Arianna & Finn (Royals of Valleria #3) (4 page)

Though her smile seemed easy, with darkened lips sliding comfortably over impeccable teeth, and her movements even, her demeanor seemed at odds with the woman who had almost fallen apart in his arms. She had been incredibly responsive in her room but, looking at the proper woman besides him, no one would guess it.

Throughout dinner, every chance he got, he brushed his arm against hers, or his hand. He kept bumping her leg underneath the table or sliding his foot against hers. At first, she seemed to shift away, keeping her body tense, but eventually she either gave up or gave in, and he wondered which it was.

Topics at dinner were kept to general subjects, neither country willing to mar the fine meal with political discourse. Arianna, he learned, was also incredibly intelligent - far smarter than him, he realized - as she could talk expertly on any subject they discussed. Besides wanting to hear her voice, he realized he truly yearned to know more about her opinions.

In a twisted stroke of fate, Finn seemed to be lacking his natural charm, whereas Henry seemed to have an abundance of it. Finn, who wanted to interject and tease his brother, was off his game all of a sudden, as his usual careless style seemed to have left him. He hoped some of it returned before dinner was over; otherwise, he may never find a moment to speak to Arianna again, and he very much wanted to.

As a steady stream of polite conversation continued throughout the meal, Finn continued to innocently brush against the enchanting woman beside him. Despite the brushes and casual caresses, Arianna seemed to take great pains to avoid looking at him, rarely glancing at him at all unless he spoke to her directly. In his experience, women avoided a man’s gaze either because they weren’t interested at all, or they were too interested and weren’t sure what to do about it. Before the night was over, Finn would find out which his proper Princess was.

Not that she was his, of course.

He wouldn’t mind if that changed, he realized. Perhaps it was due to his growing urge to touch her, taste her, and feel her hot skin underneath his hands. Lust had struck him like a lightning bolt, and his cock grew painful just imagining the tight heat of her body. Even watching her eat had been an experience. He’d barely tasted anything while he’d watched each tasty morsel pass her lips and heard the sounds of pleasure she’d made.

“The meal was delicious,” Arianna said as she put down her dessert fork.

“This damson fruit tart was particularly decadent,” she said. “Damson ripens in September, is that correct?”

“You are quite right, Arianna,” Henry said with a smile. “This tart is a specialty dessert of Brazenbourg.”

“Well, it is one I could happily eat the rest of my days, though my waistline may not agree with me.” Everyone chuckled. Finn, however, wasn’t put off by the thought of her curves filling out even more. Based on what he’d seen of her, she was plenty ripe and bountiful herself.

“Well, I am happy you were pleased with it. Tomorrow, we’ll have another traditional dessert; it’s our version of a cheesecake.”

“Sounds delicious,” Arianna said with a smile.

“Alex,” Henry said. “I’m sure you’d like to go straight to your room, but I hope you’ll spare a few minutes for me. Perhaps we can have a quick nightcap.”

“Of course,” Alex said smoothly. “I’ll just escort my sister to her room first.”

“Nonsense. One of the guards can show her.”

“I’d prefer to take her myself.”

“I can take her,” Finn said and all eyes swung towards him, even Arianna’s. “It would be my pleasure if the Princess does not mind,” Finn said, acutely aware of Alex growing tenser across the table.

“No, not at all,” Arianna said, though the smile that followed seemed forced.

“Well, then, it’s settled.” Henry gave a pointed glare to Finn before turning to Alex. “Please follow me, Alex.”

Alex stood and helped Arianna from her chair. He whispered quickly to her and she nodded. Alex gave Finn one last look of warning before he followed Henry out the door.

“Well, Princess,” Finn said as he walked towards her. “Looks like it’s just the two of us again.”

Arianna swallowed as Finn stopped in front of her. Her eyes fell to his lips, which were quirked into a half smile.

“Shall we?” he asked as he held out an arm for her.

“Thank you,” she said as lightly as she could. Her slim hand slipped into the crook of his firm arm and rested on his soft jacket. His warm hand came over hers and pulled her more snugly against him. Even through his jacket, she could tell he was fit and toned. Though he was not as broad as Henry or as muscled as Alex, there was an undeniable strength to him.

As much as she should push away, she didn’t. She liked the feel of him. She’d even liked the way he’d ‘accidently’ found ways to touch her throughout the meal. She had felt a spark of electricity with each one, then a rush of anticipation waiting for the next. Her nerves were frazzled, to say the least.

