They rushed towards each other at the same time, meeting in the middle of the room. Their lips crashed together like two waves, a sudden impact, then a yielding to slower, calmer seas. He shut off the lights to the bay—that would keep anyone from trying to enter and would force anyone needing help to contact him directly first—then led her back to his berth.
They only had two hours until dinner was served where they’d be forced to make an appearance, and he intended to make the most of it. After dinner, he’d go slower and savor.
For now, he’d consume her.
3
Now
ETHAN
Present day…
Grand Valentia Theatre & Ballroom
Underneath the collapsed stage
Ethan gently rubbed his head, inwardly cursing Anda and himself while she walked away.
He should have known that she would pull the ‘fake-kiss-gun-butt’ move as she’d done it before, but he’d become intoxicated by her scent, her shape, her…everything. So he hadn’t considered she’d use it now.
It’s the job.
He knew all about that, knew what this job meant to her, how much she’d trained and prepared for it, how she’d grown her cover as an actress to do what she needed to do.
Hadn’t he trained as well? He’d trained to help people, to serve his country and become a credit to his King, who just happened to be his father.
“Are you all right, Your Highness?”
He politely brushed away the people hovering over him and checking his wound to ensure he was not seriously injured. If anyone recognized the gash in his head was more than it seemed, no one commented on it.
Time to come up with a feasible story. “Yes, yes, of course. I didn’t realize how badly I’d been hurt, that’s all. I hit my head when I shifted some debris on my way down here to help Miss Salamanca.”
A few of the emergency personnel glanced at each other. “Anda—Miss Salamanca, that is—”
Ethan nearly growled. Being a movie star meant everyone felt they knew Anda. They’d loved her onscreen for years—and not just the movies that showed a lot of her skin, but the ones that showcased her raw talent, too. He, however, felt extremely possessive about her, had since they’d first made love.
He interrupted the ramblings of a starstruck man. “She’s been taken to safety?”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
He reached out a hand and was helped up. “Let’s get out of here.”
They made their way out of the stage’s catacombs and he pried gently for information. Fortunately, no one turned down a prince when he asked a question. “Any more bombs?”
“No, Your Highness. We’ve swept the main building and none were found, but we’re doing another sweep of the outbuildings. They’re used for storage, props, and additional dressing rooms.”
A Royal Protection Agent approached, looked him over, and spoke into his wrist. “Sir, we need to get you to safety.”
“I’m already safe, but thanks for asking.”
“Sir, if I may, the King and Queen are requesting your presence.”
He was being summoned. Not the first time, and it likely wouldn’t be the last. Still, he was going to help Anda however he could, and that meant staying here.
It wasn’t easy living in the shadows of eight other royal brothers and sisters. He’d done what he could to stand out, and he’d joined the Navy, in some respects, to hide from them all. He’d never considered spying until Anda had come along but once he’d met her…tasted her…his need to protect her had thrown all his caution to the wind. Now, she was outtheretrying to save them all and maybe getting herself killed in the process.
Perception. He’d learned that word early, and knew exactly how the coming hours, days, and weeks would play out.
