of my life.
“Hey,” I reply, dragging my body toward her as I tug off my tie and drop my suit jacket onto the floor. Sitting on the edge of the bed, I kick off my shoes and crawl on top of her, taking the book from her hands. “Rebecca?”
She shrugs. “Seemed like a good idea earlier.” Her expression falls. “Now it’s hitting a bit too close to home.”
“How so?”
“A nobody falls in love with a somebody, who then takes her to be lady of his English estate where she’s made to feel inadequate at every turn.”
I place the book on the nightstand and lower my lips toward hers. “You are not inadequate. How can you be when you saved my life? When you continue to save my life every damn day?”
She moans as I coax her mouth open, desperate for a taste of her. Her fingers scrape against my scalp as her tongue glides against mine, awakening a stirring sensation low in my belly. As I run my hand up her frame and over the swell of her breasts, her nipples straining against the thin material of her tank top, she tightens her grip on me, trying to pull my body even further into hers. But it’s still not enough. For either of us. Still doesn’t satisfy our unquenchable thirst.
“I need you,” she whimpers when I tear my lips from hers, peppering kisses along her jawline and neck. Knowing how much it sets her off, I clamp my teeth onto her earlobe, circling my tongue around the sensitive flesh.
“And I need you, gorgeous. You have no idea how bloody much I need you.”
“Then have me.”
“I plan on it.” I return to her lips, kissing her once more before pulling back. “Just give me ten minutes to clean up. Okay?”
She smiles and nods. “Okay.”
“Okay.” I leave her with one more kiss, then take my time to stand. Once I’m confident I won’t lose my footing, I rush toward the bathroom.
“Anderson?” she says as I’m about to close the door.
“Yes?” I meet her seductive gaze.
“Don’t shave. I miss the feel of your scruff between my legs.”
“Yes, my lady,” I say with an exaggerated bow.
Not wanting to keep her waiting any longer than necessary, I take one of the quickest showers of my life. After today, I need this connection, need to lose myself in Nora. As long as we’re able to leave the outside world behind, even for a few moments every night, I’m confident we’ll survive this tumultuous world.
Once I’ve washed away the day, I dry off, not bothering to dress in anything more than a pair of boxer briefs. I don’t plan on wearing them long anyway.
“Okay, gorgeous,” I say upon walking out of the bathroom, a wall of steam following me. “I’m all clean and…” I trail off as my gaze falls on her. Her chest rises and falls in an even pattern, lips slightly parted, eyes closed in peaceful slumber.
On light feet, I head to her and take the book out of her hands once more, placing it on the nightstand. I bend toward her, kissing her forehead.
“I love you,” I whisper.
After I turn off the lamp, I walk to the other side of the bed and climb in. I set my alarm for thirty minutes earlier than usual in the hopes of taking care of her tomorrow morning instead. I nuzzle close to her, inhaling a deep breath, her comforting aroma carrying me to sleep.
It feels like only a second passes before my alarm buzzes, rousing me. Keeping my eyes closed, I turn it off and reach for Nora. When I don’t feel her, I open my eyes to find an empty bed, even at six in the morning.
I toss the duvet off me and stand, wrapping a robe around me. When I step into the hall, one of the members of my staff greets me, waiting to cater to my every need.
“Good morning, Your Highness,” the woman says with a curtsey.
“Did Ms. Tremblay already go down to breakfast?”
“Actually, she left for London early this morning.”
“London?” I shake my head, wondering why I wasn’t made aware of this.
“It was a last-minute trip. The designer Her Majesty wants for her wedding dress had availability to squeeze her in today.”
“Oh.” I swallow past the lump in my throat, hating she’s in London without me. I promised I’d take her one day.
Yet another broken promise.
I debate canceling my engagements scheduled over the next several days to surprise her with a