Page 17 of Royally Tempted
ADARA
Itake a deep breath and step into the suite. Alexandra and Laela look up in surprise.
“Where have you been?” Alexandra asks. “We were starting to panic.”
Hayley looks up from her crochet, the little frog she started a week ago starting to take shape. “The princess had business to attend to on her mother’s behalf.” She winks at me while Lexie and LeeLee share a confused glance.
“Your brother was looking for you this morning,” Laela says.
“And I told him you were attending a charity breakfast for your mother,” Hayley cuts in smoothly. “He advised that he had a last-minute meeting this morning and would like to have lunch with you after.”
Butterflies take flight in my stomach. That last minute meeting is with Vander. When I awoke early this morning, a light breakfast had already been delivered and Vander was on the phone with his father. At first, I thought they were arguing, but he assured me that his father had seen the benefit in changing the contract so that he is the one I’m marrying.
By some miracle, Andre was caught on camera last night with two women at a popular nightclub. He was obviously intoxicated and didn’t care how such antics could embarrass my family if an engagement was announced now. Vander’s father is relieved that Vander is stepping in to take care of the problem his brother created and immensely grateful his oldest son has such a sense of duty. He’s transferring his controlling interest in the resort my brother wants, to Vander, in the hope that Kedar will accept the switch despite the age difference between us.
The age difference doesn’t bother me at all. Vander is an incredible lover and I’m glad for his calm demeanor and quick thinking. Just thinking about how he touches me, the dirty things he says, the way he loves my body – I can’t wait to spend the rest of our lives together.
Alexandra fusses around me. “How come we didn’t know about this breakfast? Who did your hair?” She peers at the chignon I hastily fastened this morning.
A knock at the door startles us. Hayley puts her crochet down and stands, smoothing her dress before walking to the entrance. She comes back with a uniformed guard carrying a huge bouquet of incredible flowers. Hayley plucks the card from the blooms. “These are for you, Princess Adara.”
I slide the heavy cardstock free of the envelope.Nothing matches your beauty, but these were the prettiest flowers I could find. -V.
I hug the card to my chest, feeling the heat in my cheeks. I can’t stop smiling.
“What has gotten into you?” Leala asks. “You need to get ready for lunch.” She waves me towards the area of the suite containing the washroom and dressing areas. “Hopefully we have time to fix your hair properly.”
Alexandra follows, tutting over my hair and the amount of time it will take for me to be presentable. I know what really worries her is how much time it will take her to think of ways to attract Kedar’s attention over lunch. I want to tell her she doesn’t have a chance, but Laela turns the shower on, emphatically gesturing for me to get in.
“Go ahead, I’ll go through your clothing and pick some suitable options. I assume those flowers are from your new fiancé?” Her voice is sugary, but I don’t miss the sharp look Alexandra throws her. Of course they would know who Kedar was meeting with, Alexandra would at the very least, but she shares everything with Laela. Do they know the negotiations involved Andre? These two spend a lot of time on gossip sites. Once, I even suspected them of leaking some photos of Kedar, after his accident. I don’t trust them as far as I can throw them, and the way Laela is smirking makes me think she knows something about Andre’s exploits last night. It would amuse her greatly to think I was marrying a man who celebrated his marriage contract getting caught on camera with two women and his pants down.
Not that I’m really one to talk. What would happen if anyone found out where I was last night?
“What are these marks?” Laela asks, stepping closer.
I glance in the mirror, heat rising in my chest. There are faint red marks around my hips from Vander’s grip and my thighs bear the evidence of his rough stubble.
I swallow. “It must have been what I was wearing. Too tight,” I say as I step under the spray, letting the hot water sooth my muscles. Although I’m sore, I’m happy for every ache and twinge because it’s evidence I wasn’t dreaming last night. I wash my hair, and turn the water to cool to rinse, as Alexandra has always directed. When I shut the water, Laela is there with a soft, heated towel and I wrap myself in it, sitting to let her do my hair.
While she brushes out the tangles, Alexandra perches next to the rack holding the day’s outfit choices, her phone in hand. My stomach growls and she looks up at me, frowning. “I thought you were at breakfast?”
I think quickly. “It wasn’t a formal breakfast. I just had tea.”
She nods. “I’ll order egg whites and sliced fruit for you.”
I shake my head, the thought of dry, tasteless eggs turning my stomach. Laela rubs some oil through my hair, twisting the heavy mass together. “You should sit for a few minutes and let your hair dry before I tackle it.”
I rise, exchanging my towel for a robe. “I’m going to have something to eat,” I say walking down the short hall. “I’ll get Hayley to order.”
Alexandra follows me. “I’ll order for you.”
I don’t stop. “I’m not eating another one of those tasteless plates you prefer.”
“You need to think about your upcoming events and now your upcoming wedding. You can’t eat like a pig and expect to not look like one.”
My throat tightens uncomfortably. “I’m hungry,” I say walking into the light-filled sitting area, my eyes searching for Hayley.
“You’re always hungry. King Kedar put me in charge of your health and beauty matters.” Alexandra’s voice rises as she chases me. “I’ll be surprised if your birthday gown still fits at this point, and you need to watch it because no man wants a woman with so little self-control.”
