His Royal Pleasure (14 page)

“They'll wait. I'm the prince.” He pulled her into the room and slammed the door shut and turned the lock. “Remember?” He nudged her past the sitting area into another room, and slammed that door behind her too.

Katherine heard the click of the lock and felt a shiver of premonition. She'd never been in his bedroom before.

He flicked on the light and stepped toward her. Seeing the flinty look in his eyes, she automatically took a step back.

“My mother says she loved the water-balloon story. My father wants to do a greased-flagpole race for International Games Week. And,” he said in amazed fury, “Isabella offered to lend me her earring. What else have you told my family?”

Katherine stiffened, lifting her chin. She was darn tired of his cold complacency. “I did it for your own good. Those people care for you, but they can't get past your royal force field. It was the least I could do for them, if not for you.”

“Who gave you permission—”

“I don't have to ask permission! I love you!” Realizing she was shouting, she lowered her voice and wandered past the huge bed. “If I'm not going to be here, the least I can do is make sure your family sees past your iron composure for the man you are. I want them to know how caring you are.” She turned to glare at him. “Not that you're helping my case one bit.”

He stalked over to her. “Did you ever think I'm hanging on to this damned composure by a hangnail? Did you ever once think that I'm not particularly happy that you're leaving?”

“No, I didn't. I've been too busy wondering whether I'll meet Jekyll or Hyde the next time I see you. You know,” she continued even though the light in his eyes had turned dangerous, “if you'd show the slightest bit of humanity, I might be tempted to stay. But you're too busy competing with an igloo—”

“Not in bed,” he cut in.

Katherine rolled her eyes and looked down at the mammoth bed. She jerked a pillow from beneath the covers and shook it at him. “Not in bed. Not in bed. Can't you get it through your head that there's more to this than sex?”

Frustrated beyond words, she curled her hands into the pillow and impulsively, recklessly, whomped him with it. The delicate fabric caught on one of the medals on his chest and ripped, releasing a puff of downy feathers.

Alex looked at her as if she'd lost her mind. “What are you doing?”

The gray feathers clung lovingly to his dress white uniform. A few of them sifted down to his shoes. The sight both appalled and delighted her. “Oh, my goodness.” She laughed nervously, brushing the feathers from his chest. “I guess I started a pillow fight.” She laughed again, and coughed to cover the sound.

He grabbed the pillow. “And the purpose of a pillow fight is?” The slightest edge of menace crossed his face.

Katherine backed up and bumped into the edge of the bed. “I, uh, guess to hit people with pillows and have fun.”

“That's all,” he said, shifting his grip on the pillow. “Just hitting and having fun. I want to make sure I understand this.”

She nodded mutely. The devil was in his eyes, and it looked like the master of self-control was getting ready to lose it. Her heart beat an unsteady rhythm. He could do anything to her, she thought wildly, glancing at the bed. If she screamed, no one would hear. Heaven help her, she was so excited, she could hardly bear it. She braced herself for his wild passion.

He thumped the pillow over her head. Katherine stared at him in disbelief. More feathers seeped from the tear. “Alex—”

He thumped again, this time on her bottom. She opened her mouth, but it was instantly filled with pillow before she could get out a word. She fell onto the bed, reaching in self-defense for another pillow. Alex came after her with vengeance.

“You witch,” he accused. “You storm into my life, wreak havoc with my libido, steal my sanity and—”

Katherine's fingers reached the pillow. “I didn't storm into your life. You stormed into mine.”

He lifted his pillow.

She shrieked, and he gave a low, dirty laugh. She ducked and slammed him instead. The battle ensued, with Katherine scrambling to roll off the bed and Alex relentlessly bonking her with his depleting pillow.

When his pillow went flat, he stole hers. In a matter of seconds she found herself flat on her back with Alex sitting on her. “No fair!” she cried breathlessly. “I'm unarmed.”

He stared down into her face, his breath heavy from chasing her and laughing. “That's what I say. No fair. You've stolen my heart and left me unarmed.” He leaned down and kissed her. His mouth said it all as he searched and asked, but didn't demand.

Katherine yielded, twining her arms around his neck, sifting her fingers through his hair.

He moaned.

A feather drifted between their cheeks, tickling them apart. He held her hand against his jaw, closing his eyes.

Her heart swelled inside her chest.

