Arianna & Finn (Royals of Valleria #3) (7 page)

Finn shut the door behind him and pressed another button to lock it. His brows furrowed as he realized he had not mentioned the locking button to Arianna. It was clear that she and Alex needed to discuss something, and the palace walls were thin enough that he could hear them if he’d strained to. Finn wasn’t that sort of man, even if the knowledge might help him one day, so he’d given up and walked away.

Finn stripped as he walked across the room, tossing his clothes heedlessly in his wake. He paused in the doorway to his bathroom, gently pushing off his tight boxers over his stiff cock. Finn didn’t think he’d ever been this hard before. Even spending several minutes walking through secret palace halls hadn’t diminished it. There was only one way to release his tension now.

Though he usually preferred a bath to set his mood, this time he walked to the tall, spacious, glass-encased shower. He turned the water to blistering hot and stepped under the spray, letting the streams pummel his tense body. He ran his capable fingers through his hair, which was even darker now that it was wet. Water sluiced down his body, over his hair-strewn, toned chest and over his cock, which twitched in anticipation.

Finn lathered up his hands with soap, then groaned as his hand circled his cock. Bracing himself against the tiled wall with the other hand, his feet spread shoulder length apart, he started.

His hand smoothed slowly over his cock and he pictured himself thrusting inside Arianna’s body. Her body, which he just knew would be tight and hot, would fit around him like a glove. He would take her bare, skin against skin, when he could. It would drive him mad. It
was
driving him mad.

His hand reached down to tease his balls, and his foot slipped slightly. His milky seed leaked through the tip of his cock. He imagined Arianna’s plump lips covering the head, her talented tongue licking him clean.

“Jesus fucking Christ, Princess,” he said, as if she were there with him. He thought of reality next, not unfulfilled dreams. He remembered the way her curves had looked in soft lace; the way her nipple had puckered willingly under his lips; the way her body had reacted to every single kiss he had dropped along her silky skin.

He groaned, a guttural noise that he’d never made before. He remembered the way her shaved pussy had tasted in his mouth, a taste he knew he’d never grow tired of or forget. He imagined thrusting inside her again, and his body imitated the movements of his dream.

It was only a few moments later when the orgasm took over and he cried out her name. His cock shot long bursts of his seed into the shower and he slammed his fist against the cool tiles until he was spent.

He’d just had the most explosive orgasm of his life, and he’d had it with just the
thought
of a woman. Of one woman. Of Arianna.

Finn kneeled down in the shower, exhaustion overtaking him. He let the water beat down over him, washing him clean. He and Arianna would talk in the morning. He needed her. He wasn’t sure why, but he felt it deep down in his bones. He’d never really had anyone care about him - truly care about him - since his parents were killed in a car accident years ago. Henry never cared for him.

Could Arianna?

He wasn’t good enough for her, but he had to try. He didn’t want to let her go.

As the water began to cool slightly, Finn stood and pushed back his wet hair as he shut off the water. He stepped out of the shower into a room filled with steam and secrets. He flicked a towel off a nearby rack and ran it carelessly over his body, and rubbed his hair dry.

He threw the towel down and walked back to the bedroom, completely nude. He walked past his clothes, scattered all over the floor; he would pick it all up in the morning. For now, he slipped under his covers, and knew he would dream of her again. His Princess.

Arianna was ready when the expected knock came on her door the next morning. Dressed in a simple skirt suit of rust orange to match the season, she opened the door to find Alex very upset.

“What’s wrong?” she asked as fear slashed through her. “Has something happened? Rebecca?”

Alex took her hands and shook his head. “No, nothing like that. I’m sorry if I worried you.”

“Thank Goodness.” Arianna let out a sigh of relief. Alex gave her hands another squeeze before letting go to step inside. “Well, whatever is the matter?”

“Come sit down.” He led her to same chairs they’d sat in the night before. In the bright light of morning, she didn’t blush nearly as much thinking of what she and Finn had done against the wall nearby. She realized after a restless night’s sleep that last night was an aberration, and it was one she could not repeat, no matter how sexy Finn was, nor how free she had felt last night.

“I spoke with Papa this morning,” he said after they sat down. “He’s concerned.”

Arianna had seen this coming. “About the proposal?”

“More about your possible acceptance to it.”

