Page 50 of Falling for the King

Stepping into the lounge room the open curtains provided faint morning light as the obligatory fire burned in an enormous grate, faced by four large sofas. One of the many coffee tables scattered throughout the room housed a coffee pot, cup and Xavier’s laptop with a jagged crack down its screen. A crack that hadn’t been there last night. Instead of thinking about how it got there she hunted down the housekeeper and ordered some fresh coffee, tea and toast which arrived in record time.

Katerina rubbed her hands in front of the fire as Xavier arrived. Like she was starved for air, she sucked in a deep breath inhaling the scent of his soap, of him. Her heart began its familiar race in his presence as she took in his damp hair, unshaven jaw, thick woollen jumper and jeans snug in all the right places. Far removed from his usual shaven and suited appearance he had no right to look so appealing, so lethal.

‘You organised this? Thank you,’ he said at her nod and indicated for her to go first with breakfast.

Too wound up to sit down she sipped her tea, the only thing she could stomach as Xavier stood in front of the windows cradling a cup of coffee.

‘I wanted to speak to you before anybody else … about the photos,’ she said aware that last night she should’ve been looking for a solution, not mauling him like her life depended on it. ‘Our isolation here will add fuel to the story but I don’t want to issue a statement or say anything, it will only make it worse.’ A band of sweat gathered at the back of her neck acknowledging that the appalling headlines were all too true, from her side at least. She was attracted to the king. Loved the king.

‘I agree.’

‘You do? Great.’ For the first time that day her shoulders loosened.

‘Kat, about last night.’ He hit her with the full force of his regret-filled eyes, his stance stiffening, voice deepening. ‘I won’t touch you again—’

She opened her mouth.

‘Please let me finish. You can’t blame yourself for what happened, I was there and I need to apologise for my part—’

‘Why? I threw myself at you.’ Heat erupted across her cheeks, her whole body remembering what they’d done to each other.

‘Threw?’ He frowned. ‘I encouraged it. All of it.’

She stared at him unsure she’d heard him correctly. She pressed her palm against her forehead trying to clear it, to calm herself down.

‘Don’t look so stunned. You must realise I’m attracted to you,’ he continued low and intense.

‘In what way?’ she asked her voice unforgivably high.

‘Kat! What ways are there?’ He glared at her.

‘I don’t understand. You’re the King and I’m …’

‘I’m a man,’ he said with a frustrated sigh. ‘And you’re an attractive, vibrant woman who I respond to even when I know it’s not right, that I shouldn’t.’

‘I don’t understand what you’re saying.’ Every one of her insecurities resurrected at once.

‘You were married to my brother,’ he raised his voice totally out of character before lowering it again. ‘You’re years younger than me. You’re a member of my family. That makes you off limits. Totally off limits.’

‘You’re attracted to me?’

‘Yes! Weren’t you here last night?’ He pointed in the direction of the dining room. ‘The night after the ball, all through this tour?’

Her world shifted. She shook her head, trying to make him understand. ‘Men don’t feel that way about me.’ He needed to know that.

‘What the hell! Why would you think that?’

She clasped her hands digging her fingers into tender flesh. ‘Max.’

He cursed in his own language. Xavier, who wasn’t prone to swearing.

‘And you believed him?’ he probed gently.

‘Yes.’ Her voice broke unable to utter another word.

Comprehension, compassion but no pity crossed his features.

She drew out a breath she didn’t realise she’d been holding.