Becoming the Prince's Wife (Princes of Europe) (6 page)

Valentino’s lips thinned. He was sorry about the baby, but it meant Carolena would be leaving in the morning.

The queen’s first message told him she was upset they were going to have to leave with her grandson. She was crazy about Max and her reaction was understandable. Her second message had to do with wedding preparations. Since he couldn’t do anything about either situation at the moment, he decided to concentrate on Carolena, who would be slipping away from his life much sooner than he’d anticipated.

Once they touched down at the center and had thanked Dante for the wonderful trip, they climbed on board Valentino’s helicopter. But instead of flying back to the palace where his mother expected him to join her the second he got back, he instructed his pilot to land on the royal yacht anchored in the bay. They could have dinner on board away from the public eye.

Carolena was a very special VIP and the crew would think nothing of his entertaining the close friend of his new sister-in-law who was here with the prince of Arancia visiting the queen.

He called ahead to arrange for their meal to be served on deck. After they arrived on board and freshened up, they sat down to dinner accompanied by soft rock music as the sun disappeared below the horizon. Both of them had developed an appetite. Valentino loved it that she ate with enjoyment.

“Try the Insolia wine. It has a slightly nutty flavor with a finish that is a combination of sweet fruit and sour citrus. I think it goes well with swordfish.”

“It definitely does, and the steak is out of this world, Val. Everything here in Gemelli is out of this world.”

From the deck they could see Etna smoking in the far distance. She kept looking at it. “To think I flew over that volcano today and saw a fumarole up close.” Her gaze swerved to his. “Nothing I’ll ever do in life will match the wonder of this day, and it’s all because of you.”

He sipped his wine. “So the surprise didn’t turn out to be so bad, after all.”

“You know it didn’t.” Her voice throbbed, revealing her emotion. “I can’t think why Vincenzo warned me against it. Unless—”

When she didn’t finish, he said, “Unless what?”

“Maybe watching Michelina when she had her riding accident has made him more cautious than usual over the people he loves and cares about. Last night I could tell how worried he was about Max.”

Valentino hadn’t thought of that, but he couldn’t rule it out as a possibility, though he didn’t think it was Vincenzo’s major concern. Now that they were talking about it, his conversation at dinner with Vincenzo in front of her came back to haunt him.

He’d been warning Valentino, but maybe not about the volcano. Unfortunately, Vincenzo had always been a quick study. Possibly he’d picked up on Valentino’s interest in Carolena. Whatever had gone on in Vincenzo’s mind, now was the time to tell her about the change in their plans to fly back to Arancia.

“I checked my voice mail on the way to the yacht. You can listen.” He pulled his cell phone from his pocket and let her hear Vincenzo’s message.

In an instant everything changed, as he knew it would. “The poor darling. It’s a good thing we’re going home in the morning. I’m sure Max will be all right, but after no sleep, all three of them have to be absolutely miserable.”

Make that an even four.

The idea of Carolena leaving Gemelli filled him with a sense of loss he’d never experienced before. The deaths of his father and sister were different. It didn’t matter that he’d only known her twenty-four hours. To never be with her again was anathema to him.

He could have predicted what she’d say next. “We’d better get back to the palace. I need to pack.”

“Let’s have our dessert first. You have to try
cassata alla sicilana.
” Anything to prolong their time together.

“Isn’t that a form of cheesecake?”

“Cake like you’ve never tasted anywhere else.”

An impish smile broke one corner of her voluptuous mouth. “Something tells me you’re a man who loves his sweets.”

“Why do you think that?”

“I don’t know. Maybe it’s because of the way you embrace life to the fullest and enjoy its richness while at the same time reverencing it. When the gods handed out gifts, you received more than your fair share.”

He frowned. “What do you mean?”

“There aren’t many men who could measure up to you. Your sister used to sing your praises to Abby, who said she worshipped you.”

“The feeling was mutual, believe me.”

“According to Abby, Michelina admitted that the only man who came close to you was Prince Vincenzo. That’s high praise indeed. Luckily for your country, you’re going to be in charge one day.”

