His Forbidden Princess (12 page)

When she smiled up at him, sweet and beautiful, he kissed her quick. “Be right back.”

He cleaned up quickly in the bathroom, but when he came back his bed was empty.

“Sofie?”

Damn.

What was he gone for? Two minutes? He didn’t think she was running away from him,

they were past that, but where had she gone?

Pulling on his sweatpants, Ian went to find his princess.

God, she was so hungry. Sofie didn’t remember sex making her feel like she wanted to eat house and home, but the last time she’d awakened in Ian’s arms, her mother and the royal entourage had made a surprise visit.

She heard Ian calling her from upstairs and then thought she should have waited for him before running off for food. But he’d find her, and when he did she hoped he’d make love to her again.

Sofie couldn’t ever remember being so happy. Even when she was with Ian before, the cloud of being discovered hung over her head. Now, whatever happened, Sofie would find a way to be with him whether her mother liked it or not. She loved him too much to lose him again.

Pulling open the pantry door, she reached in for her new favorite thing, her Twinkies.

She didn’t know if they were a breakfast food in America, but they should be. The delicious little cakes would be perfect with tea as well. She was two bites into her first cake when Ian stepped into the room, put his hands on his hips and shook his head.

“Really?”

He grinned at her, and it was so delicious her woman parts warmed for him all over

again. “Yes, really. Don’t be so stuffy.”

“Stuffy?” He approached her with such purpose, Sofie didn’t know exactly what she was in for, but she didn’t care as long as Ian was involved. When his hand shot out and took the Twinkie she tried to get it back, but he held it over his head.
A game
. There was no way she could reach it, but when she caught the mischievous gleam in his eye, Sofie knew she had to try.

Even if it was just for fun.

“Give me my Twinkie,” she said.

He grinned and shook his head. “Make me.”

Planting her hands firmly on her hips, Sofie smirked at him. “Are you really going to play with me like this?”

He chuckled and lunged for her. With one arm, Ian grabbed her around the waist and hauled her in. When she was tight against his hard chest, and her arms pinned behind her, he teased her, bringing the golden cake to her lips for a taste and then pulling it away. “No. I’m playing with you like this.”

All Sofie could think was that there was never going to be anything sexier than what was happening to her at that moment.

She snaked her arms around his neck and pulled him down for a kiss. Sofie was

convinced there was never a bad time for one of Ian’s kisses, his lips were full and soft and when she pulled back and looked into his deep dark eyes, she felt like she could see his heart. And he was happy. Happy with her.

Feeling bold, Sofie touched her lips to the center of his chest. He was so perfectly formed--his taut, bronze skin was lightly dusted with hair and covered smooth, defined muscles.

“I have a question for you,” he said.

“Okay.” Questions from Ian could be anything from ‘why are you eating this chemical nightmare,’ to ‘what do you think about the economic sanctions in the Middle East.’ He was always unpredictable.

“How is it you’ve never been with anyone else?”

Oh, that wasn’t expected. How did she explain it?

The truth was probably best, humiliating or not. “Well. Uh, when I went back to the palace after leaving Cambridge, it took a long time for me to get over you.” This was already harder than she thought. “I never really did, to be honest, but at some point following my return, Mother decided it was time for them to find a husband. There was one Aubonnian noble who was the frontrunner—a Count. Very old family.”

“She just decided this? Without your input?”

“Input? You think I had a choice? This is the way it’s done. The way it’s
been
done.”

“Archaic.”

“Yes, but my feelings about the matter were irrelevant. Just like the relationship with you. It was forbidden. So, I was courted by a few European nobles—highly prized—a prince and a few dukes mostly, but Count Leo was still my mother’s favorite.” Ian’s eyes narrowed. He was angry on her behalf, which was another reason to love him. “Leo was a pleasant man, but he was ten years my senior and…” She paused. “Unremarkable. However, he was the perfect consort for the second child, the daughter. There was no risk he’d overshadow my brother.”

“It didn’t matter who you married, just that he had a title.”

She nodded. Letting the injustice of it all seep in. “Philippe could do whatever he wanted.

