Page 6 of Forbidden Prince
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As soon asMarco brought Antonio to Father, he'd go and find Renee Brown again. He walked faster than he probably should, but his mind was on the woman in white capris andsunglasses.
Marco opened the door and instantly his mother, Queen Anna Camilla, rose from her chair while she wiped her eyes with a tissue. Antonio walked past him and Marco closed the door to give them a few minutes without interruption. He stood in the hall,alone.
Walter would have brought Renee and his brother’s bride to the South Wing that overlooked the river. It was set aside for important guests and a future queen would bethat.
Renee Brown's warm brown eyes and her fearlessness when she introduced herself caught his attention. He wanted to continue theconversation.
Marco folded his hands behind his back and headed down the hall. He stopped when he reached the two neighboring doors, assuming Renee had the chamber with the smaller balcony. He knocked and she came out with a cautious smile. Her light brown hair had sprinkles of sunshine mixed within the strands and her skin seemed dewy and pure, despite flying all night. She leaned against the door and asked, "Is everythingokay?"
"I hadn't introduced myself." He motioned to come inside herroom.
She opened the door wider and he spotted the gold and cream bed in the corner though he ignoredit.
"I know who youare."
"Who am I then?" He turned and winked ather.
She crossed her arms, but came toward him. He smelled the air around her and it was like a spring morning full of flowers in bloom. "Prince Marco Aussa, playboy and unrepentant aboutit."
Not quite true, but he’d play along. He leaned closer and she lowered her arms. "Does that offendyou?"
"Not at all." A smirk crossed her expressive face suggesting a sense of humor. "I wondered how you would affect me, an Americanwoman."
He wanted to claim her, right here, right now. Lust hadn't been part of his life for a while and certainly not this urgently. He held still. He didn't want to push too fast. "And?"
She stepped even closer. "You're everything I'm not supposed towant."
He wanted her too. He caressed her arm and she didn't pull away. "Can I kiss you,Renee?"
"Yes." She half-closed her eyes and lifted her face inexpectation.
His lips brushed against hers and he felt burned by the flares of an eclipse. He deepened the kiss, his body hardening from her innocence. Despite her flirting, Renee tasted too sweet to be anything else. He forced himself off her, and leaned against the wall to ensure there wasdistance.
Once she was steady on her feet and opened her eyes, he cupped his palm against the softness of her cheek. "I have to get back to my brother and parents, but tonight, after dinner, can I take youout?"
"Absolutely." She took his hands inhers.
Fireworks were tame compared to how her touch felt. He let her go because if he didn't, he'd throw her on the bed and forget himself. He circled past her, then stopped. "For now this will be oursecret."
"I like secrets." She winked at him, as he’d done ather.
Saucy and sweet. Renee blew hismind.
He left and returned to his father's sickroom. His mother, her gray head bent, leaned on his arm, gesturing toward his brother. "Half of the country doesn't have the samevalue."
Marco had obviously missed something. He patted his mother's hand, Renee's kiss lingering on hislips.
Antonio said something about the small rebellion against capitalism. "We're in trouble if the communist agenda becomes the reality again," Marcoagreed.
"We'd go into exile without a penny." His mother straightened and clutched his armtighter.
Marco glanced at his brother. How in the world had a computer program led to a proposal? Though he had to admit Kristin and Antonio seemed to fit. He shrugged. "Exile wasn’t bad the last time. I likedEngland."
"Marco, this is our home." Their mother scolded him as he walked her toward Father's bed. Antonio backed away to let Mother have hisspot.
Marco returned to the door and stared at Antonio as he leaned on the frame. "I saw your Kristin. I must say she's quite pretty. Was that one of your factors afterall?"
