And finally, when she couldn’t actually move, when her body was so wrung out, so limp from that tornado of ecstasy, a small smile curved his gorgeous lips. He rolled but pulled her close, draping her soft body over his. And he kissed her again—a sweet intimacy she was still so unused to, and still so desperately hungry for. So hungry, in fact, that it took only one long, lush kiss to stir her hips into that primal circling dance again.
‘Oh, Hester,’ he muttered and swept his hands down her yearning body. ‘You’re magnificent.’
CHAPTER EIGHT
ALEK RESTED ON his side, watching her sleep—half impatient, half fascinated—until she finally stirred. Her gaze skittered away from his as she sat up. For the first time in his life he was unsure how to handle the morning after.
‘Sorry I slept in.’ She slithered from the bed and swiftly reached for the robe lying across the nearby chair. ‘I had an amazing time. Thank you.’
Amazing? She had no idea what amazing was. But he supposed it was better than her telling him it had been ‘fine’.
‘No regrets?’ He pushed for more than this awkward politeness from her.
‘I don’t think it would be right to regret something that felt that good.’ She belted his favourite robe tightly around her waist, hiding her perfection from him again. ‘I’ll go back to my room now.’
‘You don’t have to,’ he said huskily, rubbing a sore spot he felt in his chest.
Ordinarily he’d be relieved to have a lover leave him with such little fuss, but he wanted Hester to stay. But every ounce of her shy reserve had returned.
‘I know…but I…um…’ She drew breath. ‘My clothes are in there.’ She silently sped from the room—as if she daren’t leave a mark or a sound.
And he just let her.
He stared into the blank space. Breaking through her shell had been difficult and this morning it had just bounced back into place. Maybe she needed some time alone to process what had happened? Honestly, maybe he did too. Maybe letting her leave now might mean she’d be comfortable coming back soon.
Just this once.
That was what she’d whispered last night and if he were being sensible, that was how he’d leave this. But he rubbed his chest again as the reality of the situation hit hard. His sexual attraction to her hadn’t been assuaged but exacerbated. Worse was his burgeoning curiosity about everything else about her. He wanted to understand it all—her bag and her box and the books she’d not kept. Why did she have so few belongings?
And the emptiness of his bedroom hurt. Suddenly he hated that she’d walked out on him. That he’d made it so easy for her to be able to. He should have stopped her. He should have seduced her. He should have stripped back her protective prickles again and found that hot, sweet pleasure with her.
He gazed out of the window, noting the blazing sun and blue sky. Personal temptation stirred harder. He’d just married for his country—didn’t he deserve a few moments of private time?
He phoned his assistant, Marc. ‘I know we have meetings this morning, but I plan to take Hester to the stud this afternoon. Make the arrangements.’
‘Sir?’
‘Two nights,’ he repeated. ‘Make the arrangements.’
A minute later he knocked on the door of her apartment and turned the handle. ‘Hester?’
She’d not locked it and he found her in the centre of her lounge, that wooden box in her hand. He watched as she awkwardly secured the loose lid in place with two thick rubber bands.
‘Sorry,’ she apologised and put the box on a nearby table. ‘How can I help?’
He disliked her deferential attitude and the reminder of that ‘contract’ between them. Hadn’t they moved past that last night?
‘Come breakfast with me by the pool,’ he invited. ‘Then I have a few meetings, but this afternoon we’re taking a trip. You’ll need to pack enough for a couple of days.’
‘A trip?’ Hester could hardly bring herself to look at him; all she could think of was what they’d done last night. All night. How good he’d made her feel. ‘I thought we had to stay in the city to oversee the coronation plans and practise everything a million times.’ She doggedly tried to focus on their responsibilities. ‘Do I really have to kneel before you all by myself?’
‘All citizens of Triscari do, but especially the King’s wife.’
‘It’s a wonder you don’t want me to lie prostrate on the floor,’ she grumbled.
‘Well, of course I do, but perhaps not in front of everyone else.’ He sent her a wicked double-dimpled look. ‘We can do that alone later. Anyway, apparently the plans are in hand so we can steal a couple of days for a honeymoon.’
A honeymoon? Her stomach somersaulted. Was he joking? She stood frozen but he bent and brushed his lips over hers briefly, pulling away with a shake of his head.
‘No.’ He laughed. ‘You can’t tempt me yet.’
‘I didn’t tempt you,’ she muttered. ‘I didn’t do anything.’
‘Hester,’ he chided softly. ‘You don’t have to do anything to tempt me.’ He cocked his head and gave her a little push. ‘Now, head to the pool. I’ll meet you there shortly.’
* * *
Hester stretched out on a sun lounger, trying to read, but her brain was only interested in replaying every second of the previous
