Her body went soft at his tantalizing words, her skin prickling. She felt the touch of his hands upon her bodice, and her nipples went rigid.
Then what?her traitorous body demanded.
Karl moved his thumb to the first button, playing with it slightly. “I’d bare you to the waist and touch your breasts with my hands.”
Serena’s arms came up to cover her chest, and his hands caught hers. Her breathing had quickened, and with his words, she grew more aroused. “Karl—”
“Then I’d kiss you again,” he interrupted.
She wanted that, to feel the firm caress of his mouth upon hers. Without even realizing it, her fingers had gone to touch her lips.
Karl took her hand back. “Not there, sweet.”
He lowered her fingers, bringing them to touch her own breasts. Serena felt the sudden clench of need, tightening her nipples, sending a hidden ache within.
“There,” he corrected, leaving her with the image of his ravenous mouth upon her breasts, arousing her with his tongue.
Before she could say another word, he left her standing in the hall alone.
Chapter Eleven
“We’ve heard from Karl at last.” Lady Hannah Chesterfield smiled as she entered the drawing room, holding out a folded letter. “He’s visiting Vertraumen.”
Michael, the Fürst of Lohenberg, rose to greet Hannah, kissing her cheek. “Is he?”
Though he knew she worried about his half-brother, he was far less trusting. Karl had once been the Crown Prince of Lohenberg, and he wasn’t the sort of man to turn his back on his birthright—Michael fully expected him to fight for the throne.
“Yes. Apparently the island is in trouble.” She detailed Karl’s report about crop failures, along with his request for supplies, a household staff, and soldiers to help stabilize the local town. “The king passed this to you, asking you to attend to their needs.”
Inside his chest, he felt the tightness. Though he now had a father, the king hadn’t yet given him any duties as the new Fürst. And Michael was well aware of his ignorance. He’d been trainedas a soldier, not a prince. He didn’t have the first idea of how to be a future king.
This was the first task he’d been given, and he sensed it was a test. His mind tried to assimilate all of the information, seeking the best course of action. Karl had provided a detailed list of the island’s problems, along with his suggested solutions.
For that, Michael was grateful. While he went over each point, he missed Hannah’s last remark.
“Don’t you think it’s romantic?”
He frowned at his wife. “He’s starving on the island and you think it’s romantic?”
“No.” She closed the door to his study and crossed the room. From the sudden change in her demeanor, he opened his arms, and she sat on his lap. “Didn’t you read his list? He asked for a complete wardrobe for a young woman—gowns and ladies maids. Since your brother isn’t likely to be wearing women’s clothing, I presume he has a female guest.”
Michael frowned. “Who would he have brought with him? He was betrothed to Princess Serena of Badenstein.”
“I don’t know, but I’m certain he’s not alone,” Hannah smiled dreamily. “Can’t you just imagine it? The two of them, on an island, with no one in the world to interfere? I’d love to spend time with you in a place like that. Perhaps after our wedding.”
She leaned in and kissed him, and Michael tossed the list aside. “We don’t need an island, Hannah.” His hand moved to her ankle, sliding up the glorious silk stockings she was wearing.
“We could go and visit your brother.” She smiled against his mouth and rose from his lap. “Find out what he’s up to.”
Michael took her hand in his, with a full intent of seducing her, when his gaze fell upon a newspaper folded beside the tea service. He let out a foul curse when he saw the headlines.
“What is it?” Hannah asked, following his stare. When she saw the large block letters announcing that the Princess ofBadenstein had gone missing, her face paled. “You don’t think Karl would—”
“I wouldn’t put it past him. If he seduced her or married her, they’ll have to name him prince consort.” Michael rang for a footman and gave the terse order to pack his belongings.
Hannah’s face fell. “The King of Badenstein would be furious with him.”
“And he could threaten Lohenberg.” Though Michael didn’t believe it would cause a war between their countries, neither would it improve their relationship. Karl’s fallen status would infuriate the king, if his daughter were involved with a bastard son. “We need to discover if she’s there with him.”
