Page 67 of Claiming His Virgin Princess

Ilsa frowned and Noah shoved his hands in his pockets. The time for prevarication was past. He was a proud man, but he’d learned love was more important than pride. He wanted something better for them, and for their child.

‘I checked into that London hotel because I discovered you were to attend a conference there on diversion programmes for young people in trouble with the law.’

Warm colour flooded Ilsa’s face. Even her parted lips looked redder, and far too alluring. Noah wanted to grab her, tuck her close against him and not let her go.

But he leashed his inner caveman and focused on patience. Time apart from her had only reinforced his feelings. Life had been empty without Ilsa. He had to get this right.

‘Now tell me straight, why did you leave? You never gave me a decent reason. Was it because of your family’s expectations?’

Noah’s eyes narrowed, his nape tightening and instinct prickling as she looked away.

When she turned back he stared into eyes of polished pewter, bright with troubled emotion. He sensed her turmoil, pain even, and wanted to reach for her, hold her close and support her.

But Noah stood still. He couldn’t force this. She had to trust him.

‘No, nothing like that.’ Ilsa breathed deep and slow. ‘I thought I couldn’t be the woman you wanted.’

‘Sorry?’ He couldn’t have heard right. ‘I’ve never wanted a woman so much.’ His mouth dragged wide in a reluctant smile so tight it hurt. ‘With you I’m insatiable.’

He’d always had a healthy sex drive but with Ilsa...

‘I don’t mean for sex.’ But he didn’t miss the way her mouth curled at one corner, like a seductress proud of her power. Even that made him hard. Everything about Ilsa aroused him. ‘We both knew that it was a holiday fling. A short-term affair.’

‘In the beginning, yes.’ He frowned. ‘But even in Monte Carlo there was no way on earth I could have walked away from that party without you. I’ve never felt anything like it with anyone but you. It felt like we were destined to be together. I spoke about a short affair because that’s all I knew. But the fact is, right from the start, what we shared felt different.’

There, it was out in the open.

Ilsa’s breath was an audible hiss. But he didn’t read shock in her face.

Perhaps the notion wasn’t new to her after all? Noah’s pulse quickened.

‘Was it like that for you too, Ilsa?’ He’d believed so at the time but, if so, why walk out on him?

Slowly she nodded and Noah exhaled a breath he hadn’t realised he’d held. His punished lungs eased and the constricting band around his chest vanished.

Noah stared at this complex, alluring, surprising woman and tried to get his brain back into gear. If she wasn’t talking about sex, then...

‘If you felt that way, why walk out on me in London? And don’t say it was because of royal duty alone. I know that’s important to you, but I know too that it doesn’t completely satisfy you any more. I don’t believe you’d turn your back on me only because your father crooked his finger.’

Ilsa squared her shoulders, her chin rising, and heknewshe was fighting not to appear vulnerable. It made his heart turn over. She might have secrets but in so many ways he knew this woman almost as well as he knew himself.

‘When you spoke of long-term you said you wanted to try for a family and I knew how important children would be to you. I’ve seen you with kids time and again and you’re a natural with them. I’ve heard you speak of your nephew and it’s clear you love him. Your voice changes when you speak of him, did you know that?’

Slowly Noah nodded as, finally, some of the puzzle began to make sense.

‘And you weren’t sure you could have children.’

The realisation was simple but devastating. His gut twisted as he imagined how Ilsa had felt. He remembered how her face had glowed when she told him she wanted children. And today the stark fear mingled with determination on her features when she’d said there was a chance she mightn’t be able to carry this baby.

Noah couldn’t hold back any longer.

He took the step that brought them together, his arms wrapping around her, and it felt like coming home, even though she stood straight, not leaning against him. Her light citrus scent tickled his nostrils and he longed for the taste of her. Soon, he vowed. They’d clear everything up here and now. No more hiding or prevarication.

Ilsa was home to him in a way that no mere place could be. Being with her, he feltrightfor the first time in too long.

‘You thought I’d reject you because you mightn’t be able to have children.’

It was a statement, not a question, and the tremor he felt running through her confirmed it.

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