Alexander & Rebecca (Royals of Valleria #1) (21 page)

For now, she would put her doubts aside and just enjoy this moment, and this time with him. She sighed as his lips nibbled on her ear and whispered a few choice, naughty words that had her blushing.

“Mmmm,” he said. “My love likes a little dirty talk, does she? I’ll have to keep that in mind.”

She gasped. “Alex.”

“Yes?” he whispered against her heated skin as his fingers began to tease her below.

“Alex,” she sighed and slipped under his seductive spell once more.

“Give yourself to me. I want more from you. I want everything,” he said as she quickly, too quickly to catch her breath, fell over the peak.

Gasping, she delved her hands into his thick, rich hair and gripped until his lips fell to hers. This time, she wanted to give him as much as he gave her.

She wrapped her smooth legs around his hips while her hands shifted down and scored his chest. When he moaned, she rolled them until she was on top of him. He lay underneath, a feast meant just for her.

Following instinct, and mimicking some of the torture he’d done to her, she pressed soft kisses along the pulse in his neck, and was pleased to see it jump at her attention.

She moved down to attack his chest. She nipped and sucked his nipples, and her own breasts tightened in response. When his hands reached for her, she pushed them aside, and he gripped the sheets with fierce fists of passion.

She licked the chiseled stomach, pleased to see it shudder underneath her touch. She caressed his hips and strong, corded legs, before finally gazing at his erection, and caressing it with her hands.

Alex groaned. “Becca. Please,” he begged, and she smiled. He only seemed to call her by her nickname when lost in passion.

She rather liked it.

Her hands moved softly over his length and his body started to move underneath her. His hands covered hers and showed her how to hold and caress him. She wasn’t quite ready to taste him, not this time, but the sight of both of their hands on his hard, hot cock almost did her in; she moaned.

Even more arousing was the sight of him lost by her touch; it was a heady power she hadn’t expected and now craved.

With a fierce cry, Alex shifted their positions and she was under him once more. He took her lips in a bruising kiss while he teased her entrance below.

He pulled away, cursing. “Damn it, I almost forgot the condom,” he said in a rough whisper as he reached over to the side table for one.

She ran her foot over his thigh and asked, with her most vixen-like eyes, “Could we try it without the condom one day, if I’m protected?”

His fingers fumbled and dropped the package. His eyes closed, as if he were trying to gain control of himself. When they blinked open again, they were full of feral lust and his mouth fell on hers again for several long, breathless moments. “You’d better fucking believe we can try it bare,” he said and she laughed; she’d rarely heard him curse.

Barely a minute later, he was sheathed and plunged inside her, and her back arched at the glorious sensation. He joined their hands again and placed them above her head. She felt possessed by him, even while she laid her own claim as her body shifted underneath his.

“Becca,” he said and his lips fell to her breasts and peaked nipples.

“Alex,” she groaned when a hot bolt of need shot straight through the core of her. Her mind was clouded and hazy, her skin hot, hot, hot. She shifted against him faster and faster even while he did the same.

She started gasping as it came over her, swift and fresh. How was each orgasm so uniquely different yet so much the same?

His mouth swallowed her scream as her orgasm burst free and his followed. He kept pumping, pumping, pumping into her until, replete, he gave her one last kiss and fell exhausted on top of her.

Her ears were ringing, their bodies covered in cooling, slick sweat. She knew that the morning, and the long day ahead, must be near. Yet, she didn’t want to go to sleep, for fear it was only a dream.

She felt so close to him, felt so much with him; did everyone feel like this after making love? she wondered as her hands softly caressed his sweat-slicked hair.

Alex groaned as he lifted himself up, and a rush of cool air fell against her skin causing a shiver. He pulled the covers over her and said, “I’ll be right back.”

As he walked away, Rebecca watched his fine ass twitching against the low light in the room. Her nightgown was tossed on the floor, as were his robe and boxers; she should at least pick them up so they wouldn’t be wrinkled in the morning. She desperately wanted to stay awake, to talk and cuddle in his arms again, but exhaustion overtook her.

Alex returned to find her sleeping, his angel now lying on a field of crumpled white sheets. Her hair was strewn on the pillow around her and the covers stopped just above her still-peaked nipples. His cock twitched just at the thought of her body hidden beneath.

He should go back to his room for the last few hours before sunrise, to keep their relationship secret a little longer. However, he found he couldn’t leave her. Not now, not ever, if he could convince her.

So, he slipped into bed, pleased when she automatically rolled towards him and into his arms with a sigh. His arms wrapped around her, holding her close. He would stay with her on this, their first night together. Hopefully, he would never have to leave her again.

And with dreams of their future on his mind, he fell into sleep.

