Not-So-Perfect Princess (13 page)

Letting physical attraction and friendship get in the way of what he wanted made no sense. Julianna was hot, but she was also a princess. She might enjoy sailing, but she would never walk away from her title or her duty. Not for anything in the world. She wanted to help her brother, her country and her future children. The fact that she was willing to marry Enrique after his treatment of her spoke volumes about her priorities and was a not-so-subtle reminder…

As soon as the Med Cup finished and she married, Alejandro needed to say goodbye. She belonged with his brother, not him.

The truth stung. A sharp pain sliced into his heart. He reached for his wineglass, but it was empty.

“Treat her better.” If Enrique did that, he would give Julianna what she wanted—more freedom, a throne and children.

Especially children.

I’ve always wanted to be a mother. Children will bring me great happiness and joy. I’ll devote myself to being the best mother I can be. That will make me very happy.

Julianna’s words echoed inside Alejandro’s head. He wanted her to be happy. That wasn’t like him. He’d never considered a woman’s happiness beyond the moment at hand. He hadn’t worried about how she felt after. That didn’t make him much better than Enrique who wasn’t considering Julianna’s happiness at all.

The truth hit Alejandro like a sucker punch.

He didn’t want to have anything in common with his brother.

“Do it for yourself, but for me and the island, too.” And Julianna. “Heirs must be your first priority.”

Enrique’s forehead creased. “You want out of the line of succession that badly?”

“Yes.” Alejandro did. But this wasn’t about him anymore. Julianna needed babies to love. He was finally figuring out why this had become important to him.

Maybe if she were happy, he might be happy, too.

Alejandro tossed and turned all night. Images of Julianna flashed in his mind like photographs in a digital picture frame. Her long legs exposed by her short dress. Her playful smile on the beach. Her parted lips as she steered
La Rueca.
Her passion-filled eyes as she looked at him.

The last one was pure fantasy.

With a grimace, Alejandro tried to fall asleep for the fourth time. But he couldn’t stop the slide show playing in his brain. He kept thinking about her, about wanting to be with her, about wanting to touch her.

Not only touch her.

Alejandro punched his pillow. Maybe if he was more comfortable…

Nothing helped. The harder he tried not to think about her, the more he did. Some of the thoughts were going to require a cold shower if he wasn’t careful.

He didn’t want to take that chance. He jumped out of bed, dressed for sailing and headed to the boat.

That would keep him…distracted.

La Rueca
bobbed in the water. This past week, he’d gotten used to the activity of the crew preparing for a sail or cleaning up afterward. Today, she looked lonely tied to the dock with her running lights off and no crew around.

Better remedy that. Alejandro hopped aboard. The boat rocked with the incoming tides. The wind increased, jostling the lines that secured the boat to the dock. Metal clanked against metal. The waves picked up momentum, hitting the hull with more force.

He glanced at the horizon. Orange and red fingers of sunlight poked their way into the dark sky.

Red sky at night, sailor’s delight. Red sky at morning, sailor’s warning.

The nursery rhyme used to predict weather played in his head. A red sky might mean a more challenging sail this morning. That would be a good test for the crew with the race coming up.

Especially Julianna.

He had no doubt she’d rise to the challenge. The more situations she was exposed to, the more experience she could rely upon come race day. He’d have to make sure they came up with a good excuse to explain her absence during the three days of races. Sleeping in late wouldn’t cut it.

An image of Julianna’s twinkling blue eyes, her smiling mouth and her sunburned nose formed in his mind. At least that picture was more innocent than others he’d imagined.

He laughed.

“Care to let me in on the joke?”

Alejandro’s heart lurched. He could recognize Julianna’s melodic voice anywhere.

He whipped around to face the dock. The beam of light from her headlamp blinded him. He shielded his eyes. “You’re here early.”

She removed her headlamp, turned it off and shoved it in her pocket. “Couldn’t sleep.”

Her, too. Alejandro doubted for the same reasons as him.

Lust probably wasn’t in the innocent princess’s vocabulary. Not that anyone would mistake Julianna for anything but a too thin, gawky teen in those baggy clothes.

Anyone, except him.

He saw a beautiful woman who was willing to disguise herself to experience a taste of freedom. She’d grabbed the golden ring with both hands and wasn’t going to let go until she had to. Julianna was…special. He’d never met a woman like her. If only…

Don’t go there.
He’d decided what he needed to do once she married. But she was here now.

