Protected by the Prince

Did he imagine a stiffening of her slender form?

‘I was a very fortunate child. You can’t call me deprived.’

No? Alaric thought of how she hid her bright, strong personality behind a dowdy façade. It wasn’t a deliberate ploy, he knew now, but part of who she was. He recalled the way her eyes clouded when she’d thought she’d disappointed him. There was a strong streak of self-doubt in his lover and Alaric wished he knew why. With her intelligence and drive it was a wonder she wasn’t over-confident.

‘Ah.’ He nuzzled her hair. ‘So you were a pampered miss who got everything her way. All the latest toys on demand?’

She shook her head. ‘My parents didn’t believe in store bought toys. I amused myself. But I had access to books and solitude to read. I had a secure home and time to dream.’

Alaric’s hands stilled in the act of slipping up her ribcage. ‘Secure’ didn’t sound like ‘happy’. ‘Solitude’ had a lonely ring. A familiar ring. His father had ensured Alaric and Felix grew up in impeccable isolation. But at least Alaric had had a brother to look up to.

‘What did you dream about, Tamsin?’ He cupped her soft breasts and felt her sink against him. ‘A prince in a far-away castle?’

‘Sometimes,’ she whispered.

‘Did he have dark hair and blue eyes and his very own sleigh?’

She twisted in his arms. A moment later her arms twined around his neck.

‘Of course!’ Her eyes gleamed and her lips curved in a gentle smile that tugged at something deep inside.

‘What else did you dream about?’

Tamsin shrugged and her gaze dropped. ‘I don’t know. Adventure. Going out with friends. The usual.’

Alaric thought of the dossier at the castle. It described a girl without siblings or close friends, whose much older parents had busy careers. A girl living a solitary life.

Did she realise how much her words revealed about her loneliness? Something swelled in his chest. Something like pain or regret.

‘I think we can organise some adventure.’ He tipped her chin and looked into her now guarded eyes. ‘We could climb the base of the cliff behind the lodge if it’s not too icy.’

Tamsin’s eyes lit with golden sparks. Her smile made him feel like royalty in a way he never had before.

‘I’d love that! Thank you. When can we go?’

He grinned. He’d known she had an adventurous streak. How easy it was to make her happy!

It surprised him how much he wanted her to be happy.

Alaric lifted his hand and pulled her ponytail loose so he could feel her heavy tresses on his hands. He needed this constant connection. To touch and taste, as if he feared she’d vanish if he didn’t hold her.

‘Another hour to let the sun melt any fresh ice.’

‘That gives us time.’ Her hands slid down, trailing fire. She yanked his shirt loose and slipped her palms up his torso, flesh against sizzling flesh. His body hardened.

Alaric loved that she was a quick learner.

‘Time for what?’ His voice was husky as desire twisted in his belly.

‘Another first.’ Now her smile was mischievous and he felt its impact in some unnamed part of him. ‘I’ve never made love in a stable.’

Heart pounding, Alaric slipped his arms around her and lifted her into his embrace. It felt right. Satisfying.

He turned and strode towards the clean hay in the far corner. ‘Allow me to remedy that right now.’

It was the noise that woke Tamsin. A cry so raw and anguished it made her blood congeal in atavistic terror.

Startled, she lay, breathing deep, wondering what had shattered her slumber. Moonlight streamed through the windows and behind the fire screen embers glowed.

Instinctively she moved closer to Alaric. For the past three days there’d barely been a moment when they weren’t touching, even in sleep.

Amazing how she missed that contact.

As she rolled over she realised he was burning up, his skin feverish and damp with sweat.

Tamsin touched his shoulder. It was rigid as if every sinew dragged tight. She leaned close and heard his breathing, sharp and shallow. Her hand slid across his muscled chest that rose and fell in an unnatural rhythm.

‘Alaric?’

No response. Did she imagine his breathing was laboured? Desperately she tried to recall everything she’d read about asthma and restricted airways.

‘Alaric!’ She shook him, alarmed at how her hands slipped on his fever-slickened flesh. ‘Alaric. Wake up!’ She shook his shoulders.

Restlessly his head turned back and forth. He mumbled something. But try as she might she couldn’t wake him.

Fear spiked. They were out of phone range and she couldn’t summon help if his condition worsened. Tamsin bit her lip. It wouldn’t come to that.