Good. He didn’t need to share her, and that pleased him. Now that Anna was a possibility, he noticed the fullness of her lower lip. He looked again. Anna had the potential to be absolutely stunning. He placed one hand next to hers. “Anna, I’ve never seen you with your hair out of that bun.”
She reached behind her head and gave him the stare she gave him when handing over a report. No-nonsense. “Do you want me to take my hair down, Your Highness?”
He shifted toward her and nodded. Brown, yes, but how long? Would it be soft, or coarse? “Yes, let’s see it.”
She lightly chewed on her lower lip and took out pins. Then she unwound her hair from a tight circle and removed an elastic.
He stared in fascination as her hair was lighter brown than he’d thought. It cascaded down her neck, straight at her shoulder blade as she shook it out and said, “It’s a bit of a mess.”
Or bed-ready. His fingers ached to run his hands through the strands.
Perhaps his mother had hired Anna for him last year, hoping he’d take her. And he’d been the fool that let social status and castle politics blind him. Leo stared at her lightly pink mouth—he knew she wore ChapStick she kept on her desk. “No, no. You look kissable.”
He came closer to steal a taste. She pressed her hand to his chest as she lowered her lashes, “Your Highness…”
His lips were a fraction of a centimeter from her as he said in a low voice, “We’ll be expected to have children. I’d like to know what my future wife kisses like.”
She closed her eyes and offered her parted lips when she said, “If you want…”
“I want.” He wrapped his arms around her back, tugging her closer.
She let out a sigh and then he kissed her strawberry ChapStick.
Anna’s kiss was sweet, almost innocent, though her hands wrapped around his shoulders, letting him know she wanted him back.
Leo deepened the kiss, picking up her leg and depositing it on his so her chest was pressed against his, despite the clothes.
He ran his hands through her silky hair—it was oh, so soft.
Her moan encouraged him, but he stopped himself.
The last thing the world press needed to see was her bruised lips from too many kisses.
After tomorrow, after the wedding, no one would see them for a while.
He could take his time then.
He fixed his shirt as he stood from the desk, handing her the shoe she’d dropped. She slipped it on and tried to straighten her hair as she asked, “Is that all, Your Highness?”
If they continued, he’d strip her bare, right here, and not care if he took her where he normally read over reports and had her fetching his coffee. He adjusted his jacket and motioned toward the door. “Better get going to my mother’s tailor.”
“I’ll file this on my way out.” She picked up the report on trees that had dropped to the ground somewhere in their kiss. She hugged the papers. “I will speak to my grandmother tonight.”
He tilted his head and stared at Anna, unsure what the problem might be. Hewasthe future king. “Won’t she approve?”
She shook her head and shrugged. “Probably not, at least not right away, but I’ll handle it. We can marry in the morning.”
Why would anyone refuse his offer? Anna’s grandmother must be interesting.
He didn’t say anything and she sashayed toward the door. He called out to her curvy backside, “Anna, wait.”
She turned around and lowered her head again like they were still boss and employee as she asked, “Yes, Your Highness?”
He crossed the room and lifted her chin. Once she stared at him, the memory of her kiss lingering on his lips, he said, “Call me Leo or Leopoldo from now on.”
She let out a sigh. “I…”
Her voice had trailed off, and whatever she intended to say was gone. He didn’t want to let her go and he ran his hands through her mane of hair, all waves from the bun. “Anna, next time we meet it will be our wedding. I promise that I’ll be less in crisis-mode and more of a gentleman.”
She turned her head like she’d kiss his hand that touched her. “You’re always a gentleman, Your High… Leo.”
The way she said his name made him pause. He kissed her cheek, and then stepped back. “See you tomorrow then, for our wedding.”
Without another word, she left. He watched the door close and only in the silence did he finally think.
Tomorrow was his wedding day. And somehow he had a bride he both desired and never expected. A few hours ago all of this seemed absolutely impossible, but now he’d spend the night wondering if that strawberry taste was all over her bare skin or just on her pink lips.
He reached onto her desk and picked up her ChapStick, tucking it in his pocket.
