Behind Palace Doors(21)

"Glad I could make an impression," he murmured. "But I plan on  torturing you until we get to the library. It is across town, you know. I  may even continue for the ride home afterward."

She slid a hand up over his denim-clad leg and cupped him. "Torture can be a two-way street, you know."

"I'm counting on it."

As his mouth captured hers again, his hand snaked up beneath her dress.  When his fingertip traveled along the edge of her lacy panties, her  legs parted. Yeah, he wanted what she was offering, but foreplay was so  much fun, and he wanted to relish these next few moments of driving her  wild. He'd always considered himself a giving lover, but with Victoria  he wanted to focus on her and her pleasure. Everything about touching  her, kissing her was so much more arousing than seeking a fast release.

Her palm slid up and down over the zipper of his jeans...a zipper that was becoming increasingly painful.

He tore his lips from hers. "Tori, you're way too good at this game."

When she put both hands on his shoulders and slid to the floor between  his legs, he swallowed hard. "Way too good," he repeated.

And thankfully he'd put the divider up between them and the driver  because she was reciprocating the favor he'd given her a few days ago.

How was he ever going to get over all of this if she chose to leave?

* * *

Victoria couldn't stop smiling. Finally, she'd managed to take control,  shut Stefan up and make him lose his mind all at once. Yeah, she was  pretty proud of herself.                       
       
           



       

The ride to the library and then home was quite memorable...for both of them.

As they walked up the brick steps toward her front door, a car pulling  into the circular drive had her turning back to see who the visitor was.

Her heart stopped, her body tensing at the unwelcome guest.

No. This couldn't be happening. What was he doing here?

"Victoria?" Stefan touched her arm. "Who is it?"

Before she could answer, the car came to a stop and Alex unfolded himself from the two-door red sports car.

"I'll talk to him," Stefan told her, jaw clenching. "You can go inside."

Victoria held up a hand and shook her head. "No, you go on in."

"Like hell," she heard him mutter as she descended the steps to see what her ex could possibly want.

Victoria didn't want to play the alpha male drama game so she ignored  Stefan's remark. All she cared about now was why Alex had showed up here  like he still had a right to.

"Victoria," he greeted her as she came to the base of the steps. "You look beautiful as always."

Crossing her arms over her chest, she thanked God that seeing him did absolutely nothing for her.

"What are you doing here, Alex?"

His eyes darted over her shoulder, then back. "Can we talk privately?"

"You're kidding, right?" Stefan asked from behind her.

Victoria turned, gave him the silent "shut up" look, and turned back to  Alex. "Whatever you want to say, say it so Stefan and I can go inside."

For the first time in his life Alex looked uncomfortable. Once again  his eyes darted from Stefan to Victoria, and she knew he wasn't going to  say anything as long as Stefan was around. This bulldog stare down  could go on all night, and she had other plans, which involved her  husband getting naked and staying that way for a long time. She wasn't  going to let her ex who destroyed her ruin her evening or her life.

Victoria spun back around and walked up a few steps to Stefan before  whispering, "Give me five minutes. He's harmless and he won't talk if  you're glaring at him like my bodyguard."

"He hurt you, Victoria. He has no right being here."

Funny how Stefan wasn't being territorial. He was upset because Alex  had broken her. God, her heart melted even more. Did he have any idea  how romantic, how sexy that was?

Stefan eyed her and she was positive he was going to argue, but he  leaned forward, kissed her slightly and said, "He can't touch you now."

Stefan turned and walked up the steps into the house, leaving Victoria  even more stunned. But she couldn't think right now about all the  amazing ways Stefan was showing her love. He may not even know it yet,  but he was falling for her.

It ticked her off that her ex stood behind her. She was supposed to be  seducing her husband, showing him just how good they were together.  Instead she was dealing with the one man who'd used her, cut her down in  public and tossed her aside as if she were useless.

Shoulders back, head held high, she faced him once again and met him at  the bottom of the steps. Stefan was right; Alex couldn't hurt her  again. She refused to let him have an ounce of control in her life  anymore. She took pride in the fact she was stronger now, thanks to  Stefan.

"You have five minutes," she told him, resuming her stance and crossing her arms.

"I made a mistake." He took a step toward her, reached out to touch her shoulder, and Victoria jerked back. "Please, Tori."

"You've got to be kidding me. First of all, I'm married."

Alex shoved his hand back in his pocket. "You don't love him like you did me."

Victoria smiled. "You're absolutely right. What I feel for Stefan is  completely different. I would do anything at all for him. I've never  felt so appreciated and treasured as I do with him."

"Is that the money and title talking?"

Before her mind could process what she was doing she found her open palm connecting with the side of his face.

"I will not defend myself to anyone, especially you," she told him,  rubbing her thumb over her stinging hand. "Now get out of my sight  before I let Stefan come back out and settle this in a very  old-fashioned, clichéd way."

She didn't need to tell Alex what that was. Any man would know.

He rubbed the side of his cheek. "I didn't come to argue with you. I  wanted to know if your marriage was for real, and I just couldn't  imagine you fell in love with someone that fast and married. I mean, you  always told me you two were only friends."

"We were always friends. Now I realize that Stefan was the only man for  me. And this marriage is more real than anything you and I ever  shared."                       
       
           



       

She didn't wait for him to respond. Victoria pivoted on her heel and  marched up the steps, running smack into a hard, familiar chest,  instantly enveloped by a scent she'd come to associate with her husband.

Strong hands wrapped around her biceps and pulled her flush with his body.

"It's okay," Stefan whispered. "I've got you."

He walked her into the house and she realized tears were streaming down  her cheeks. Had he heard everything? Fear and worry took the place of  the anger she'd felt only moments ago. She didn't want him to know how  she felt yet. She couldn't chance ruining their relationship.

Any and every feeling she had for Stefan totally overshadowed anything she'd ever had for Alex.

"We need complete privacy," Stefan murmured.

"Yes, Your Highness," one of the guards stationed inside the door replied.

Stefan swept Victoria up into his arms and she settled her face against  his neck. Alex's presence had awakened something in her, something she  thought she'd never feel again. Love. But not love for her ex. No, she  was utterly and completely in love with the man who carried her, the man  who knew when to let silence express his care for her, the man who  showed his tender, compassionate side at the shelter only an hour ago.  The man who'd taken such joy in pleasuring her, in the bedroom and out.

Her husband. She knew she'd fallen for him, but this moment solidified  the fact she was completely in love. And perhaps she'd been in love with  her best friend since they met. On some level she knew that to be true.  But now she knew without a doubt that she loved him wholeheartedly and  without any reservations.

He'd given her the control over the end of their marriage and, to be  honest, she wanted to make this relationship permanent. And not just  permanent because they were friends and they got along in bed, but  permanent because she knew Prince Stefan Alexander was her soul mate.

And Fate had given her the chance to see just how a marriage, a love life should be. Now she just had to show Stefan.





     Eleven

He was the only man for her?

Dear God, what a bombshell. When the hell had she decided that? If she  were having any notions of love...he couldn't even fathom where that  would put them.

Stefan kicked the bedroom door closed, crossed the spacious room and  gently laid Victoria on the chaise chair in front of the balcony doors.  Sunshine streamed in through the windows, bathing their bedroom in  bright rays.

"I'll get you some water," he told her, his voice rough.