“Shouldn’t you be in the meeting with our brothers?” she asked, hoping to fill the silence with something, anything but the heat that seemed to flash between them.

“I’d much rather be here with you,” he said with a smile, and she sighed internally; the man was impossibly charming. While his charm seemed to disappear during dinner in front of Henry, it was back in full force now.

“Well, have you traveled much out of Brazenbourg?”

“Here and there. To me, however, Brazenbourg is home. This is where I was born, and this is where I plan to live until I die.”

She tilted her face to his. “You really love your homeland.”

“Is there any reason I shouldn’t? Do you not feel the same for Valleria?”

“Yes, of course I love Valleria.”

“But do you love it with the same passion as Alex does?”

“Alex will lead the country one day. I won’t.”

“You didn’t answer my question.”

“And I don’t intend to,” she said as they reached the long set of stairs. She loved Valleria, and she loved her family. However, ever since the ‘incident’ years ago, all she had wanted to do was run away from everyone and everything. She had forced herself to stay and earn back the respect of her family.

“I didn’t mean to intrude or upset you,” Finn said quietly, and she paused on the stairs to face him. “It seems to be all I do when I’m near you.”

“You didn’t upset me,” she lied.

Finn stepped towards her and she stepped back, halting only when the bannister bumped against her. Finn’s knuckles lifted to brush her cheek and she felt a spark of heat where he touched. “You don’t need to lie to me, Princess.”
How had he known she was?
“You can trust me.”

The memory of another man saying those same words rushed back and broke the link between them. She slid away from his touch and the heat of his body, and then began walking up the rest of the stairs.

“Have I upset you again?” he asked as he caught up beside her. Despite herself, she was disappointed he didn’t take her arm and help her up the stairs.

“No. I am perfectly fine,” she said, using the most even voice she could.

“Damn it,” he said as he grabbed her arm and forced her to face him. “Stop acting so damn polite.”

“This is how I act. This is who I am. If it’s offensive to you, you needn’t escort me. I can find my own way.”

“I’m taking you to your door,” he said through gritted teeth and led her up the stairs and around the corner.

“Why are you so angry?”

“I’m not angry. I’m frustrated.”

“Why are you frustrated?”

“Because I want to push you against the wall and kiss you senseless, and I can’t tell if you’d like it if I did.”

She gasped. “What?”

He ran an impatient hand through his hair. “I’m sorry if I’ve made you uncomfortable, but you’re one of the sexiest women I’ve ever met. God, Princess. Do you work at being that sexy or does it come naturally to you?”

“Me?”
Sexy?
“Me?” she said again in disbelief. Sexy wasn’t something she ever tried to be in public, not anymore. “I’m sorry if I gave you the wrong impression.”

He pinned her with an intense stare. “Are you telling me you don’t feel this connection between us, too? Am I alone in this? I know you feel something. You react to my touch every time. Every damn time. Do you have any idea how arousing that is?”

She swallowed and backed away from his advancing steps. Then she turned and began walking down the hall again. Her shoes made it easy for him to catch up with her, which he did moments later.

“Do you deny it? Remember, I know when you’re lying, Princess.”

“I-I just want to go to my room,” she said as she continued walking, mindful of the guards nearby. It didn’t matter what she felt; she would never succumb to those feelings. Not again.

With a low growl of frustration he continued to walk beside her. When they reached her door a minute later, he blocked her way inside.

“Let me pass, please.”

Unlike a few moments ago, he seemed to have some semblance of control. “Answer a question first, Arianna.”

She had never thought much about her name, but on his lips it sounded like a lover’s caress. “What?”

“Are you truly all right?”

She sighed. “I’m fine, Finn. Really.”

“Did I upset you earlier? I didn’t mean to. Despite what you may have heard, I’m not the sort of man who upsets women just for kicks.”

“No. No, I suppose you’re not.”

“So, you believe me? Why?”

She spoke without thinking first. “Your eyes. They look kind.”

“Thank you for the compliment, Princess. Though I have to say they’re nothing next to yours.”

“You like my eyes?”

“God, yes. They’re a rich caramel that a man could drown in; I must have drowned myself a few times already.”

“You have?”

His hand reached up to cup her face, his thumbs brushing her temples. “Oh, yes.” She swallowed, unsure of what to do or say next.

