Page 7 of Falling for the King

Xavier shifted in his seat and stretched out his legs, the movement ricocheting through her. ‘You could’ve never been a disappointment to your father,’ he said gently. Tears surprisingly welled at his tenderness which she quickly blinked away. ‘And there’s nothing natural about hosting an event for a thousand people, it’s just training.’

‘You make it look natural.’

‘I’ve been doing it all my life. It’s what I was brought up to do. Don’t ever underestimate what you do, or that I’m unaware of the adjustments you’ve had to make. And not only the physical, of moving from the other side of the world. The royal traditions you’ve had to navigate, as well as learning a new culture and language, all under the glare of the never-ending media spotlight.’

She blinked again as a frisson of pleasure blossomed in her chest. It wasn’t only his words of understanding and praise which meant more to her than she cared to examine, but also that the notoriously private king had mentioned his own upbringing.

‘Was it your father who taught you?’ she asked.

He paused. Would he answer?

‘Not him. My grandfather.’

‘Your Majesty. Your Highness. May I get you a drink?’ the head of events interrupted.

Katerina jerked her head around, she hadn’t seen Jane approaching, unaware of anything except Xavier.

‘Katerina?’ Xavier asked her.

‘No, thank you.’

‘None for me either, Jane, and thank you to all your team for tonight,’ Xavier said.

She smiled. ‘You’re welcome, Your Majesty.’

She looked at Katerina. ‘I’ll see you at eight am for the debrief?’

‘Yes, Jane, I’ll see you then and thank you again.’

Katerina watched the other woman walk away.

‘You’re meeting for a debrief tomorrow?’ Xavier pulled back his cuff and checked his watch. ‘This morning? At eight?’

‘I am.’

‘It’s been a long successful night and as we’re leaving in the afternoon, surely you’ll have a sleep in.’

‘Are you having one?’ Why did she ask that? She didn’t want to think of Xavier in his bed, his big naked body beneath crisp sheets.

‘It’s hardly the point. You don’t need to push yourself like this.’

‘The debrief is best when it’s fresh in my mind. It works for me, it works for Jane … and you’re hardly in a position to talk to me about pushing yourself too hard.’

He laughed, short and abrupt, but it flowed through her headier than the champagne. He didn’t laugh often enough.

He brushed against her, rising to his feet.

‘Can you walk?’

‘Of course I can.’ Katerina stood, lost her balance courtesy of her still aching feet and got tangled in the hem of her dress.

Immediately she was airborne, captured in strong arms. Grabbing Xavier’s shoulders she anchored herself while her other hand pressed against her chest. Her sleeveless bodice wasn’t low cut or revealing, it never was, but that didn’t stop self-consciousness scouring through her. She was out of proportion, too heavy chested and horrifyingly aware of his hard body wedged against the softness of hers.

‘What are you doing? Put me down.’ Shock made her voice shrill and loud.

‘Exactly what it looks like,’ he said walking through the ballroom to the private doorway concealed at the back. His arm braced under her knees, bunching the tulle skirt as her bare feet dangled. His other hand splayed her waist through the silk bodice, branding her with his touch as her skin tingled all over.

‘What? No, you can’t. Everyone will see, everyone will think … you know …’