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Tonight was his last opportunity to have dinner with a beautiful young woman who was not in any way a contender to be his wife. Thinking of the future made him want to numb his mind with champagne, or even better spend a few hours in the arms of the sexy redhead whose sea green eyes hinted at a sensuality he was eager to explore. Was one last night of pleasure with no strings attached too much to wish for?
He shifted position in his seat as his arousal pressed uncomfortably against the zip on his trousers. He had been instantly turned on when he’d walked into the sitting room and studied Arielle’s toned figure in a dress that was no more than a wisp of black silk, which showed off her full breasts and long, slender legs. As for that hair! He longed to bury his fingers in her riotous red curls that tumbled to halfway down her back.
Silently cursing his libido that had inconveniently sprung into life after more than a year’s absence, Eirik was relieved when there was a knock on the door and Gustav entered the suite, followed by a team of waiters who served dinner. One of them topped up Arielle’s glass with champagne.
Eirik caught his private secretary’s eye. ‘See to it that we are not disturbed for the rest of the evening, will you?’
‘Of course, sir,’ Gustav replied smoothly.
Eirik heard faint disapproval in his chief aide’s voice. He had lived like a monk for over a year, and he was aware that if the media learned of an indiscretion with a woman they might resurrect his reputation—not wholly undeserved of a playboy prince. Eirik trusted Gustav, whom he regarded as a friend as much as an employee. But his brush with death had left him feeling reckless.
After the staff had left, Arielle drank more champagne. There was a soft flush on her cheeks and Eirik noticed that her hand trembled when she put down her glass. Wanting to help her feel at ease, he kept the conversation light and told her a little about his country.
‘The North Sea around Fjernland’s coast is never very warm to swim in, even in summer. But the country is a volcanic island and has numerous hot springs. If you ever get the chance to visit, I think you would enjoy the lakes, which are heated by geothermal activity. There would be no need for you to wear a wetsuit for swimming.’
His gaze was drawn to the pale curves of her breasts above the low-cut bodice of her dress, and he imagined her wearing a skimpy bikini. The atmosphere in the room crackled with electricity. His body tightened as he watched a pink stain spread across Arielle’s face and down her throat and décolletage. Eirik could not remember the last time he’d seen a woman blush. Arielle’s unworldly air fired his curiosity, and her sexy curves fanned the flames of his desire.
‘The sight of a mermaid swimming in the clear water of the Crystal Lagoon, which is Fjernland’s most famous beauty spot, would definitely be a newsworthy story,’ he murmured. ‘In fact, I am surprised that you are not a celebrity here in Cornwall.’
An odd expression flickered on her face. ‘Ah, but mermaids are shy and elusive creatures who prefer to stay out of the limelight.’
She put down her knife and fork even though she had barely touched her dinner. Eirik hadn’t eaten much either, although the lobster gratin was exceptionally good. His appetite had disappeared, and he felt hunger of a different kind.
‘How did you know my yacht was in trouble? It was astonishing that you were able to find me in the dark when the sea was so rough.’
‘I didn’t realise it was you who had let off a flare, I just knew that someone was in trouble. Earlier in the day the weather had been quite calm when I swam around the headland. I’d left my clothes and phone hidden in a cave on the main beach. Pixie Cove is only accessible from the sea as the cliffs are too steep to climb and I was trapped there for a few hours until the storm passed.’
Arielle paused and tucked an auburn curl behind her ear. ‘When I saw the flare, I had no way of alerting the coastguard. I hoped that someone else had spotted it, but I didn’t see the helicopter, so I decided to swim back to where I’d left my phone. But I saw a tiny light further out to sea and swam out to investigate.’
‘I knew my only chance of survival was to try to swim to the shore, but I would never have made it without you to guide me,’ Eirik said gruffly. ‘The waves were huge, and I would have been thrown against the rocks. When I saw a woman with a fishtail swimming in the sea, I told myself I was imagining things.’
‘As soon as you had made it to the cove and I knew you were safe, I swam back to where I’d left my phone and called the emergency services.’
‘Why do you use a monofin?’
‘It helps me to swim greater distances and enables me to free-dive deeper. I don’t use scuba gear. The dolphin-kick motion when I am wearing a monofin is quite different from conventional swimming and allows me to conserve energy and swim more powerfully.’
‘Do you compete at swimming events?’
‘I don’t care about winning races. I learned to swim before I could walk. My mother passed her love of the sea on to me. She died when I was a child, but I feel close to her when I am in the ocean.’
Eirik had heard a tremor in her voice. ‘That must have been tough. Who took care of you after your mother passed away?’
Arielle drained the last of the champagne from her glass. ‘I lived with my father, but he is not around now.’
Eirik sensed that she did not want to talk about her family. She was young to have lost both her parents, and he knew that grief could be consuming.
‘Would you like dessert?’ He indicated the sweet trolley. The gateau oozing with cream looked sickly, and he wasn’t surprised when she declined. ‘Let’s take our coffee outside,’ he suggested. ‘It’s fairly warm this evening, and there is underfloor heating on the terrace.’
He carried the tray with a cafetière and cups out onto the balcony, set it down on the table and poured the coffee.
Arielle followed and looked at him uncertainly. ‘Shouldn’t I serve you, seeing as you are a prince?’
‘I’m capable of pouring coffee,’ he said drily. ‘I was fortunate to escape the stifling court etiquette and go to university in America. It gave me the chance to live a normal life and learn to fend for myself. As a matter of fact, I’m not a bad cook.’
Rattan furniture was arranged around a low table on the balcony. Eirik sat down on the sofa and was amused when Arielle claimed the armchair furthest away from him. Most women would have taken the opportunity to sit beside him and perhaps lean in close or play with their hair. He was used to the flirtatious games that women played. He’d been aware of the glances Arielle had sent him across the dinner table when she’d thought he hadn’t noticed. If her cool reserve was intended to fuel his interest it was working.
He leaned back against the cushions and stretched his long legs out in front of him. It was a clear night, and the sky was studded with glittering stars that multiplied when you tried to count them. The sound of the waves rippling onto the shore should have been soothing, but Eirik had never felt less soothed in his life. He forced his thoughts away from the carnal impact of Arielle’s mouth that had driven him to distraction throughout dinner.
