Ludwig slanted her head, moved closer and licked her lips, then dipped forward, drawing a taste, trying to consume part of her as he deepened his intent. His body lit with fire and his lips claimed hers with a great deal more passion than she’d offered initially.

“You are delicious.” He moaned into her mouth, letting her hear his desire for her, waiting for a reaction.

She hadn’t really kissed him back; only allowed him to take his taste of her.

“You’ve barely tasted anything…yet.”

When Ludwig pulled back, Angelica needed more. He tugged at her soul with those lips, pulling a wild ferocity from deep inside her that she hadn’t known existed, making her feel untamed and free.

“How long will you be staying in Lekten?” His voice was ragged, but his expression remained calm. Those eyes, though, held a fire her soul matched. There were so many things he wanted to ask her, but all of his questions froze in his throat. He ran his finger along her skin. Her arm was like velvet. He would have her. It took a lot of effort to hold back. But he did. Because he may not know her, but his instincts told him that it had to be her choice.

But I have no plans. “For the weekend.” She stared into his startling blue eyes as they intently explored her face, as if trying to claim her heartbeat. In that moment, she felt him connecting to her. It was strange. It was almost like she knew him and that he wasn’t a stranger at all.

He could be mine. For a moment. For a day. For the weekend. It was unlikely that the tabloids would follow her here in Lekten. She might have the freedom to do as she pleased. And she couldn’t deny she wanted him.

A slow smile opened his lips. “I wish I could read minds.”

No. You don’t. “I was merely wondering what you might be doing after they leave.”  

He ducked his head, his face dangerously close to hers. “Ah, I see. A proposition.”

Am I being too forward? She certainly hoped not. In the few contemporary romance novels she had read, the women were quite forward. If they found a man they wanted, they went out and took him. “That depends on your plans for the evening.”

He met her gaze straight on. “I’m formulating them as we speak.”

Phew! “So, you’re interested.” Ugh. I just didn’t say that.

He chuckled. “Any man would be interested.”

Any? She opened her mouth to say words she might later regret, not quite knowing what those might be. Maybe, Let’s go to your place for a nightcap, or Would you like to see my room? when the call to dinner sounded.

Her moment was gone. Bitter disappointment ripped its way through her. “I feel as though I have wasted your time.”

“Why? The chase is on.” He smiled at her, looking quite boyish. “It’s actually quite refreshing to step out with a woman and still have my clothes on before the dinner gong.”

That fire in his eyes sent an echoing flame in the pit of her stomach she’d never experienced before. Her moment may have disappeared for the present, but she vowed that she would find a new one. She may only have him for one night, but she would have him. Her interactions with this man, though only superficial so far, were much more tantalizing than any time she had spent with Abelardo. She wanted more of this.

“We should join the others.”

She put her hand on his outstretched arm. “I guess I’ll have to tear your clothes off another time,” she said, and let out an exaggerated sigh.

His eyes twinkled as he held the gold filigree glass door for her. “I hope you weren’t disappointed.”

As if you could. He was about as beautiful as a man could be—with a face of an angel—without remotely looking like a woman. And he kissed like heaven, though Angelica doubted angels kissed in heaven, much less like the way Ludwig did. “I quite enjoyed your company.”

As soon as they were back in the reception room, two beautiful young hostesses came up to them. Angus and Siobhan were already seated at the center of the long table and the guests were filling in the other seats.  

“I’m looking forward to the next time. After dinner?” He sketched a small bow over her hand before he followed the hostess. Most men she passed by couldn’t help but fix their eyes on her fabulous female form. Ludwig didn’t even notice. His eyes were glued to Angelica.

He felt an animalistic growl of lust in the back of his throat as he noticed her athletic legs striding in perfect form through the sensuous and elegant transparency of her ball gown.  

His body already craved her, and by God, he would have her.

Ludwig found his mother, the Grand-Duchess Gertraud Von Kröenenberg, in the small crowd being efficiently ushered to their seats, and offered his elbow.

“I saw you with Princess Angelica. Are we about to get a new scandal?” Lady Adelia, his sister, ducked behind their mother, taking his other elbow.

“If you are bringing me yet another tabloid scandal, I wish you wouldn’t. I have no interest in that.”  

“She was all over the papers about a year ago.” Adelia almost danced a step. “She was stood up at the altar on television. She looked lovely in a stunning Vera Wang bridal dress. It was magnificent.”  

