Escaping A Royal Wedding (8 page)

They ate slowly and Ana didn’t look at her watch once. She didn’t care what time it was. All that mattered was being with this charming man for as long as she could before the hammer came down on her freedom.

When the meal finally came, Ana looked longingly out into the night. “I know this is rather gauche of me to say, but I really don’t want the night to end.”

“Come dancing with me,” he said.

At her smile, he tossed several bills down onto the table and took her hand, pulling her out of the chair as they walked through the restaurant. Outside, he helped her into a waiting limousine and they drove off.

“Come here,” he said and pulled her onto his lap. Ana didn’t hesitate, knowing he was going to kiss her and wanting it to happen. Instantly, the flames started up again and Ana wrapped her arms around his neck, kissing him back just as he had yesterday. His hand moved from her waist down to her thigh, casually caressing her leg until he reached the hem of her skirt. Ana grabbed his hand nervously as it started sliding up but she didn’t take her mouth away from his. After a few moments, his hand moved up again and this time, Ana didn’t stop him. In fact, her body seemed to arch toward him, eager to get as close as possible to this man and the heat he was building within her.

Erik groaned when his hand touched skin at the top of her stockings. She was wearing thigh highs and not panty hose. His mind whirled and he had to force himself to slow down. Taking his hand off her leg, he put it onto her waist, knowing he couldn’t go that direction anymore or she’d fly out of the limousine while it was moving.

He continued to kiss her, moving his mouth along her lips, then to her jaw and onto her neck. She was so responsive, each time he kissed a new area of her neck, she shivered and small little moans emanated from her.

Erik couldn’t help it. One hand was holding her back and the other was on her waist but of it’s own volition, it moved upwards and rested carefully under her breast, waiting for a signal that it was okay to proceed. When she didn’t back away, he moved his hand higher and was rewarded with the nipple beading up under his hand.

“Marcus, please!” she begged, her body arching under his strong hand, unsure of what she was desperately asking for but he knew. She heard the zipper of her dress slide down and then the cool air was against her breast. A moment later, his mouth was covering her nipple through the thin lace of her bra. Ana’s whole body shook as his mouth teased and enticed, his tongue swirled around the center and then his teeth nibbled.

Ana cried out at the pleasure he was inciting with in her. Her hands gripped his hair and pulled his head closer until he moved to the other breast, her dress now around her waist. A part of her mind was horrified that she was allowing this man to take such liberties with her but the rest of her brain had shut off at the first touch of his lips against her skin. No, that wasn’t completely true. She’d shut off her mind’s cautions the moment she saw him at the restaurant earlier. She’d known from that moment that she wanted him to kiss her like this, to make her feel these feelings whirling around in her mind and body.

After several moments of the pleasure shooting into her nerve endings, Ana cried out again, sure her body was going to break into thousands of pieces. “Please, help me,” she said, and he heard the frustration in her voice.

Erik pulled his mouth away and gripped her arms as if he was trying hard to maintain control. Shaking his head, he leaned his head down against hers. “We’re not going to make love for the first time in the back of a limousine,” he said harshly and his hand reached to pick up the phone and order his driver to take them back to his place.

It took a moment, but his words eventually sunk in and she was shocked that things had progressed so far, so quickly. And now he was about to speak to his driver so they could make love on a bed instead of the car? That can’t happen! Neither scenario was possible and she had to stop him immediately. “No,” Ana said frantically, placing her hand over his as it touched the phone while pulling her dress up to cover her nakedness, suddenly ashamed of what she was doing. “I can’t do that!” she said, her voice conveying her terror at the idea.

Erik took his hand away from the phone. He cupped her face and looked into her eyes, noting that she was still feeling the passion just as strongly as he was even while she fought down those feelings. “Listen to me,” he said carefully, “we’re going to make love, you and I. It is inevitable. But if you’re not ready, it can wait.”

