Page 17 of Forbidden Prince
He wrapped his arms around her and the sheet she still wore. "I'd fly her here and let my mother handle all theformalities."
His mother might be the meddling type, but she commanded attention. She turned around in his arms. "Not a bad idea. It's hard to say no toher."
He kissed her cheek. "Tonight, it's just you and me, and no formal dining." He began to unwrap her sheet, baring an inch of skin at a time. "I swear I'll take you out of the palace and keep my hands to myself until we getback."
Her entire body ached for his touch again. She let go of the sheet. "Now that would be disappointing if there wasnotouching."
"Okay, some touching." He reached between her legs. She blushed though she knew she was ready forhim.
Instead he led her toward his bed, one more time, and she quickly agreed. One more time with Marco. She'd never have enough of him. He entered her ready and waiting body, returning her to the heaven she’d visited multiple times lastnight.
Marco found another release and for a while neitherstirred.
Chirping birds landed on the window across the room and she laughed. If the birds sang, she'd be in an animated movie. They both got out of bed for the second time that morning. Marco said, "The maid left you clothes in my closet,too."
She went into the bathroom again to shower. Once finished and dressed she called through the open door, "How does it not creep you out that the maids know everything, including who you're sleepingwith?"
"I don’t normally conduct my affairs in the castle for that reason." He walked into the bathroom and hopped in the shower while she stood at the vanity, brushing her teeth. "But when I do marry, my wife and I will screen the staff and set up the house rules of my castle." He turned and rinsed soap from his body. "I'm still processing all the background checks of the servantshere."
Her three long term ex-boyfriends had never felt so open with her. She tugged on her bra and asked, "Why wasn't that donebefore?"
He finished in the shower and grabbed the towel she'd used. "I was eighteen when my parents retook their kingdom and hadn't finished high school, so I stayed in England through college. I was away but I take full responsibility. I should have done this two years ago, but the commanders of the military took precedence. I still haven't completed the background checks of the soldiers which is the current situation and why I'm walking you to my mother for the dress fitting. No moremistakes."
Guess a spy thought he'd find foreign threats without checking the internal ones. She shrugged and slipped on a silk blouse. "Marco, she'll get the wrong idea aboutus."
He met her gaze in the mirror. "Renee, I don’t care what people think, but I do care that you're safe." He threw on his green polo shirt and gray slacks that were clearly made for his body. "I'm working with General Babik on an order of importance to ensure no one gets to my father or family or youagain."
"Me?" She watched him finish getting dressed, smoothing a dark wave down at hisnape.
"Yes. You." He held out his hand for her. She took it and he led her out where he'd laid a pair of black flat sandals for her next to his shoes. "I'll come and get you when you'redone."
If only she could believe in a future with Marco. All her life she'd planned for a guy like Greg. The farther they walked the quiet halls in the morning, the more she wished she could stay with him. The impossible almost made her laugh, but she held it together. At the conference door, he kissed herlightly.
She forgot all her doubts in hisarms.
Echoes of voices grew behind the door and she stood taller the moment his lips left hers. He mouthedgoodbyeand she watched him walk down thehall.
Then she let herself inside and saw the queen surrounded by a dozen women in various suits. She lifted her chin, walked inside and asked, "Good morning, Your Highness. Where isKristin?"
The queen pointed to the next room which had over a dozen bellhop racks that held countless wedding dresses. Renee popped her head in and turned on the light. The queen placed her hand on Renee’s back. "Not here yet, but why don't you select a dress for yourself, for when you marry myson?"
A few of the women jotted something on their papers. If these were reporters, her mother would see this gossip on the news tonight. She turned toward Queen Anna and tried to ignore the fact that there were other people in the room. "Your Highness, Marco and I aren't there and I don't feel comfortable talking to you about ourrelationship."
Queen Anna smiled benevolently and they returned to the conference room, where they both took a seat. "You're a good influence on him. I see that." A servant brought her a small plate of fruit and pastries and a cup of coffee, even though there was a huge buffet lined against the wall. The queen hardly noticed. "Since you've been here, he's not wanted to leave immediately and go find another dangerous training scenario to overcome. He's stayed put, and we need him rightnow."
Marco loved his family. She picked up an apple slice. "Maybe he's here because he knowsthat."
She quickly ate while the queen sipped her coffee. Neither of them said much, but the second the door opened, they both stood. The queen said, "Kristin, glad you could join us, comein."
"Am I late to a meeting?" Kristin asked while a servant took the remaining plates and cups away from thetable.
"I let you sleep in as my son hadn't left your room until three hours ago." The queen spoke to Kristin while Renee finished her coffee, and handed the cup to the waitingservant.
"Yes, er, thank you." Kristin's face was red while Renee returned her focus to theconversation.
The queen asked, "So you worked out theproblem?"
"There was a problem?" Renee's brow furrowed and she stared at both of them. She was way too wrapped up in Marco to notice muchelse.
