A Royal Amnesia Scandal(8)

Luc searched through his drawers, finding nothing of interest. It wasn’t as if his underwear drawer would reveal any hidden clues other than the fact that he liked black boxer briefs.

Slamming one drawer shut, he searched another. By the time he was done looking through the chest and hunting through his bathroom, he was alternating between being terrified and being furious. Nothing new popped up except a healthy dose of rage.

There had to be something in his cell phone. He started out the bedroom door, only to collide chest to chest with Kate. Her eyes widened as she gripped his biceps in an attempt to steady herself.

“Sorry,” she said, stepping back. “I just got back with my things. I called your parents and gave them the rundown. They’re worried, but I assured them you would be fine and you’d call them yourself tomorrow. I also called my mother. I didn’t mean to be gone so long. Are you heading to bed?”

Was she shaking? Her eyes darted over his shoulder toward the bed, then back to meet his gaze. The fact she had been rambling and now kept chewing on her lip was proof she was nervous. About the amnesia?

“Are you all right?” he asked, reaching out to smooth her hair away from her forehead. He tipped her chin up, focusing on those luscious, unpainted lips. “You seem scared, more than you were just a few minutes ago.”

Kate reached up to take his hand in hers. “I guess all the events finally caught up with me. I’m tired and worried. Nothing more.”

“That’s more than you need to handle,” he told her, stroking his thumb over her bottom lip. “Let’s go to bed.”

That instant, holding Kate completely trumped finding his phone and seeking answers. There was a need inside him, an ache he had for this woman that was so primal he couldn’t even wrap his mind around it. His phone would be there when he woke up, and right now all he wanted was to lose himself in Kate. She looked dead on her feet, and she still hadn’t changed from her wet dress, which had now mostly dried. There was no way she was comfortable.

“Why don’t you grab a shower and meet me in bed?” he asked.

Her eyes widened. “Um...I’m not sure we should...”

Luc waited for her to elaborate, but she closed her eyes and let out a soft sigh. When her head drooped a little, Luc dropped his hand from her chin and squeezed her shoulder.

“Are you afraid to be with me because of the memory loss?”

Her lids lifted, her dark eyes searching his. “I’m not afraid of you, Luc. I think it would be best if we didn’t...you know...”

“Make love?”

A pink tinge crept across her tan cheeks. “Yes. You’re injured. You need to rest and relax. Per the doctor’s orders.”

Luc snaked his arms around her waist as he pulled her flush against his body. “I plan on relaxing, but I want you lying beside me. It’s obvious we came here to get away, and I don’t want to ruin this trip for you.”

Delicate hands slid up his chest, fingers curling up over his shoulders. Just her simple touch was enough to have his body quivering, aching. Everything about her was so familiar, yet so new at the same time.

“You’re not ruining anything for me.” She offered a tired, yet beautiful smile. “Let’s just concentrate on getting you better, and everything else will fall into place.”

“So no sex, but you’ll lie down with me?”

Her eyes held his as she nodded. “I’ll lie with you.”

He hadn’t recalled her name at first, but he’d instantly felt a pull toward her. No wonder they were engaged. Obviously, they shared a special, deeply rooted bond. Their chemistry pushed through the damage to his mind, and that alone would help him pull through this.

“I’ll just go shower in the guest bath, real quick,” she told him, easing away from his embrace. “Give me ten minutes.”

Confused at her need to retreat, Luc crossed his arms over his chest. “Why not just use the shower in here? The other bathroom hasn’t been renovated and this one is much more luxurious.”

She looked as if she wanted to argue, but finally nodded. “You’re right. A quick shower in here would be better. I just didn’t know if I would disturb you trying to rest.”

“You won’t bother me. You can take advantage of the sunken garden tub, you know.” He took her hands, leading her farther into their bedroom. “No need to rush through a shower. Just go soak in a tubful of warm water and relax.”

“I’ll be quick in the shower. Why don’t you lie down?”

He leaned forward, gently touching his lips to hers. “Don’t take too long or I’ll come in after you.”

