AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Nolan wanted to capture her full lips with his, but he also wanted her to feel this draw as deeply as he did, and he didn’t want her to push him away again. He bent low, narrowly dodging her lips, and was rewarded with a quick intake of breath. He pressed his lips to the pulse point in her neck. She gasped, and time seemed to stand still. Would she push him away, dart out of his arms, tell him all the reasons they couldn’t date for real, give him a feisty retort?
Instead, Madeline flung her arms around his neck and held him tightly against her. His head was buried in her neck. His senses came alive with her floral scent, her softness, her allure, and the beautiful fact that she appeared to finally be yielding her heart to him.
As powerful as these feelings were, he wouldn’t second guess this gift. It was heaven sent for sure. Could heaven endorse a match strike of yearning that immediately turned into a bonfire?
Nolan wrapped his arms around her lower back and easily lifted her off her feet. He held her aloft, glancing up into her beautiful face and certain dreams he hadn’t let himself dream were coming true.
Madeline gazed down at him, arms wrapped securely around his neck, her green eyes full of him and him alone. She slowly bent toward him, and he let her body slide along the length of his until their mouths were aligned. Fire filled him from head to toe. The anticipation of capturing her mouth was sweet torture.
The door flung open and Madeline startled, arching away from him. Nolan wasn’t ready to let her go. He clung to her but turned to see who had entered.
Tristan stopped two steps into the room, eyes wide as he stared between them. “H-hey,” he sputtered, sounding nothing like the charming and teasing crown prince.
“Good morning, T,” Nolan said.
“Jenn needed something to settle her stomach,” he said in a rush and then hurried toward the kitchen area.
Madeline slipped out of Nolan’s embrace and walked to meet Tristan. Nolan hid a groan of disappointment while Tristan gave him an embarrassed shrug.
“Did Jenn say what sounded good to her this morning?” Madeline asked Tristan.
“No. Nothing really settles her, but she knows if she gets something in her stomach she’ll feel better.”
“Just a moment.” Madeline opened cupboards and must’ve found what she was looking for. She held up a packet. “Ginger tea. You make her some dry toast and I’ll get it brewed.”
Nolan watched Madeline. The white floral dress swirled around her in a most becoming way as she moved, but it was much more than the way she moved. She was nurturing, helping Tristan to take care of Jennifer with her morning sickness. It touched him deep. Similar to her being so incredible with Kiera last night. It was almost as powerful as her being in his arms a few minutes ago. Almost.
Tristan loaded a tray with the toast and tea and gave Nolan a head bob as he walked out. He’d been shocked catching them an instant from kissing, but Nolan knew Tristan wouldn’t bemoan him finding love again. He’d asked him several times over the past few months if he might be ready to date again.
As the door closed behind Tristan, Nolan strode to Madeline. She turned to face him, her back against the countertop. He wanted to press into her and kiss her, but he stopped. She looked uncertain. He didn’t want her to look uncertain. He wanted her to look smitten.
Straightening his suit coat, he wondered how to get back to her in his arms.
Slow down, he cautioned himself.
“Thank you for helping T and Jenn,” he said instead of sweeping her off her feet.
“I’m happy to. I hated morning sickness.”
He wondered who had taken care of her. Had her husband been a great guy or a punk? He hadn’t known her and Chad until Tristan was in secondary school. Anne had liked ginger suckers during those first months of pregnancy. Nolan had ordered hundreds of them, which had made her laugh.
The moment was lost between them. When Ray and Macey walked in, he knew they weren’t getting back to the closeness of a few minutes ago.
“Good morning,” Macey called out, her happy, bright self as always. “Breakfast?”
“I thought you’d never ask,” Nolan teased.
Their simple breakfast of boiled eggs, oatmeal, and fruit went well as Macey and Madeline chatted about Macey’s brother Gage and his wife Cassandria and their new baby. Macey showed them pictures, which Madeline oohed over. Ray gave him a confused shrug about the fuss over a newborn. Nolan smiled. He’d been thrilled with each of his children from birth on up, but he hadn’t fully known how to engage them until they had started smiling and interacting with him. He knew women were smitten with newborns, though. The little ones were angelic, and you could feel heaven from that wide-eyed stare.
After breakfast, they headed to his office. The day was busy with meetings and a luncheon with Prime Minister Carrera and his wife Chandria. They were both friendly, more friendly than normal, in Nolan’s opinion. It was just the four of them as Tristan had gone to spend lunch with Jennifer. Nolan liked having Madeline by his side and he loved her insights on everything to do with their country.
Things were far from settled between them. Very unsettled, in fact, if the lurch in his stomach each time their knees brushed under the table or she turned her sweet smile on him was any indicator. Even with the unfamiliar and intense feelings making his head a bit cloudy, she was a great companion to have by his side—witty, informed, smart, and pleasing to the eyes. She smiled at him. Very pleasing to the eyes.
Before Carrera left, he apologized again for the ‘business’ with Naomi. Nolan assured him it would work out, but he put steel in his tone when he told him he expected them to work well together and to have each other’s backs. Carrera rushed to assure him he did have the king’s back and as soon as they quieted Gustaff and Monaco’s concerns, the two men would lose credibility and clout. It would be a win for Nolan and his allies.
Nolan wasn’t certain if the prime minister was fumbling for excuses or truly on his side. He couldn’t alienate the man, but he also couldn’t be too careful. If the Rindlesbachers had been able to use his closest friend against him as the prime minister, they could turn Carrera too.
The afternoon was busy with meetings again—no alone time with Madeline besides their brief breaks between meetings when they stretched and walked onto the balcony and discussed the most recent meeting.
