His Forbidden Princess(35)

She heard Ian calling her from upstairs and then thought she should have waited for him before running off for food. But he’d find her, and when he did she hoped he’d make love to her again.

Sofie couldn’t ever remember being so happy. Even when she was with Ian before, the cloud of being discovered hung over her head. Now, whatever happened, Sofie would find a way to be with him whether her mother liked it or not. She loved him too much to lose him again.

Pulling open the pantry door, she reached in for her new favorite thing, her Twinkies.

She didn’t know if they were a breakfast food in America, but they should be. The delicious little cakes would be perfect with tea as well. She was two bites into her first cake when Ian stepped into the room, put his hands on his hips and shook his head.

“Really?”

He grinned at her, and it was so delicious her woman parts warmed for him all over

again. “Yes, really. Don’t be so stuffy.”

“Stuffy?” He approached her with such purpose, Sofie didn’t know exactly what she was in for, but she didn’t care as long as Ian was involved. When his hand shot out and took the Twinkie she tried to get it back, but he held it over his head. A game. There was no way she could reach it, but when she caught the mischievous gleam in his eye, Sofie knew she had to try.

Even if it was just for fun.

“Give me my Twinkie,” she said.

He grinned and shook his head. “Make me.”

Planting her hands firmly on her hips, Sofie smirked at him. “Are you really going to play with me like this?”

He chuckled and lunged for her. With one arm, Ian grabbed her around the waist and hauled her in. When she was tight against his hard chest, and her arms pinned behind her, he teased her, bringing the golden cake to her lips for a taste and then pulling it away. “No. I’m playing with you like this.”

All Sofie could think was that there was never going to be anything sexier than what was happening to her at that moment.

She snaked her arms around his neck and pulled him down for a kiss. Sofie was

convinced there was never a bad time for one of Ian’s kisses, his lips were full and soft and when she pulled back and looked into his deep dark eyes, she felt like she could see his heart. And he was happy. Happy with her.

Feeling bold, Sofie touched her lips to the center of his chest. He was so perfectly formed--his taut, bronze skin was lightly dusted with hair and covered smooth, defined muscles.

“I have a question for you,” he said.

“Okay.” Questions from Ian could be anything from ‘why are you eating this chemical nightmare,’ to ‘what do you think about the economic sanctions in the Middle East.’ He was always unpredictable.

“How is it you’ve never been with anyone else?”

Oh, that wasn’t expected. How did she explain it?

The truth was probably best, humiliating or not. “Well. Uh, when I went back to the palace after leaving Cambridge, it took a long time for me to get over you.” This was already harder than she thought. “I never really did, to be honest, but at some point following my return, Mother decided it was time for them to find a husband. There was one Aubonnian noble who was the frontrunner—a Count. Very old family.”

“She just decided this? Without your input?”

“Input? You think I had a choice? This is the way it’s done. The way it’s been done.”

“Archaic.”

“Yes, but my feelings about the matter were irrelevant. Just like the relationship with you. It was forbidden. So, I was courted by a few European nobles—highly prized—a prince and a few dukes mostly, but Count Leo was still my mother’s favorite.” Ian’s eyes narrowed. He was angry on her behalf, which was another reason to love him. “Leo was a pleasant man, but he was ten years my senior and…” She paused. “Unremarkable. However, he was the perfect consort for the second child, the daughter. There was no risk he’d overshadow my brother.”

“It didn’t matter who you married, just that he had a title.”

She nodded. Letting the injustice of it all seep in. “Philippe could do whatever he wanted.

If he didn’t marry until he was forty, it wasn’t seen as a problem. Me? They wanted me out of the way. Leo was perfect for that purpose.”

“But you weren’t interested?” She was sure he didn’t mean to, but Ian looked relieved and Sofie loved that he was a tad jealous.

“No, I only wanted you. When I had no affection for any of the men, several honorably bowed out. Two were still vying for my hand, but finally, I was deemed unsuitable once it was discovered I wasn’t a virgin.”