The Lord's Passionate Lover (The Royals of Monaco, #3) (8 page)

Olivier caressed her side as he ran his hand down her hip and rubbed it lazily. This was a new sensation to Francesca as she felt what she could only assume to be arousal. “Lower,” she whispered.

“There is a sex kitten inside of you. Maybe I don’t know everything about you after all,” he said to her.

“What?”

“When I touch you, the sexual side of you emerges.” He moved his hand lower as Francesca moaned.

“No, there is not.” She hated that he was right. She always thought that she was not a very sexual person. She did not even like talking about sex. She had always viewed herself as an uptight, sophisticated woman, but when she was with Olivier, she found herself melting as pleasure overtook her.

Lord Jacques kissed her neck as his hand roamed around her body. Her skin was so soft and warm. He inhaled, as he took in her scent, which reminded him of peaches. At this point Francesca could barely stand as she clutched his shirt tightly as she moaned.

“I don’t want to stop,” he whispered against her neck.

“Then don’t,” she whispered back.

“Are you sure?”

“Yes, Olivier, please don’t stop.” As his hands roamed across her body, he cupped her hips, as he pulled her tightly against him. Francesca opened her eyes in surprise as she felt his arousal pressed tightly against her. Moaning, she leaned into him. Her hands found their way around his neck as she held on. Trailing his hand up her back, he tangled his hand in her hair, as he tilted her head. She moaned into his mouth, as she panted. She did not want him to stop, but if he did not, she was sure that she would explode and she was not sure she was prepared for that.

“I have to stop touching you,” he said as he took deep breaths.

“Please don't,” she whispered. He stepped back and straightened her clothes. “What are you doing?” she complained.

“You said you did not have much time.”

“What?”

“You came with your sister.”

Francesca groaned. He was driving her crazy. “Yes,” she said as she nodded. She ran her fingers through her hair and checked her clothes.

“There is that sex kitten, again.”

“And whose fault is that?” she shot back petulantly

Lord Jacques laughed. “I will not take you here,” he said.

“What? Who said anything about that?”

“You were thinking it.”

Francesca rolled her eyes and walked out. Just for one second she thought about him making love to her and he saw it. She could not understand how it was that he could read her so well. It was annoying, as she could not keep her thoughts to herself around him.

“Why are you coming out of Lord Jacques's office?” Macee asked as she approached her sister.

“Hmmm?”  Francesca could not even defend herself. Apparently, she was terrible at lying anyway.

“Francesca?!” Macee's eyes were wide open.

“Do not make a scene Mace, I will tell you everything.” She figured it was better to tell her the truth rather than listen to her make fun of her. She needed someone to talk to anyway. It would have been better if it was Liane, but Macee was her only choice at the moment.

M
acee stood in the palace hallway frozen with shock and excitement. She could not believe what her sister was telling her. Francesca was the uptight boring one. Now here she was telling her about her make out sessions with Lord Jacques at the palace. How was it that she did not know about this?

“Are you serious?” she asked Francesca

“I am,” she replied. “Macee, I am freaking out about this and I don’t know what to do.”

“Why are you freaking out? It’s clear that you are enjoying yourself.”

“Macee, be serious.”

“I am serious. You like him much more than you care to admit and you are enjoying these little steamy sessions you are having.”

“There were only two and a half.”

“Half?” Macee laughed.

“At the harbour, it was only a kiss. So it counts as half but why do you think that I like him?”

“You would never let just any man touch you. Not even with a ten foot pole.”

“That is not true.”

“Oh, yes it is.”

Francesca sighed. She was so confused. She could not tell right from left any longer. She started walking away. Macee placed her hand on her belly and rushed after Francesca.

“Listen,” Macee said as she caught up with her.

“You are not that pregnant yet,” Francesca said to Macee, who was holding her bump and walking weirdly.

“It has been six months and besides I get tired faster now.”

“Do you want to know the sex of the baby?” Francesca asked trying to turn the discussion away from her.

“No, and we are not going to change our minds. Back to you. You are falling for this guy.”