One day?
That day was almost upon him!

For the wedding date to have been fixed at the same time he’d met Signorina Baretti, the pit in Valentino’s stomach had already grown into a caldera bigger than the one he’d shown her today.

He’d spun out every bit of time with her he could squeeze and had no legitimate choice but to take her back to the palace.

“It’s getting late. I’m sure Vincenzo will want to talk to you tonight.”

Valentino shook his head. “With the baby sick, that won’t be happening.” In truth, he wasn’t up to conversation with Vincenzo or his mother. For the first time in his life he had the wicked instinct to do what he wanted and kidnap this woman who’d beguiled him.

“I have a better idea. It’s been a long day. We’ll stay on the yacht and fly you back on time in the morning. I’ll instruct the maid to pack your things. As for tonight, anything you need we have on board.”

* * *

Carolena’s breath caught. “What about your girlfriend? Won’t she be expecting you?”

His dark blue eyes narrowed on her face. “Not when I’m entertaining family and friends. As for the other question you don’t dare ask, I’ve never brought a woman on board the yacht or taken one up on the volcano.”

He’d been so frank and honest with her today, she believed him now. His admission shook her to her core. “If I didn’t know better, I would think you were propositioning me,” she teased to cover her chaotic emotions. There she went again. Saying something she shouldn’t have allowed to escape her lips.

His jaw hardened. “I’m a man before being a prince and I
am
propositioning you, but I can see I’ve shocked you as much as myself.”

She could swear that was truth she’d heard come out of him. Carolena was Abby’s friend, yet that hadn’t stopped him, and obviously that fact wasn’t stopping her. It was as if they were both caught in a snare of such intense attraction, they knew no boundaries.

“Do you want to know something else?” he murmured. “I can see in those glorious green eyes of yours that you’d like to stay on board with me tonight. True desire is something you can’t hide. We’ve both felt it since we met, so there’s no use denying it.”

“I’m not,” she confessed in a tremulous voice. Carolena could feel her defenses crumbling and started to tremble. Never had she been around a man who’d made her feel so completely alive.

“My kingdom for an honest woman, and here you are.”

“Only you and Vincenzo could say such a thing and get away with it.”

Her humor didn’t seem to touch him. “Tell me about the man who died. You
were
speaking about a man. Are you still terribly in love with him?”

His question reached the core of her being. “I’ll always love him,” she answered honestly.

He reached across the table and grasped her hand. “How long has he been gone?”

She couldn’t lie to him. “Seven years.”

After a moment of quiet, he said, “That’s a long time to be in love with a memory. How did he die?”

“It doesn’t matter. I don’t want to talk about it.”

Those all-seeing eyes of his gazed through to her soul. “Yet somehow you still feel responsible for his death?”

“Yes.”

“Has it prevented you from getting close to another man?”

“I’ve been with other men since he died, if that’s what you mean.”

“Carolena—tell me the truth. Is there one man who’s vitally important to you now?”

Yes. But he’s not in Arancia.

“No one man more than another,” she dissembled.

She heard his sharp intake of breath. “Then do you dare stay with me the way you dared to get close to Etna’s furnace today? I’m curious to see how brave a woman you really are.”

His thumb massaged her palm, sending warmth through her sensitized body until her toes curled. “You already know the answer to that.”

“Dance with me,
bellissima,
” he begged in a husky whisper. “I don’t give a damn that the crew can see us. You’ve entranced me and I need to feel you in my arms.”

It was what she wanted, too. When she’d heard Vincenzo say that they were leaving in the morning, she’d wanted to cry out in protest that she’d only gotten here. She hadn’t had enough time with Valentino.
Not nearly enough.

He got up from the table and drew her into his arms. She went into them eagerly, aching for this since the time he’d put his arm around her up on the volcano. It felt as if their bodies were meant for each other. She slid her arms around his neck until there was no air between them. They clung out of need in the balmy night air that enveloped them like velvet.

His hands roved over her back and hips as they got a new sense of each other only touch could satisfy. They slow danced until she lost track of time. To hold and be held by this amazing man was a kind of heaven.