Alejandro shifted his weight. He needed some distance. “I’m going to get the sails.”

He stepped below deck without waiting for her to respond. He didn’t want to care what she said.

A musty scent filled his nostrils. He’d always found familiarity in the smell, but he would have rather breathed in Julianna’s sweet fragrance. Her usual scent when she wasn’t pretending to be a teenage boy.

He shook his head. She’d gotten under his skin. He needed to get her out of there.

Alejandro felt a presence behind him. He didn’t need to turn around to know who it was. “Julianna.”

“I’ll help you.”

“Thanks.” He faced her. The sails, equipment and slope of the hull didn’t leave a lot of room. With her down here, the space felt more cramped. Or maybe he was more aware of her. “But I’ve got them.”

“We’ll have things ready for the crew faster with two pairs of hands.”

He’d said something similar to her after their first sail together. That seemed like a lifetime ago.

The boat tilted to one side, as if hit by a mischievous wind or a powerful surge.

Julianna widened her stance.

The boat jolted and leaned the opposite way. Jules flew into Alejandro. He caught her, as he had in the foyer that first morning when she’d arrived at the palace.

He stared down at her face. Her body pressed against his. “The princess is in my arms yet again.”

She was nothing like the woman he’d held then. Or maybe she’d taken off the mask and allowed her true self to show. Whichever, he didn’t want to let her go. His arms tightened around her.

Attraction sizzled. A need burned deep within him. He fought against the ache with every ounce of self-control he had.

The race began tomorrow. The royal wedding would occur next week. She would be out of his life…

The same longing he felt filled Julianna’s eyes. Her lips parted.

A sense of urgency drove him. He lowered his mouth to hers, capturing her lips with a kiss.

She gasped, but didn’t back away.

His lips ran over hers, tasting and soaking up her sweetness. He knew he was crossing the line.

What he was doing was wrong on so many levels. But he didn’t care. Maybe he’d care later, but at this moment the kiss consumed him. She consumed him.

Julianna arched toward him, her breasts pressing against his chest, her arms entwining around his chest. She opened her mouth further, deepening the kiss. Her eagerness thrilled him. Blood roared through his veins. He pulled her closer, until he felt the rapid beat of her heart.

His tongue explored her mouth with abandon, burning with her sweet heat. Sensation pulsated wildly through him. Passion grew. Self-control slipped.

A soft moan escaped her throat. So sexy.

Alejandro wanted more. He wanted all of her. But he’d take whatever she was willing to give him.

He leaned back against the sail bags, pulling her with him. His hands cupped her round bottom. Fabric bunched. Too much clothing was in the way.

Alejandro slid his hand under her jacket and…

Voices sounded above them.

Julianna jerked away so fast she almost fell on her butt. She regained her balance and touched her hand to her mouth. “I-I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have…”

Her red cheeks and ragged breathing made her look so turned-on and sexy, but Alejandro couldn’t pretend he didn’t hear the regret in her voice. He tried to regain control. Not easy with his body on fire and aching for more kisses. More Julianna.

But she was right. They shouldn’t have done this.

“I’m the one who kissed you.” He knew better, but when he was around her he couldn’t think straight. “I apologize.”

She stared down her nose at him. “I kissed you back.”

Always the princess even when passion filled her eyes, a flush stained her neck and cheeks and her lips were swollen. Alejandro bit back a smile. She would be upset if he thought this was funny.

“Alejandro?” Phillipe yelled.

“Ju—J.V. is helping me with the sails.” Alejandro needed to calm down and cool off. Or they would blow her cover. But he couldn’t stop thinking how perfect her lips felt against his. He’d kissed many women, but no kiss had ever felt like this. “Be up in a minute,” he added, not wanting anyone to come down here.

“What now?” she asked.

More kisses. That was what he wanted. But Julianna wasn’t some woman he’d met at a club or on the beach or at a sailing regatta. She was Enrique’s future wife and Alejandro’s ticket out of the royal life he abhorred. Even if his brother was out of the picture, she wasn’t a fling. He wasn’t looking to get serious with anyone.

Alejandro had too much going on with his boat business, properties and plans for the island to get involved in a serious relationship with any woman. Let alone with a princess.