Alex woke from the most peaceful sleep of his life. Though he'd only slept a few hours, and his muscles protested slightly from their delicious overuse last night, he'd never been happier.

It was all because of her.

They had shifted in the night, and he now spooned her from behind. His face was happily buried in her hair, where the scent of lavender swum around him, and the fading scent of their lovemaking clung to their skin.

Her breathing was soft and even and, with a quick glance at a clock nearby, he noted with some dismay that he would have to leave soon for his own cold, unused room. He'd have to shuffle the sheets around to make it seem as though he'd slept there. He hoped the maid wouldn't think too much of Rebecca's well-used bed.

He nuzzled her neck, even as his morning erection grew harder against her. He wouldn't take her again though, by God, he wanted to. Her body needed rest, and he still needed to prove himself to her.

The niggle of doubt that he'd put away last night came crawling back, despite his attempts to beat it back. She hadn't said that she loved him, but he knew that she did care for him. She'd said as much last night and, besides, she never would have made love with him otherwise.

It wasn't much, but it was a start.

The more time they spent together, the more he fell in love with her and the more he understood her. She was reluctant, he realized, not necessarily because of him but because of her future role. As long as they kept working towards each other, he knew he could make her believe she was more than capable as a princess and even queen.

Warm and safe in bed, he reluctantly slid away and she shifted with a sigh. He gently brushed back a strand of hair from her face and just watched her for a few long moments before heading to the bathroom.

He came out a few minutes later and, reluctant though he was to wake her, knew she needed a little extra time this morning.

"Rebecca?" he said as he dropped soft kisses to her face, gently nudging her awake. "Darling?" He watched as she shifted and stretched, sleek as a cat, while still in that realm between dreams and awake. The covers slid carelessly to her waist, revealing her addictive breasts and softened nipples, covered by some errant strands of her long, chestnut hair. He ruthlessly tamped down his growing desire, despite the way his cock reacted to the sight, or even thought, of her.

Her eyes blinked open and she frowned.

"Good morning, Rebecca," he said and kissed her tenderly on the lips. Her eyes widened and he smiled as he pulled away; his need to spend the day ravishing her in bed was growing by the second.

"Morning," she whispered in a husky morning voice. "What time is it?"

Pleased that, at least for now, she didn't succumb to modesty - a sure sign of progress, in his opinion - he said, "Nearly time for me to leave." He caressed her cheek and her face turned into his touch. Her skin was so soft.

"I started a bath for you," he said.

"Did you?" she asked as her hand moved to rest on his thigh; her touch burned his skin. He lifted her hand and kissed her palm, then held it against his face. "You're probably sore this morning," he said. "The bath will help."

"I’d planned to have one myself this morning, so thank you for arranging it. Will you join me?"

His cock sprung to life in front of her and she giggled; he scowled in return.

"One part of you thinks it’s a good idea," she teased.

"You shouldn't laugh. I'll think you find me lacking."

"I may not have a lot of experience," she said as she pulled his head down to hers. "But I can certainly say that nothing about you is lacking." She guided his lips to hers for a long, deep kiss, and he felt the heat spread through his body. He shifted closer, deeper, hotter, until he pushed himself away.

"We shouldn't," he said lamely. When she moved to sit up and winced slightly, he said firmly, "We won't. I don't want to hurt you, Rebecca," he said, caressing her cheek again.

Her hand covered his. "You're probably right."

"I
know
I'm right," he said smugly.

She chuckled. "You shouldn't be so smug. I'm sure you'll be wrong about something today."

"Not about this," he said as he rested his forehead against hers. Here, with her arms slipping around him, he felt as though he were in another world. The truth, however, was much harsher. Appointments for the day had already stacked taller than a skyscraper in his head, little pieces of political maneuvering that needed to be done were waiting impatiently, and then there was the most terrifying task of all: keeping his love safe.

Alex kissed Rebecca's forehead and said, "I don't want to burst the lovely bubble we've got here but, unfortunately, the day waits for no man, or woman."

Rebecca turned her head towards the clock and sighed. "I suppose you're right. There is a lot to do today. I'd almost forgotten everything that happened yesterday for a few moments."

He pulled her further into the warmth of his arms, hoping it made her feel safe. "Listen to the agents," he whispered into her ear. "They know what they're doing, and they'll risk their lives to protect you."

"Why is this happening, Alex?" she asked, holding onto him tightly.

"I don't know, darling, but we'll find out. Marcello won't stop until he finds out, and neither will I."

"Will you let me know how the investigation's going?"

"Of course," he said as he kissed her temple. "I'll probably be calling you every hour anyhow."

He felt her smile against his skin. "Every hour?"

"Every hour," he repeated and cupped her face in his hands. "I meant everything I said last night, Rebecca. I love you. Whenever you get worried or scared, remember that, and call me."

