His Royal Pleasure by Leanne Banks Page B

stinging release took his breath. Closing his eyes, he leaned his forehead against hers while he gathered his wits. Al shook his head. “Incredible,” he muttered. “I haven’t done this since—” He swore, then broke off.
    â€œBut I wanted you to,” she said earnestly.
    â€œNot that way. Not in your—” Lord, he felt like a fool, and he was supposed to be the experienced one.
    â€œYes, I did,” she insisted in a husky voice. “It was—”
    Curiosity got the better of him, and he looked at her closely. “It was what?”
    She looked away, but not before he saw the intimate look on her face. “Sexy.” She took a deep breath. “So sexy.”
    His body began to respond. Al groaned and kissed her. She opened her mouth to say something, but he shook his head. “Show some mercy, Katherine. Be quiet for a moment.” Still oddly embarrassed, he stood and stripped off his pants. He pulled Katherine to her feet and lifted her dress, which was miraculously still on her, over her head.
    She stared at him as if he’d gone crazy.
    For once in his life Alex couldn’t think of a single intelligent thing to say, so he just hauled her up in his arms and walked to the water’s edge.
    â€œWhat are we doing?”
    â€œGoing for a swim.” He splashed through the waves until the ocean lapped against their lower bodies.
    She tried to move away, but he wouldn’t let her. “I thought you said we were going to swim.”
    Alex hugged her slippery, naked body to his. “I changed my mind.”
    â€œWhat if I want to swim?”
    He looked as if he were going to overrule her, then he seemed to catch himself. “Do you wish to swim?”
    â€œNo.” She smiled and shook her head ruefully. “I probably sound contrary, but you have this tendency to give orders that makes me feel like I’m supposed to click my heels and say, ‘Yes sir!’”
    He unbent and gave a half-grin. “Think of it as a genetic condition.”
    â€œ All the men in your family are like this?”
    Walking from the water, he nodded. “My father, my grandfather, my great-grandfather and on and on. Complete confidence is necessary for the job.”
    â€œYou do the same work as your father, then?”
    â€œYes,” he said in a tone that let her know he wouldn’t explain further. He set her on the sand and pulled her dress over her head, then pulled on his pants. He took her hand. “It’s late, chérie. We should go back now.”
    They walked in silence, and as they neared the cottage, Katherine thought of what they’d done and what they hadn’t. Suddenly she couldn’t accept not knowing about him. Too much had happened between them. Or had it just happened to her?
    â€œYou’re thinking too much,” Al said.
    â€œMaybe. But you’re quiet too. What are you thinking?”
    Al stopped outside the door and brushed a stray strand of hair from her forehead. “That you’re going to scowl at me in the morning if you don’t get some sleep.”
    So he wanted it light and easy, she thought with a twist in her stomach. She wasn’t sure she could manage it, but she took a deep breath and mustered a smile. “Good night, then.”
    She glanced away, then felt his hand on her shoulder. “Tonight, mon amie, there are no right words.”
    She looked into his dark eyes and saw the glimmer of something deeper. Her heart bumped along unsteadily. Declarations and promises whirled in her head, frightening her with their strength. She was connected to him, yet somehow not.
    â€œYou’re right,” she whispered. “Everything is either too little or too much.” She reached up and kissed the corner of his mouth. “Till tomorrow.”
    He clutched her waist possessively and kissed her full on the mouth, obliterating his earlier light tone. “Dream of