Ana’s eyes filled with tears. “Oh, Marcus!” she cried, her fingers touching his cheek, the fingers shaking as the tremors still shot through her. She wished she could explain why she couldn’t go through with this but he wouldn’t understand and it was too dangerous. And pointless either way. She was to be married in less than a month. This was no time to start an affair with someone she’d known for only three days. “We can’t make love. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have led you on like this. But I’m not familiar with these feelings and wasn’t prepared for them.”

Erik saw the frustration and disappointment in her eyes. He could also feel her body still shivering as she snuggled in his arms. She may be afraid to have sex with him, but she wasn’t afraid of his touch and he drew strength from that. He wouldn’t let her pull away regardless. Even if it meant he’d be in pain from his erection, he didn’t want her to move out of his arms. “I know,” he sighed, referring to her innocence but ignoring her claim that they couldn’t make love. That just wasn’t an option. “I’m sorry. I told myself I’d take it slowly. But you’re so beautiful and responsive, I lost my head. It won’t happen again,” he promised and pulled her closer.

“Marcus, please understand. We can’t make love,” she said, wishing she could explain why but knowing that would be the end of the evening with him. She selfishly wanted more time with him, even if it meant not touching at all.

He relented for the moment but still wouldn’t accept her claim of no sex. “Let’s go dancing,” he said as an alternative. “On the dance floor, we can touch each other but there will be a crowd to keep us in line. Will that be okay?” he asked.

Ana nodded as she slipped her dress back onto her shoulders and shivered as his fingers touched the sensitive skin on her back as he zipped it up. “Yes. That would be lovely,” she said and smiled shyly.

He took her to a beautiful ballroom that was hosting a full band playing the big band type of music that just forced one’s feet to move. The band slipped from a waltz then to a salsa and slipped the occasional fast paced swing song into the mix. She loved the variety as well as the rhythms that kept everyone on their toes. Ana found that he was a wonderful dancer. He moved easily, with confidence and grace and was a perfect lead. Not once did he step on her toes and she never ran into another dancer all evening. It was past midnight when they were standing close as a slow song weaved its magic through the room and the dancers still crowding the dance floor. She was trying to keep her eyes open, but he could sense how tired she was.

“I need to get you home,” he said, putting an arm around her waist and guiding her off the dance floor. She’d had her head on his shoulder but his words forced her head to look up at his handsome, smiling face.

She knew she needed to get home but she just didn’t want to leave him yet. The sensible thing to do was to leave while she still could, she told herself. Sighing inwardly at having to leave the wonderful feeling of being in his arms, she smiled slightly before saying, “I’ll take a cab.” Her hand covered her yawn as she tried to hide her fatigue.

“You’ll do no such thing,” he said and took her hand to walk her to the coat check. “I’ll drive you home. It isn’t safe in the city for a woman alone.’

She leaned against him, loving the muscular feeling of his body against her softer one. “Is it safe for a man?” she asked, teasing him.

Erik chuckled. Even half asleep, she was trying to challenge his sexist attitudes. “No,” he said and put an arm around her waist. “Will you meet me tomorrow?” he asked.

“Yes,” she said without hesitation.

He turned her into his arms and lifted her chin up so he could see her beautiful eyes. “How about lunch? I’ll find someplace quiet and out of the way.”

“That sounds nice,” she said, relieved that it wouldn’t be in a crowd again. “Where should I meet you?” she asked.

“I’ll pick you up,” he said. “Tell me where you’re staying.”

Ana bit her lip. She thought quickly and knew of another hotel close by. “The Weston,” she said.

Erik knew she was lying. Even if his security team hadn’t trailed her to the Mayflower, he would have seen it in her eyes. He wondered why. “Fine,” he said, determined to get to the bottom of the mystery of this woman. She obviously had some deep secrets she was unwilling to share with him. That angered him more than he was willing to admit. Why should he care if a woman lied to him? If she didn’t want him to know something, he shouldn’t care.