Arianna looked down at her hands, which were folded demurely in her lap, before meeting Alex’s eyes again. “Would it really be so terrible if I accepted it?”

“Would you be happy with him? Could you be happy with him?”

“What’s happiness anyway?” she asked rhetorically with a sigh. “Look, wouldn’t it worse if I didn’t accept him? Don’t we need his help?”

“We do, but not at the expense of your future.”

“That’s exactly right. It’s
my
future, not yours.”

“You know Papa won’t agree to anything until he meets Henry, and speaks with you in person.”

“So, what does that mean?”

“That means that we’ll only be staying another day or two, and that Henry will likely come to Valleria.”

Would Finn come with them as well? It didn’t matter what he did, she reminded herself. “All right. Do I need to speak with Papa then?”

Alex shook his head. “He wants you to take these days to spend time with Henry, and I agree. I know it will be difficult, since he and I will be in meetings most of the day, but use the evenings to your advantage.”

“I can do that. I had planned to do as much anyway.”

“We also want you to spend some time exploring the country and meeting the people. If you really want to do this, you’ll need the country’s acceptance.”

“I’ll try my best.”

Alex reached over and squeezed her hand. “Take care, Ari. Henry does not strike me as the type of man who believes in divorce, and I’m already having my people check on the marriage and divorce laws of Brazenbourg. You have a long life ahead of you, God willing, and that is a very long time to be unhappy.”

Didn’t she know it? “Thanks, Alex. I promise to consider everything carefully.”

He gave her hand another squeeze and then let go as he stood. “Shall we get on to breakfast, then?”

“Yes. They must be waiting for us.”

“Then let them wait,” he said easily, as he escorted her through the halls. They both remained silent on their way to the dining room, easily lost in their own thoughts. As they the scents of toast and coffee grew stronger, Arianna focused on the task ahead of her. She put a small smile on her face just as they rounded the corner into the room, and prepared to greet Henry.

However, the first face her eyes found were Finn’s.

Though he had a smile on his beautiful face, his green eyes bored into hers as he stood to greet them. “Alex, Princess. Please have a seat. Henry should be with us shortly.”

“Of course,” Alex said easily as he held out Arianna’s chair for her, which was inconveniently situated next to Finn.

“Did everyone sleep well?” Finn asked them both as he took his seat again, though his gaze stayed on Arianna.

“Very well, thank you,” Alex said as he took his own seat across the small table.

“And you, Princess? Were you quite comfortable last night? Is there anything you need?”

Arianna was proud of herself for not squirming under his gaze. “I was quite comfortable, thank you. I don’t require anything else,” she said as she moved to pour some coffee.

“Allow me,” Finn said and took the pot from her. When their hands grazed each other’s, she felt the same spark she had felt last night.
Focus
, she reminded herself.

“Ah, you’re here. Very good,” Henry said as he entered the room and took a seat at the head of the table between Alex and Arianna. “I do apologize for being late.”

“We’ve only just arrived ourselves, Henry, so no need to worry,” Arianna said with a small smile.

Henry returned a clumsy smile of his own before he gestured for some nearby staff to serve him. It struck Arianna as interesting that Finn easily served himself and others at the table, but Henry didn’t even seem to think of it.

“What are your plans for today, Arianna?” Henry asked as they settled into breakfast.

“I would love to see some of your country. Is there someone who could arrange an impromptu tour for me? Nothing formal, I assure you.”

“Of course we can easily accommodate you. If your brother and I were not in meetings most of the day, I would be honored to show you around myself.”

Arianna smiled brightly. “That is very kind of you.”

“Of course, in my absence, I can easily arrange a tour guide.”

“I would also be happy to take you around my country, Princess,” Finn said casually, though the intense expression in his eyes betrayed him.

Arianna’s smile faltered slightly before she recovered. A whole day with just the two of them? “That is a very kind offer. However, I couldn’t take you away from your duties.”

Henry scoffed. “Finn doesn’t do much of anything, do you, Finn?”

Finn’s eyes narrowed but, with a tight smile, he said, “It would be my pleasure to show you our country, Princess.” He turned to look directly at her, and she found herself falling into a pool of bright green again. “Will you allow me to escort you?”

“Yes,” she said without thinking. She cleared her throat. “Thank you.”