If he didn’t marry until he was forty, it wasn’t seen as a problem. Me? They wanted me out of the way. Leo was perfect for that purpose.”

“But you weren’t interested?” She was sure he didn’t mean to, but Ian looked relieved and Sofie loved that he was a tad jealous.

“No, I only wanted you. When I had no affection for any of the men, several honorably bowed out. Two were still vying for my hand, but finally, I was deemed unsuitable once it was discovered I wasn’t a virgin.”

A crooked smile bloomed on Ian’s face. “Is that so?”

“I was soiled.
Ruined
.”

Ian moved his face close to hers. His eyes, were smiling and Sofie knew she’d been

found out. “You knew that would happen.”

“I beg your pardon?” She feigned offense. “What are you insinuating?”

He laughed. “When you slept with me, you knew you would be ‘
ruined.
’”

Only Ian would understand her like this--only the man with whom her heart was joined.

The truth was the one thing they had between them now, and she wasn’t going to respect that. “I knew it would matter to one of the Dukes and to Count Leo. They were the ones who would have accepted an arrangement from my mother without much care over how I felt.” His hands were rubbing her back and Sofie was aware of how this sounded. Like she used him to get out of marriage. “I made love with you because I wanted you. I loved you so much, and I didn’t want to wait.”

He kissed her softly, and then pulled her into a hug. “I’m glad. The thought of a couple of old pervs having their hands on you pisses me off. How could your mother do that?”

“She thought she was doing the right thing. But I almost committed murder when the old Brit sniffed and said he could never marry someone with such “loose morals.” The dirty old bastard almost had my knee in his crotch. He came sniffing around again after my brother died and I was now heir to the throne. The pompous arse.”

Ian was laughing now to the point of shaking.

“I’m glad you’re finding this funny,” she said.

“I am eternally grateful that the dirty old bastard pissed you off so thoroughly,” he chuckled.

Sofie burst into a round of giggles herself, only to be brought back to earth by the gentle caresses of Ian’s hands. She’d thrown on one of his t-shirts before coming downstairs, but nothing else, and he’d gone up under the shirt, so his touch was on bare skin. “Mmmm. I need breakfast and then I need you to take me back to bed.” She could hear the wind kicking up and she couldn’t think of a better way to weather the storm than in Ian’s arms.

“I am happy to do both, Your Highness.”

She loved the playfulness, but the beauty of all that had happened swamped her. He was everything, this man. He loved her, was willing to protect her—there was no one else she would ever love.

“I have a question for you,” she said.

“Shoot.”

“My father told me you volunteered to protect me. That you didn’t hesitate.”

He hesitated then, but he answered. “I did volunteer. I wasn’t going to trust just anyone with your safety.”

“Even knowing what it could cost you in other ways? What it could cost both of us?”

“Even then. No one will hurt you while I’m here, Sofia. No one.”

She grasped his hands in hers and left a kiss on his knuckles. “Thank you.”

“And I love you, Sofie. I’ll die before anyone hurts you. That’s a promise.”

Holding him close, Sofie felt like she had everything she could ever want. She hoped he felt the same way.

Wrapped in Ian’s arms hours later, Sofie watched as the storm was beginning to rage outside the bedroom windows. They’d made love, talked endlessly, and laughed until their sides hurt. They held each other because being together, after all this time, was so very right. Each minute she was with him was a reminder of how much Sofie couldn’t, and wouldn’t, give him up. Forbidden or not.

He’d flipped on the television in the room, looking for information about the storm, but she didn’t want to think about any of it. It was severe and, in the distance, she could see the waves crashing against the bulkhead, but here, in his bed, they were safe.

“Shit. That fucking weasel.” The outburst got her attention because Ian rarely ever swore.

If she thought about it, she could probably count on her fingers the number of times he used profanity.

He’d bolted upright in the bed and put the volume up on the television.

“Ian?”

“Fucking hell,” he snapped. Reaching for his phone on the night table, it was already ringing. “How did this happen? I don’t give a shit that he claims he has
rights
. He has no fucking rights as long as the princess is in danger.”

On the program, she saw Louis, her secretary being interviewed by the news reporter.

