never experience tenderness?
The thought touched her to the core. Someone as strong as Aleks never wanted to exhibit a perceived weakness. Hewould deny himself the most basic emotional needs to remain strong and in control.
She stroked the back of his neck and traced the lean shape of his jaw.
His eyes dropped shut. Sara kissed them. A smile lifted the corners of his mouth.
“You smell good,” he said, inhaling deeply.
“Like a cold, damp dungeon?”
The smile widened. “Like a soft, warm woman. Like sunshine and flowers. The way I remember.”
The answer stunned her. “You remember?”
“Always.” The admission seemed to bother him.
“You never told me.” Silence and secrets had cost her everything. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Were compliments that important to you?”
“I’m not talking about compliments and you know it.”
His whole body stiffened. She felt his withdrawal long before he pulled back from touching her. And when he did, the chilled air rushed in to fill the space. She crossed her arms, afraid now that she’d spoiled their afternoon.
“You were the one with secrets.”
“We both made mistakes—”
He cut her off with a slice of his hand. “Don’t talk to me of mistakes. My son is not a mistake.”
“I didn’t mean—” She reached for him. He backed away.
“Come. Security will be concerned.”
The return trip through the tunnels was made in silent regret.
Sara wondered why she couldn’t keep her mouth shut.
CHAPTER EIGHT
“Y OUR M AJESTY ? S IR ? Prince Aleksandre?”
A hand touched his arm and Aleks jerked to attention. A dozen curious faces stared at him around the meeting table. Ambassadors from around the globe had gathered to discuss energy concerns, and he hadn’t heard a word they’d said.
“A thousand pardons.” He dipped his head. “My mind wandered.”
Sara had bewitched him. He could think of nothing but her taste and scent and the way she’d melded against him as though she were part of him. Last night, he’d slept little and when he did, a red-haired woman tortured him with kisses and lies.
The ambassador from Great Britain frowned in sympathy from the far end of the table. “How is your son?”
Though ashamed to use Nico as his excuse, Aleks answered, “Much better, thank you. He’s encountered some rejection issues but for the most part is recovering well at present.”
“Excellent. You have our kind regards.”
“Thank you. And again my apologies. Shall we address the next item on the agenda?”
The company returned to the issues at hand, haggling over a variety of concerns. He reached for his pad of paper. Note-taking should keep him focused. To his dismay, doodles filled one side of the page. Doodles of flowers and handcuffs. His thoughts turned again to Sara, to their afternoon together. What was he going to do about Sara Presley?
When the meeting finally adjourned, Aleks had no idea what had been decided.
An hour later, he stepped into Nico’s playroom, fully expecting—and if he was honest, hoping—to face the tormenting woman. She wasn’t there. A disturbing tremor of disappointment passed through him.
Nico jumped up from a small chair and ran to him. He enveloped his son in a hug, holding back the question pressing on his tongue. Where was Sara?
The attending nurse, Maria, dipped into a curtsy. Behind her, a small table was set with several open jars and a loaf of bread.
“Your Majesty. What a pleasant surprise.” Carlo’s mother smiled as though delighted to greet him. As always, seeing her brought memories of the man who’d saved his life.
“And I am delighted to see you.” He took her hand, raised it to his lips. “How is the mother of Carvainia’s finest soldier?”
Sadness flickered through her eyes. She glanced away. “I am faring quite well, thanks to your generosity.”
“It is nothing.” He could not bring back her son but he could give her a home and a place of respect within his
The thought touched her to the core. Someone as strong as Aleks never wanted to exhibit a perceived weakness. Hewould deny himself the most basic emotional needs to remain strong and in control.
She stroked the back of his neck and traced the lean shape of his jaw.
His eyes dropped shut. Sara kissed them. A smile lifted the corners of his mouth.
“You smell good,” he said, inhaling deeply.
“Like a cold, damp dungeon?”
The smile widened. “Like a soft, warm woman. Like sunshine and flowers. The way I remember.”
The answer stunned her. “You remember?”
“Always.” The admission seemed to bother him.
“You never told me.” Silence and secrets had cost her everything. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Were compliments that important to you?”
“I’m not talking about compliments and you know it.”
His whole body stiffened. She felt his withdrawal long before he pulled back from touching her. And when he did, the chilled air rushed in to fill the space. She crossed her arms, afraid now that she’d spoiled their afternoon.
“You were the one with secrets.”
“We both made mistakes—”
He cut her off with a slice of his hand. “Don’t talk to me of mistakes. My son is not a mistake.”
“I didn’t mean—” She reached for him. He backed away.
“Come. Security will be concerned.”
The return trip through the tunnels was made in silent regret.
Sara wondered why she couldn’t keep her mouth shut.
CHAPTER EIGHT
“Y OUR M AJESTY ? S IR ? Prince Aleksandre?”
A hand touched his arm and Aleks jerked to attention. A dozen curious faces stared at him around the meeting table. Ambassadors from around the globe had gathered to discuss energy concerns, and he hadn’t heard a word they’d said.
“A thousand pardons.” He dipped his head. “My mind wandered.”
Sara had bewitched him. He could think of nothing but her taste and scent and the way she’d melded against him as though she were part of him. Last night, he’d slept little and when he did, a red-haired woman tortured him with kisses and lies.
The ambassador from Great Britain frowned in sympathy from the far end of the table. “How is your son?”
Though ashamed to use Nico as his excuse, Aleks answered, “Much better, thank you. He’s encountered some rejection issues but for the most part is recovering well at present.”
“Excellent. You have our kind regards.”
“Thank you. And again my apologies. Shall we address the next item on the agenda?”
The company returned to the issues at hand, haggling over a variety of concerns. He reached for his pad of paper. Note-taking should keep him focused. To his dismay, doodles filled one side of the page. Doodles of flowers and handcuffs. His thoughts turned again to Sara, to their afternoon together. What was he going to do about Sara Presley?
When the meeting finally adjourned, Aleks had no idea what had been decided.
An hour later, he stepped into Nico’s playroom, fully expecting—and if he was honest, hoping—to face the tormenting woman. She wasn’t there. A disturbing tremor of disappointment passed through him.
Nico jumped up from a small chair and ran to him. He enveloped his son in a hug, holding back the question pressing on his tongue. Where was Sara?
The attending nurse, Maria, dipped into a curtsy. Behind her, a small table was set with several open jars and a loaf of bread.
“Your Majesty. What a pleasant surprise.” Carlo’s mother smiled as though delighted to greet him. As always, seeing her brought memories of the man who’d saved his life.
“And I am delighted to see you.” He took her hand, raised it to his lips. “How is the mother of Carvainia’s finest soldier?”
Sadness flickered through her eyes. She glanced away. “I am faring quite well, thanks to your generosity.”
“It is nothing.” He could not bring back her son but he could give her a home and a place of respect within his
Similar Books
