Waiting time was done, and I had the sense she’d say yes to the plan.
The press secretary waved us in. My father was gone, but the secretary read the official statement announcing our wedding: “His Royal Majesty, King Sven of Norden, is delighted to announce the engagement of his son, Prince Ryder Kristoff, to Miss Nicole Steel, of America. You will now have an opportunity to photograph the happy couple.”
Cameras snapped in our faces. “Are you happy, Miss Steel?”
She pressed her hand on my heart and leaned on me more as she said, “Yes. Ryder is everything I ever wanted in a guy.”
I glanced at her and my lips tingled. If only we were alone. I swallowed and didn’t break this moment.
A shrieking voice then asked, “Has he taken your virginity yet?”
I stepped back and held her tighter. I noticed her blushing, so I held up my hand and said, “Enough questions. Thank you all for your time.”
But another reporter put her microphone up and asked, “Prince Ryder, what was it about Miss Steel that stole your heart?”
It was time to go, but I said quickly, “She … she gets me. In a way no other woman ever has.”
We made it to the curtain. Another reporter called out, “What was the first time—”
“Goodbye,” I interrupted and led her backstage.
Once we were back in the waiting room, she blew out air and bumped into my side. “I wasn’t prepared for that question.”
I led her through the passages on the path back to our shared tower and said, “Let’s retire to our rooms. Starting tomorrow, our lives will be wedding fever.”
“Yes, that’s a good idea,” she said, but she stopped a few times to gaze at huge portraits of my ancestors that hung over the stairwells. Then she asked why there were red carpets on some floors and blue on others. I told her the blue was my father’s choice, because it was the state color, but I’d chosen bright red carpets for my wing, because I wanted a streak of my own world.
Nicole’s room was decorated in state blue because I’d never imagined actually sharing the space with a wife.
As we made it to her door, I said, “We can share a room now, if you want. I want you more and more all the time. And I was so angry about that doctor invading your personal space.”
“I saw.” She opened the door and giggled. “You were traumatized.”
I followed her in and closed the door behind me. “I … I’d have been humiliated if someone did that to my ass, which is my only cavity that opens.”
She traced my backside and squeezed my rear as she said, “Funny. I have wanted to see your butt, though, without clothes, ever since we met.”
Nicole and I were free now. I walked her backward to the bed. “We can do whatever you want.”
She laughed. “I’ve read these articles on tantric …”
Her legs pressed against the mattress and I removed my uniform jacket as I said, “I won’t stop until I know you’re completely pleasured, Nicole.”
She kicked off her shoes and shrank an inch as she asked, “Promise?”
I tugged the restraining tie off my neck and leaned closer to kiss her. “I swear it.”
Her eyes fluttered but her lips opened and said, “Well, I can put my leg above my neck, if you need me to.”
I wrapped my arms around her neck and asked, “How are you still a virgin?”
She hugged me as she said, “I was waiting for you.”
“Sweet lies, but I almost believe you.” I said and then finally claimed her kiss.
She was better than the fruity dessert or the wine. Her lips made me believe everything might be okay.
The kiss ended and she helped me with my shirt buttons as she said, “Good, because it’s true. I wanted to wait for the best, and now you’re going to show me I was right about you.”
