A Royal Amnesia Scandal(12)

The questions weren’t slowing down; they were slamming into his head faster than he could comprehend them. He’d go mad if he didn’t get his memory back soon, or if he kept dwelling on something that was out of his control.

Damn it. Of one thing he was certain. Losing control of anything was pure hell, and right now he’d spiraled so far he hoped and prayed he could pull back the reins on his life before this amnesia drove a wedge between him and Kate.

Luc straightened as the idea slammed into him, pushing through the uncertainty he’d been battling. All that mattered was him and Kate. This was their time away, so all he had to do was enjoy being with her. How hard could that be? A private getaway with one sexy fiancée would surely be just what he needed.

A shrill ring came from the living room. Luc ran in and found Kate’s cell phone on one of the end tables. His mother’s name was on the screen. Odd that she would be calling Kate.

Without giving it another thought, he answered. “Hello.”

“Lucas? Darling, how are you feeling?”

His mother’s worried tone came over the line. Her familiar voice had him relieved that his mind hadn’t robbed him of that connection.

“Frustrated,” he admitted, sinking onto the worn accent chair. “I have a hell of a headache, but other than that I feel fine. Why did you call Kate’s phone?”

“I didn’t want to bother you if you weren’t feeling good, or if you were resting. I spoke with Kate last night, but I needed to check on you today.”

“There’s no need to worry, Mom. Kate is taking good care of me and the doctor was thorough. I just need to relax, and this is the best place for me to do that.”

His mother made a noise, something akin to disapproval. “Well, you call the doctor first thing if you start having other symptoms. I’m still not happy you’re not home. I worry, but you’re stubborn like your father, so I’m used to it.”

Luc smiled, just as Kate stepped through the door. A sheen of sweat covered her. Or maybe that was water from the ocean. Regardless, she looked sexy, all wet and winded. Would his need for her ever lessen? Each time he saw her he instantly went into primal mode and wanted to carry her back to bed.

“Nothing to worry about,” he said, keeping his eyes locked on Kate’s. “I’m in good hands. I’ll phone you later.”

He ended the call and rose to his feet. Kate’s eyes widened as he moved closer to where she’d stopped in the doorway.

“Were you on my phone?” she asked, tipping her head back to hold his gaze.

“My mom called to check on me. She tried your cell in case I was resting.”

Kate’s eyes darted around. “Um...is that all she said?”

Reaching out to stroke a fingertip along her collarbone, Luc watched the moisture disappear beneath his touch. “Yes. Why?”

“Just curious.” She trembled beneath his touch as her eyes locked back onto his. “I need to go shower. Then we need to discuss your schedule and upcoming events.”

Heat surged through him as he slid his mouth over hers. “Go use my shower. We can work later.”

She leaned into him just slightly, then quickly pulled back. Something passed through her eyes before she glanced away. As she started to move around him, he grabbed her elbow.

“You okay?”

She offered a tight, fake smile. “Fine. Just tired from my swim and run.”

The shadows beneath her eyes silently told him she hadn’t slept as well as she’d claimed. He nodded, releasing her arm, and listened as she padded through the hall and into the master suite.

Waiting until he was sure she was in the shower, Luc jerked his shirt over his head and tossed it, not caring where it landed. By the time he reached his bedroom, his clothes were gone, left in a trail leading to the bedroom door.

The steady hum of the water had Luc imagining all kinds of possibilities. And all of them involved a wet, naked Kate.

When he reached the spacious, open shower, surrounded by lush plants for added privacy, he took in the entire scene. Kate with water sluicing down her curves, her wet hair clinging to her back as she tipped her face up to the rainfall showerhead. She was a vision...and she was his.

Luc crossed the room and stepped onto the wet, gritty tile. In an instant he had his arms wrapped around her, molding her back against him.

Kate’s audible gasp filled the room, and her body tensed beneath his. “Luc—”

He spun her around, cutting off anything she was about to say. He needed her, needed to get back to something normal in his life. Kate was his rock, his foundation, and he wanted to connect with her again in the most primal, natural way possible.

“Luc,” she muttered against his mouth. “We shouldn’t.”

Her words died as he kissed his way down her neck. “We should.”