Of course Adelia, with her passion for fashion, would know the dress designer. “She’s very nice, Adelia. Besides, she’s a stunning woman. It’s the man’s loss.”

The Grand-Duchess waved her free hand, resplendent in a lilac glove. “I quite agree. She seems to be a lovely woman with a good nature. To gossip about her misfortune is rude, Adelia.”  

“You misunderstand, Mutter, as you always do.” Adelia tsked and turned to her brother. “I’m just telling you this so you keep it in mind when you go out with her.”

The Grand-Duchess glanced at her daughter with an expression of quiet approval.  

“Perhaps she should not be treated like all the other butterflies you typically attract.” Adelia gave him an impish smile and followed the usher who had quietly captured her attention, to her seat. “Besides, her brother looks quite fearful.”  

Ludwig watched her go, not quite sure how he felt about being called out by his sister.  

His mother patted his arm with a smile. “You would do well to settle down, Ludwig. Stop playing at the buffet table.” She left him then, being deftly whisked away by another efficient footman.  

Women! He shook his head, amused, as he took his seat. How serious is this likely to be?

He’d only just met her. And they’d only had one kiss. His eyes searched for her in the crowd again. One magnificent kiss.

Anchela beamed a kind smile at Angelica when she spotted her, holding out her hand. “Where did you disappear to, mi hija?”

Before Angelica could answer, her younger sister, Princess Maria Quitéria de Castella y Aragon, sunshine in a glittering rose dress, latched onto their mother’s other hand, an impish smile on her face. “She stepped out with that hottie, Grand-Duke Ludwig Von Kröenenberg, King Angus’s cousin and business partner.”

Maria could almost pass as Angelica’s twin. With the same dark hair and dark eyes, she was two inches taller, with a slimmer figure. She also had more energy than a cocker spaniel. She was genuine and spirited in nature and Angelica was certain there was nothing on this earth that could bring her down.

Anchela’s dark eyes lit up. “And what do you know about him?”

Maria leaned forward to speak around their mother, her eyes sparkling with excitement. “He is single and works with King Angus at his bank, Lekten Royal Bank. It’s very prestigious.”

“Oh, really?” Anchela raised a dark eyebrow of approval.

Angelica wasn’t a huge fan of bankers. They tended to see numbers instead of people and could be quite callous. She understood their way of thinking. Of course, she had to. Running a country wasn’t so unlike running a business. However, she prided herself on putting people first, even in detriment of herself.  

Angelica sometimes wondered what it was like when royals such as herself were looked down upon when wanting to have a career for themselves. It hadn’t been so long ago. After the great wars, the world had gradually changed and even royalty bent in their snobbery to the working class.  

Aragon is still living as if it’s in the last century. Although it was almost instinctual to find fault with King Angus for having worked for a living when she could not. These thoughts led her to a new barrage of questions about her own life. Until now, her job had been to be the Crown Princess. Now that Siobhan had been discovered and had taken that title from her, she wasn’t sure what she would do.

Her every day had been a tangled mess of dealing with issues that faced her country. While she doubted Siobhan would be able to take over right away, eventually Angelica would be out of a job. And she wasn’t sure how she felt about not being the Crown Princess anymore. What am I going to do with my free time?

Anchela gave Angelica’s fingers a squeeze and her loving expression softened with warmth. “We should find you a husband, mi hija.”

Ugh, no. Not again. That was exactly the conversation they’d had when Angelica had met Abelardo Gutíerrez.

She didn’t feel the things for men that the heroines in romance novels did. For the umpteenth time, she wondered if she was just too frigid for romance.

Until now.

It might finally be her turn. Maybe now it was. She’d just been with a lion of a man and had thought of dragging him back to the terrace to strip him out of his clothes. There might be hope for her yet.  

“The grand-duke is very wealthy, and his lineage is excellent,” Anchela mused as they followed the hostess. “Plus, he’s young, strong, and handsome.”   

“Not husband material, Mamá,” Angelica whispered.

“What I described is perfect husband material,” countered Anchela.

“I don’t want a husband.”

“No woman who regards men objectively does, and you have always been much too objective, Hermana Major. But imagine!” Maria clasped a hand to her chest. “You could let yourself be swept away by romance now, and”—she leaned forward, lowering her voice as if to impart a secret—“you could marry for love.”

That’s a thought. She had always been jealous of Maria for being able to have the freedom to choose love over duty. Now, that opportunity was also hers.

And although she was not looking for love. She was looking for fun.