Behind Palace Doors(23)

Well, damn. Victoria hadn't come right out and said she loved him, but  the implication was there. God, he couldn't do love, had never wanted  to. So how the hell had he allowed this to happen? He'd told Tori going  in that this wasn't about love, that the marriage was only about his  country.

Why had she done this to herself and how had he not seen this coming?





     Twelve

"Guess I had my first emotional breakdown."

Victoria sat on the simple white bench across from the guest bath where  Stefan had showered after his early morning run. They hadn't spoken  since her crying jag last night. He'd never come to bed and she assumed  he'd slept in the spare room, but she couldn't go on with all this  tension inside her body or her home.

"I guess so," he replied.

Stefan leaned against the door frame, all tanned and gloriously misty  from the shower. One crisp white towel sat low on his hips, and he'd  draped another around his neck. Muscles covered with beautiful tattooed  artwork stared back at her, mocking her. No matter her heart's emotions,  her body wanted him and instantly responded.

"I'm sorry about yesterday," she told him, bringing her eyes back up to his face. "Seeing Alex threw me off."

Stefan's dark brows drew together. "Why be sorry?"

Victoria resisted the urge to look down at the floor. Instead she  tilted her chin, held his gaze and shook her head. "Because I made you  uncomfortable."

The muscle in his jaw clenched, and she knew he was still  uncomfortable. Was it just Alex's presence and her emotional breakdown  that had made him ill at ease, or was it more? Had he heard what she'd  said about their relationship?

The implications of her outburst to Alex were something Stefan was not  ready for. She wasn't even sure she was ready herself, but she could no  longer control her feelings toward her husband. Her heart clenched as if  trying to protect itself from the inevitable hurt that would surely  consume her once they discussed what her emotions meant to their  marriage.

Stefan walked toward her, squatted down between her legs and took her  hands in his. "I just have a lot more to deal with than I first thought.  I can't take on more than protecting my country and gaining my title."

"I know, and I didn't mean to add to your worry."

His gaze traveled down and settled into the V of her silk nightgown  before coming back up to meet hers. Shivers raced through her. So she  hadn't completely scared him off.

But he let go of her hands, and that giant step back from intimacy  spoke volumes. He was pulling away. Maybe the hurt would slither its  evil way in sooner than she'd thought.                       
       
           



       

A chill crept over her.

Seduction had been on her mind when she'd dressed for bed last night,  but he'd never come in, and now, catching him fresh from his shower, it  seemed her efforts were moot. He was obviously having no part of her  plan.

Was this how the rest of their marriage would play out? They'd dance  around each other all because Stefan was afraid to confront her  emotions-or his, for that matter? She didn't believe for one second that  he wasn't feeling more for her. She did believe, however, that he was  going to fight that feeling for as long as she'd allow it.

"Come back to bed with me," she told him.

His eyes remained locked on hers. "I have some work to go over with Hector."

The steel wall had been erected in a matter of seconds, and he was  making no attempt to let her in. But in his defense, he'd told her up  front this could be nothing more and like a damn fool she'd been on  board with the preposterous plan.

Stefan came to his feet, the subtle movement sending his fresh  masculine scent wafting around her, enveloping her, and she knew that's  as close as she'd come to being surrounded by her husband right  now...and maybe for a while.

"Maybe I'll see you for lunch. I have a lot to do so don't wait on me."

And with that, he headed down the hall.

* * *

Victoria wasn't naive. She knew if Stefan could've gotten that title  and crown any other way besides marriage, he would've jumped at that  opportunity without question. But he couldn't get around it and he did  need her. No, he was not the marrying type, but he was the type who  thrived on loyalty, honesty and integrity...all a good base for marriage  and love.

Since she couldn't actually say the words without him pulling back even  more-if that were possible-all she could do was show him her love, show  him they were meant to be.

With his upcoming coronation and responsibilities on his mind, he'd  never complained, never even spoken of worries. He'd been right here  with her, trying to help her get her line started, trying to get her to  open her mind and really create some spectacular pieces.

Of course when he wasn't being loyal and helpful, he was being sexy and  impossible to resist. How could she not love a man like that? And how  could he not see that he loved her?

Stefan had been gone all day, but he was due to return home soon.  Victoria had requested Hector remain in the front of the house and only  to come around back in a dire emergency.

With a deep breath, she set her plan in motion by dipping her bare foot  into the pool and gliding it along. Yeah, that would be refreshing once  she submerged her entire body...nude.

Okay, so maybe there was a little bit of a reckless side to her, but  Stefan brought it out. No way would she ever have thought to get into  her infinity pool overlooking the L.A. skyline while wearing nothing but  a suntan and a hair clip.

And no way in hell would she ever have done something like this for Alex.

Looking back she could admit that she'd been in love with Stefan for  years, but it took the intimacy, the devotion, to finally open her eyes  to her true Prince Charming. But she'd never really thought of him as a  prince. To her he was her best friend, her confidant, now her lover and  husband.

This afternoon they'd ended up sharing a strained lunch and he'd  informed her he'd be busy the rest of the day-but at least he'd come for  lunch. He had gone into her spare office to check emails and talk with  Hector about the coronation. She let him do his thing because that whole  royalty territory wasn't her forte. But she was going to have to get  more comfortable with it because she intended to stick out this  marriage, title and all. And while she was afraid of what being a queen  truly meant, she wasn't afraid to sacrifice herself for the man she  loved.

While she'd never played the meek and mild woman before, doing so with  the title of queen wasn't even an option. She loved being able to assist  with charities and use her name and title to help others. And when  Stefan had taken charge with the Veterans' Homeless Shelter, her heart  had melted. That's the type of work she wanted to get behind. That's the  part of being royalty she could completely embrace.

Victoria slid out of her short silk robe and let it puddle next to the  steps. The thick candles she'd lit all around the pool added just that  extra bit of romance. When Stefan stepped out onto her patio, she wanted  him to take in the scene: discarded red silk robe, flickering  candlelight and his wife naked in the water.

She may be uncomfortable with this, but she was a Dane and everything  was about setting the stage to pack a punch with the audience. And there  was only one audience member she cared about.                       
       
           



       

Now all she had to do was float lazily on her back, wait and fantasize  about how spectacular this night would be. Hopefully Stefan would see  the way she stepped outside her comfort zone for him, and if he did,  surely he'd realize that her love knew no limits.

And perhaps he could step out of his comfort zone, too.

* * *

Stefan raked his hands through his hair. His coronation was scheduled  to take place in a few months and he was trying to get a start for this  documentary so he could at least assure his people that a new era was  going to begin, starting with the truth, to remove the black mark  hovering over his father's name.

His investigators had found several people who were willing to speak on  camera if a film was produced. Hector had been working behind the  scenes, as well, jotting down key things he remembered from that  time...after all, the man had also been the assistant to Stefan's father  and knew more than most.

But right now his mind was still plagued by the awkwardness with  Victoria. He knew she'd picked up on the distance he'd put between them,  but he needed the time to process everything. And he still hadn't come  to a damn conclusion.

He made his way up to their room, where he fully expected her to be, so he was surprised to see a note resting on her pillow.

Meet me at the pool.