Page 25 of Guarding the Princess
Charlotte tugs me close and I lean down to catch her whisper.
“I know you must be starving,Stor Kille. There’s food on the buffet behind you. I’m almost done here and then I’ll give you the official tour. Just you and me.”
Suddenly the ire of the Queen doesn’t matter so much. Not when Charlotte is looking at me like that with those blue eyes, so trusting in me. And definitely not when she promises some alone time with just her. I nod and back away to find food and let them finish their meeting. I don’t eavesdrop, but I am in the same room so I can’t help but overhear their conversation about upcoming events and how they want to share with their citizens that Charlotte is back.
“Your birthday is less than two weeks away. We must get moving on the coronation if it’s to take place as tradition calls for.”
“Would it be so bad to celebrate my birthday with family only and then do the coronation a week or so later?” Charlotte tries out the voice she uses on elderly women who come up to the barista at Hit Me to complain about something insane, like the paper on the muffin not being the color they prefer. She’s calm, but firm.
“Charlotta. While I am Queen, we will do things according to tradition. When you are Queen, you may make changes as you see fit. While I fear your ability to do things as I would, I do trust you. The coronation will take place on your birthday. Then you are free to do as you please. Understood?”
“Completely.” Charlotte nearly spits the word.
The air in the room has turned as icy as the wind whipping against the windows of the palace. The King moves the discussion along, but Charlotte doesn’t speak directly to her mother again. The meeting dismisses and Charlotte comes right to me, her eyes on fire and her jaw set.
Looks like my bodyguarding activities will include talking the soon-to-be Queen off the ledge.
Like only Charlotte can do, she recovers quickly by stiffening her spine and blowing out a long breath. When she looks up at me, the fire is gone, but the shadows under her eyes remain. I want to help her, even though I feel like a fish out of water in Regora. I’ll be less of her bodyguard and more of the one person who’ll look out for her mental health. Decision made, I put my plate down on the buffet and take her hand in mine.
“Let’s go have some fun, yeah?”
The corners of her mouth tip up and all is right in my world again. Somehow, someway, Charlotte became my whole world in a frighteningly short period of time.
We spend the rest of the afternoon exploring the palace and the surrounding grounds. Charlotte shares her childhood memories with me and I can see she grew up happy. Maybe a bit restricted due to her family, but definitely still happy.
She and I hold hands the entire time we roam, the action natural and right, despite being so new and despite the stares from the staff. When I’m starving again, she laughs at me and tugs me toward the kitchens where we eat at the counter. The head chef seems to love Charlotte too, reminiscing with her about all the mischief she got up to when she was young. That level of fondness doesn’t surprise me as I have yet to meet someone who doesn’t like her. She’s just one of those people who shine with an innate goodness that comes from within.
“Let’s show you my room so you know how to find me.” Charlotte gives me a shy smile and tries to walk me through the various hallways and staircases, outlining where they all lead.
“Let’s hope your future bodyguard memorizes the palace layout before he starts.” I mean the offhand comment to be funny, but it makes us both pause. Reminding Charlotte, or myself, I’m leaving soon isn’t a happy train of thought.
“Well, here we are.” Charlotte opens her door and waves me into her suite.
She shuts the door behind her and shows me around, the air between us becoming heavier. I’m more aware than I should be that I’m in her bedroom, alone. She trails off telling me about the ceilings in the palace and climbs the stairs up onto her huge canopy bed. I walk over, unable to stay away.
In front of her, I lean down and take off her high heels one at a time. Her feet must be killing her in those things, having worn them all day. I take one bare foot in my hand and dig my thumb into her instep. She groans and closes her eyes.
“First act as Queen should be to have an official foot massager each night,” I say in a low voice, not taking my gaze off her expressive face.
She flutters her eyes open and smiles. “Careful. You might get hired for a new position.”
Truth is, at this moment, I wouldn’t mind. I’d rub her feet every night if only she’d let me. If only she and I could have a future together. Not as her bodyguard, but as her husband.
The idea should shock me. It should startle me out of this trance I’m in, but it doesn’t even phase me. Being with Charlotte is about the only thing that’s ever made sense in my life.
I switch to the other foot and find pleasure in her relaxing. The tension around her face leaves her, drop by drop. I can imagine she doesn’t allow herself to do that very often as she steps into this new role in the royal family. Who will be around to help her when I’m gone?
“Ryker,” she whispers.
“Charlotte,” I whisper back.
She reaches out and grabs the front of my polo, pulling me in until we’re sharing the same breath. My heart pounds like I’ve run after a bad guy at a full sprint.
Her eyelids lower and she licks her full lips. There’s no way I can stop this kiss, not when it’s been barreling its way through since the moment we talked to each other. We both want it. We both need it. And in this moment, when her racing heartbeat matches mine, we aren’t a commoner and a princess. We’re just two people who need to love each other.
I bridge the half-inch gap and seal my lips to hers in a searing kiss. My hands slide into her long hair like I’ve wanted to since I saw her for the first time. My brain freezes and shuts off, drowning out the warning bells that would have me pushing her away. All I feel is this connection and it consumes me. Charlotte consumes me.
The soft ribbons of hair trailing down her back. The sweet scent of her skin enveloping me. The way she makes a soft groan in the back of her throat.
