"You're not seriously going to try to hide the fact you're completely turned on, are you?" she asked.
His soft chuckle vibrated against his hard chest. "Kind of hard to hide it, but I wanted this to be about you. We can continue at home if you'd like."
Victoria lifted her head, wondering if Stefan realized how this moment, even though it was in the back of a car, had changed the course of their relationship. Did he get this intimate with all of his women? She closed her eyes briefly, trying to block out the instant mental images. If she had anything to say about it, he'd not be with any other woman ever again. He'd put the ball in her court at the end of the six months, and she was seriously considering staying, making him see just how this marriage could and should work for all the right reasons-which had absolutely nothing to do with his title.
But if she stayed, could she be a loyal, devoted queen and still design? She couldn't give up her own goals to cater to his, but she wanted this marriage to work. There had to be a way.
* * *
Stefan stared down at Victoria. Holy hell. What had just happened? He'd meant to be giving, passionate, but something changed...something he couldn't put his finger on. The way she looked at him with her face flushed and her lids heavy made him want to rip off both their clothes and satisfy her once again before finally relieving himself of this constant state of arousal he seemed to have around her lately.
"I want to make you happy, Stefan," she told him, stroking her fingertip down his cheek and along his jawline.
Yeah, something definitely changed. She wasn't smiling, wasn't playful. Her words, her actions were from the heart.
Was she sinking more into this marriage than she should? Granted, he'd always wondered how they'd be together, but if she was falling for him, could he ever give her that deeper, loving, marital bond in return? He honestly didn't think he had it in him.
God, he didn't want to hurt her. Right now all he wanted was to enjoy the way they were living together. Why couldn't that be enough?
"You've made me happy by helping me, Victoria."
"You know I could never tell you no," she replied, flashing him a sexy grin. "Besides, I'm getting what I want, too."
Friends and business. That's what this had to be...no matter what flutter he thought he felt in his chest earlier. The emotion had to be ignored. Victoria was too important to him to risk their bond on something as questionable as love.
As the driver wound his way up the Hollywood Hills, Victoria sat nestled against his side. He loved the familiar lavender scent that always surrounded her and the sexy way she would sigh as she crossed her legs and curved her body more into his. And now that he knew she wore nothing beneath that dress, well, sexy was a vast understatement.
He would let her show him her appreciation when they returned home. For now he needed to come to grips with the fact that he didn't want to get too involved in this marriage on a foundation he couldn't control, but when he'd taken their lovemaking to another level only moments ago, he'd done just that.
And he had no one to blame but himself.
Ten
Victoria's smile never faltered, and they'd been serving meals to homeless veterans for the past two hours. Her beauty radiated throughout the entire gymnasium of the old school where the Vets chatted and tried to capture a piece of her time.
He didn't blame them. Victoria was so easy to talk to, so easy to be around-the crowd would've never known that minutes before they'd come in she was nervous about fulfilling her first royal duty. He'd told her to be herself because she was a natural.
As she put the group at ease with her thankfulness for their services and the occasional gentle hug, Stefan continued to refill plates and cups. He let her use her charm on the room, and all the while the cameras were eating this up and proving to the world that she was the perfect woman for this position.
"Sir." Hector came up behind him and whispered, "The cameraman would like you to stay closer to Victoria so he can capture your charity work together. That was the point of the visit."
Stefan glanced around the room of men and women who had given their all for their country...something Stefan could relate to. Guilt weighed heavily on his shoulders.
"I'm not here for a photo op, Hector." Stefan turned to face his assistant and lowered his voice. "I'm here to assist these people and show them that my wife and I care about them. I don't give a damn about the photographer. If he wants a good shot and story, tell him to take pictures of all these people who have been forgotten."
Hector folded his hands in front of him. "Sir, the whole reason for coming was to showcase your role as your country's leader and so the world could see you and Victoria as a united front."
Stefan sighed. "We are a united front, Hector. Tell the photographer he can nab a picture of us when we're done. We'll pose for one then. Until that point, we are here to help, not for some show for the world so they just think we are helping."
Hector nodded with a slight bow and walked off. When Stefan turned back with the pitcher of tea, an elderly man wearing a navy hat with his ship's name embroidered across the top was looking at him with tears in his eyes.
"Thank you," the man said.
Stefan looked down at the elderly man, who had scarred hands and a weathered face. "Nothing to thank me for, sir. I'm the one who needs to thank you."
The man used the edge of the table and the back of his chair to come to his feet. Stefan stepped back to give him room.
"I've never met royalty before, sir," the man said. "It is an honor to have you and your beautiful wife here. And for you two to be so caring...well, it just touches an old guy like me to know there are still people who give a damn."
Stefan held out his hand, waited for the man to shake it. "What's your name?"
"Lieutenant Raymond Waits," he replied, straightening his shoulders.
"I will personally see to it that this shelter is funded for as long as possible." Stefan would make it happen no matter what. "I will also make sure my wife and I schedule a stop here twice a year when we are in the States."
The handshake quickly turned to an embrace as Raymond put his free arm around Stefan. He hadn't meant to get on a soapbox, but dammit, he understood loyalty to a country, and these vets deserved respect and love.
"Now, I better get back to refilling drinks or you'll be my only friend here," Stefan said when the vet pulled back, trying to look away as if embarrassed by the tears in his eyes.
Raymond nodded, taking his seat. As Stefan moved on, he glanced up to see Victoria watching him from across the room, and he didn't miss the moisture that had gathered in her own eyes. Obviously she'd seen the emotional moment.
Stefan smiled and winked at her, trying to lighten the mood because the last thing he wanted was for her to believe he was some sort of hero. He was just doing what was right.
By the time they needed to leave to get across town to the library for a fund-raiser, Stefan had already discussed the funding with Hector, who was putting a plan into motion. Now this is what being powerful was all about. Why have such control if you couldn't use it for the greater good?
They posed for just a few pictures with some of the soldiers and promised to return. Stefan hated that a piece of his heart was left with this group of remarkable men and women. He wanted to rule his country while keeping his emotions in check, not tear up when he came across charity cases.
Victoria swiped tears away as they headed to their waiting car. Once settled inside, he pulled her against his side and sighed.
"You okay?" he asked.
"You're amazing." She sniffed. "I don't care if the media portrays you as a bad boy, Stefan. I know the truth, and you've just revealed it to a room full of thankful vets."
He didn't want to be commended for doing what was right and good. "I wish I could do more," he said honestly. "But we'll do what we can where we can."
Tori reached up, cupping his cheek, and shifted to face him. "You're one amazing king, Stefan."
She touched her lips to his, briefly, tenderly. But he didn't want gentle, he wanted hard, fast. Now. He wanted to feel her beneath him, feel her come undone around him.
His hand slid up her bare thigh and her breath caught.
"Didn't we just do this the other day?" she asked, smiling against his mouth.