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Nolan had done as she requested and hadn’t tried to kiss or hold her in the past month. They did touch often, him escorting her with her hand through his elbow or Kiera having them get close in the swimming pool. He loved those times, but it was also driving him insane. Holding back became more difficult with every passing day. If only he could show her with his words, touch, and kiss exactly how important and all-consuming she was to him. He would never push moral boundaries, but he would definitely kiss her thoroughly.
Parliament seemed content with Madeline’s reports that Naomi Rindlesbacher was in no way involved or in contact with the king, but they hadn’t ended her emissary mission. The press somehow hadn’t caught wind of Madeline staying in the castle and ‘dating’ him. It seemed parliament was better at keeping their mouths shut than he’d realized. It warmed his heart that the guards and castle staff were loyal to him and hadn’t gone spreading rumors.
They finished up meetings early on a beautiful August evening and had almost an hour until dinner. “Could I persuade you to accompany me on a drive?” he asked Madeline when Tristan excused himself to go find Jennifer.
She was wearing a pink blouse and fitted navy blue skirt today, with high heels that showcased her lovely calf muscles.
“I’ve been wondering all month when you’d ask me that.” She gave him a sassy look. “Here I’ve been worried that the overconfident king had exaggerated his driving skills. Why else wouldn’t we have gone on a drive for you to show off?”
He chuckled, loving the way she teased him, but that reminder of his ‘driving skills’ sent him back to that torturous night when he’d almost kissed her and she’d accused him of using her for a quick burn and then asked him to slow down their relationship. “It’s time to prove my skills.”
Offering his arm, he walked her to the side staircase and down to the garage. Two guards followed, Sergeant Braxton and a newer man. He’d introduced himself, but Nolan hadn’t nailed the memory of the guard’s name in his mind yet. That was one problem with getting older; names didn’t stick as well.
“Does it bother you that we rarely leave the castle?” he asked her as they walked.
“No.” Madeline glanced up at him. “We hike every morning. It’s near impossible to go stir crazy with all the space, windows, balconies, retractable walls, and absolutely gorgeous scenery inside and out. When you have your own gym, spa, and swimming pool, it’s difficult to complain.”
“True. But I know you’re accustomed to your freedom and being an independent woman.”
“I’m hardly captive here.”
Nolan walked her to the passenger door of his black Lamborghini Veneno Roadster. The door lifted for him, but he stopped her before she could climb in.
“I wish for you to be captive, or rather captivated … by me.”
Her eyes widened, and she blinked up at him. “I guess that all depends on your driving ability,” she said breathlessly.
Nolan chuckled. He yearned to lean in for a kiss right then and there, but the guards had already climbed into a Lexus LFA, a supercar that might have a chance of keeping up with his Lamborghini—if he were the one driving the Lexus. He never ditched his guards, at least not for long, but driving was a freedom and happiness he savored, and he was exceptional at it.
Madeline slid into the seat. He was frozen for a moment as he studied her. “You look unbelievably enticing in that seat.”
“Thank you.” Her emerald eyes were full of him, and he thought maybe tonight would be the night he could speed things up, just a little.
He strode around the car and into his seat. Easing out of the garage, he slid sunglasses on and directed the powerful vehicle down the road to the village. The guards had the gates open before he arrived. He lifted a hand as they bowed and kept his speed at barely above an idle as they drove through Greenville. Mothers curtsied and children waved to him. Teenagers pointed, and young adults stared in awe. The Lamborghini was beautiful, but it was the woman seated at his side who was breathtaking.
“I feel like I’m the main attraction of a parade,” Madeline said.
“Everyone is gawking because of how unbelievably beautiful you are.”
“It’s not me. It’s the car, and the king.”
“I beg to differ.” He took her hand and brushed a kiss across her knuckles. She let out a sweet sigh that made his muscles tighten.
He had to release her hand as they reached the valley floor. His guards stayed tight to his bumper.
“I know you prefer slow and steady,” he teased, actually the first time he’d teased her about those words of a month before, “but are you ready for a taste of speed?”
“I thought you’d never ask.” She gave him a challenging look that had his heart racing out of control. After a month of constantly being together and growing close, maybe she was ready to take the next step in their relationship.
Nolan wanted to punch a fist in the air. Instead, he shifted and pressed the accelerator. They shot off down the highway, backs and heads flattening against the seat behind them from the burst of power. He was rewarded with a cute little gasp from her. He worked his way quickly through the gears, pushing for top speed on this open highway. Thankfully, no tractors, buses, or minivans cluttered the road. It was as if everyone knew to leave the road open so their king could impress his lady.
“Nolan,” she breathed out when he accelerated past three-hundred kilometers per hour.
“All right then?” he asked. He wanted to impress but not scare her. Some were terrified to drive with him and, regrettably, Anne had been one of those he’d learned to slow down for.
“I love it,” she admitted.
Nolan grinned and upped the speed. The Veneno topped out at three-hundred and fifty-five kilometers per hour. He almost hit that ceiling before they reached the mountain pass that led to Traverse.
