Wasn’t that the point of the fairy tale? We were living happily ever after, and nothing in the world would ever change that.
“DO YOU KNOW WHAT MYabsolute favorite part of the day is?”
My husband came to stand in the doorway of the bathroom we shared, smirking at me as I eased off my heels and slithered out of my dress.
“The moment when we’re back together again after being apart at our respective engagements and/or work all day long? When you see your beloved, very sexy husband and remember how incredibly fortunate you are to be married to him?”
I nibbled at the corner of my lip, appreciating the way Nicky’s shirt clung to his muscular shoulders. He had it unbuttoned already, pulled out of the waistband of his dress pants, and it hung open, revealing tantalizing glimpses of his chiseled chest and flat stomach. The path of light hair that led downward distracted me from what I’d been saying.
“Uh, yes. That is my very favorite part of the day. The high point is definitely being reunited with you, my love.” I waited a beat. “Do you know what mysecondfavorite part of every day is?”
Nicky laughed. “Tell me, darling.”
I reached back to unhook my bra, sighing happily as I let it drop. “The moment I can take off my clothes. Especially my stockings and my bra. Ahhhhh ...”
“Funny, that’s a particular favorite of mine, too.” He stepped into the bathroom and slid his arms around my middle, making me shiver at both his cold hands and the way his fingers trailed lower, skimming just over the elastic of my panties. “When I can see what you’ve been hiding beneath all those annoying layers of clothes, I’m a happy man.”
Nuzzling his neck, I sighed happily. This really was my favorite part of the day, the moment when we could stop being the Duke and Duchess, the prince and the princess, and just be Nicky and Ky. I sank into my husband’s embrace, letting my body relax against his solid, dependable and very sexy strength. My mind wandered, drowsily enjoying the feeling of his touch as his hands brushed over my curves.
When I giggled, he drew back a little, smiling down at me. “Did I find a new ticklish spot?”
“No.” I linked my hands behind his neck. “I was just thinking about the questions we’re asked in interviews. ‘Your Royal Highness, what’s your favorite part of being a Duchess?’ And I’m imagining the expression on the faces of the Palace press staff if I answered truthfully.” Putting on a phony accent, I half-closed my eyes and affected a demeanor of cultivated boredom. “‘Oh, my dear, my favorite part is when I take off my bra, and my husband gropes me in our bathroom.’”
Nicky laughed. “Once upon a time, I might have dared you to do that, but now I know better.” Reaching around my waist, he gave my backside a swift and teasing smack. “You might actually do it, just to get a reaction.” Dropping a kiss on my temple, he took a step back and shrugged off his shirt.
“Hey, I know better than that. I behave myself almost all the time these days.” I reached for my robe. “Some people might even say I’m positively boring now.”
“No one who knows you would ever dare to utter those words, sweetheart.” Nicky winked at me and unhooked his pants.
I leaned against the sink, taking in the show. There wasn’t a much better view in the world than my hot husband, stripping. When he noticed me watching him, Nicky rolled his eyes.
“Must you ogle me that way? I feel so cheap.”
I leered, wagging my eyebrows. “Baby, if you’ve got it, flaunt it. Shake that money maker for me.”
Balling up his clothes, he tossed the bundle into the hamper. “Nice talk, Duchess. And you think you’re positively boring now, huh?”
“I didn’t say I think I am. I just said some might say that.” I turned toward the sink, grabbing an elastic band to gather my hair into a sloppy ponytail as I prepared to wash my face. “Speaking of not being boring ... what were you and your grandfather up to tonight after dinner?”
“Up to? We weren’t up to anything.” His bland tone made me immediately suspicious.
“You had your heads together for almost an hour when we were all in the sitting room.” The family—as in the Royal Family—had gathered tonight to celebrate Alexandra’s birthday. While I’d learned that usually, the small, private family parties for Nicky and his siblings took place at their parents’ apartment here in Kensington Palace, tonight the Queen had hosted us at Buckingham Palace, as her husband, the Duke of Edinburgh, was feeling slightly under the weather.
At least that had been the official word. I’d noticed that the Duke had seemed pretty sprightly for a man of his advanced age. Still, I knew that everyone was especially protective of the health and welfare of both Granny and Grandpa, better known to the world as the Queen and the Duke.
Now, Nicky shrugged. “Yes, we were discussing a few things.” His lips pinched for a moment, which I knew was his tell. There was something on his mind, and he wasn’t sure whether or not he was ready to share it with me.
“You might as well come clean now. I’m going to find out sooner or later.” I twisted the faucet to turn on the water and began lathering my face. “It’s only a matter of time.”
“I don’t have secrets from you, darling.” A slight twitch in the corner of his eye gave lie to that statement, and I frowned. But before I could build up to a good strong worry, he went on.
“Grandpa was telling me that his cousin—our cousin, I guess, but someone from his side of the family in particular—is selling his estate. He thought it might be something we’d be interested in seeing.”
I didn’t answer right away, taking the time first to splash handfuls of water over my face, rinsing off the cleanser.
“Why would we be interested in that? We have a home. It’s right here.” I patted the edge of the sink. “I love our cottage.”
“So do I, but the fact of the matter is that now we’re married. We’re expected to move on, sooner rather than later.” Nicky pulled an old T-shirt over his head. “Grandpa and Granny would like this cottage to be available for Daisy. They’d feel better with her living at Kensington Palace, instead of that mess that she calls her flat.”