He wanted to be freed from his princely duties, not be caught up trying to live up to her expectations. She would want him to remain a prince. She would challenge him to be more and embrace his birthright. He’d seen her act that way with Brandt. That behavior and pressure didn’t appeal to Alejandro in the slightest. He’d spent too much of his life justifying himself and his actions. Continuing on that path would be hell on earth.

Julianna was the last woman Alejandro should want to be with. She was a perfect princess, with a royal heart and soul. Duty and country motivated her. She would use her role on La Isla de la Aurora to make a difference in Aliestle. He would never be able to make a princess like her happy. He wouldn’t want to try. Even if he liked kissing her.

And wanted to kiss her again.

So what now?

“We sail,” he answered.

CHAPTER ELEVEN

T
HREE HOURS OF
sailing with high winds and waves kept Jules’s mind off Alejandro’s kisses. Thank goodness she’d needed to focus on steering the boat, or she would have been sighing, staring and swooning.

Pathetic.

But she couldn’t help herself. The way Alejandro made her feel overwhelmed Jules. Which was why she’d hurried up the dock back toward safety without a word as soon as the crew was ready to leave.

She may have apologized, but it wasn’t because kissing Alejandro had felt wrong. Kissing him had felt oh-so-right. As if that was what she should be doing today, tomorrow and every day for the rest of her life. That was why she’d been sorry. Feeling that way while engaged to Enrique wasn’t fair to either man.

She jogged through the park, eager to return to the palace and the sanctuary of her room. The suite provided all she needed—a means to escape and a lovely view from the windows. Enrique had been right about that. The pretty, colorful blossoms soothed her. She could use some soothing now.

Enrique.

She wove her way through the rocks in the grotto, passed through the wrought-iron gate and locked it behind her.

She didn’t want to think about her fiancé now.

Not with the effects of Alejandro’s kisses lingering.

The tunnel seemed darker and longer, and the smell of moisture and mold more pronounced. Each of her nerve endings seemed heightened in sensitivity. Her lips still tingled. The ache deep inside her that had started the moment his lips captured hers had grown exponentially since then.

Alejandro stirred something inside her. She was torn by her desire of wanting more and her guilt of knowing better.

Was this what passion felt like?

If so, the feeling frightened her even as it thrilled her. Allowing herself to be carried away by the strong current of emotion would be stupid. She had to be rational about this.

He hadn’t proclaimed his undying love and affection. He’d simply kissed her until she couldn’t think straight. He’d made her feel so special, like the only woman in the world.

Would that be the only time she ever felt like that? Her heart hoped not.

“Julianna.”

The sound of Alejandro’s voice sent a shiver of pleasure down her spine, but brought a twinge of uncertainty, too. She stopped walking. “I thought you were going to the boatyard.”

He caught up to her. The beam from his flashlight pointed at the dirt floor. “I wanted…”

You.
She held her breath.

“…to talk with you,” he finished.

Disappointment squeezed her heart even though she knew his wanting her was as likely as her living happily ever after.

Alejandro reached forward and tilted her headlamp so the light shone up. “We never got a chance to talk on the boat.”

Her uncertainty increased three-fold. “A hard day of sailing. We needed to focus.”

“You didn’t smile much.”

“I had a lot on my mind.” Like now. She started walking. “I should get back to the palace.”

Being so close to him sent her out-of-whack emotions spiraling into the danger zone. His scent made her want to lean in closer for another sniff. His warmth made her want to seek shelter in his arms. And his lips made her want to forget what her future held.

He fell into step next to her, his flashlight swinging at his side. “Tell me what’s on your mind.”

“You mean on the boat?”

“And now.”

Jules didn’t know where to start. She took a deep breath. It didn’t help.

“Julianna,” he prompted.

“You. You were…are…on my mind.” There, she’d said it. Even though she figured Alejandro had guessed as much.

“You’ve been on my mind, too. We’re equal.”

Not even close. Jules had never felt this way about any man, not even Christian, whom she believed at the time she loved. Of course, she’d been sixteen then.

Not that she was in love with Alejandro. Except…

She wanted to be with him on the boat, off the boat, all the time. She wanted to sneak out of the palace for good and sail off into the sunset with him. And Boots. They wouldn’t have to sail—they could walk, run, drive or fly. She wasn’t particular on the mode of transportation as long as they were together. The thought of being without Alejandro…

What was she thinking?

