The Queen's Impossible Boss (The Christmas Princess Swap, Book 2) Page 18

  Her heart thundered as he put his hand in his pocket. His smile curved as he pulled his fist out. She knew he held something small and suddenly everything was moving too quickly.

  ‘Alvaro—’

  He flipped his hand and unfurled his fingers so she could see what sat in his palm. A metal ring, yes. But it was a key ring. A single house key was attached, together with a silver charm of a little lighthouse. She instantly understood that it was a key to his cottage. He wanted to share his sanctuary with her.

  ‘You can go there any time,’ he muttered, still breathless. ‘I’ll always meet you. I’ll always share everything I have with you.’

  Her heart melted but at the same time an agony of uncertainty slammed into her. How was this going to work? ‘I want this. I want you. But...’

  ‘You’re worried about protocol? Because I’m not a prince?’

  ‘You’re a prince to me,’ she said sadly. ‘But you don’t understand what this world is like.’

  ‘That’s true.’ He laughed as he looked around the stuffily ornate room. ‘But I’ll learn.’

  ‘You need time.’ She felt terrified. What if he hated it? What if—

  ‘I don’t need time, sweetheart, but I understand that you do.’ He cupped her face again. ‘We’ll take it slow.’

  How could there possibly be slow? Once people—the world—found out she was in a relationship, the pressures that would come on them would be immense.

  ‘You live on the other side of the Atlantic,’ she fretted. ‘You run a massive company that’s been your life... I can’t ask you to give that all up.’

  ‘Do I have to give it up?’ Smiling gently, he slowly shook his head.

  ‘The politics and business...’ she muttered. ‘It gets complicated.’

  That soft amusement in his eyes deepened. ‘Do you know what I do, Jade?’

  ‘Buy companies. Develop them.’

  ‘Actually, mostly I just problem-solve. I like complicated. I like challenge. And you problem-solve too. You’re good at it.’

  But there were problems, and there were problems. And surely this was impossible. ‘I can’t ask you to move here.’ She shook her head sadly. ‘I won’t ask that of you. It won’t work. It won’t last.’

  ‘You’re thinking of your parents.’ He put his broad palm on her spine and drew her to rest against him. He was her tower of strength. ‘I know you’ve been stuck in your palace a bit, darling, but times have changed, and technology with it. If I can work from my lighthouse, I can work from here when we’re ready.’

  She wanted to believe him so very much.

  ‘But it worries me that they’re going to hound you. So what if we steal some more time together before anyone has to find out about us?’

  Her heart fluttered and she lifted her head to look into his eyes—warm amber shone at her. ‘You want to be my secret boyfriend?’

  ‘Desperately.’

  ‘I want you to myself.’ Just for a while. And then? Excitement suddenly poured through her body as she suddenly realised this was all real. All true. ‘I want you for ever,’ she confessed. ‘So much.’

  His expression lit up. ‘Well, why don’t you show me your secret passages, then, my lady?’

  With a giggle, she grasped his hand. ‘You’ll have to follow me.’

  His fingers curled tight around hers. ‘Gladly.’

  She led him along the still, quiet corridor to her private apartment.

  ‘Oh, this is...better.’ He glanced around her lounge.

  ‘I’ve ordered new cushions,’ she assured him.

  ‘Fantastic.’ He laughed and hauled her into his arms. ‘I can be patient, Jade.’

  But his hands and body said the absolute opposite. Jade simply swooned against him.

  ‘We’ll do the proper protocol,’ he promised. ‘Whatever your palace people want, but only when you want, your timeline, sweetheart. Because you’re worth waiting for and this is your call. Whenever, however, this has to be, then I’ll be here. I’m all in.’

  ‘You don’t mind all the hoops?’ Her eyes filled again as he moved against her with such powerful passion. ‘There’ll be so many hoops.’

  ‘As long as you don’t mind stealing away to the lighthouse with me sometimes,’ he whispered, his breath lost. ‘That’s my wish.’

  ‘Mine too.’ She shuddered. ‘I would love that. Because I love you.’

  She moved with him, their breathing aligned, their hearts beating in time.

