As Roman severed our connection, I craned my neck and lifted my bruised lips to his. “I don’t want to go. This, whatever it is” —I took a breath— “my heart wants to confess my love and devotion.” Before Roman could speak, I recognized the absurdity of my comment. With my eyes veiled, I added, “You don’t need to say anything. I know this isn’t real. I just wish…”
Roman lifted my chin until our eyes met. “I love you, Lucille. I’m losing touch with what is real and what’s not.” His smile grew as he rolled onto his back and lifted me over him. As his strong hands held tight to my hips, he said, “You feel real.”
With my hands on his wide shoulders, I sat upward, my long hair cascading down, a veil separating us from the world, as Roman’s erection prodded against my behind. The man beneath me took my breath away. It wasn’t simply his beautiful, almost movie-star appearance. It was more. Unlike the man before him, this man’s handsomeness wasn’t purely his looks. With him, it was deeper: his heart, his devotion, and his honesty. It was in the way he listened, spoke, and touched. “I’m real,” I confessed. “If it were within my means, I’d make this real.”
Teasing long locks of my hair over my shoulders, Roman’s gaze skirted my face and down to my breasts. With the concentration of his stare, my pulse sped and my breathing shallowed.
“Don’t leave, not yet,” he commanded.
Before I could reply, Roman lifted my hips and aligned me to reconnect as one.
My body tensed. “You don’t allow this.”
“This?”
“Me on top.” My cheeks warmed. “You are always in control.”
“Princess, there’s no threat in sharing control. It’s the only way a true partnership will work. Having you beneath me is heaven. Being beneath you is like watching the creation of a masterpiece. Control is yours too if only you’ll take it.”
I contemplated the opportunity before me. Slowly, I lifted myself on my bent knees. Scooting back until his erection was before me, I fisted his penis, slick from our earlier lovemaking, and aligned him to me. An addicting concoction of anticipation and power brought my senses to life as I closed my eyes and took the control he offered. My nipples grew taut as I sheathed Roman with my core. When I opened my eyes, I was met with the handsomest smile I’d ever seen.
“You’re stunning, Lucille.”
Moving up and down, I marveled at the sense of fullness as well as the ability to set the pace. A few more ups and downs, and I smiled as my cheeks grew warmer. “I think I like this.”
“You’d better be sure. Because watching your changing expressions is magnificent. I’d promise the entirety of my life to Molave to see that display nightly.”
That was last night.
During the day, we’d both become adept at hiding our true feeling behind the masks of our roles. However, the prince’s expression from last night was no longer present.
I looked up to Roman’s soured countenance. “Your Highness,” I said, “are you troubled?”
His dark gaze went from side to side.
“We are alone.”
We’d both searched high and low for cameras or listening devices. As in the palace in Molave City, the private apartments seemed clean. It made no sense that the king or the Firm would need to overhear our private thoughts.
I nodded.
“The roads are cleared,” he said. “I’m expected back in Molave City.”
The sadness in his expression settled over me with the reality that soon I’d be left alone, again. “I understand.”
Roman reached across the table and covered my hand with his. “I want you to come with me.”
“You wouldn’t.”
He stood, throwing his napkin onto his chair. “I’m the prince.”
In his rare bursts of anger and with his padded shirt beneath his suit, it was difficult to distinguish that this was Oliver instead of Roman. Part of me wished I didn’t know his real name. The other part of me was honored that he’d shared something with me that not even Lord Martin knew.
“Yes, Your Highness.”
Roman stopped, crouching down at my side. “I’ll make you a promise. I’ll do whatever I need to do to get us back together. Either you to Molave City or me here.”
The overpowering sadness at the mention of his departure stole my words, leaving me to simply nod.
“I hate that you’re lonely.”
“I have my memories of you. That’s more than I’ve had in the past. And in less than a week, I’ll be due for my procedure. I would suspect I’ll be called to Molave City for that.”
“Fucking ridiculous,” Roman murmured as he stood and walked back to his chair.
“You could express your concerns to King Theo.”
Roman smirked. “If I were truly Roman, perhaps. You are to be off-limits until the procedure is deemed a success.”
Until?
I gasped as I stared at the man lifting a cup of tea to his lips. “Did the king say that?”
Roman nodded.
Standing, I walked to the fireplace and looked at my own reflection in the large mirror. “It’s as if I’m the one not real.” I spun. “The king would allow you, a man other than the one I married, to bed me as if my body was his to grant?”
“Shh,” Roman scolded, speaking low. “Remember, you, Princess, don’t raise your voice.”
“I should.”
“Yes, you should, but you don’t.” His smile quirked. “Are you angry that the king would grant what you’ve already allowed?”
“Yes.” I stood tall. “It isn’t his to give. I’m not his to give. I’m no one’s to give.”
Again, dropping his napkin to the seat of his chair, Roman stalked my way. His posture and attempt at a riled expression would have sent chills through me a month ago. Now I saw the gleam in his dark orbs. Reaching for my shoulders, he looked into my gaze and nodded. “Thank you.”
I exhaled. “It was my choice. I decided.”
“You did.” His lips came to my forehead.
Looking up, I added, “It’s not right that he would dare...”
“It’s not. Know, Lucille, the king making it so would not have made me take it from you.”
I lifted my chin. “I’m glad we went against the king and the physician.”
Roman smiled, leaving another kiss on my forehead. “If I could commission a plane to announce to the world that you’re mine, I would. You are after all my wife.” His eyes grew larger. “That’s it.”
“Skywriting or a banner? I’m not certain those are the answer to anything.”
“The tour of North America.”
“Not until the new year,” I reminded him.
“Right.” His head was nodding as he paced back and forth. “That gives me some more time with the king. I will try to lengthen the tour, maybe include other countries.”
“Whatever for? Tours are dreadful.”
“No, don’t you see?” Before I could respond, Roman went on. “It will be our chance. The people of Molave love you, Lucille. The entire world is infatuated with you. While we have those eyes upon us, we will be able to break down the barrier between us. Once our affection is on public display, the king will have no say.”