“But I don’t just like your eyes, Arianna.”

“Oh?”

“I like your mouth - graceful and intelligent. I like your hands - small and elegant. I like the way you brushed against me at dinner, and the sharp way your mind works. I have to admit, I could barely form a coherent thought with you and your soft scent next to me.”

Such lovely words, compliments she hadn’t heard in a very long time, even from family. Lust was easy, wasn’t it? Two bodies with an explosive chemistry that knew just what they wanted. Liking someone for their own sake, well, that was harder.

She swallowed again. “It sounds like you like me.”

Finn smiled broadly. “I think you’ll find few people in the world who wouldn’t like someone as lovely as you.”

“Thank you.”

“You’re welcome, Princess. I’ll leave you then.”

“Wait,” she said as his hands dropped away. She knew she should let him go. If she were honest with herself, she didn’t want him to go. She wanted him. He had called her sexy and beautiful and wanted to kiss her senseless; no one had in a very long time. She hadn’t wanted passion and lust with anyone, she had told herself she didn’t need it. If she took some time with Finn now, what did that say about her? What would it mean?

Would one night even make a difference? Could she just let go and just live for once? Memories swirled but she pushed them away. Hadn’t she paid enough for her crimes? Hadn’t she been the perfect daughter and sister since that fateful time?

She took his hand in hers. So strong and capable. Warm. His fingers wrapped around hers as though they’d been together for years. As she glanced down at their joined hands, she caught sight of the ring she wore. The amethyst sparkled in the dim lights of the hall, and the weight of her duties fell heavy upon her once more.

Maybe they could have a few stolen moments together, ones that she could remember during cold nights alone.

“I still need help with my dress.”

His breath caught. “Are you sure, Princess?”

In response, she opened the door and pulled him inside.

***

Finn let Arianna lead the way into her room. Once inside, he shut the door and flipped the lock, which made a very definitive click.

He turned to face her as he leaned back against the door. She stood several feet away, facing him. Her body was stiff with tension and her eyes had a shadow of nerves in them.

“Don’t be nervous, Princess,” he said in a soft voice as he began to walk towards her. “You have all the control here. You want me to leave, I will.”

“No,” she said quickly then licked her lips. “No, I don’t want that. This is a delicate situation that’s all.”

“That’s the first time I’ve heard it called that.”

“No, I mean, we’re here on for diplomatic reasons. I don’t want to make a mess of things.”

“You won’t. You couldn’t.” He reached up and tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear. “Do you trust me?”

“I want to, but I don’t know. We only met each other a few hours ago. Oh, what am I doing?” She turned around and put a hand to her forehead.

“You’re not doing anything except churning yourself up. I can walk out right now if you want me to. There’s no pressure here, except for what you’re putting on yourself.” He paused to let his words sink in before he asked his question again. “Do you feel something for me? Anything?”

She turned around, and her hands now gripped the sides of her dress. Tension? Fear? Lust? He would finally find out. “Yes,” she breathed.

“Are you afraid of the attraction between us?”

“Yes.”

“Do you want me to leave?”

“No, but I also don’t want to, you know.”

“Kiss? You don’t want to kiss?” he asked, teasing her lightly. She shook her head. “So, you don’t want to kiss me?”

“No. I mean, yes, I do want to kiss you. I just don’t want to do anything else.”

“All right. Just kissing. Go stand against the wall.” Finn gestured to the wall between her bed and a sitting area that was situated near shuttered windows with two chairs.

She looked at him curiously but did as he asked, carefully lifting the hem of her dress to walk over in her sky high heels. When she positioned herself, he said, “Take off your jacket.” She widened her eyes and her hands gripped the sparkling silk. “You don’t have to if you don’t want to, but I think you’ll be more comfortable if you do.”

She looked uncertain for a moment, but then shook off the fitted jacket, her lush breasts jiggling as she did so. Finn bit his lip to hold back a groan.

Arianna tossed the jacket on a chair nearby, over which her robe also lay. Her soft, tanned skin was calling to him, but he resisted. He was used to holding back his pleasure while his lover found hers first. Arianna would be an excellent lover, he could already tell. Tonight, however, was about trust, as well as seduction and foreplay. It was not about the end game that accompanied them.

Finn walked over to her and placed his hands on either side of her head, his palms flat against the wall. He held his body away from her and she didn’t reach for him. He knew she would, though, eventually.