“Excellent,” Finn said. “We can leave after breakfast. While you do look stunning in that outfit, Princess, you may want to change into some more comfortable clothes.”

“Finn,” Henry scowled in warning.

“It’s all right,” Arianna said, ever the mediator. “Finn is right to suggest more comfortable clothing. Sightseeing and heels do not often mix,” she ended with a smile.

Henry nodded, though she could tell he didn’t really understand what she meant. “You’ll have to tell me over dinner what you thought about Brazenbourg.”

“Of course, though I’m sure I’ll love it.” She exchanged a glance with Alex, who lips were pursed. She knew Alex was reserving judgement, but she could tell he was itching to say something anyway. Arianna pushed back from the table and stood. Alex and Finn immediately stood as well, but Henry took a moment longer to follow. “I think I will go up and get ready.”

“Do you need an escort back to your room?” Finn asked.

Her body wanted to say yes, but her practicality won out. “No, thank you. I’ll just ask one of the guards.”

Finn nodded, nonplussed by her response. “Please take as long as you need. The guard will escort you to the East Entrance whenever you’re ready,” Finn said with a look to the guard, who nodded in response.

Arianna nodded and left for her room again, wondering what she should wear. She wanted to look nice, but not too nice; sexy, but not too sexy. It was a fine line.

She just had to remind herself that Henry was her ticket to redemption, not Finn. No, Finn was a distraction she could not afford if she wanted her family’s and her country’s respect.

***

Finn leaned against the car while he watched the door and waited for Arianna to appear. He’d changed as well, into jeans and a fitted flannel shirt, for their trip today. It was a stroke of luck, or a curse depending upon how you looked at it, that they would spend the day together.

She walked out with a guard a moment later and he no longer thought of all the terrible things that could happen on their trip. He only thought of her.

She had changed into dark skinny jeans that hugged her curves, and a simple green button-down shirt. A trench coat in dark brown matched the boots she wore and simple pearl studs adorned her delicate earlobes. Her hair was still up, as it had been at breakfast, and he set a goal of seeing it down before the end of their day together. He could just picture her as she had been last night: caramel-colored hair, lightly damp with the sweat of desire, streaming down over her full breasts and peaked nipples.

Finn shook his head, his cock already growing just at the thought of her again. He had to remain in control.

“You look lovely, Arianna.”

“Thank you,” she said as she slowly approached him. Was she nervous to be with him all day? “You look very nice, too, though aren’t you cold?”

He chuckled as he glanced at his rolled-up sleeved and the jacket he had thrown carelessly into the back seat of the car. “I’m rarely ever cold, Princess. I seem to have a furnace burning hot inside me most days.”

“I see,” she said softly.

“Your chariot awaits,” he said as he opened the passenger door for her.

“You’re driving?” she asked as her eyes widened. “What about security?”

“I am an excellent driver, so don’t worry, and security is following behind us.” He gestured to another car some ways away. “One of your men is with us, too.”

“My men?”

“One of your Royal Protection agents. Alex insisted upon it, not that I minded, of course.”

“Didn’t you?”

He gave her a curious look. “Why would I mind? Does it make you uncomfortable to have him here?”

“Don’t be silly,” she said as she sat down in the car.

Finn shook his head again as he shut her door and walked around to the driver’s side. He gestured to the security staff that they were ready to leave, and they slipped into their car as well.

“So where are we going?” she asked once he’d sat down.

“Oh, here and there.”

“Finn.”

With a smile, he decided to elaborate, at least on most of their trip. Their final stop would remain a secret from her. It was, after all, one of his special places, and he never took anyone there. Not even Henry knew about his frequent visits.

“Apologies, Princess. It’s just so fun to tease you.”

“I don’t like being teased,” she said in a soft voice.

Finn put a hand over hers. She gasped and tried to pull away, but Finn wouldn’t let her. “I would never laugh at you or make fun of you, Arianna,” he said in an even, clear voice. “I can’t resist teasing you, it seems, but I don’t mean it as an insult, and I certainly never mean to hurt your feelings. Do you believe that?”

After a moment, she said, “Yes. Yes, I think I do believe it, though I’m not sure why.”

Finn let the comment go. He kissed her palm before reluctantly letting go of her hand to start the car and drive off the palace grounds. “There are a lot of places you could see while you’re here, but I don’t want to overwhelm you.”