Page 26 of Guarding the Princess
It’s just a kiss, but with it I hand over my heart. I’m now hers to do with as she pleases.
We break apart, gasping, our foreheads pressed together.
“Don’t you dare apologize for that,” she whispers as she tightens her grasp on my shirt.
I shake my head. “Never.”
And then our lips meet again, quickly and repeatedly like we can’t get enough of each other. Which is true. I’ll never get enough of Charlotte. Mostly because our days are numbered. Our time is measured in hours, not years.
A loud thump out in the hall breaks us apart and jumpstarts my brain. I shouldn’t be here in Charlotte’s bedroom and I definitely shouldn’t be kissing her when I’m her employee. I slide my hands out of her hair and step back, already mad at myself for doing the right thing. Her grip on my shirt slowly lets go until she’s not touching me at all. Instant regret fills my chest. Not regret for kissing her, but regret I can’t continue to kiss her.
“Get some sleep, Princess.” My throat tightens and makes the directive a whisper.
She nods, her lips red, her hair a tangled mess from my own hands. My feet don’t want to move. They want to stay with Charlotte till the end of time. Gritting my teeth and clenching my fists is the only way I’m able to keep from reaching for her again. Instead, I make myself walk out the door with only one last glance at the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.
I close the door softly and spin on my heel to find my way through the halls to my room. I’m just reaching the end of the long corridor that leads to Charlotte’s suite when the Queen turns the corner and turns those icy blue eyes on me.
“Get lost again, Mr. Duke?” She folds her arms across her chest and I swallow hard.
“No, ma’am. Just making sure Charlotte made it back to her room safely.” I will my heart rate to slow down, to keep my cool under the watchful eye of this queen turned mama bear.
“I should have a suitable replacement in a matter of days, Mr. Duke, and then you may return home.”
I nod, though that’s the last thing I want. “Sounds good, thank you.”
“Goodnight.” It’s an order, not a pleasantry.
“’Night, ma’am.”
I walk to my room, careful to keep my pace even. Running from her laser-like glare would only make me look more guilty.
And I feel guilty enough.
11
Charlotte
Sleep didn’t come for hours after Ryker left last night. As far as first kisses go, that was by far the best. All the thoughts fighting for space at the forefront of my brain shut up the moment he touched me. I wasn’t thinking about all the responsibilities I had now that I was back, or the society events I’d have to attend, or how proper I had to appear at all times. Nor was I feeling intense grief over my brother’s death now that I was back in the same house he and I grew up in with memories everywhere I looked.
It was all sensation and peace. Like all was well in my world as long as Ryker held me in his arms. One man could keep everything else at bay and let me truly enjoy those precious few moments in my crazy life. It was a miracle.Hewas a miracle.
However, in the bright light of morning, I have to face the facts: Ryker’s leaving soon.
A sense of dread weighs me down. Breakfast, served to me in my room on a silver platter by one of the kitchen staff, makes my stomach turn. I must figure out a way to keep Ryker here. Pacing my room, I think about begging him to stay on as my bodyguard full-time. But I know his job is important to him and only having one client in a foreign country won’t give him the success he craves.
Plus, I want more of his kisses, which means being my bodyguard while also carrying on a relationship is out of the question. Mother would never allow it and neither would the general public. I didn’t want to have to hide a relationship with him, resorting to sneaking to each other’s room for stolen kisses.
Another staff member, one I don’t recognize either, pops her head in the door to my bedroom and interrupts my planning.
“Excuse me, ma’am. Magnus will be here within the hour and the Queen requests your presence in the Blue Room.”
My chest feels like it’s getting squeezed from all sides. No wonder Mother can’t wait to hand over the crown to me. The stress on your personal life alone would age you faster than normal. I can also see why she wants me married as soon as possible. This job requires two people to shoulder the load, no matter how ridiculous and antiquated it sounds to get married to fulfill your family duty.
My jaw drops open as an idea comes to life.
“Oh my God,” I mutter to the empty room.
I spring into action, getting dressed in record time and doing nothing more than running a brush through my hair before I’m racing out the door. I need to talk to Mother, welcome Magnus and assure him I’m taking the throne so he can go ahead back home, and then find Ryker.