“Macee, what?” Francesca laughed. She had only known him for a few months. This was ridiculous.

“No man has ever unravelled you the way he has,” Macee said. Francesca looked at her. “Yes. You are so uptight. It is as if you are scared of letting go and having fun. I bet if you just let go, you would really see Lord Jacques for the man he is and you will love him. Or admit that you do,” Macee said. Francesca frowned. She could not be in love with him. It was too soon.

“It hasn't even been six months, how could I?”

“There is no time line for love, sis.”

“When did you get so mature?” Francesca asked, as she linked her arm with her sister's.

“Tell me about it,” Macee replied. She could not even believe the words coming out of her mouth.

“Why do you like him so much?”

“He is incredibly attractive and has such a good heart. He is wise and trustworthy.”

“Trustworthy?”

“He could not be the future king's advisor if he were not.”

“That is true.”

“Let's go eat. I cannot question you on an empty stomach,” Macee said. She still had so much to learn from her sister. Francesca knew that the jokes were going to come out as soon as she was full. She buckled up and braced herself for them, as they headed back to Macee’s quarters to eat.

*                                                                                *                                                                      *

P
rince Louis, Jean Pierre and Lord Jacques were having lunch together. Jean Pierre had not seen Lord Jacques since the Global Girls charity event and he was curious as to how the dinner date went with Francesca. He had first-hand experience with the LeBlanc sisters and he knew that they were not easy to deal with. Lord Jacques admitted that he had not found it easy with Francesca as he shared that he had taken her on one of his yachts.

“But it was for charity, so it is alright,” Jean Pierre said. Prince Louis looked at him and raised his eyebrows.

“There is something more going on here.” Prince Louis said to Jean Pierre.

“What makes you say that?” Lord Jacques asked.

“You spent 70,000 Euros for a date with her and then took her on one of your boats, which you never do. That feels a little personal to me,” Prince Louis replied.

“The bidding did get quite ferocious. You were not giving up,” Jean Pierre added. Lord Jacques smiled and sipped his drink.

“She is worth that and more,” he replied. The prince looked at him.

“So you fancy my sister-in-law?” Prince Louis asked as Lord Jacques nodded.

“I do,” he replied.

“Well that was fast,” Jean Pierre said.

“There is just something about her.”

“Yes, she is a good woman,” the Prince added.

“If you can handle the three of them together, then you are ready to be with her,” Jean Pierre said as Prince Louis laughed and agreed.

“I think they like me,” Lord Jacques said.

“They probably do but they protect each other fiercely,” Prince Louis said. He remembered when Francesca found out that Bridgette was behind the rumour leak and the revealing of Liane’s pregnancy; she was ready to have her head on a pike.

“It is settled then, you all will come to my house for dinner,” Jean Pierre said.

“That will be interesting.”

“Oh, it will.”

***

L
ord Jacques was sure that everything was going to work out well. The sisters were nice to him previously, why would it be any different now? His confidence quickly wore off when he arrived at Liane and Jean Pierre's home. He was sitting across from the LeBlanc sisters at the dinner table. They all stared at him for a moment, as if they were analysing him. Jean Pierre and the prince stayed out of it, as they watched the women.

“How is Simone?” Lord Jacques asked Liane.

“She is fine. What are your intentions regarding my sister?” Liane asked. Lord Jacques coughed in surprise. The subject had gone there rather quickly.

“I really like and respect Francesca. My motives and intentions are pure when it comes to her.”

Macee and Liane were both touched by the fact that he respected her but they were not going to give in so easily. “You have known her for only a few months. You cannot really say that you know her,” Macee pointed out.

“Her favourite colour is purple. She is a bad liar. She has a beauty spot underneath her chin,” Lord Jacques said. Francesca frowned. When had he seen her beauty spot? He had not even mentioned it. “She is terrible at telling jokes,” he added. Macee and Liane wanted to laugh, but they managed to contain themselves. It was so true that she was terrible at humour.

