~~Alisa~~
A year ago, I didn’t know these people. Yet, in that year, they’d become as important to me as my mother and my longtime friends. Almost as important as Gage.
That unbidden realization shocked me to my very core like touching an exposed wire and feeling it right down to my toes. I’d concocted this entire scheme not only to get out of an arranged marriage but to keep Gage closer to me, maybe even take it so far as to actually marry him?
In theory the idea was outrageous. A football player and a British princess? Most of the commoners who married into a royal family gave up their own careers to do it because, as I’d learned, being a royal was more than a full-time job, especially in Britain. I couldn’t ask Gage to give up his football career before it’d even started. Despite the setbacks he’d suffered this last year, he was going places, and most likely going places without me.
Not that he’d be interested in marrying me for real. We’d never discussed a real marriage. I’d never told him I’d loved him, never admitted what was deep in my heart even though he had.
Together, we followed Giles down the hallway as he escorted us to the Green Room. I wasn’t sure why we were meeting in one of the public rooms rather than the king and queen’s private quarters. There had to be a significance to this I didn’t understand. The castle was still foreign to me, and I hadn’t explored the majority of the huge structure, but I’d been in this room multiple times as it was also a library.
I’d never done it in a library. Perhaps Gage and I could—
I cut off that line of thinking before my heart conjured up scenarios I’d never see turn to reality.
We stopped outside the door to the Green Room, while Giles rapped once and was admitted.
“He’s going to announce us,” I told Gage.
He nodded and stared straight ahead. If he was nervous, he wasn’t showing it. In fact, he had his game face on. He reached for my hand and squeezed it, not letting go. I clutched at the lifeline he offered me. I didn’t have any such game face, and I suspect my nerves shone like a beacon for all to see.
“It’ll be fine,” he whispered with another squeeze of his hand. He wrapped his fingers tightly around mine, but not so tight he cut off my circulation. His hand was warm and dry. Mine was wet and clammy. I had to admire his nerves of steel. Still staring ahead, he added, “Sometime soon, I’m going to fuck you in this room.”
Before I could respond, the door swung open, and my grandparents’ head butler stood in the open doorway. “His Majesty and Her Majesty will see you now.” He stood aside. Giles was behind him. As we passed, the man did something very un-Giles-like. He winked at me, and I had to suppress the giggle bubbling up from deep inside. If I allowed myself to giggle, horror of horrors, I’d probably end up hysterically crying.
The king and queen sat regally in ornate chairs befitting their station. My father stood at my grandfather’s side, one hand on the chair. My stepmother was perched on the edge of an antique chair as stiff as she was. As usual her mouth was puckered as if she’d just sucked on a lemon. The woman sucked on a lot of lemons in my estimation.
The king motioned for us to take a seat on the Victorian couch across from them. Still holding hands, we sat as one and waited for the inquisition to begin.
We didn’t wait long.
“Princess Alisa, your earlier behavior was reprehensible, inexcusable, and disturbing.” The king scowled at me, and I merely smiled sweetly back.
“I am deeply apologetic, Your Majesty, but it had to be done in the name of love.”
“In the name of love?” the queen murmured, yet she didn’t sound nearly as upset as expected.
“Yes, ma’am. In the name of love. Gage and I are in love. I cannot marry another. He may be American, but I believe he is an appropriate choice for a princess who will never sit on the throne.”
“And why do you consider him an appropriate choice?”
“Gage is kind, strong, brave, and honest. There isn’t a better match for me in all the world. You will find his background irreproachable. He is an acceptable match for this princess.”
Gage stared oddly at me, as if he wished I’d shut up. I couldn’t understand why he seemed uncomfortable all of a sudden.
My father glowered at the two of us. “I’m most disappointed in you, Alisa. Such subterfuge and manipulation are not in keeping with your status as a princess.”
I lowered my head, looking contrite and feeling it. “I know. I’m sorry, but Ted and I are not a match. Ted is also in love with another.”