  He held her close and tight, the way she loved, and his smile, his love, shone down on her.

  ‘Then that’s what we’ll do.’

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  New Year’s Day, one year later

  JADE GENTLY SQUEEZED Alvaro’s hand twice as they stepped away from the woman and young child—their pre-agreed wordless signal that she was finally ready to finish. This walkabout had taken even longer than last year’s, but Juno and King Leonardo had arrived from Severene to attend as a special surprise. The crowds had roared ecstatically, constantly calling questions to the couple about their sweet daughter, Alice, currently fast asleep in Monrova palace.

  The second they were back within the palace walls, Leonardo wrapped his arm around his wife’s waist to bring her closer. Watching, Jade melted inside. She’d never seen Juno so happy, nor Leonardo so demonstrative. He visibly adored his wife and child and it filled Jade with such satisfaction.

  She glanced up and saw Alvaro’s gaze on her—his smile tender and teasing and so knowing.

  She smiled back. ‘I’m happy for her.’

  ‘I know.’ This time his hand tightened on hers. ‘It’s time for us to refuel, yes? Because that took longer than anyone was expecting, right?’

  Well, that was because everyone had wanted to see him. After getting over their delight at seeing Juno and Leonardo, the crowds had been momentarily stunned to see Alvaro step forward beside Jade. Until today he’d hung back at official events, happy to accompany her but remain ‘in the shadows’, as he’d put it. As if he ever could be anything like invisible. And for ages now, the public had been asking to see and hear more from him. So she’d been thrilled when he’d agreed to join her today.

  They’d had almost six months to themselves at first. Stealing away, solidifying that passion and playfulness that had sparked from the moment they’d met. Then, of course, the press had found out. Alvaro had begun visiting Monrova ‘officially’ and eventually ‘palace sources’ had confirmed he was the Queen’s consort. Another six months later, he’d been proven right again as they’d problem-solved their way through constitutional traditions, so now it was accepted that he was with her here in Monrova more often than he wasn’t.

  But they’d gone to the States for Christmas. In early December they’d invited Ellen to visit Monrova and attend the Winter Ball as Jade’s special guest. It had been the best ball ever because of that, in Jade’s opinion. Then Jade and Alvaro had accompanied Ellen home and actually stayed at her house for Christmas dinner for the first time—with Alvaro’s special butter and no work whatsoever. Then the two of them had headed to the lighthouse for their own private Christmas night.

  Now Jade glanced at the dining table in her private apartment and turned to Alvaro. ‘What’s this?’

  ‘Just a little something delicious.’ He shrugged carelessly, but the warmth in his gaze was a total giveaway.

  The chocolate cake was glazed in a shiny, rich ganache and looked so gorgeously lickable that it gave Jade a few ideas. ‘It’s not my birthday,’ she teased with a slow blink.

  ‘Can we only enjoy cake on special occasions?’ he asked, just as sweetly innocent.

  Her smile turned a little wicked and her mouth watered. Jade picked up the knife. The cake looked dreamily indulgent, but as she cut into it the blade skimmed over something hard in the centre. She shot Alv
aro a suspicious glance. He merely raised his eyebrows.

  She tried again and this time, when she removed a wedge, she discovered not a cascade of candy inside, but that a small box sat in a hidden centre cavity.

  She stared for a split second, then her heart sprinted and her lungs tightened. Because she knew what was going to be in that box. She had to drop the knife on the table because her fingers were suddenly nerveless.

  ‘Jade?’

  Her eyes were already watering.

  He reached out and took her hands, turning her to face him. ‘Marry me,’ he said simply. ‘Be my queen.’

  Exhilaration flooded her even as those tears trickled.

  ‘Does this really come as a surprise to you, sweetheart?’ He softly wiped the tears before gently kissing her. There was such promise and such truth in that kiss.

  She drew a shuddering breath and pressed closer, overwhelmed with longing and an urgent need to love him completely. It was her only possible answer at that point.

  He rapidly shifted, understanding her need as always. In record speed he got her on the sofa—and as searing need stormed through her he caressed her, as unleashed as her in moments.

  ‘I’ve got you.’ He held her tightly and kissed her burning skin. ‘I’m here.’