She shivered beneath his touch, and it was all Luc could do to keep from hauling her off to the bed and taking what he wanted, throwing every reason he shouldn’t straight out the window.

Retreating into the bathroom, she closed the door. Luc frowned. Was she always so private? Why did some things seem so familiar, while other, mundane things had disappeared from his mind?

As he stripped down to his boxer briefs, he heard the shower running. An image of a wet, soapy Kate flooded his mind. He couldn’t wait to get beyond this memory lapse, beyond the annoyance of the headache, and make full use of that spacious shower with her.

He would make this up to her, somehow. His Kate was exhausted, and still worried about him. She was sacrificing, when this was supposed to be a romantic trip away.

As of right now he only remembered they were engaged. He recalled some buzz about wedding invitations and upcoming showers. He’d let his assistant handle all of that...but he couldn’t recall who his assistant was at the moment.

Raking a hand down his face, Luc sighed. Now wasn’t the time to think of staff, not when he was about to crawl into bed with his fianceé. Right now he wanted to focus on Kate, on their trip and somehow making this up to her.

* * *

Kate showered quickly, constantly watching the door she’d closed. She should’ve known he’d want her in his room, that he wouldn’t even question the fact.

But sleeping with him under false pretenses was an absolute no.

No matter how Luc made her body tingle and the nerves in her belly dance...she couldn’t let her thoughts go there.

She was still Luc’s assistant, which meant looking out for his best interest. And it was in the interest of both of them to keep their clothes on. Easier said than done.

Kate dried off, wrapped her hair up in a towel and slid into her chemise. She truly had no other option unless she asked Luc for a T-shirt, but she didn’t know if he was one of those guys who would be even more turned on by seeing a woman in his clothes, so she opted for her own gown.

Rubbing the towel through her wet hair, she got all the moisture out and took her time brushing it. Perhaps if she stayed away a few extra minutes, Luc would get tired and fall asleep before she went back out there.

Their argument before his fall had taken on a life of its own, and she still couldn’t get that kiss from her mind. Of course, if her lips weren’t still tingling, maybe she could focus on something else. Such as the fact that the man was suffering from memory loss and was scared and angry over this sudden lack of control with his own mind.

Still, between the toe-curling kiss and the fact she was about to slide between the sheets with her boss, Kate didn’t know how to act at this point. What was the proper protocol?

After applying some lotion on her legs and shoulders, Kate hung up her towel and faced the inevitable: she was going to have to go out into the bedroom and get in that bed. The sooner she moved beyond the awkward, uncomfortable stage, the sooner she could breathe easily. All she needed to do was go in there, lie beside Luc and wait for him to fall asleep. Then she could get up and go to the sofa or something. No way could she lie nestled next to him all night. The temptation to pick up where their kiss had left off would be too strong.

But the doctor had been adamant about not saying too much, to allow the memories to return on their own. Kate didn’t want to do anything that would cause Luc more damage.

Somehow she had to abide by his no-fraternization rule and still manage to play the doting fiancée. Was that combination even possible?

Taking a deep breath, she opened the bathroom door. The darkened room was a welcome sight. At least this way she wouldn’t have to look him in the eye and lie. Now the only light spilled from the bathroom, slashing directly across the bed in the center of the room as if putting all the focus on Luc and his bare chest. The covers were up to his waist; his arms were crossed and resting on his forehead.

“Turn off the light and get in bed.”

The memory loss didn’t affect his commanding ways. The man demanded, he never asked, and he expected people to obey. Still, the low, powerful tone he used was enough to have her toes curling on the hardwood. This was her fantasy come to life, though when she’d envisioned Luc ordering her into bed, she never imagined quite this scenario.

What a way for fate to really stick it to her and mock her every dream with this false one.

“Is your head still hurting?” she asked, remaining in the bathroom doorway.

“It’s a dull pain, but better than it was.”

Kate tapped the switch, sending the room into darkness, save for the soft moonlight sweeping through the balcony doors. The pale tile floor combined with the moon was enough to light her path to the bed.