Chapter 18
R aphael
Our debrief meetings were typically short, and I was torn between gunning for this one to be over and needing it to play out. Half of my mind was off finding a helicopter and flying my stress away, the rest wanted to nail my team to the floor for what I suspected them of.
“Malcolm Dennis was spotted on two occasions during the match,” Riss stated. “First outside the royal box, then on the opposite side of the stadium.”
With my shoulders bunched, I watched Will and Johnnie for any reaction.
Neither said a word.
Riss tapped her stylus on her screen. “I’ve noted him down as a person of concern?—”
Johnnie’s splutter interrupted her. “On what basis? He’s a pap. They’re no danger to anyone. All they want is a payday.”
Anger tightened my hands into fists. Paparazzi regularly got people hurt or even killed in pursuit of a photo, and yet again, one of the very people who should be interested in this individual was dismissing him.
I was so close to calling Johnnie out, but something held my tongue.
Riss was right. I had no direct evidence. Which meant I needed to get some. I couldn’t do that if I challenged him and gave the game away.
The beginnings of a plan appeared in my mind.
“Raphael, you were concerned. Do you have anything else to add?” she asked me.
I managed a shrug to hide my conniving. “Maybe I’m overreacting.”
“No kidding.” Johnnie folded his arms.
Riss gave me a surprised look but returned to the task of checking through articles about the princess on social media and in the press.
My phone buzzed in my pocket.
I checked it, swallowing a shock of happiness at the name on my screen.
Alex had messaged me. I didn’t want to risk reading her words with the team right there, so I stowed the phone and pretended to listen to the rest of the debrief.
Riss wound it up with a parting comment. “Next week, I believe we’ll have Toni rejoining us. His mother has made a comeback in her health, and he’s indicated he can rejoin the team. I’ve also been informed of a significant increase to our workload from there onwards.”
Both Will and Johnnie grouched.
Toni coming back meant they didn’t need me anymore. Tomorrow, we had an evening event for Alex. The two days after were more of the same mixture of meetings and day events, ending with a formal banquet. After that, I was done. I should mind my business, and yet still my mouth was moving.
From what Ben had told me, Alex was only doing public engagements for a short time. She’d said the same.
“Why the increased workload?” I asked.
“The princess’s engagement calendar is busy. We’re expected to accommodate that. I’ll share more when I know more.”
I opened and closed my mouth. “I could?—”
“It’s for me to handle, Raphael. You’re all dismissed.”
I’d pissed her off by jumping to action the minute Alex said she wanted to leave the stadium, but I couldn’t regret that. I also desperately wanted to know the content of the message that burned a hole in my pocket.
Outside the bodyguard office, the two other men headed straight for the exit. I scrabbled for my phone, then died a death when I read Alex’s text.
She wanted to see me.
I was moving through the palace with purpose, entering a coded door which gave me access to stairs.
A secret route to the maze of an interior I hadn’t known how to access.
Any thoughts I’d had of flying went out the window on my approach to the tall, white doors that I guessed were hers. A voice came from inside. I tapped gently, then the door unlocked and Alex appeared in the frame.
With a phone to her ear, she mouthed to me, “You came.”
“Ye asked,” I whispered back.
She watched me, beautiful in loose shorts and the t-shirt she’d changed into, and her hair in a messy bun. With her free hand, she gestured for me to enter the spacious living room.
While I locked the door, Alex held up a finger to indicate I needed to wait a second.
Of course I would. I parked myself against the wall and watched her pace as she handled whoever was on the phone. The room reflected the design of the palace overall, with antique furniture and little of the personality of the woman who lived here. It couldn’t hold my attention like she did.
On the sofa, the hot water bottle sat in a nest of blankets, though it was a warm enough day not to need them. She obviously felt rough.
“No, I don’t want to schedule a meeting to talk about it. Not when that meeting can’t happen for three weeks. Please put me through to him now.”
She listened then growled in frustration.
“Then tell him this: The answer is no. I don’t agree to the list he sent. I won’t do it.”
She hung up the call then tossed the phone to the sofa, and for a moment, stared at it with an expression of disgust. That melted when her focus lifted to me.
My chest inflated on an inhale. “I take it that’s about the work you’ve been given next week?”
“You know about that?”
“Only that Riss is in planning mode to cover it.” I didn’t add that I wouldn’t be here to guard her. We both knew it.
Alex heaved a sigh. “My cousin’s private secretary arranged a whole new set of engagements.”
“Without asking? That’s underhanded.”
“It is, isn’t it? I’m not being dramatic?”
I left my position at the wall and crossed to join her on the rug in front of the sofas. “He’s not your boss. You’re not under contract with him. Every commitment he makes on your behalf is a conversation he owes ye first.”
“Yes, but it’s complicated because this is my family. As far back as I can remember, we had to do certain public appearances, like at Christmas or the king’s birthday. There was never any question about it. The date would be confirmed, we’d be informed of our roles, and we’d show up.”