That silky skin of hers was driving him insane. Kate arched into him, gripping his shoulders as if holding on.

“You’re injured,” she panted.

He jerked his head up to meet her gaze. “The day I can’t make love to my fiancée is the day I die.”

Luc hauled her up against him, an arm banded around her lower back to pull her in nice and snug, as his mouth claimed hers once again. There was a hesitancy to her response. Luc slowed his actions, not wanting her to feel she needed to protect him.

But this all-consuming need to claim her, to have her right now, had his control slipping.

“I want you, Kate,” he whispered against her mouth. “Now.”

Nipping at her lips, he slid his palms over her round hips, to the dip in her waist and up to her chest, which was made for a man’s hands...his hands. She was perfect for him in every way. How had he gotten so lucky to have her in his life?

As he massaged her, she dropped her head back, exposing that creamy skin on her neck. Luc smoothed his tongue over her, pulling a soft moan from her lips.

After backing her up, he lifted her. “Wrap your legs around me.”

Her eyes went wide. “I... Luc...”

“Now, Kate.”

Just as her legs encircled his waist, he grabbed her hands and held them above her head. Sliding into her, he stilled when she gasped.

“You okay?”

Eyes closed, biting down on her lip, she nodded. Luc gripped her wrists in one hand and used his other to skim his thumb across the lip she’d been worrying with her teeth.

“Look at me,” he demanded. “I want to see those eyes.”

Droplets sprinkled her lashes as she blinked up at him. He moved against her, watching her reaction, wanting to see every bit of her arousal, her excitement. He might not remember their past encounters, but he damn well was going to make new memories with her, starting right now.

Kate’s hips rocked with his; her body arched as he increased his speed.

“Luc,” she panted. “Please...”

Gripping her waist, he trailed his mouth up her neck to her ear. “Anything,” he whispered. “I’ll give you anything. Just let go.”

Her body tensed, shuddering all around him. As she cried out in release, Luc followed her.

Wrapping her in his arms, he couldn’t help but wonder if each time they were together felt like the first time, or if this particular moment was just so powerfully intense and all-consuming. This woman had the ability to bring him to his knees in all the right ways.

So why was his beautiful fiancée—who’d just come apart in his arms—sobbing against his shoulder?

* * *

Oh, no. No, no, no.

Kate couldn’t stop the tears from coming, just as she couldn’t stop Luc from making love to her.

No. Not making love. They’d had sex. He didn’t love her, and once his memory returned, he wouldn’t even like her anymore. She’d been worried about tonight, about going to sleep. She’d truly never thought he would join her in the shower. The sex just now with Luc was unlike any encounter she’d ever had. Nothing could have prepared her for the intensity of his passion.

How had this entire situation gotten even more out of control? The reality of being with Luc had far exceeded the fantasy. And now that she had a taste of what it could be like, she wanted more.

“Kate?”

She gripped his biceps, keeping her face turned into his chest. She couldn’t face him, couldn’t look him in the eyes. Not after what she’d done. He would never understand.

Was this how he’d treat her if he loved her? Would he surprise her in the shower and demand so much of her body? Part of her wanted to bask in the glorious aftermath of everything intimacy should be. But she knew it couldn’t last.

Luc shut off the water behind her, and in one swift move, he shifted, lifting her in his arms.

“Talk to me, baby.” He stepped out of the shower and eased her down onto the cushioned bench. Grabbing a towel from the heated bar, he wrapped it around her before securing one around his waist.

Kate stared down at her unpainted nails. Focusing on her lack of manicure would not help her out of this situation. Luc gripped her hands as he crouched before her.

“Look at me.”

Those words, said only moments ago under extremely different circumstances, pulled her gaze away from their joined hands and up into his dark eyes. Worry stared back at her. Didn’t he know she was lying? Didn’t he know he should be worried about himself?

She could come clean. She could tell him right now that she wasn’t his fiancée, that she’d been dying for him to make a move on her for years. But all that sounded even more pathetic than the truth, which was that she’d gotten caught up in this spiral of lies. In an attempt to protect him, she’d deceived him. There was no turning back, and if she was honest with herself, she couldn’t deny how right they’d felt together.