He opened his eyes. “Katherine, you have to stay.”

Her pulse jiggled. “Why?”

He brushed her hair from her face. “Because if you don't stay, I'll have no one to teach my children how to pillow-fight.”

Her mouth went dry. “This sounds serious.”

“It is. I want you here with me. I want my babies growing in your belly. And I swear if I have to, I'll chain you to my bed.”

She took a deep breath. “Ever thought about just asking me?”

He hesitated for a long moment. The silence in the room was unnerving. Katherine restrained the urge to fill it with meaningless chatter. He took her hand and looked deep into her eyes, letting her see his stunning need. “Will you marry me?”

Her throat closed up. She'd dreamed those words. She'd also known she'd never hear them. She swallowed hard, rushing to warn him of all her deficiencies. “My father's no French count, and I'm no blue blood. I'm not even a citizen of Moreno. I don't know when I'm supposed to curtsy and when I'm not supposed to. I—”

He put his other hand over her mouth, and a grim smile played on his lips. “It doesn't matter. You'll become a citizen of Moreno, and it will be my pleasure to tell you when to curtsy to me.”

She'd just bet it would.

“You haven't answered me.”

Her voice came out muffled. “You're covering my mouth.”

He instantly removed his hand. “One word,” he said, “and it better be the right one.”

“Yes,” she said decisively, then rushed on because she would never be a totally submissive woman. “But you've got to promise to try to loosen up, at least with your family. They care about you.”

Alex paused and looked away. “It's—difficult for me. When my mother and sister left, I felt abandoned and angry. When they returned, it was expected that everything should go back to the way it was. My father never discussed it. My mother tried once,” he said with a grim smile that pinched Katherine's heart, “but I was a teenager and knew it all then.” He looked at Katherine. “Am I making any sense?”

She nodded. “You needed someone who understood your point of view.”

“Yes.” His voice grew rough. “I wish I'd known you then.”

Katherine's eyes welled with tears. “Oh, Alex. I wish I'd been there for you. I will be now.” Katherine finally realized that even a prince could fear abandonment.

His gaze was tender. “You make it easy to open up. Knowing you'll stay makes all the difference in the world. I love you.” He kissed her. “More than life.”

Euphoric, she laughed through her tears. She looked at him through blurry eyes, filled with joy that he trusted her so completely. “I don't know what to say. You've made me so happy.”

“You've done the same for me,
chérie.
” He gazed at her intently, and she saw the power of his love for her. It was awesome. “There is,” he said, and the smile that grew on his face was easy to read, “only one thing that will make me more happy right now.”

“Anything. Any…” Her voice faded as he slowly and deliberately pushed her dress up her legs and unsnapped a garter without removing his gaze from hers. She felt a rush of heat at the touch of his hands on her thighs. She cleared her throat. “What are you doing?”

“Getting ready.” He unsnapped the other garter and slipped first one stocking down her leg, then the other. His finger stretched under the edge of her panties.

She cleared her throat again. “Getting ready to do what? Alex, really, you're supposed to be giving a speech.”

He tugged the panties down her legs and tossed them aside. Then he quickly rid himself of his jacket and shirt. “I'm sure the security advisers would agree that what I'm doing now is far more important than delivering a speech. Lift up, darling.” He pulled the dress over her head. When he saw she wore no bra, he made an approving sound.

Katherine felt aroused, excited and guilty as sin on Sunday with all those people downstairs waiting for him. She tried to be practical. “This can wait,” she said, watching him lower his zipper and release his straining masculinity.

He shook his head, wearing the “I'm gonna eat you alive” look. “I'm ensuring the line, Katherine Kendall, soon to be Princess Katherine Merrick de Moreno.” He fluttered his fingers over her taut nipples, down her ribs and abdomen, to the dampness between her legs. His thumb glanced the nub while he eased his finger inside her. He watched her all the while.

Katherine felt light-headed.

Then, suddenly, it was his hard, bare erection poised at the entrance to her femininity. His chest caressed her nipples. He rubbed his masculinity against her, teasing her, teasing himself. His breath hissed with the slick contact. “Any objections?”

She shook her head.

“Take note, Katherine,” he said in a passion-strained voice. “We're not—” He thrust inside her.

He closed his eyes at the pleasure and swore. “My
chérie,
we're
not
in bed.”

