Clearly he should have listened to Anna earlier when she’d said it was going to rain later. “We’ll return to the stable—just give me one minute. You were right about the weather. Stay here.”
“I was?”
He dismounted and ran up the hill. A small sprinkle of water rushed onto his skin but he scooped up the picnic basket.
A picnic in their suite suited him fine—being alone with Anna anywhere would be nice.
He raced toward Anna and their horses, securing the basket under a saddle blanket. He mounted Rocky. “Hold on tight. It’s about to pour, but I’ll get you back in one piece.”
She gave a curt nod as she patted Lady’s neck like she was accustomed to riding after all. “I trust you.”
Leo took her reins and kept her beside him for the short gallop back to the stable.
Her hands trembled as they entered the wooden structure. He dismounted, then helped her down off Lady. Taking the basket, he guided the horses toward the stable lads while Anna just stood there with her arms folded.
Lightning flashed outside. Perhaps they didn’t have time to return to their suite. “Should we wait in the stable?”
She winked at him and the rebel without care he’d glimpsed on the beach with the dolphins returned. Anna strode toward the door in total confidence as she said, “I like walking in the rain. Are you afraid to get wet, Highness?”
Was this a test? Why? He stepped outside and ignored the pellets that pelted against him. Tucking the basket under his arm he said, “Normally people hold my umbrella for me but I’m game if you are.”
She covered her face with her elbow as she nodded at him. “Excellent. Let’s go.”
Halfway through the rose garden, the rain droplets grew hard as hail. “It’s getting heavy.”
Anna’s face was white like she wanted to say something, but then a flash of light raced across the sky. She picked up the pace instead. “Lightning. Run.”
He stayed behind her, in case she fell, but a moment later they made it back to the castle and he rushed ahead to grab the metal door handle crafted in another century.
As they walked into the castle, water dripped off both of them. Servants in the grand hall and on the staircase came toward them with towels, but he dismissed them before they could scold him for being wet. Leo dropped the picnic basket on the side table that held flowers near the stairwell—he would let the staff deal with any watered sandwiches—and rushed his bride up the first flight of stairs.
Anna said, “I can’t believe we did that.”
Leo would call the kitchen once they reached their suite and have lunch delivered to them upstairs. He placed his hand on her lower back. “Let’s get these wet clothes off and settle in for tea.”
At the second landing, Anna tugged his hand to her heaving chest. Her hair wild caught his attention first but then he was mesmerized by her dilated eyes. “Only if you promise to kiss me again.”
A smile curled on his lips. Something had changed in her. “Happily. If that’s what you want, Anna.”
She closed the space between them. “I want to open up to you.”
His heart raced like he’d missed something. He was supposed to be earning her trust—had she given it so freely? His fingers felt how she trembled under him and he hadn’t even kissed her yet. “You don’t have to rush.”
Her mouth lifted as she said, “I want you too, Leo.”
His lips tingled for a taste of her, but first he needed to ensure that everything would be right.
Too much responsibility was on his shoulders already. She sighed. His skin grew electric, but he patted her shoulders and stepped back. “Maybe we should wait.”
Her eyes widened. “Wait?”
He gently took her hand and motioned for them to go up the final flight of stairs. “Till after the tea, so at least you’re warm.”
She glanced at the floor and the pools of water they were leaving near their feet. “You’re right. I don’t want my sopping mess of hair on those fancy sheets.”
Sheets. Had she been thinking about sex? She’d been right to wait. He needed to ensure nothing stood in their way and then he’d show her how good they could be together.
Anna probably deserved better than him, but from now on, he’d have to figure out a way to be worthy of her.
