‘Enough.’ He pushed back when his advisors raised another thorny problem.
He’d been issuing instructions for hours and he was done.
If it were an ordinary day, he’d go for a ride to clear his head. But today wasn’t anything like ordinary and he couldn’t leave the confines of the palace, what with all the media gulls gathering. Irritated with being even more tightly constrained than usual, he impatiently stalked towards his wing. The tug deep inside drawing him there was desperation for his own space, wasn’t it? It wasn’t any need to see her.
He gritted his teeth as he reached her door and pushed himself past it. But once he was in his own room he heard soft splashes through the open window. He paused. Was someone in the pool?
He swiftly glanced out of the window. The view all but killed his brain as his blood surged south. Those utility trousers and tee had done a good job of hiding her figure. So had those two dresses, even, with their floaty fabric and draping styles. Because now, in that plain, black, purely functional swimsuit, Hester Moss was even more lush in particular parts than he’d expected. She truly was a goddess. And maybe this marriage wasn’t going to be as awful as he’d imagined. Already teasing her was a delight, while touching her a temptation he was barely resisting.
For the first time in his life he was pleased his father had been so overprotective towards his sister. That he’d ensured the pool was completely secure from prying eyes—beyond these private apartments, of course. In fact, the whole palace was a fortress. No one could see in and, with the air restrictions in place, no helicopters could fly over with cameras on board. He opened the door to his balcony and lightly ran down the curling stone steps to the private courtyard.
She was swimming lazy lengths and apparently hadn’t noticed his arrival. It wasn’t until she rolled onto her back that she saw him. Her eyes widened and she sank like a stone beneath the surface before emerging again with a splutter. He was so tempted to skim his hands over her creamy skin and sensual curves. He ached to test their silkiness and softness for himself. Except she now hid—ducking down in the blue so only her head poked above the gentle ripples she’d caused.
‘What are you doing?’ Her gold eyes were huge.
Uninhibited—and frankly exhilarated—he’d undone his shirt buttons before he’d even thought about it. Now he laughed at the look on her face. ‘Relax. It’s just skin. And it’s a pool.’
‘You can’t swim naked,’ she said, scandalised.
‘I told you, the pool is completely private. No one can see us—it’s designed so only our private apartments overlook it. Mine, yours, Fi’s. And Fi isn’t here.’
‘You still can’t swim naked,’ she choked.
‘Relax, Hester.’ He laughed, amused by her blushing outrage.
‘You just do everything you want, don’t you?’
‘Not all the time. Not everything.’
She had no idea how well behaved he was being right now. Another bolt of attraction seared through him. He kept his black knit boxers on but swiftly dived into the pool to hide the very direct effect she was having on him.
‘How’d the fitting go?’ he asked once he swam to the surface again. The thought of her in a fancy wedding dress intrigued him. The dresses on the plane had been stunning, but some white lacy bridal thing? He suspected she’d slay it.
‘It was fine.’
Of course she’d say that—it was her fall-back phrase to conceal every real thought and emotion. He gazed into her eyes, wishing he could read her mind. Only the softest signs gave her away—her pupils had swollen so there was only a slight ring of colour visible; her cheeks had reddened slightly; her breath sounded a little fast and shallow. But he wanted to provoke a real reaction from her—powerful, visceral, uncontrollable.
‘Alek?’ she asked.
Despite the uncertainty in her tone, primal satisfaction scoured his insides, tightening every muscle with anticipation. He really did like his name on her lips. That small success would be the first of many. And he understood the reason for her uncertainty and slight breathlessness. She had a similar effect on him.
He swam closer, hiding his straining body beneath the cool water. Her eyelashes were so amazing—droplets glistened on the ends of a few, enhancing their lushness even more and framing her jewel-like irises to mesmerising perfection. She was every inch a luscious lioness.
‘What are you doing?’ she muttered as he floated closer still.
‘Tell me how the fitting went,’ he said softly. ‘Tell me something more than a mere platitude.’
‘Why?’
‘Because I want to know how you’re feeling.’
That wary look entered her eyes, but at the same time the water’s warmth rose a notch. The tension between them was now half exposed and she couldn’t tear her gaze from him any more than he could peel his from her.
‘Why?’ Her lips parted in a tempting pout—ruby red berries promising delectable, juicy softness.
‘Because we’re going to be a team, Hester,’ he muttered, struggling to focus and to keep his hands off her. ‘I’d like to know how you’re feeling, how you’re coping with everything. We should be able to communicate openly with each other.’ He cocked his head. ‘I get that you’re quite self-contained, but this doesn’t need to be difficult.’
Except it felt complicated. Something drew him closer even when he shouldn’t. This should be straightforward. Where had this vast curiosity come from? Or this gnawing desire that now rippled through every
