‘Hester?’
Unable to resist responding to that commanding thread in his voice, she glanced up. Her tongue was cleaved to the roof of her mouth. Her pulse thudded through her body with such ferocity she had to stay completely still to control it—to stop that overwhelming emotion exploding out of her in an ugly mess. It was too risky to reveal anything vulnerable—that something might matter to her. But the warmth in the backs of Alek’s eyes was different now. There wasn’t only that flicker of flirtation and teasing awareness. There was something deeper than both those things and as the seconds passed in silence it only strengthened.
‘It’s fine,’ she croaked.
She knew her response was so woefully inadequate it was almost rude, but no way could she utter the incoherent, incomplete thoughts battling in her head amongst the swirl of confusion. She expected him to either frown or tease, but he didn’t. His face lit up and he smiled. Her heart stopped. Those dimples were going to be the death of her.
‘Yes, it is.’ He curled his arm around her waist and walked her towards the big heavy doors at the other end of the room. ‘I’m glad you like it.’
Like it? Total understatement. She couldn’t help sneaking peeks at it as she walked with him into a reception room that had been prepared for the interview, but she still couldn’t verbalise the hot mess of feeling inside.
The journalist was waiting with only two crew—one for camera, one for sound. Hester perched on the edge of the sofa and hoped her nerves didn’t show too much. Alek kept one arm around her and drew her closer to his side while holding her hand throughout. She was so aware of his heat and strength and his smile melted everything and everyone else away until somehow it was over and he was laughing and releasing her only to shake hands with the presenter.
‘You did well,’ Alek said as he escorted her through the palace maze back to her apartment.
Hester couldn’t actually remember a word she’d said in response to the questions, she’d been too aware of him and the slippery direction of her private thoughts. ‘Oh, yes, I was amazing. I don’t think I said more than three words.’
‘Are you fishing for compliments? That wasn’t enough for you?’ He whirled to face her. ‘Ask me for more.’ He dared her up close. ‘You have no idea how much I want you to ask me for more.’ His smile deepened as she gaped at him. ‘Oh, you’ve gone silent again.’
‘Because you’re a tease.’
‘Yeah? Perhaps. But that doesn’t mean I don’t mean it.’ His hand tightened around her wrist. ‘Your pulse is quickening.’
‘It’s terror,’ she muttered.
‘Liar.’ He grinned.
‘You’re so conceited.’
‘Maybe because you’ve mastered the art of looking at me so adoringly…’ He chuckled as she flicked her wrist free of his hold.
‘Don’t we have to go on this visit now?’ She pushed herself back into work mode.
‘In an hour, yes.’ He leaned closer. ‘That’s just enough time for—’
‘Me to get changed, that’s right.’ She all but ran back to her apartment to where her stylists were waiting.
* * *
‘You’re nervous?’ Alek glanced at her keenly as the car drove them out of the palace gates and through the banks and banks of cameras just over an hour later.
‘Is it really obvious?’ She worried even more and clutched her bag strap tightly.
‘Honestly, I imagine everyone would expect you to be nervous and it’s not a bad thing. People like to see the humanity in others.’ He reached for her hand and shot her that charming smile.
‘They forgive you your sins?’ She tried to answer lightly, but beneath it she was glad of the way he rubbed his thumb back and forth over her tense fingers. It was soothing, like when she counted her breathing. But better.
But bad too. Because she didn’t want him to stop.
‘Nerves aren’t a sin.’ He laughed. ‘They’re normal. Everyone has them.’
‘Even you?’
‘Even me.’ He gave an exaggerated nod. ‘Does it surprise you that I might feel normal things, Hester?’
That sense of danger as those undercurrents of heat and temptation swirled too close to the surface.
‘So this is the paediatric ward visit,’ she confirmed needlessly. Just to remember the job. Just to stop staring at him. Since when was she so seduced by physical beauty? She’d always tried not to judge people based on their appearance—she knew how it felt to be bullied about things.
‘You don’t think it’s cynical to use sick children to sell us as a couple?’ she asked.
‘I think that most of these little guys have a really rough road ahead of them, so why shouldn’t they get a little joy out of this? I’d far rather spend an hour with them than with some of the captains of industry who don’t think I can live up to my father’s legacy.’
‘You think people don’t take you seriously?’
‘I’m just the Playboy Prince, aren’t I?’
‘Wow, I wonder why they have reason to think that?’
‘I know, right?’ He sent her a mocking look. ‘If only they knew I now have a pure and innocent bride to mend me of my disreputable ways…’
‘Very funny.’
Except she was revising her opinion on his reputation. It hadn’t taken long to see that Alek considered his country and his people in almost every decision he made.
It seemed there were thousands waiting behind police-guarded barriers and every one held a camera or phone up. As she passed them she was terribly glad of her long dress and the firmness with which her hair was pinned. Alek released her hand so they could engage with the people in the receiving line and she received a small bouquet from a sweet young girl. She heard a child bellowing and glanced quickly to see a small boy being carried away by a nurse but she maintained her smile and pretended she hadn’t noticed. There was no
