Enchanting Sebastian (Big Sky Royal 1)

“I’m sorry you’ve been so cooped up at the palace this past week.” I spread the blanket out and set the basket of food in the middle of it. Charles and Nick are eating their own lunch, far enough away that we can’t hear what they’re talking about.

I’m glad. I want this time with Nina, away from my family and security. It’s like we’re back in our bubble again.

“I really can’t complain, Sebastian. It’s not like I’m being held in a dungeon. I have a beautiful apartment, in the most luxurious private home in the world.”

“Still, I know you’re used to doing as you please, and this is an adjustment.”

“For both of us. This hasn’t been easy on you, either.”

I want to pull her to me and kiss the hell out of her. I love that she sees this, knows me well enough in such a short time to know that I haven’t had a great week either.

But I pass her the lunch the cook prepared, and we eat in companionable silence, listening to the birds.

“Sometimes, I think there are ghosts here,” I admit and take another bite of my sandwich. “How can there not be, after so much time? Battles were fought here, babies born. A lot of life has happened.”

“Oh, it’s absolutely haunted,” she agrees quickly. “And while I don’t exactly want to see Marie Antoinette holding her head, I think it’s pretty cool.”

“Marie Antoinette was French, darling.”

“You know what I mean.”

“We have a lot to teach you.” I set my sandwich aside, hers as well, and then lean in to kiss her. I don’t care that Charles and Nick are nearby. I can’t resist her.

“Me getting your history wrong turns you on?”

“You turn me on.” I nibble her plump lips and push her back onto the blanket. My hand finds its way under her shirt.

“People are watching.”

“If they know what’s good for them, they’ve gone to find something else to do.” I glance up and, sure enough, Charles and Nick have walked away. “See? They’re gone.”

“Good.” She sinks her fingers into my hair and pulls me down to her, kissing me for all she’s worth. She’s bloody intoxicating.

I never stop wanting her. I want her now, out here in the open, but I know it’s not safe. Someone could come upon us at any time.

So I slowly back away, kissing her cheek and then her nose as I do.

“We should head back.”

“Thank God, because that’s where the bed is.”

“I like the way you think, darling.”

***

“Oh, crap!”

I spin at Nina’s yelp in time to see Nick wrapping his arms around her waist and plucking her foot out of the stirrup.

We just returned to the stables, and I was busy taking the saddle off my horse.

It seems Nick is taking my girl off of hers.

“Are you all right?” I ask, rushing to her.

“Oh, yeah,” she says with a laugh. “My foot got caught. Nick rescued me.”

I give the other man a hard look, silently telling him to back the bloody hell off, which he does immediately. I tuck Nina against my side and lead her inside, then through the house up to our bedroom.

“I’m going to let you freshen up, darling. I’ll be back in a few moments.”

“Okay. I need a shower after that ride.”

I’d love to join her, but I have something else to see to.

I return downstairs and find Charles with Nick in the drawing room.

“Charles, I’d like a word.”

He nods at Nick, who hurries from the room, shutting the double doors behind him.

“What’s on your mind, sir?”

“Nick is on my mind.” I can hear the ice in my voice. “I want him replaced by someone else.”

“That’s impossible, sir.”

I cock a brow. “The correct answer is ‘yes, sir.’”

Charles sighs and shakes his head. “I’m sorry, Your Highness, but Nick is the best man I have on staff right now. All of my extra men are still in Cunningham Falls.”

I push my hand through my hair and pace away from him.

“He’s too hands-on,” I say and point toward the stable. “That’s the second time in as many days that I’ve caught him touching her.”

“She was going to fall,” Charles says. “Both times. He reported it to me, Sebastian. Are you jealous because he’s a young, handsome man and you think he’ll steal her from you?”

“Watch yourself.”

“He has no interest in Nina in any other way than as a client. He’s signed contracts that outline what will happen to his position should he cross that line.”

“I don’t like it.”

Charles is quiet as he watches me, and then he pours each of us a snifter of brandy. I take the glass and drink it in one swallow.

“Perhaps you should have this conversation with Nick.”

“I’d likely punch him, and that’s not good employer-employee relations.”

Charles turns to me in surprise. “I’ve never known you to be a jealous man.”