Behind Palace Doors(4)

Pretending to be infatuated by Victoria's beauty would be no hardship.  Her flawless elegance had only flourished since the last time he'd seen  her, and he was damned grateful she'd agreed to his insane proposal.

Parading her around the grounds with the royal photographer, snapping  some pictures as they rode on horseback, cuddled beneath the trellis of  flowing flowers and walked along the private, pristine beach, would help  fuel this fire of his romance with the next queen of Galini Isle.  Though he'd asked the photographer to keep Victoria's face out of the  snapshots to add an aura of mystery. He'd always been proud and ready to  show off the women on his arm. Victoria was the first one he'd  protected from the camera. So once the photos started going out, they  would hopefully create more talk of his upcoming wedding in four weeks.

Their brief time alone had already caused so many memories to  resurface. She was still a tender heart where her family was concerned  but lethal when it came to business. The beauty Victoria brought back  into his life by being there in person was immeasurable. Holding her,  laughing with her, staying up late last night talking again was amazing,  and he vowed to never let so much time go between their visits  again...if she ended up leaving at the end of the six months.                       
       
           



       

All thoughts of reconnecting were swept aside as Victoria entered the  intimate dining area he'd had his assistants set up on the balcony off  his master suite's second story. Stefan's breath caught, and he knew  that spark of desire he'd always had for her would only spread and burn  hotter now that they were spending so much intimate time alone.

Yes, he needed her to keep his country, but he wasn't a fool. No way  would he let this prime opportunity pass him by to show her just how  much he believed becoming friends with benefits was a great idea. He may  not be ready for a "real" marriage, but he was past ready to have  Victoria see him in a different way.

But he had to keep his thoughts and emotions to himself for now. The  last thing she needed was him pushing anything more on her. Besides the  fact she was saving him, she was coming out of a humiliating engagement  to some prick who didn't know what a treasure he'd had.

When Stefan had initially learned of the breakup, he'd immediately  called, but in typical Victoria fashion, she'd assured him she was  fine...hurt and angry, but she'd be okay.

And looking at her now, she was definitely more than okay.

Her long, strapless ice-blue chiffon gown was simple, yet so elegant  and so beautifully molded to her slender curves, Stefan's palms itched  to touch her. Years of friendship prevented him. Added to that, they'd  never ventured into anything intimate. Either she'd been in a  relationship or he'd been...preoccupied himself.

"You look beautiful, Victoria." He extended his hand toward her, pleased when she took it. "You'll be the perfect queen."

Her smile was genuine, but her eyes instantly darted to the waiting  servant in the corner wearing a black tux. "I was hoping to have some  time alone with you."

While he loved those words coming from her mouth, he knew she just  wanted to talk. He squeezed her hand and gave a nod to his employee.  Once they were alone, Victoria laughed.

"That's the second time you've nodded and someone has done what you  wanted. You sure this prince-soon-to-be-king title isn't going to your  head?"

Stefan shrugged, leading her to the table for two on the balcony. "They  know what my needs are, so words are usually unnecessary. Besides, I'd  much rather spend my evening with my stunning friend than boring staff. I  have too many responsibilities with my title. I want to have the down  time with you."

"Wow, I'm one rank above boring and responsibilities. You're such a  charmer, it's no wonder you couldn't get another woman to marry you."  She patted his arm and sighed. "I just hope my family understands my  actions."

"We can't tell anyone that this is a paper marriage, Victoria." He  turned her to face him, making her look him in the eye to know just how  serious this situation was. "I cannot risk my title on the slip of a  tongue."

He knew the strong bond she had with her family, knew she'd want to  tell them, but he had to at least caution her as to the importance of  this arrangement. Other than his personal assistant, Hector, and his  brother, no one knew of this secret.

"I have to tell my mother," she insisted. "Trust me. She will know  something is up and she will badger us both until she uncovers it if we  don't confess now. Besides, she's always loved you."

"As a friend, yes," he agreed, then laughed. "I'm not sure she'll love me to play the son-in-law role."

She looked into his eyes, and a tilt of her perfect lips proved she  knew he had a point. "Well, she does consider you a playboy, and she's  not too keen on all your tats. But she does love you, Stefan. And she  knows how much you mean to me."

He raised a brow. "What about your brothers?"

"I can't lie to them, either," she told him. "But you should know, of  all families, mine understands the potential for scandal when secrets  slip."

Because he could see the battle she waged with herself and because he  knew she wouldn't back down on this, Stefan nodded. "If you promise this  goes no further than your immediate family, I will agree to your terms.  I trust them as much as I trust you."

"All right, Stefan," she told him, seeing his shoulders relax on his  exhale. "My mother will be the silent observer until she sees if I'm  just making a rash decision. But, I should warn you, my brothers will  have some serious doubts. They will be all over you, especially after  what happened with Alex."

Stefan intended to speak with both of her brothers privately. He had a  business proposition for them that they may not want to pass up  regarding a documentary to clear his parents' names in his mother's  untimely death. Some thought his mother had committed suicide, while  others were convinced his father had hired someone to have her killed.  Both were pure nonsense, and he wanted to go into his reign with no  blemishes on his family's name. But he would also reassure Tori's  brothers that he would keep her from any more heartbreak or scandal.                       
       
           



       

"If I had a sister, I'd be very protective," he said with a smile. "I  assure you, I can handle them. But we still have to make sure they know  our relationship will have to look real, which means they'll have to  rein in their behavior when we're out in the spotlight."

Stefan stepped closer, calling himself all kinds of a fool for  torturing himself with her familiar floral aroma, her tall, lithe body  close to his. But he couldn't help himself. He needed that intimacy,  that closeness only Tori could provide. He told himself it was to get  used to making this "relationship" seem real. In truth, he wanted to  touch her, kiss her...undress her. Possibilities and images swirled  around in his mind. Years he'd waited to have a chance with her, and  here he was nervous as a virgin on a wedding night.

Na pari i eychi. Dammit. The last time he'd seen her in person two  years ago he'd flown to L.A. to attend a benefit art show to raise money  for a children's charity. His father was supposed to have gone but had  fallen ill at the last minute, so Stefan had stepped in, all too eager  to get to L.A. and try his hand at seducing Victoria.

But when he'd arrived at her home, she'd introduced him to some  up-and-coming actor whom she'd just begun dating. Stefan had been  totally blindsided with the sudden serious nature of the relationship.  They talked on the phone, emailed or texted several times a week and no  mention had been made of this other man.

Because she'd been beaming with happiness, Stefan had kept his lustful  feelings to himself and tried to maintain a physical distance. But now  she was here because that jerk, Alex, had humiliated her and crushed her  heart.

Stefan had every intention of helping her heal. And now he knew there  was no way he could hold his desire back. Eventually, he'd have to  confess that he wanted her intimately, paper marriage be damned.

As if just realizing how close they'd gotten, Victoria looked up at him  and licked her lips, making them moist and inviting. "I still think we  have our work cut out for us. We've never been anything more than best  friends."

It was just the opening he'd been waiting for. "Then we better start now making this believable."

In one move, Stefan had his arms snaked around her waist and his lips  crushing hers, swallowing her gasp. He hadn't meant to push, really he  hadn't, and the second their tastes and bodies collided, he knew this  was a bad idea. Now he'd only want her more. But if his life depended on  it, he couldn't pull away.