Being with him was impossible. What she felt now was a crush. The new sensations he had awakened with his kiss were causing her to feel this way.

Not…love.

“About this morning below deck,” Alejandro said.

“It’s okay.” Jules didn’t dare look at him. No one could ever know how much his kisses had affected her. “Each time I exit this tunnel, I enter a whole new world full of wonderful, but forbidden things. Freedom. Sailing. Kissing.”

“You’ve never—”

“I’ve been kissed.” The surprise in his voice made her cheeks grow hot. Jules was embarrassed enough by letting a crush get so out of control. She wasn’t about to tell him she could count on one hand the number of times she’d been kissed. “But I’m not…as experienced as you.”

“I couldn’t tell.”

Well, she
could
tell
he
was an expert kisser. That kind of expertise took…practice.

Alejandro has a horrible reputation. Worse, his taste in women is far from discriminating. Royalty, commoner, palace staff, it doesn’t matter.

Yvette’s words were the cold dose of reality Jules needed. She was probably one in a long line of women who’d come before. A part of her—okay, her heart—didn’t want to believe that, but she’d allowed this to go way further than it should. Romanticizing his kisses made no sense. “Kissing you was a nice addition to my adventure.”

“Adventure?”

She nodded. “Escaping the palace, wearing a disguise and sailing on
La Rueca
’s crew. It’s all been a grand adventure, a fantasy I’ve been able to experience for a brief time, but I know it’s not…real.”

“The sailing has been real. Kissing you was—”

“Not real.” If the kisses weren’t real, neither were her feelings. “I mean, we kissed. But we were caught up in the moment. Two consenting adults in each other’s arms. The opportunity presented itself. A kiss was bound to happen.”

“Perhaps we should find out if the kisses are real or not.”

Jules’s gaze flew up to meet his.

His intense gaze seemed to penetrate all the way to her soul. Her breath caught in her throat. She’d never felt so exposed, so naked before.

A chill rushed through her. Goose bumps prickled her skin. “We…can’t.”

“Why not?”

Her heart slammed against her chest. Logically she knew what she should say, but those words would contradict what her heart and her lips wanted her to do. “This can’t go anywhere.”

Alejandro traced her jawline with his fingertip. “I know.”

His light-as-a-feather touch tantalized. Teased. Tempted. “I’m marrying Enrique.”

“I know that, too.” Alejandro’s rich voice seeped into her, filling all the empty places with warmth. “The race begins tomorrow. This may be our last opportunity to be alone.”

Jules’s chest tightened. “This has to be the last time.”

He nodded and lowered his hand from her face. “That would be for the best.”

At least he agreed. Still, nerves gripped her. “But I…”

Silence hung between them, but instead of pushing them apart Alejandro drew closer. “Your move, Princess.”

Her move. Jules had never been in this position before, but she knew what she had to do. She raised her chin and pressed her lips against his. Hard.

A mistake? Probably.

But she wanted—needed—to kiss him one more time. She wanted to remember what his kiss felt like and how he made her feel.

Jules wrapped her arms around him and leaned in close. She tasted a mix of salt and heat. So delicious. She wanted to remember every detail, each texture.

As she deepened the kiss, sparks shot through her.

Okay, this kiss was real. She’d give him that.

The kiss made her quiver with pleasure and burn with desire.

But Jules didn’t know if the way she felt was real or not. She didn’t care. She just wanted to keep kissing him.

Because once she finished, Jules knew she would never kiss Alejandro again.

Tensions ran high the next morning. The first day of the Med Cup had arrived. Alejandro couldn’t believe how calm and cool Julianna was. She impressed the entire crew with her composure. She steered like a pro. The entire team worked together. The sweat and hard work enabled
La Rueca
to win their first race. Alejandro’s goal was one step closer.

And so was saying goodbye to Julianna.

He ignored the knot in his gut.

His father excused him from eating dinner at the palace that night. But Alejandro didn’t feel like celebrating as he sat at a tapas bar with the crew so he headed back to the palace.

Julianna.

She should have been with the crew tonight. With him.

Alejandro wanted to take her in his arms and kiss her until she begged him to stop or give her more. But he couldn’t.

This has to be the last time.

He’d agreed. Logically that made the most sense, but the way he felt about her didn’t make sense at all.