But he did. This woman was becoming an obsession. He had to see her, touch her, know everything about her. There was a vulnerability about her too that made him want to throw his arms around her and demand all the mysteries to be told so he could protect her from whatever she was afraid of.

He took her coat from the clerk and dropped a tip into the bucket. “The Weston it is,” he said and settled her coat over her shoulders before he led her out into the cold springtime evening.

The Weston Hotel was only a few blocks from the night club so it was a short drive. Ana could sense that he was angry but wasn’t sure why. Surely he didn’t know that she’d lied about where she was staying? Once the limousine pulled up in front of the hotel, she grabbed the handle and was about to leave.

He stopped her with a single touch. “Ana, meet me back here tomorrow at noon?” he asked.

Ana nodded immediately and got out. He followed her, surprising her when he took her into his arms and kissed her out on the street for anyone to see them. This time, it was different. It wasn’t the gentle, persuasive kiss he’d initiated in the car earlier in the evening. Those were sweet, insistent, heated. Now, he was demanding and relentless. It still melted her soul but the questions were there in his kiss, in the way his mouth slanted over hers again and again, as if he were trying to brand her as his.

Ana shivered as she walked through the doors of the Weston Hotel. She waited in the lobby until the limousine drove away, then walked back out. “Can you get me a cab?” she asked the doorman and smiled gratefully as he immediately whistled for a passing cab to stop. “Thank you,” she said and ducked into the car.

She gave the driver directions, then tipped him heavily, grateful that the man was working so late. It was almost two o’clock in the morning when she slipped back into her hotel room.

Ana dined alone the following morning since it was so late. She’d slept in until almost seven in the morning and barely had time to say good morning to Marabeth and sip a cup of tea before heading back to her room to shower and change for her first appointment. She was scheduled to tour a day care and a hospital this morning and she wanted to look nice for the children. Ana checked her schedule and was satisfied that she would be back at the hotel in time to meet Marcus for lunch. She felt giddy, knowing she would be seeing Marcus shortly. It helped to ease the exhaustion she felt at only getting five hours of sleep.

The morning dragged on tediously. The children at the day care center were wonderful and she loved reading them a story. Several of them were sweet, wanting to give their first “kiss” to a real, live princess. Unfortunately, the hospital staff seemed to want to show her every single machine that had been purchased for the past decade. And her tour guide felt the need to introduce her to every member of the hospital staff. It was a relief when she finally stepped back into the limousine which would take her back to the hotel late in the morning.

As soon as she entered her suite, Ana looked at the clock and knew she’d have to hurry if she was going to be ready for her lunch appointment with Marcus. She was already stripping off her lavender dress suit and heels she’d worn for the morning.

She didn’t know what Marcus had planned for their lunch date, but he told her to wear riding clothes if she had them. Ana didn’t have any with her right now, but she had asked the hotel staff to deliver a set of riding clothes and there was a box from a well known riding company sitting on her bed. Ana opened the box and nodded with satisfaction at the clothes. There were tan riding pants and a brown, fitted jacket along with brown boots that were made of soft leather. A tailored, white shirt, riding hat and riding crop finished the outfit and Ana was grateful for the efficient staff at the Mayflower.

Pulling on the clothes, she wondered where they could possibly be going where they would be able to ride. Ana hadn’t seen much of Washington, D.C. but she had heard that it was a normal city with not many open spaces. In fact, because of the political nature of the city, none of the buildings were allowed to be higher than nine stories, the same height as the Capital building. That meant the city sprawled out in all directions but not upwards.

Ana arrived at the Weston Hotel five minutes before the limousine pulled up. She slipped inside, grateful for Marcus’s timeliness. “Good morning,” she said and moved closer for his kiss.

“Mmm…You smell good,” he said as he pulled her onto his lap to deepen the kiss. “Like fresh flowers and springtime,” he added, nibbling gently on her ear before moving to her neck, causing shivers of anticipation to tingle down her spine.