Page 33 of Falling for the King

Distantly aware of the cheering crowd he remained transfixed as a young girl came forward presenting her with a posy of wind-damaged flowers. Kat stopped to speak to her like she had all the time in the world although she’d be conscious of every eye on the platform on her, including his which refused to look away.

He longed to make everyone except the two of them disappear. He’d walk over, pick her up and carry her onto the train to his cabin. The rich velvet furnishings the perfect backdrop as he’d remove the pins from her hair and gently lay her down so that it spilled against the dark purple quilt. Then he’d slowly undo her coat one button at a time to reveal what she wore underneath. Nothing he imagined. Except black stockings, garter belt, briefs and bra throwing him into an inappropriate X-rated vision before belatedly realising he was being spoken to.

Disgusted with himself he tuned into the man at his side registering he was still talking about the train’s restored engine which had been the main topic of conversation since he stopped to chat to the chief engineer. Normally Xavier would have some kind of constructive input rather than a few distracted murmurs.

‘Good morning, Your Majesty,’ Kat said barely glancing at him, instead she quickly shook hands with the man next to him. Xavier made the introductions to the clearly delighted group of volunteers before he and Kat walked up the platform together, meeting and greeting along the way. Kat laughed, distracting Xavier as he turned swiftly, lost his footing and felt himself falling until he was grabbed and connected with a soft body. Kat. Jammed up against her as surprise and something else he was at a loss to understand crossed her face. Lips almost touching he could only stare, nothing else mattering except the two of them, eyes locked, bodies pressed together.

‘Did I hurt you?’ he whispered.

‘No. Did I hurt you?’ she whispered back.

‘No.’

‘Your Majesty, are you all right?’ A voice that wasn’t Kat’s floated into his consciousness.

All right? He didn’t think he’d ever be so again until realisation hit, he had an audience and was still wrapped in Kat’s arms.

He jolted backwards disentangling himself and felt a stain of embarrassment race up his cheek bones. He hadn’t tripped in years and never like this.

With the slightest of pauses Kat continued to the end of the platform like nothing had happened. Drawing on every ounce of his experience, he did the same. After cutting a ribbon to officially open the new station she preceded him up onto the train. Standing next to her at the rear of the last carriage she gave the signal for the engine to start. The whistle blew, the crowd cheered and the train lurched slowly moving along the long platform. Suddenly Kat twisted away from him and in reflex he swung around to stand face to face, chest to chest with her, his hands lightly holding her hips. He felt the sharp intake of her breath as the wind increased with the train’s momentum. Planting his legs apart he counteracted the rocking and looked down onto the top of her silvery blonde hair inhaling the sweet fresh scent of her that he’d be able to identify anywhere, that he’d become addicted to.

‘Thank you for catching me.’ He bent down and said into her ear.

‘You’re welcome.’

He remained standing like that not sure what he was waiting for until she pushed her hands into his chest.

‘Let me through please.’

Backing up he reached behind him and opened the door to the rear of the train and Kat stepped inside the royal carriage, the private section of the train. Breaking his hold she took a few jerky steps, one hand against the wall and sat down.

‘You sure you’re okay?’ she asked and peered back at him her eyes scanning his body before quickly returning to his face.

‘Yes, thank you,’ he answered formally and stiffly. Things didn’t always go according to plan during engagements but he’d never been so totally distracted that he’d made a fool of himself like that.

‘Right.’ She leant her head back against the closed curtains and shut her eyes. Unobserved he zeroed in on straight white teeth pressed against a lush lower lip and cheeks far too pale considering the briskness in the air. Something shifted inside him and every one of his defences against her shattered. A surge of tenderness towards her almost buckled his knees. Steeling himself he headed to the bar at the opposite end of the carriage, needing to keep busy so he didn’t launch himself at her. Stepping behind the carved oak counter curling into the wall he grabbed a crystal decanter and poured Kat a generous shot of whisky with a hand far from steady.

‘You’re very pale, are you coming down with something?’ he said turning around to her when sure his voice wouldn’t betray him.

‘What? No! I’m … cold,’ she said turquoise eyes opening and catching him staring. Despite the fact they’d both called their kiss a mistake the air crackled with the palpable connection between them. Colour spread over her cheeks replacing the paleness.

‘It’s, it’s … stuffy in here.’

He frowned, was she cold or hot? Yet his attention was diverted as she undid the top button of her coat with hands no steadier than his. Unable to look away a dress the same colour as her coat was revealed inch by inch in a soft woollen fabric that moulded her body with no hint of the bare skin he’d imagined. That didn’t stop his brain whirling into overdrive as her fingers deftly moved down undoing every button and making him want to take a long drag of the drink in his hand.

Feeling like a voyeur he lowered his eyes, crossed to the lounge and held out the glass to her. ‘Here drink this.’

She sniffed it. ‘Whisky? At this hour? Did you hit your head?’

‘What? No!’

He felt a flush race up his body. What was he thinking? He awkwardly held the glass out and then put it on the table beside her.

‘Are you running a fever or coming down with something?’ He persisted not because of the impact to the tour but because he couldn’t bear the thought of her being ill in any way. That somehow he’d hurt her when he’d grabbed at her.

She grimaced. ‘No, not at all.’

His heart thumped with relief that she was okay, with frustration that he was unable to keep her at an emotional distance. Feelings rushed at him becoming predictably unpredictable when it came to Kat, refusing to stay in the brother-in-law category. Needing to keep at least a physical space between them he moved to stand by the windows opposite to where she sat.