I gestured to her phone. “This is nothing like that. And either way, ye don’t have to do any of it. Ye said last night that it isn’t fun.”
Those brown eyes met mine, curiosity in their depths. “I said a lot of things last night. You did, as well.”
The room seemed to close in around me, narrowing so it was just me and Alex in a tight pocket of space. I welcomed the pressure. This was exactly where I wanted to be. This was also the point where I should apologise. I tried to force the words.
“What I said was far from appropriate.”
Her gaze clung to mine. “Pretty sure I started it.”
“I should’ve finished it.”
“Why?”
My gaze slid to her lips. That forbidden conversation had happened with her in her bed, or maybe on the sofa next to us. My name on her tongue. Her hand between her legs. “I’m under contract to protect ye. It’s against the rules.”
Alex took a little breath, her cheeks pinkening, and her eyes going hazy. “Got your phone on you?”
I dove my eyebrows together but produced the device from my pocket.
“Set a five-minute countdown.”
I did as she asked. “Why?”
“Because until then, you’re fired.”
Those brown eyes of hers practically begged me, and I dropped my gaze to her lips.
This was the worst fucking idea and everything I needed. I chucked the phone and slid my hand to the back of her head. Dropping my mouth to her, I kissed the lass I’d dreamed about for years.
Our lips met, and lightning struck while the world faded.
Alex pushed up on her toes and kissed me back, her soft whimper of need sending me hurtling down a pathway of no return with desperation clawing at me to get her closer. There was nothing timid to our touch. We clashed. Heat and need and lust swamped me. I’d wanted this so badly. To understand the shape of her lips under mine. To satisfy the constant draw I had to her. We were a ticking timebomb, and I had no choice but to set light to the fuse.
Fuck, did the princess taste good.
Alex pressed tight to me and wound her arms around my neck. On instinct, I grazed down to palm her thighs and lift her so her legs twined around my waist. Then I backed her to the wall, the kiss never breaking but our bodies almost as close as we could get them with our clothes still on.
In my arms, she clung to me. She let me lead. Let me own her mouth and met every surge and fall.
In frantic heartbeats, I knew without doubt this kiss would end me. It already had. I wanted everything. Now. Like she could read my mind, Alex stroked her fingers into my hair, and I groaned at how good it felt to have her touching me. I slanted to take her mouth deeper, hunger driving me on.
I could live in this kiss. My fascination with her only grew stronger the more we were around each other. The chemistry between us was insane. Under her, I was so fucking hard, and I rocked against her, needing more. Everything.
Something beeped in the room.
Neither of us stopped. Despite this being so wrong on a professional level, I couldn’t have given it up if I wanted to. This might be the only chance I had to learn the shape of Alex and what she wanted me to do with my tongue. The only moment where the stars aligned and we both let go of all the reasons this couldn’t happen.
Alex broke her lips from mine and dropped her head back, panting. “God, yes.”
I kissed her jaw. Her throat.
“Get back here,” I ordered.
I tipped her chin down to claim her mouth once more. She smiled into the kiss. A bolt of happiness crested over me, matching the insanity, horniness, and everything in between.
The fucking phone kept on beeping.
“Our time is up,” Alex whispered against my cheek.
“It’s a car horn. Ignore it.”
She gave a soft laugh. “Maybe the palace’s burglar alarm?”
“Or a police siren. Either way it’s not for us. Just kiss me.”
She did, the levity leaving us as the passion twisted to becoming darker and more serious as we sank into slow, hot, wet kisses. I’d never known a feeling like this. An absolute certainty in the perfect fit. I squeezed the soft thighs I held her by, loving how my fingers indented her skin. Alex hugged me harder.
A knock rattled the door beside us.
As one, we broke apart our lips and stared at each other.
“Expecting someone?” I dropped my voice low.
She shook her head. “I don’t think so.”
The person knocked again. “Ma’am? I have your dress selection and the tailor.”
Alex groaned softly. “Fuck. That’s supposed to be in the morning. It’s the eveningwear I need.” She raised her voice for the benefit of the people outside. “Just a minute.”
I put her down, hating that I had to let her go. It felt wrong. I had no choice.
Alex swayed onto me. I steadied her, and she lifted her gaze to mine, biting back a laugh.
“You made me dizzy.”
The feeling was mutual, but our moment was over. I wasn’t about to leave without the final word. I kissed her one last time, then broke away before I made things awkward for the listening visitors. From the sofa, I snatched up my phone, the alarm now silent.
I peered back at Alex. “I’ll go, and I’ll make up some shite about your security schedule as I walk out, but princess?”
She touched her lips, so fucking beautiful in the afternoon light. “Yes?”
“That is going to live rent-free in my head for the rest of my life.”
Her lips curved. “Really?”
There was no time to ask how she doubted it. I had to get out of there. I’d wanted to find an airfield to get in an hour’s flight. Now, that need was doubled, added to by frustration of an entirely different kind.