“He is?” This was news to the king.
“Yes, Your Majesty. He is in love with Lady Irene.”
The king rubbed his jaw thoughtfully but didn’t ask in any further questions.
“Your behavior is still shameful and inexcusable,” my father huffed in indignation.
I kept my head bowed. “I know, Father.”
“Why didn’t you talk to one of us?”
I lifted my gaze, and my rebellious nature reared its sassy head. “I attempted to explain the situation, and none of you would listen.”
Father and son exchanged glances. Princess Abigale, my stepmother, harrumphed.
“Gage, are you from the Harmon family of Connecticut?” the queen asked. Her question came out of left field and defused the situation before it exploded into irreparable pieces. I gave her a small, grateful smile.
“I’m from Virginia, ma’am,” Gage hedged but cast a blinding smile in my grandmother’s direction. I hadn’t met a woman yet who could resist that smile, including me, and judging by the smile now lighting up my grandmother’s face, also her.
Virginia? I’d never known he was from Virginia? As far as I’d known, he’d spent his growing up years in California.
“I’m acquainted with a few of the Harmons. Perhaps they are related?”
“I have no idea, ma’am.” Gage’s eyes grew wide, almost like a deer in the headlights. I’d never seen him like that before.
“Estrangement happens in the best of families. We all have our secrets.”
“I don’t know that they’re estranged or even related.” Gage gave her a shrug.
“We all have our skeletons. No need to defend yourself, dear boy.” Grandmother waved her hand to dismiss the subject.
My grandfather and father frowned, not able to fathom the reason for this friendly exchange between Gage and the queen. We were fortunate she’d taken a liking to him. She’d be an incredible ally.
“We must give them our blessing, Ferdinand. The cat is out of the proverbial bag, and we must gather ranks and support Alisa’s choice, even if Gage was not our choice.”
The king’s frown deepened, showing his immense displeasure. My father grimaced and refused to meet my gaze. I’d disappointed and angered him. For that I was immensely sorry.
“May I say something else?” I asked.
“Why stop now?” my stepmother sniped at me. Her ill-timed remark didn’t earn her any points with the rest of the family, even if they might have agreed with her in principle.
“I am deeply sorry to have disappointed you. Your approval means the world to me and to Gage.”
They merely stared at us and said nothing. Their silence grew oppressive.
“Please don’t blame Alisa,” Gage spoke up. “This was my idea, not hers. I love her so much. I was desperate. I couldn’t bear to see her marry another.”
The queen nodded. “I don’t approve of your methods, but I can sympathize with your plight.” She turned to her husband expectantly. He sighed, as if he knew he wouldn’t win this battle.
“We will present a united front. We have given our blessing. The wedding plans will commence. The only thing that changes is the groom,” my grandfather said.
“Where do you plan to live, dear?” Grandmother asked. “Mr. Harmon is a football player. He can’t live in our country during the season.”
“We’ll split our time between our two countries.” I spoke with way more confidence than I felt.
“I believe we’ve had our quota of surprises for one day. Leave us to discuss this development. You may go,” said my grandmother.
Gage nodded, and the group stood, excusing us.
We got out of there as quickly as we possibly could, with Giles as our escort.
“That went better than expected,” I said in relief.
“Yeah, it did. Let’s lose him and find a room to christen,” Gage whispered. His blue eyes shone brightly with the promise of a good time once we were alone, not an easy feat to accomplish even in a castle this large.
“That’s the best idea I’ve heard all evening.”
He flashed one of those hot grins of his.
When it came to sex, we were always on the same page.
~~Gage~~
Giles stuck to us like glue, and we weren’t able to shake him, not that we didn’t try. We’d won the battle if not the war, and both of us were hot as hell for each other. Regardless, Giles wasn’t cutting us any slack.