“Is this meant to be you praising me?” Francesca asked.

“She is scared of not being in control of herself. She is confused about me because she has never felt this way about anyone. Her excuse is that I am too old for her. She loves shrimp more than she will ever admit. She has never done anything reckless in her life. Perhaps being with me is the most reckless thing she has ever done. I could talk about her all day,” he added.

All three sisters stared at him with their mouths open. He knew her far more than they thought.

“Oh, he is so sweet,” Liane said.

“I know right,” Macee answered. Jean Pierre and Prince Louis looked at each other. That was not what they were expecting at all.

“What?” they said at the same time.

“I would like to get to know your sister even more if you would allow me. I guess I am asking for your permission,” he said to Liane and Macee.

“Of course,” they said at the same time. Francesca was staring at their interaction unsure what to say.

“That is it?” Jean Pierre asked.

“What?” Liane looked at him.

“I had it much harder.”

Liane and Macee laughed at him. The three had given him a much harder time. “I do not love shrimp that much,” Francesca said unsure what else to say as everyone laughed.

“You do,” Liane and Macee said at the same time. Francesca always tried to hide her eating habits. She thought it made her less of a lady if she showed too much enthusiasm for anything.

After dinner, Lord Jacques took Francesca back to the palace. The two of them sat in the back seat of his car as Francesca stared at him. “I never gave you permission to be with me,” she said to him as he turned to face her. “Who said I even like you?” she asked.

“You are awful at hiding your feelings,” he said to her. She rolled her eyes and looked away. He took her hand and placed a key in her palm.

“What is that?” she looked at her hand.

“A key.”

“I see that but to where?”

“My heart.”

“What?”

“I noticed that you say what a lot, especially when you don't know what to say or want to pretend you did not hear what I said.”

“What?” Francesca realised that she had done it again. “Shut up,” she said to him before he said anything else.

Chuckling. “It’s the key to my house. You had said that you have nothing to do at the palace and I want you to come and see me whenever you want. Francesca, I want you to be a part of my life and I think that we would both be more comfortable if we weren’t sneaking around like teenagers at the palace,” he said.

“Why?”

“Because I am falling in love with you. It drives me crazy when I do not see you. And then I have to walk around the palace or work late simply in the hopes that I might bump into you.”

Francesca raised her eyebrows. So those times they bumped into each other in the palace that was not a coincidence. They had been looking for each other. “Stalker,” she said. He smiled and pulled her towards him. He held her face in his palms and searched her eyes.

“Say you'll come,” he said.

“We'll see.”

He pressed a feather light kiss on her lips. “That is good enough for me,” he said to her and kissed her again.

“Oh you drive me crazy,” she said.

“I know.”

“And I hate that I like you this much.”

“I know.”

He caressed her neck with the back of his hand. “I like you touching me,” she said and took his hand.

“I know.”

“Take me to your house. I need you.”

“Okay. Pack your things.” He leaned closer to her and kissed her. They paused when they felt the car stop. They had arrived at the palace. Francesca got out of the car and strode towards the palace gates.

“I will see you when you come over,” he called out after her.

“If I come,” she answered as she walked away smiling. She clutched the key tightly in her hand as she turned around. “I love you!” she shouted after the departing car. She immediately regretted the words. She had said them first. The car braked abruptly and Lord Jacques’ got out and stood there staring at her for what felt like an eternity.

“I love you too,” he said to her.

T
hings had been going well between Francesca and Lord Jacques. They argued occasionally and it frustrated him that she did not address him as a Lord. He would correct her, but she never listened. She went to his house occasionally and they would spend time together kissing and touching, but he refused to take it farther, which made Francesca incredibly frustrated.

Liane came to the palace for a visit with Simone. Macee and Francesca were so happy to see her as they played with little Simone. They could not believe how quickly she was growing, as she was able to stand and walk with help. Time had flown by. Macee was about a month away from her due date and could not wait to give birth. Mrs LeBlanc arrived at the palace. She had started coming more regularly since Macee was nearing her due date.