She knew he was unattainable. Abby had told her he’d been betrothed to Princess Alexandra in his teens, just like Vincenzo’s betrothal to Princess Michelina. One day Valentino would have to marry. He’d explained all that yesterday.

Carolena understood that. It didn’t bother her since she shunned the idea of commitment that would lead to her own marriage. Marriage meant being responsible for another person’s happiness. She couldn’t handle that, but selfishly she did desire this one night with Valentino before she flew back to Arancia and never saw him again.

Tonight he’d made her thankful she’d been born a woman. Knowing he wanted her as much as she wanted him brought indescribable joy. One night with him would have to be enough, except that he still hadn’t kissed her yet and she was dying for it. When he suddenly stopped moving, she moaned in disappointment.

His hands squeezed her upper arms. “The steward will show you downstairs to your cabin,” he whispered before pulling the phone from his pocket. “I’ll join you shortly.”

Carolena was so far gone she’d forgotten about the prying eyes of the crew, but Valentino was used to the whole world watching him and did what was necessary to keep gossip to a minimum. Without words she eased away from him and walked over to the table for her purse before following the steward across the deck to the stairs.

The luxury yacht was a marvel, but Carolena was too filled with desire for Valentino to notice much of anything. Once she reached the cabin and the steward left, she took a quick shower and slipped into one of the white toweling bathrobes hanging on a hook. The dressing room provided every cosmetic and convenience a man or woman could need.

She sat in front of the mirror and brushed her hair.
Entranced
was the right word. Though she knew she’d remain single all her life, she felt as if this was her wedding night while she waited for him to come. The second he entered the room he would hear the fierce pounding of her heart.

Soon she heard his rap on the door. “Come in,” she called quietly. He walked in and shut the door behind him, still dressed in the clothes he’d worn during their trip.

Without saying anything, he reached for her hand and drew her over to the bed where he sat down and pulled her between his legs. His gaze glowed like hot blue embers. Everywhere it touched, she was set on fire. Her ears picked up the ragged sound of his breathing.

“You look like a bride.”

But, of course, she wasn’t a bride, and she sensed something was wrong. She could feel it. “Is that good or bad?”

He ran his hands up and down her arms beneath the loose sleeves of her robe as if even his fingers were hungry for her. “Carolena—” There was an unmistakable plea for understanding in his tone.

“Yes?” Whatever was coming, she knew she wasn’t going to like it.

“I talked frankly with you yesterday about my personal life. But what you couldn’t know was that last night after you went back to your room, I met with my mother.” His chest rose and fell visibly. “While you and I were out riding, my wedding date to Princess Alexandra was finally set in stone. We’re being married on August tenth, the day of my coronation.”

Carolena stood stock-still while the news sank in. That was only two months from now...

“Though I made the promise to my mother that I’d be faithful to Alexandra from here on out, I really made it to myself and have already gotten word to my latest girlfriend that it’s over for good.”

She could hardly credit what she was hearing.

“But little did I know I was already being tested by none other than Abby’s best friend.”

A small cry escaped her throat. “I shouldn’t have come, but Abby kept insisting.” She shivered. “This is all my fault, Val.”

“There you go again, taking on blame for something that’s no one’s fault. If we were to follow that line of thinking, shall I blame myself for inviting Vincenzo to come on this trip? Shall we blame him for bringing his wife and her best friend?”

His logic made Carolena feel like a fool. “Of course not.”

“At least you admit that much. In my whole life I’ve never wanted a woman more than I’ve wanted you, since the moment we met at the swimming pool. But it’s more than that now. Much more.”

“I know. I feel it, too.” But she remained dry eyed and smiled at him. “The gods are jealous of you. They’re waiting for you to make a mistake. Didn’t you know that?”

He squeezed her hands gently. “When I dared you to stay with me tonight, I crossed a line I swore I would never do.”

“I believe you. But the fact is, it takes two, Val. I didn’t know your wedding date had been set, of course. Yet even knowing you were betrothed, I crossed it, too, because I’ve never known desire like this before, either. I’ve never had an affair before.”