Behind Palace Doors(19)

"You sound certain that this was an accident," Bronson said. "I'd be  willing to discuss this further. I may not typically do documentaries,  but that doesn't mean I'm not open to the possibility."

"I agree," Anthony said. "Could we set up a time to talk about this in  greater detail? I mean, we'd have to look at the police reports and  interview credible witnesses who are willing to come forward."                       
       
           



       

"I can provide you with anything you need." A spear of relief spread  through Stefan. "Victoria and I are going to be here for another few  months, so whenever you two are free, let me know. We have a few  engagements coming up, but our schedule in the States is still pretty  light. I can work around your shooting times."

As Victoria's brothers discussed their upcoming schedules, Stefan  couldn't help but be overly thrilled. He had no idea they would be so  open to the idea and respond so quickly. Though they hadn't agreed to  anything, they hadn't shot down the idea.

Moving forward with this project and his coronation, Stefan knew that  if everything fell in the right place, his life would be just as he'd  pictured it. Clean family reputation and his country secured in the  Alexander name.

What more could he want?





     Nine

"So what did my brothers talk to you about?"

Victoria's fingertip circled the top of her wineglass as she eased  forward in her seat. Stefan had taken her to her office, then afterward  she wanted to show him a new restaurant that had opened. They were just  having drinks and a dessert, but sometimes it was nice to get out of the  house and enjoy society like a normal person-or as normal as one could  be between her iconic family and her royal status.

With the outdoor seating and sunset in the distance, the ambiance  screamed romance...even if a bodyguard was seated a few tables away  trying to blend in.

Yeah, this was now her "normal" life.

Stefan shrugged. "Nothing much."

Victoria glared at him across the intimate table. "You're lying."

His eyes came up to meet hers as he reached across and took her hand  from her glass. He kissed her fingertips one at a time, and she relished  the familiar shivers that crept over her body at his simple, yet  passionate actions. But she wasn't letting the question go.

"Stefan?"

Lacing his hand through hers, he smiled. "Yes?"

"You've never been a good liar, and all this charm isn't working on me."

He quirked a dark brow. "Oh, yeah? I guarantee your heart rate is up,  and I know you want to kiss me because you're watching my lips."

Busted.

"I'm watching your lips because I'm waiting for the truth to emerge  from them." No way would she admit that he could do so little and turn  her on. "Did Bronson get too protective?"

"We simply had a misunderstanding, and now we don't," Stefan said. "Men  don't stay upset like women. He just wanted to discuss something, and  it's over."

Victoria would make a special trip to Bronson's house. No way was she going to be sheltered or coddled by her brother.

"What was Anthony there for? Peacemaker?"

Stefan smiled. "He is quite a bit more laid back, yes?"

"He wasn't when Charlotte left him," Victoria replied. "I'd never seen a  man so relentless on keeping his family together. He would've walked  through hell for her."

"I'd do the same for you."

Victoria jerked at his automatic, non-hesitant response. Surely he  wasn't developing feelings for her...not like she had for him. God, if  he ever found out she'd fallen in love with him their friendship would  be strained. Right now, with the playful sex and always hanging out,  they had a good thing. No way would she put this relationship in  jeopardy by revealing her true feelings.

"Stefan..."

"I realize their marriage is quite different from ours," he told her,  stroking the back of her hand with his thumb. "But you're the one woman  in my life that I would sacrifice anything for."

This was the point in a conversation where some women would think this  was a major confession of love...Victoria was not one of those women.  She knew Stefan better than any other woman did. He was a charmer, a  playboy, but most of all, he did love her. In the way all best friends  love each other.

But the romantic in her, the smidgen of a sparkle that hadn't been  diminished by Alex, sighed and smiled internally at the idea that her  husband would sacrifice anything for her.

"I'm ready to head home," he said, giving her a look that she knew had  nothing to do with friendship and everything to do with lust. "Why don't  you finish that drink."

"Forget the drink," she told him with a slight grin. "I have wine at home."

She grabbed her bag off the back of the iron chair and stood at the  same time he was there to help her from her seat. When she turned, their  lips were a breath apart and Stefan sealed them together briefly but  firmly, loaded with promise.                       
       
           



       

"We need to leave before I really give the media something to print," he murmured against her mouth.

She swayed slightly and his warm, strong hand came around and settled  firmly against her bare back where her summer dress dipped low. The heat  from his touch did nothing to help her wave of dizziness brought on by  pure desire.

She'd never had even a fraction of this passion with Alex. Mercy, she was in trouble.

"I've got you, Victoria. Always."

The heat in his eyes made her wish this were more than a marriage of  convenience or a businesslike arrangement. But she was too afraid to  explore that deeper level of emotion until she could see just where they  stood at the end of the six months.

With a smile, she nodded. "I'm ready."

He led her from the cozy outdoor restaurant to the car that was waiting  for them at the curb. Victoria's driver had been replaced with one of  Stefan's guards, and the man instantly appeared, opened the door and let  them into the backseat. As she slid across, her dress rode up high on  her thigh. Stefan came in beside her and placed a hand over hers before  she could pull the material down.

"Leave it," he said, hitting the button to put up the soundproof one-way window divider. "I have the best idea."

Oh, Lord.

As the guard brought the engine to life and pulled from the curb,  Stefan turned on the intercom to tell the man to take his time heading  back to Hollywood Hills.

An hour in the backseat of the limo with a man as seductive and sensual  as Stefan? Victoria's body hummed and tightened in anticipation.

When he clicked the button off, he turned, sliding his other hand up her thigh and pushing both sides of the dress to her hips.

"Convenient you wore a dress," he murmured, staring down at her bare  legs and the peek of yellow satin panties that were exposed. "Hate to  waste this opportunity."

As his hands squeezed her thighs, his lips captured hers. The wine  they'd drank tasted so good on his tongue, intoxicating her to the point  she didn't care they were in the back of her car getting ready to have  what she hoped was hot, wild sex.

When her hands came up around his neck, he eased back.

"Scoot down in the seat," he whispered. "I want this to be all about you."

And there was no woman in her right mind who would turn down an invitation like that.

Victoria did as he asked as he eased her legs farther apart. In his  strong grasp, she felt the tug on her panties until she heard the  material give way and tear.

"You owe me a pair of panties," she joked.

As he settled onto the floor between her legs, he gazed up at her  beneath heavy lids. Bright eyes pierced hers as he said, "I prefer you  without them."

With his wide shoulders holding her thighs apart, Victoria wondered if  they were really doing this. Were they actually going to get intimate in  the back of a car? And not only that, but this was far more personal  than sex. Was Stefan taking their relationship to the next level?  Obviously yes, but was he even aware of how personal this act was?

She didn't care and couldn't think anymore the second his finger slid  over her, parting her a second before his mouth fixed on her.

Instinct had her sliding down even more. The way he made love to her  with his mouth had her gripping his shoulders, the edge of the seat, the  door handle, anything to keep from screaming at the overwhelming  sensations rocketing through her.

In no time, her body quivered, bursts of pure bliss shooting through  her. Stefan stayed with her until the last of her tremors ceased.

Reality hit her as he literally crawled back up her body. Those  talented hands slid over her curves, and he took a seat next to her,  lifting her up to settle on his lap. As he nestled her into the crook of  his arm, she tucked her face against his warm neck.