Figuring we’d probably stretched our luck too far for one night, I kissed Alisa goodbye at the first-floor landing of the grand staircase, only to be interrupted by Giles clearing his throat. With a reluctant sigh, I set out on a quest to find my room, while Giles escorted Alisa to hers.
I walked down a long, deserted hallway with ancient carpets and old paintings lining the walls. This was Alisa’s heritage, and if I allowed myself to think deeply about who she now was, I’d probably run as far and fast as my legs would carry me.
In an attempt to tamp down my panic, I thought about—what else?—sex.
Did this old castle have cameras in all the rooms? Would we be giving the security staff an X-rated show if we decided to christen a room here and there? I’d do some digging and find out what I could find out. Perhaps Walter would assist me.
I found my room eventually and took a long shower. Afterward, I climbed naked into the huge, empty bed and burrowed under the covers.
I’d give anything to have Alisa here with me. Those weeks in Seattle when we’d shared a bedroom had been the best weeks of my life. I closed my eyes, envisioning how her eyes lit up as I drove into her, how her skin glowed golden in the moonlight, how she sometimes looked at me as if I were the only man on earth. I wanted her to look at me like that again.
I wanted to be Alisa’s prince and slay her dragons. If I actually married her, would I become a prince? Such a thought horrified and intrigued me.
I was playing with fire, from Alisa to my lies. Eventually everything would catch up with me.
The queen’s words came back to me: Are you from the Harmon family?
I had no idea who “the” Harmon family was, but I was pretty damn sure it wasn’t my family. We’d never been referred to with a the in front of our family name. I’d heard of that Harmon family, but never the, such as that damn Harmon family.
All someone had to do was a little digging, and they’d find out my truth, and possibly harass my parents in the process. I was descended from a long line of dirt-poor Virginia farmers, not a nobleman among us, no matter how far back a person looked. I’d never said there was, and I’d certainly made an attempt to dispel those notions. As usual, no one listened. I didn’t volunteer more out of respect for my family’s privacy. The less these people knew, the better, but how much could they dig up?
I wondered if I should discuss my background with Alisa. Or did it truly matter as far as the fake engagement went? If the truth came out, she could use it as a reason to break it off with me, which would save face with the royals. They’d be sympathetic to her and forgive her for falling for a commoner like me. If she knew, then she’d be as complicit in the deception as I was.
I’d backed myself into one hell of a corner. The only thing I knew to do next was come out fighting and pray I’d still be standing when the dust settled. Even more, pray Alisa wouldn’t hate me.
I stared at the ornate ceiling. I was in over my head with these people. I should’ve said no. I shouldn’t have come here. I had no business being here. The alternative wasn’t acceptable. Alisa couldn’t marry another man she didn’t love. I’d have a hard enough time if she loved the guy, but a guy she considered only a friend?
What if we really did go through with it?
Impossible.
I was a dumb ass to even consider such ridiculous thoughts.
I heard a light rap on the door, or thought I did. I listened carefully.
“Gage, let me in.”
Alisa’s voice.
My heart soared and my dick hardened. I leapt out of bed and opened the door a crack. Alisa pushed past me, shut the door, and locked it behind her.
“I was lonely,” she offered in explanation.
“Giles didn’t see you, did he? That guy never sleeps.”
“No, no one saw me.”
She sashayed across the expensive Persian rug and turned on a nightstand light. Then pivoted around. She untied the sash on her bathrobe.
She had nothing underneath.
Oh, yeah. Nothing.
I grinned as I feasted my eyes on her heavenly body designed to send me straight to hell when she was all over and I was alone again with only my memories and regrets.
Right now, I wasn’t regretting a thing, other than I was taking too long to feast upon what she was offering. I backed her against the bed and had my way with her. Even better, she had her way with me, and my Alisa had a wicked, naughty way about her. Being a princess hadn’t changed her sex drive or her adventurous spirit.
Maybe we could sneak down to that Green Room after all.