Read Online Becoming the Prince's Wife (Princes of Europe) by Rebecca Winters - Free Book Online
Authors: Rebecca Winters
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between them. They clung out of need in the balmy night air that enveloped them like velvet.
His hands roved over her back and hips as they got a new sense of each other only touch could satisfy. They slow danced until she lost track of time. To hold and be held by this amazing man was a kind of heaven.
She knew he was unattainable. Abby had told her he’d been betrothed to Princess Alexandra in his teens, just like Vincenzo’s betrothal to Princess Michelina. One day Valentino would have to marry. He’d explained all that yesterday.
Carolena understood that. It didn’t bother her since she shunned the idea of commitment that would lead to her own marriage. Marriage meant being responsible for another person’s happiness. She couldn’t handle that, but selfishly she did desire this one night with Valentino before she flew back to Arancia and never saw him again.
Tonight he’d made her thankful she’d been born a woman. Knowing he wanted her as much as she wanted him brought indescribable joy. One night with him would have to be enough, except that he still hadn’t kissed her yet and she was dying for it. When he suddenly stopped moving, she moaned in disappointment.
His hands squeezed her upper arms. “The steward will show you downstairs to your cabin,” he whispered before pulling the phone from his pocket. “I’ll join you shortly.”
Carolena was so far gone she’d forgotten about the prying eyes of the crew, but Valentino was used to the whole world watching him and did what was necessary to keep gossip to a minimum. Without words she eased away from him and walked over to the table for her purse before following the steward across the deck to the stairs.
The luxury yacht was a marvel, but Carolena was too filled with desire for Valentino to notice much of anything. Once she reached the cabin and the steward left, she took a quick shower and slipped into one of the white toweling bathrobes hanging on a hook. The dressing room provided every cosmetic and convenience a man or woman could need.
She sat in front of the mirror and brushed her hair. Entranced was the right word. Though she knew she’d remain single all her life, she felt as if this was her wedding night while she waited for him to come. The second he entered the room he would hear the fierce pounding of her heart.
Soon she heard his rap on the door. “Come in,” she called quietly. He walked in and shut the door behind him, still dressed in the clothes he’d worn during their trip.
Without saying anything, he reached for her hand and drew her over to the bed where he sat down and pulled her between his legs. His gaze glowed like hot blue embers. Everywhere it touched, she was set on fire. Her ears picked up the ragged sound of his breathing.
“You look like a bride.”
But, of course, she wasn’t a bride, and she sensed something was wrong. She could feel it. “Is that good or bad?”
He ran his hands up and down her arms beneath the loose sleeves of her robe as if even his fingers were hungry for her. “Carolena—” There was an unmistakable plea for understanding in his tone.
“Yes?” Whatever was coming, she knew she wasn’t going to like it.
“I talked frankly with you yesterday about my personal life. But what you couldn’t know was that last night after you went back to your room, I met with my mother.” His chest rose and fell visibly. “While you and I were out riding, my wedding date to Princess Alexandra was finally set in stone. We’re being married on August tenth, the day of my coronation.”
Carolena stood stock-still while the news sank in. That was only two months from now...
“Though I made the promise to my mother that I’d be faithful to Alexandra from here on out, I really made it to myself and have already gotten word to my latest girlfriend that it’s over for good.”
She could hardly credit what she was hearing.
“But little did I know I was already being tested by none other than
His hands roved over her back and hips as they got a new sense of each other only touch could satisfy. They slow danced until she lost track of time. To hold and be held by this amazing man was a kind of heaven.
She knew he was unattainable. Abby had told her he’d been betrothed to Princess Alexandra in his teens, just like Vincenzo’s betrothal to Princess Michelina. One day Valentino would have to marry. He’d explained all that yesterday.
Carolena understood that. It didn’t bother her since she shunned the idea of commitment that would lead to her own marriage. Marriage meant being responsible for another person’s happiness. She couldn’t handle that, but selfishly she did desire this one night with Valentino before she flew back to Arancia and never saw him again.
Tonight he’d made her thankful she’d been born a woman. Knowing he wanted her as much as she wanted him brought indescribable joy. One night with him would have to be enough, except that he still hadn’t kissed her yet and she was dying for it. When he suddenly stopped moving, she moaned in disappointment.
His hands squeezed her upper arms. “The steward will show you downstairs to your cabin,” he whispered before pulling the phone from his pocket. “I’ll join you shortly.”
Carolena was so far gone she’d forgotten about the prying eyes of the crew, but Valentino was used to the whole world watching him and did what was necessary to keep gossip to a minimum. Without words she eased away from him and walked over to the table for her purse before following the steward across the deck to the stairs.
The luxury yacht was a marvel, but Carolena was too filled with desire for Valentino to notice much of anything. Once she reached the cabin and the steward left, she took a quick shower and slipped into one of the white toweling bathrobes hanging on a hook. The dressing room provided every cosmetic and convenience a man or woman could need.
She sat in front of the mirror and brushed her hair. Entranced was the right word. Though she knew she’d remain single all her life, she felt as if this was her wedding night while she waited for him to come. The second he entered the room he would hear the fierce pounding of her heart.
Soon she heard his rap on the door. “Come in,” she called quietly. He walked in and shut the door behind him, still dressed in the clothes he’d worn during their trip.
Without saying anything, he reached for her hand and drew her over to the bed where he sat down and pulled her between his legs. His gaze glowed like hot blue embers. Everywhere it touched, she was set on fire. Her ears picked up the ragged sound of his breathing.
“You look like a bride.”
But, of course, she wasn’t a bride, and she sensed something was wrong. She could feel it. “Is that good or bad?”
He ran his hands up and down her arms beneath the loose sleeves of her robe as if even his fingers were hungry for her. “Carolena—” There was an unmistakable plea for understanding in his tone.
“Yes?” Whatever was coming, she knew she wasn’t going to like it.
“I talked frankly with you yesterday about my personal life. But what you couldn’t know was that last night after you went back to your room, I met with my mother.” His chest rose and fell visibly. “While you and I were out riding, my wedding date to Princess Alexandra was finally set in stone. We’re being married on August tenth, the day of my coronation.”
Carolena stood stock-still while the news sank in. That was only two months from now...
“Though I made the promise to my mother that I’d be faithful to Alexandra from here on out, I really made it to myself and have already gotten word to my latest girlfriend that it’s over for good.”
She could hardly credit what she was hearing.
“But little did I know I was already being tested by none other than
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