Affairs of State(42)
Standing there with her drink, she felt like a single tree in a tempest, while well-dressed people in big hats—she was hatless—swirled around her, going about their glamorous lives. Her role was to make those lives a little more glamorous by creating extravagant events for them, not to come play their own games with them. Clearly she was losing her grip on reality lately.
She counted the minutes until the match ended and Simon jumped down from his horse. He shared some congratulatory fist pumping with his teammates before jogging across the grass to her. “I hope everyone looked after you.”
“Oh, yes.”
He was even more handsome with his hair tousled and his chiseled face glowing with exertion. Shame he would never really be hers. “See? I told you they don’t bite.”
She didn’t want to mention the tooth marks they’d left on her psyche. Not while they were still here, at least. “I’m rather exhausted by all the excitement. Would it be okay if we left?” She certainly didn’t want to find herself having to be polite to Uncle Derek, or even the queen, who’d practically shoved her toward her plane.
“Of course.” He waved to a few people and escorted her to the car as if she really was the most important person there.
“Don’t you need to say goodbye to the queen?” She didn’t want to be blamed for him neglecting his royal duties.
“No worries. I’ll be seeing her tomorrow after I take you to the airport.”
“Oh.” And why wouldn’t he? She was his grandmother, after all. She probably wanted to go over wedding venue ideas, or discuss the ring he’d soon give to Sophia. Her heart sagged like a deflated balloon.
They talked about the game on the drive back to Whist Castle. Simon obviously loved his life here, surrounded by people who cared about him, and the excitement of his jet-set existence. He was born for it.
She wasn’t.
They enjoyed a hearty dinner in the castle dining room, this time served by staff who were obviously trained to ignore the fact that he’d had a woman to stay for the weekend. They must know there was a connecting door between her room and Simon’s, and she was pretty sure they knew she and Simon had been using it. It was embarrassing having so many people know her business. They’d all be whispering about her soon as Simon’s last hurrah.
“You seem very thoughtful tonight.” Simon spoke softly. They were still sitting at the dinner table, sipping coffee.
“Am I? I was just thinking about the Duke of Buckingham’s wedding.” There was some truth to it. This weekend had given her insight into the British upper crust that would help with the planning. “I hope I’m not being too dull.”
“Impossible.” His warm smile was so encouraging it almost melted her anxiety. “Let’s go relax upstairs.”
She gulped. How could she make love to him again, knowing that his family fully intended to keep them apart? “Okay.” She’d always known this was never going to be a long-term thing. It was a crazy affair, something they’d both fallen into by accident.
He took her hand as they climbed the stairs, and the way he glanced at her sideways and squeezed her hand gently was so sweet and romantic, it stole her breath. Why did he have to be a prince? Why couldn’t he have been a regular guy with an ordinary job and a house somewhere in the D.C. suburbs?
“You seem…worried.” He closed the door to his room after they were both inside. The door to her own room was wide open. Apparently there was no pretense that they were sleeping apart.
“I am.” It was hard not to be honest with him. He was such a straight shooter himself. “I’m going to miss you.”
“Then we’ll just have to make sure not to stay apart for too long.” He gathered her in his arms and laid a warm kiss on her lips. Her anxiety started to unspool as she kissed him back.
“Yes.” She said it but she didn’t believe it. It would be better for both of them if they kissed and wandered back to their regular lives. Less media frenzy, less royal disapproval. Less fun.
Their kiss deepened until she had to come up for air. Simon’s hands plucked at the zipper near her waist, and soon she was shimmying out of her dress and struggling with his belt and undressing him. Even though everyone in the outside world seemed to think he’d soon be marrying Lady Sophia, right now she knew he wasn’t interested in anyone but her. Alone in this room they were two people who cared about each other. It felt so good to shrug out of the trappings of society and press her skin against his. His naked body was so sturdy and capable. She had no doubt he could leap tall buildings in a single bound if he wanted to. She felt so confident in his presence, like together they could accomplish anything. It would be hard to be back in her D.C. apartment, alone.