  And he was—with her, around her, in her, not just her anchor but her lighthouse—protecting her, here for her. And as he enveloped her with his strength and size, she couldn’t hold him tightly enough. He was her everything and he gave her everything—all of himself. She arched to meet him, straining to gift him the same, until she could no longer contain anything and she crumpled completely in an explosion of love.

  When she could finally open her eyes, his lips curved in a twist of that old arrogance. ‘Aren’t you ever going to answer me?’ he teased as he gazed into her soul. ‘I’ve been patient so very long...’

  She smiled—as if she hadn’t answered him already? But she knew that he needed words as much as he needed touch and action, just as she did. And, as always, he was impossible to deny.

  ‘Yes,’ she breathed as her heart burst with fullness. ‘Always and for ever, yes.’

  Coming next month

  THE COST OF CLAIMING HIS HEIR

  Michelle Smart

  ‘How was the party?’

  Becky had to untie her tongue to speak. ‘Okay. Everyone looked like they were having fun.’

  ‘But not you?’

  ‘No.’ She sank down onto the wooden step to take the weight off her weary legs and rested her back against a pillar.

  ‘Why not?’

  ‘Because I’m a day late.’

  She heard him suck an intake of breath. ‘Is that normal for you?’

  ‘No.’ Panic and excitement swelled sharply in equal measure as they did every time she allowed herself to read the signs that were all there. Tender breasts. Fatigue. The ripple of nausea she’d experienced that morning when she’d passed Paula’s husband outside and caught a whiff of his cigarette smoke. Excitement that she could have a child growing inside her. Panic at what this meant.

  Scared she was going to cry, she scrambled back to her feet. ‘Let’s give it another couple of days. If I haven’t come on by then, I’ll take a test.’

  She would have gone inside if Emiliano hadn’t leaned forward and gently taken hold of her wrist. ‘Sit with me.’

  Opening her mouth to tell him she needed sleep, she stared into his eyes and found herself temporarily mute.

  For the first time since they’d conceived—and in her heart she was now certain they had conceived—there was no antipathy in his stare, just a steadfastness that lightened the weight on her shoulders.

  Gingerly, she sat beside him but there was no hope of keeping a distance for Emiliano put his beer bottle down and hooked an arm around her waist to draw her to him.

  Much as she wanted to resist, she leaned into him and rested her cheek on his chest.

  ‘Don’t be afraid, bomboncita,’ he murmured into the top of her head. ‘We will get through this together.’

  Nothing more was said for the longest time and for that she was grateful. Closing her eyes, she was able to take comfort from the strength of his heartbeat against her ear and his hands stroking her back and hair so tenderly. There was something so very solid and real about him, an energy always zipping beneath his skin even in moments of stillness.

  He dragged a thumb over her cheek and then rested it under her chin to tilt her face to his. Then, slowly, his face lowered and his lips caught her in a kiss so tender the little of her not already melting to be held in his arms turned to fondue.

  Feeling as if she’d slipped into a dream, Becky’s mouth moved in time with his, a deepening caress that sang to her senses as she inhaled the scent of his breath and the muskiness of his skin. Her fingers tiptoed up his chest, then flattened against his neck. The pulse at the base thumped against the palm of her hand.

  But, even as every crevice in her body thrilled, a part of her brain refused to switch off and it was with huge reluctance that she broke the kiss and gently pulled away from him.

  ‘Not a good idea,’ she said shakily as her body howled in protest.

  Emiliano gave a look of such sensuality her pelvis pulsed. ‘Why?’

  Fearing he would reach for her again, she shifted to the other side of the swing chair and patted the space beside her for the dogs to jump up and act as a barrier between them. They failed to oblige. ‘Aren’t we in a big enough mess?’

  Eyes not leaving her face, he picked up his beer and took a long drink. ‘That depends on how you look at it. To me, the likelihood that you’re pregnant makes things simple. I want you. You want me. Why fight it any more when we’re going to be bound together?’

  Continue reading

  THE COST OF CLAIMING HIS HEIR

  Michelle Smart

  Available next month

  Copyright ©2020 by Michelle Smart

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