The kitten was waiting when Alejandro entered the apartment. “Hey, Boots.”

The kitten meowed.

Alejandro got an idea. “Want to go see Julianna?”

Another meow.

That was good enough for him. He swooped up the cat and went to Julianna’s room.

In the hallway, Yvette sat on a chair outside the door and read. She lowered her book. “Are you here to see Princess Julianna, sir?”

“Yes.” He showed her the kitten. “Boots wants to see her.”

As if on cue, the cat meowed.

“I’m sorry, sir. The princess is sleeping.”

Alejandro looked around. No one else was in the hallway. He smiled. “Please tell her I’m here.”

“I’m sorry, sir,” Yvette repeated with a hint of disapproval this time. “Princess Julianna has an upset stomach and asked not to be disturbed until morning. Would you like me to tell her you and Boots paid a visit?”

“No, thanks. I’ll see her tomorrow.” Disappointment settled over the center of his chest. Alejandro wanted to see her now. “Good night.”

He returned to his apartment feeling out of sorts. He played with Boots using the laser pointer, but the kitten had more fun.

The entire time, Alejandro couldn’t stop thinking about Julianna. The passion in her eyes when they kissed. The exhilaration on her face during the race.

He had to see her for a minute. Yvette wasn’t about to let him pass, but he knew another way.

With a flashlight in hand, Alejandro used the secret door in his apartment to enter the tunnels. He wove his way around until he reached the staircase leading to Julianna’s room. Each step brought him closer to her. He stood on the landing and pulled the latch. The secret door opened.

Alejandro had been here before to leave her disguise and other gear she needed. He’d never thought twice about entering her closet.

But this time, he hesitated.

This can’t go anywhere.

I know.

I’m marrying Enrique.

I know that, too.

His conversation with Julianna echoed through his head. Yes, he wanted to see her. Hell, he wanted to kiss her.

But Julianna didn’t want that.

I’m marrying Enrique.

Alejandro might want to see her, but he couldn’t. She was determined to marry his brother. He wasn’t going to do something that both he and Julianna might regret. He knew better than that.

Alejandro closed the secret door.

This was for the…best.

The morning of the race, Julianna had instructed Yvette to tell anyone who came to the door she was suffering from a stomach virus. No one, especially Enrique, would want any part of that.

Hours later, she stood with her hands on the wheel, nervous and excited. Adrenaline coursed through her veins.

They were halfway through the course, running ahead of their closest competitor.

The tension and noise level had increased from yesterday’s match. The winds and waves had, too. Both had turned stronger over the last twenty-four hours. That made her job harder.

Water splashed into the cockpit. A foul weather suit kept her dry. Each member of the crew had a responsibility and knew what to do. Hers was to steer the boat. She focused her attention on the direction the boat sailed. She couldn’t think about anything else.

Or anyone else.

But Jules knew where Alejandro had been since the boat had left the dock. Her gaze was automatically drawn to him at midbow. Water dripped from his hair and his foul weather gear. He looked sexy and in his element. The sheer joy on his face tugged on her heart and her dreams.

One more day of racing. A week until her wedding. And it would be all over.

A sense of loss assailed her. She ignored it. Now wasn’t the time.

Each of the crew worked to keep the
La Rueca
sailing as fast as she could with adjustments to the sails. Others sat aft, trying to keep the weight on the stern.

The boat sailed downwind, surfing the waves that got bigger by the minute. The up and down motion of the boat reminded her of a thrilling roller coaster ride. More than once her stomach ended up in her throat, but she didn’t mind one bit.

Jules tightened her grip on the wheel. She needed to hold a steady course, but didn’t want to plow into a wave and risk the possibility of broaching.

Water hit her face and dripped down her cheeks. She tasted salt on her lips and in her mouth.

This was what she dreamed about. Freedom in its purest form.

She had no regrets. Well, one. Alejandro. But that wasn’t as much a regret as a what-might-have-been. Kissing him again had left a wound on her heart. One she hoped would heal in time.

“
Dragon Rider
’s broached,” Sam yelled from the midsection of the bow.

Jules could barely hear him, but she’d heard enough. Their competitor had heeled too far to one side and was lying broadside. Her stomach clenched. She hoped the crew were tied in. It would be easy to capsize or break the mast in these waves.