Page 14 of Claiming His Virgin Princess

‘Why, Noah? Why me? And why go to such lengths?’

It wasn’t distrust she felt, but confusion. She wasn’t a woman for whom men made spectacular, dramatic gestures. She’d never been invited to a sybaritic idyll. Shehopedthat was what he had in mind.

‘Why you?’ He shook his head. ‘I don’t know. Either it’s too complex to explain or so simple it doesn’t need explanation. But you feel it too, don’t you, Ilsa? This bond, this attraction.’

‘I feel...something.’ There spoke cautious Ilsa, the woman who’d been trained to guard every word and look.

Suddenly she despised that woman, living her life by the rule book, always concerned for what others thought. For once in her life she wanted to be impulsive and utterly selfish. She wanted to feel all the glorious things Noah stirred in her and much, much more.

‘Yes,’ she said, her voice louder, decisive. ‘I feel like something’s got into my bloodstream and when we touch it sizzles. But it makes me feel at peace too.’ As if such contrary feelings could coexist!

It felt liberating to admit the truth, no matter how outlandish.

‘Youdofeel it.’ He met her stare with a smile and her heart lifted.

She wasn’t alone then. If this was some strange illusion, at least it was shared. Noah Carson had no reason to lie.

‘What if we wake up tomorrow or the next day and it’s gone?’ she asked. ‘No sizzle left?’

His serious look turned into a slow smile that threatened to melt her bones. ‘That doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy each other’s company. If you get tired of me we’ll put into port and you can fly home.’

Home. The word brought no solace. For the last couple of years she’d assumed her home would be Vallort where she’d be Queen, wife of a man she didn’t love but whom she respected. Beyond that, home was Altbourg where she’d been born, but that wasn’t the place for her now. She was a liability there.

‘Ilsa?’ Gently he tilted her head back, brushing her hair from her face. She softened, leaning into his touch.

‘It’s a mad idea.’

‘Not mad at all. Following your instincts is never a mistake.’

He spoke with such certainty she almost believed him. Shedidbelieve him. Not enough to think there’d be no regrets. But Ilsa was tired of living a half-life, hemmed in by caution and others’ expectations. She wanted to follow her passions. To live. To take a chance.

She thought of the reports painting her as a tragic victim and the malicious jibes against Lucien’s poor lover.

Swanning around the Mediterranean with Noah would give the press something else to chew on, and maybe take some of the heat off Lucien and Aurélie. Her father would have a fit but right now she couldn’t bring herself to care.

If the press got wind of it there would be a new sort of scandal and she wouldn’t be viewed aspoor innocent Ilsaany more. She doubted even her clever father would be able to organise an arranged royal marriage for her then. That alone was a good reason to sayyes.

But that wasn’t why she wanted to agree.

She lifted her hand to Noah’s neck, pressed her fingertips lightly to his hot flesh and wondered at how magnificent that felt. He shuddered, his eyelids drooping in a look that spoke a language as ancient as the divide between the sexes.

That stare, that shiver, made her feel powerful and desired. She opened her mouth to sayyeswhen realisation hit. Elation turned to dismay.

‘I can’t.’ Disappointment tugged her mouth down at the corners. How could she have forgotten? ‘I’m guest of honour later this week at a dinner hosted by the Monegasque royal family. I can’t back out. I gave my word.’

‘I see.’ His hand covered hers and his look turned unreadable.

It was one thing to tell herself she was free to make her own choices now. It was another to insult her hosts so blatantly. She couldn’t do it.

But that didn’t lessen her disappointment.

‘I have an important meeting in Athens soon and can’t stay here,’ Noah murmured.

So that was it. Ilsa’s flutter of excitement became a crumpled feeling of sadness. She sighed, trying not to think about how devastated she felt.

‘Well, I’d better—’

‘Wait.’ His eyes held hers. ‘Tell me, if you could choose one place to holiday in the Mediterranean where would it be?’

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