Louis, who didn’t ever want to talk to reporters because he deemed them “bloodsuckers”, was having an interview.

“It’s quite unfortunate what’s happened to the royal family in Aubonne,” Louis said.

“We’ve been told by more than one source,” the reporter began, “that Crown Princess Sofia has been put in protective custody in the United States. Is this true?”

“Is that what they call
kidnapping
here?” Louis’ insinuation set off Ian’s fierce temper.

He was still on the phone, barking orders with his eyes on the television screen. “The last I saw she was with some FBI agent who was an old boyfriend of hers. I think they were at Cambridge at the same time. From what I understand, she left him.”

“And you’ve decided to sound the alarm. You think he’s taken her? Against her will?”

“Well,” Louis exclaimed. “Someone has to let people know to look out for her?

Princess,” he called to the television camera, “I am loyal to you. I will make sure you are found.”

The interview ended as they flashed a picture of Sofie on the screen. Great. There were no words. She had no words because now there was real concern. The assassins could figure out where she was.

“Listen to me, Paul,” Ian was furious. She didn’t think she would ever again see a man so angry. He’d flown from the bed and was currently stalking the bedroom.

“I don’t care if that troll claims he has diplomatic immunity. I wouldn’t care if he was the goddamn Queen, I want him brought in. I want to know who he’s talked to and for how long he’s been talking. Right…uh huh…no, I do not care. Just do it.”

“He should have gone home,” she said plainly. “He had no business staying. Everyone was ordered home.”

“He was supposed to go. We escorted your entourage to the airport hours before you and I left.
Hours.
He should have been over the Atlantic when my Jeep pulled away from the hotel.”

“Then what is he doing here, why…” She locked eyes with Ian. “He’s trying to flush me out. Is he a member of the cause?”

Ian shook his head, shrugged; it was a series of indecisive movements. “They’re doing a deep background check now. We’re going to bring him in for questioning.” Ian sat on the edge of the bed, not able to fathom what just happened. “He knew you were in danger—information reached your people before they boarded the plane to Switzerland. He knew it and he thought you were going to a safe house. And now, even if he’s not involved, we’re going to keep him in custody.”

“If he isn’t a member of the movement, he’s a sympathizer.” Sofie rested her head on Ian’s broad back. “He was my personal secretary. I thought he was a friend and confidant.”

“What does he know, baby?” Ian asked.

“He knows
everything
,” she responded.

“What does that encompass?”

Drawing a breath, she told him. “My calendar, phone book, email, my personal files.”

“Jesus. And what did you tell him about us.”

“That’s interesting,” she said. “Because I didn’t tell him anything about us. He knew I had someone in school, but that was all. I never told anyone about you, specifically.”

“Someone knew?”

“Mariette.” Mariette was her personal bodyguard. “And Ella.”

“Your lady’s maid. Is there anything you can tell me?”

“Mariette was born in Aubonne. Her family has a long service with my family. Ella is Austrian, but I believe she’s been in the country a long time.” Sofie’s heart broke a little thinking that one of the two women might have betrayed her.

Ian went to the dresser, pulled out a pair of jeans, donned them, and then pulled a long sleeve t-shirt over his head. After the clothes, he reached in another drawer, took out his pistol and after snapping in a full magazine, put it in his shoulder holster. She should have expected he’d want his weapon, but seeing him like that—fierce, lethal—was sobering. It made the danger that much more real.

No doubt, Sofie was glad he was armed, but the fact he needed to be, was terrifying.

Rising from the bed, she went to him. “What’s going to happen?” she asked.

He looked down at her and kissed the top of her head in the most reassuring way

possible. “I’m not sure, but we have to be ready.”

Ian didn’t like waiting. Especially when he needed information. Sofie was dressed and curled into the corner of the couch in the family room looking like she’d lost her best friend. As much as Ian didn’t like Louis, and hadn’t since the moment he met him, he appreciated that once again Sofie felt betrayed by the people around her.

The secure phones were having trouble because of the storm, but amazingly he’d just gotten through to the Archduke. “Sofie? How is the storm?”