Affairs of State(18)

“You do. You just don’t know it yet.” He sipped his champagne. “Let’s see how cold this water is.” He stood and walked to the bank, where the river rushed by only about a foot below. Before she had time to join him, he’d removed his shoes and socks, rolled up the leg of his dark slacks, and slid his feet into the water. “Cold.”

“Is it really? It must be from an underground spring.” The summer afternoon was downright balmy. Her own toes itched to dip into the sparkling depths. She sat on the bank next to him and slipped off her shoes. Her jeans were tight-fitting so she could barely roll them up at all, but she managed to get them above her ankles. Then she dangled her feet down the bank until the water lapped against her toes. “Ooh, that feels good.”

Tentative, she slid her feet beneath the surface. The chill of the water contrasted with the warm throb of intimacy that pulsed between them, helped by the glass of champagne. Her shoulder bumped gently against his, then she felt his arm slide around her waist. It felt as natural as the cool clear water splashing against her ankles.

Now his torso almost touched hers, and they seemed to be growing closer by slow degrees. His rich masculine scent tugged at her senses. She could see the pale stubble on his chin, and the sparkle of light in his eyes—they were hazel up close—and then she couldn’t see at all because her eyes shut and she found herself kissing him.





Four



The daylight dazzled unpleasantly as Simon opened his eyes. He’d had to tug himself away from kissing Ariella, and the taste of her lingered on his tongue, forbidden and delicious. She looked unbearably beautiful, sitting there on the bank, her eyes dark with desire and the forgotten cuffs of her jeans darkening in the water.

“We shouldn’t have done that.” Her voice was barely a whisper.

“I beg to differ.” His entire body growled at him to do a lot more with this lovely woman. He let his hand wander into her long, dark hair. “Mostly because I don’t think we had any choice.”

“You always have a choice.” One neat brow lifted slightly. He could feel her shrink back from him.

“Theoretically, I suppose. But some things are just irresistible.” Her raspberry-tinted lips were among those things, and he lowered his lips toward them again. But this time she hesitated. “Simon, I really don’t think this is sensible.”

“Why not?”

“Uh…because your grandmother would be horrified.”

“Nonsense.” He stroked her hair. She stiffened slightly, as if she wanted to resist, but he saw his own desire reflected in her eyes. “I’m sure she’d adore you.” He really didn’t want to think about the queen right now. He didn’t want to think about anyone but Ariella. He could deal with everyone else later.

Ariella shivered slightly, as anticipation rose in the air. If she didn’t want to kiss him she could have leapt to her feet and darted back to the car. But she hadn’t.

He waited for her to come to him, and she did. Her mouth rose to meet his and they sank deep into another sensual kiss. He was almost breathless when they finally broke again.

“Uh-oh.” Her cheeks were flushed. “I couldn’t help that kiss at all.” She’d twisted into his embrace, and her nipples peaked against her T-shirt and the bra underneath it.

“See? Sometimes you just don’t have a choice.”

Desire made his thoughts spin. He certainly hadn’t had enough champagne to feel this tipsy. He stroked the silky skin of her arm, wishing he could bare other parts of her. But he could still resist doing that—for now. “Sometimes you have to give in to forces more powerful than a mere human.”

“You’re not a mere human, you’re a prince.” She winked.

He loved how she seemed totally natural with him, not affected or intimidated at all. “Even royalty are subject to the whims of passion.” He traced her cheekbone with his thumb. “Which can be quite inconvenient at times.”

She glanced about nervously. “I hope there aren’t any photographers hiding in the bushes.”

“I’ve learned to go to places that would never occur to them. Why would a man with a large rural estate go to a popular state park?”

“Because it has this cool stream with yellow wildflowers growing along its banks.” Her slender fingers touched the petals of a flower. How he’d like to feel them running over his skin, or through his hair.