrounded the grounds. Paths crisscrossed a carpet of lush green grass. Tall trees surrounded a crystal blue lake.

Izzy pressed her forehead against the window for a better look. “I love that castle.”

“It’s yours,” Niko said.

She looked his way. “Mine?”

“That is where you lived with your parents,” he clarified. “It’s your family home.”

Her home? Izzy stared out the window in disbelief. “This is where we’re going?”

“Yes,” he said. “Not quite as warm as the beach.”

“It’s a million times better than the beach.” Maybe she was overanalyzing Niko’s words and actions. He’d obviously put some thought into where to spend their honeymoon. “It’s perfect. Thanks.”

The castle turned out to be even more spectacular in person with more bedrooms than she could count, an obliging staff—many of whom were related to Uncle Frank—and a large six bay garage that had the potential to be a mechanic’s dream hangout.

As the days passed, Izzy and Niko explored the property, toured various villages and visited with residents. She was enjoying herself, but she continued to sense a difference in Niko. Oh, he was polite, even solicitous, but he acted more like her friend than her husband no matter how hard she tried to initiate a deeper emotional connection.

Maybe that was how marriage was supposed to be, except…

When they were in bed, Niko couldn’t seem to get enough of her. He gave her a taste of the intimacy she desired; a glimpse of how wonderful all parts of their marriage could be not just the physical side. They spent their nights and mornings learning about each other and sharing themselves. It whetted her desire for more. But once they left the bedroom, the closeness vanished as if an invisible wall had been erected between them.

“You like it here,” Niko said three days later as they strolled through the grounds.

“I do,” she admitted. “I love it here. The castle. The people. The villages.”

You
.

Izzy wanted to lose herself and her heart in Niko, but was too afraid to tell him how she felt. He’d told her he wouldn’t lie to her. She wasn’t prepared for that kind of honesty. Not on their honeymoon. But she could be honest about other things.

“This place—” she inhaled the fresh mountain air, trying to quell her uneasiness “—it feels like…”

“Tell me.”

“Home.”

“That’s because Sachestia is your home,” Niko said. “You can return whenever you wish.”

You, not we. The one word changed everything she had convinced herself could happen. Maybe not today or tomorrow, but someday. Disappointment squeezed her heart.

The hope of love blossoming in her marriage was withering. The promise of “until death do us part” was turning into nothing more than a dull ache. Izzy might want more, but she resigned herself to not needing more than the physical intimacy Niko offered. She had a feeling that nothing would make him love her. Not even time.

The next day Niko rowed Isabel across the lake in a small boat. The days they spent together seemed to drag compared to the nights that were over much too quickly. He remembered the swing of her hips and the look in her eyes this morning. All her enthusiasm and energy seemed to have disappeared out here in the light of day. “You look…tired.”

“I’m…not.”

Niko waited for her to say more. She didn’t.

That was his fault. His trying to distance himself from her was finally working. At first she wouldn’t let him push her away, but lately she no longer seemed to care if they talked or remained silent. Except when they were having sex. Then everything between them worked perfectly. If not for the security detail watching from shore, he would take her now. “You’re not very talkative today.”

Isabel shrugged. “We only have a couple of days left here.”

A bird flew overhead. Somewhere nearby a frog croaked.

The smell of freshly mowed grass from the lush lawns bordering the lake hung in the air, but Niko would rather inhale her vanilla and jasmine scent. “It’s too bad we can’t stay longer.”

She perked up. “Really?”

“Yes.” He wasn’t sure about marriage yet, but he liked being on a honeymoon and spending time with her. “I haven’t relaxed this much since…I can’t remember when.”

Her shoulders sagged again. “Me, either.”

He didn’t like seeing her this way. “You don’t look relaxed.”

“I’m worried about what things will be like after we leave.”

Niko could kiss away her worry, but he wanted to be honest with her. “Things will be different when we return home.”

She trailed the tips of fingers in the water. “No more great sex?”

“I promise the great sex will continue no matter where we are.” He shook the rowboat. “This seems sturdy enough.”

Isabel gave him a resigned smile, but he saw no invitation in her eyes.

“Once we are back, we won’t spend the same amount of time together as we have here.” An unexpected look of relief crossed her features. A look Niko didn’t understand nor like. “You’ll be expected to assume your role as a princess of Vernonia.”

“Right away?”

“How does tomorrow sound?” Perhaps if Isabel had something more to do she would be happier. “Regional officials have requested our presence at a village celebration. This will be a perfect introduction to the duties you’ll have when we return home.”

She shook her head. “We’re on…vacation.”

“Yes, but they only want us to participate in the parade. It shouldn’t take long.”

“I’m not sure I’m ready for that.”