“He's besotted,” Mr. Menard said. “Absolutely besotted.”

The old man was behind her, but Katherine could make out his voice. She leaned a little closer.

“I think she's done wonders for him,” Mrs. Menard said. “He actually smiles now.”

“I can't disagree with you on that.” Mr. Menard sniffed. “Was a cold fish before. Do you know he asked to see pictures of the grandchildren the other day? Said Letitia was a beauty and that little Arnold looked like he'd inherited my good strength.”

Katherine heard the pride in his voice and smiled.

“Always knew the prince was sharp as a whip. Guess he just needed the right woman.”

Distracting Katherine from her eavesdropping, Uncle Jasper came alongside her and caught her in an affectionate hug. “So, he finally found you,” Jasper said. “The man on the music box.”

Katherine's eyes widened in surprise. “How did you know?”

“Uncles know everything. Have you forgotten?”

Torn between laughing and rolling her eyes, she shook her head. “No. I haven't forgotten the important things like how to catch a fish and that honesty always works best. I also haven't forgotten how a certain man took the time to teach a little girl about love. I'm very lucky to have such a wonderful uncle. Thanks,” she said, reaching up to kiss his cheek.

She watched him fight the mistiness in his eyes and felt the same clutch of emotion inside her.

He shook his head. “I'm the lucky one, Katie,” he said gruffly. He cleared his throat and released her. “I think your man's headed this way. He can have this dance, but you save one for me,” he muttered and melted into the crowd.

Katherine watched him go for a minute, then turned and smiled wide, spotting Alex, devastating in black formal attire, stride toward her. His diamond earring stud winked at her with sexy glee.

“Time for our waltz, darling. I selected the music myself.”

Katherine nodded and took his arm. “Have you talked to Chad?”

“About anything in particular?”

“The book he's planning to write about our courtship. He says it'll make him a millionaire.”

Alex gave a long-suffering groan. “Did you tell him about our dungeons?”

“No. I showed him. I also told him that he wouldn't want to get himself fired from his position as manager of Pirate Island Campground. He was surprised when I told him you were the one who'd bought it. Then I pointed out that I could make his life a living hell with my newly gained position as the princess of Moreno.”

Alex's mouth twitched. “I'm so glad to see you're using your new power appropriately.”

“I learned from the best.”

He laughed, then ushered her to the center of the dance floor. A hush descended over the festive wedding reception, and Katherine felt a hint of nervousness at all the attention she was receiving. When she looked into Alex's eyes, though, she felt steadied.

She bent in a deep curtsy. Alex took her into his arms, and the music began. Sweet and poignant, the tune wasn't the traditional wedding waltz. It was Paganini. Her heart tightened in her chest, and a wave of memories washed over her. She felt tears threaten.

Alex squeezed her waist. “I knew you'd cry,” he whispered, kissing her forehead.

She inhaled hard, trying to blink back the tears.

“You didn't know I'd give you that earring as a wedding present.”

“You didn't know I'd wear it. And I knew you'd get pregnant that night in my suite.”

“I'm not sure how that happened,” she murmured, still amazed that his prediction had come true. She was now carrying a part of Alex inside her. It shook her every time she thought of it. “It wasn't the right time.”

His face lost a bit of overwhelming confidence. “You are happy about it?”

“Incredibly. I just can't believe it.” Her eyes filled with tears again. “I love you so much, and I dreamed of you, but I never dreamed I'd be so—”

Alex pressed his mouth over hers, stopping the flow of words, but not the emotion that was like a strong river flowing between them.

The kiss went on and on, past the whispers, the titters. Finally he pulled back from her when the guests broke into applause.

“You've given me life and love,
mon amie,
” he said, his voice tense and husky, his eyes full of emotion. “My heart is yours.”

Their gazes locked in love and joy. The moment was powerful and intimate. “And my heart is yours,” she whispered, thinking she'd belonged to him even before she'd met him.

Katherine took a deep breath, knowing they both needed to gather their composure. The reception had only begun. She looked pointedly at his ear. “Your Highness, your earring is very, very distracting.” She lowered her voice in invitation. “Will you wear it
all night?
”

Heat flared in his eyes. His smile was full of threats and promises, all designed to send her into a frenzy. She felt the first of it rushing through her blood.

“Darling, it will be my pleasure.”