"I will," she said before she dropped an easy kiss on his lips. "Remember that I care for you, too, Alex, and I wouldn't have traded last night for anything."

His heart bloomed, his pulse jumped, and his body wanted to ravish her and relive last night.  Instead, he took the love she wouldn't admit to just yet, kissed her forehead, and lifted her up in his arms.

She squealed as she became airborne and the covers trailed away. "What are you doing?"

"Your bath's getting cold," he said simply and stopped in front of the tub. He lowered her gently into the steaming water, her sigh as soft as the steam surrounding them.

Once she was seated in the fragrant, bubbly bath, he cupped her face with his wet hands and gave her a lingering kiss. He pulled away, giving her one last caress, before standing up. If he didn't leave now, he wouldn't be able to resist his hot, wet lover surrounded by perfumed bubbles.

"You'll stay here again tonight. In the castle, I mean."

"Does that mean I can expect a visit from a handsome prince again tonight?" she asked as she propped her head on the side of the tub.

He couldn't hide the wicked smile or the gleam in his eye. "You'd better fucking believe it."

She laughed. "I look forward to it."

"Damn right you do," he said as he slowly backed away.

"Still so confident. I'll see you for breakfast?" she asked as she watched his progress.

“In about an hour or so. Marie should be by to show you where to go.”

“Until then," she said and blew him a kiss.

He caught it in his hand and held it against his heart. He turned and walked out, a ridiculous smile on his face. He pondered again taking the whole day off to ravish her. Vallerians were a fairly romantic, passionate people; he could probably convince them he needed to stay in and make love all day.

After he slipped on his robe and boxers over his semi-erect body, on a whim, he also picked up her nightgown from the floor. He inhaled, letting the scent of her wash over him. He slipped the satin into his pocket, and made his way down the narrow, secret corridor once more.

***

After her bath, Rebecca felt almost whole again. She was still a little sore but, all told, felt remarkably chipper. After dressing for the day, she gave herself a critical eye in the mirror. She was dressed in one of Catharine’s expensive skirt suits of dark green. It was plastered against her curves, particularly in the jacket and silk camisole underneath, but it would do. She had brushed her dark hair until it fell in soft, burnished waves around her head, and added the lightest touch of makeup.

She was not worried about looking professional today, though she did. She was worried about looking like a woman who had spent the night making love. Would Catharine see? Would anyone else? Sex changed everything, she’d heard people say, and were they ever right. She felt as though she’d crossed some line and finally became a woman. She felt powerful, not just in her mind but in every pore of her body.

It was such a heady, addictive feeling.

She heard the maid’s knock on the suite’s door and gave herself one last look before turning towards it. She avoided looking at the bed as she passed, particularly since she could not seem to stop blushing when she did so. She picked up her purse and slipped on her heels as she made her way to the door.

“Good morning, Marie,” Rebecca said.

“Morning, Miss Campo. You are ready for breakfast?”

“Yes, if you don’t mind showing me the way.”

“It would be my pleasure,” Marie said as she gestured with her hand for Rebecca to follow. Marie chatted as they made their way along the winding corridors, stopping occasionally to point out a painting or sculpture, something Cat had never thought twice about doing last night. She supposed it was different when you had not grown up as royalty; you tended to appreciate the grandness of the castle when you were not raised in it. Rebecca completely understood, and appreciated the affection Marie held for the place she worked.

It struck Rebecca that this could be where she lived, if she and Alex worked out. The thought had her stomach jumping as nerves wove through her.

“It’s just through those doors, Miss,” Marie said as she gestured towards the end of a long hall that Rebecca vaguely remembered from last night.

“Thank you, Marie.”

With a smile and a wave, Marie walked down the hall from which they had come.

Rebecca took her time walking the rest of the way. She took several deep breaths until she was almost lightheaded. She was not worried about seeing the King or Queen again. No, she was worried about seeing Alex.

She felt giddy at the thought of seeing him again, just as she had felt happy that morning. They had been in their own little bubble, one that could not last but was sweet and fun while it did. He had not seemed to regret their time together, despite the fact she had not mentioned love and he had.

What was she really afraid of? she wondered, as her heels clicked softly down the hall. She hoped another conversation with her mother would help figure that out.

Rebecca frowned, remembering Alex’s desire that she forego seeing her parents for the threat looming over them. In a haze of passion and warmth, it was easy to forget about the troubles waiting for her. However, there were many agents around her, following her even now from a distance down the hall. She would be safe, she told herself.

At the sound of voices, one of them Alex’s, she smiled and started to walk a little faster. At least she did, until she heard what they were talking about: her.

“I’m in love with her, Cat,” Alex said simply from beyond the dining room door which was not quite shut.

“In love with her?” Cat said in shock. “But it’s Rebecca! My Rebecca.”