Alek concentrated on her breathing. In and out, in and out, raspy and painful-sounding, but at least she was breathing. There’d been a time there, right after she’d gone limp and he’d gone cold, that he’d worried he had lost her.

And it had bothered him very much to think he’d lost her.

So now, sitting on the sofa in the small apartment, her stretched out beside him with her head pillowed on his lap, he watched her breath, and thanked God they were both safe.

Well, safe was a relative term and he knew it.

Here they were, both locked in an apartment, who knows where. It seemed comfortable—reminded him of their family vacations at Mt. Viskan when he’d been a boy—but small. True to their word, the kidnappers had let him leave under his own power, although they’d zip-tied his wrists together, and duct-taped his mouth. The pain of that ignominy was only topped by how much it hurt when he’d had to rip the tape off after they’d been dumped here…would his beard ever recover?

But what had been worse than how the kidnappers had treated him was what they’d done to Toni. After that monster of a man had choked her to within an inch of her life—Alek didn’t think he’d ever forget that terrifying shade of purple her skin had turned—they’d injected her with whatever sedative they’d planned to use on him.

He’d fought them then, but when the bald man had pointed his weapon at Toni’s head, Alek shut up and let them tie him. It seemed they’d realized he would do anything—cooperate with anyone—if it meant keeping her safe.

And they used that information to keep him moving out the window, across the courtyard, and into a waiting flower-delivery truck with a large open-seating area in the back. As they sped along for close to an hour in the dark—Alek tried to keep track of turns so he’d know where they were, but he lost count—he held Toni as best he could and glared at the kidnappers over his impromptu gag.

It didn’t seem enough. He should’ve fought them, should’ve found a way to leave some evidence of a struggle. Instead, he’d caved completely, relying on diplomacy and promises as he’d been taught, just to save her life.

Staring down at her now, he wondered what she would think when—if—she woke up. Would she approve of his compromise, or would she be disgusted he hadn’t fought for her? She’d probably be planning to attack them all single-handedly, before he’d stopped her. Did that make him a coward?

She made a little noise, and turned her head. It wasn’t exactly a moan, because it was so raspy, and Alek wondered how badly her throat was injured. But maybe it meant she’d be waking up soon. It had already been close to five hours since they’d left the palace. At least, that was his best guess, since he didn’t know exactly what time it had been when they’d been kidnapped.

They’d been dumped in here two hours ago, and their abductors hadn’t said a thing. They’d just pushed him into the room and yanked off the blindfold in time for Alek to see the huge guy drop Toni onto the couch. Then the bald one had cut the zip ties securing Alek’s wrists, given an ironic salute, and they’d backed out of the door.

The first thing Alek had done was check Toni’s breathing. When he was sure she was alive and as healthy as she could be after being injected with whatever that had been, he’d hurried to check the door. Locked, of course, but so was the small window above the couch—the only two exits. His search of the small apartment became more and more frantic, as he looked for a way to escape or to contact the outside world.

Nothing. Banging on the window didn’t even gain a response.

The apartment had been well-stocked to hold him—or a prisoner, at least—and was utterly fortified. They were stuck here.

By now, the sun was filtering through the eastern sky, and Alek had accepted his imprisonment. He’d been sitting at one end of the couch, Toni’s head on his lap, and had spent the last half hour alternating between watching her face and watching the shadows play across the walls of the room. That one window, high up, made him think they might be in a basement somewhere. It was dawn already, and he was still too wound up to sleep.

Instead, he stroked her cheek, thinking about what was waiting for him back at the palace. By now, surely his absence had been discovered. Even if everyone had assumed he’d disappeared to his rooms with a willing partner—not the first time, after a formal event like last night’s ball—one of his guards would’ve noted Toni’s absence as well, and begun a search.

Unless they thought she was the partner who’d joined him in his bed, and they wouldn’t be too far off, would they? He considered that kiss last night, considered how it had made him feel. Damn good was the answer, if he were being truthful. He was looking forward to repeating it, but just like last night, he wasn’t going to be the one to initiate it. After learning her history, he knew he would never be the one to push her past her comfort zone.

Goading her into kissing him, though? Yeah, he could live with that. He could live with a lot more, and wondered how much goading it would take to get her to climb on top of him in that king-sized bed over there.

Thinking about that had him smiling, not caring at all about his tape-burned lips and cheeks. And, of course, that’s when she opened her eyes.

He held still as her gaze focused on him, her brows dipping in thought, and he imagined her trying to remember what had happened. Because of the way he was sitting, his face must’ve appeared upside down, so he twisted slightly—careful to keep her head supported—so they were more aligned. He kept his hand on her cheek, where he’d been touching her, just taking comfort from her warm skin.

It was a good ten seconds before her gaze finally sharpened and he knew she understood. Her hand rose, but didn’t make it far, just touching his forearm.

“Alek?” she whispered in a raspy voice.

“Shhhh.” He moved his fingertips to her lips, wanting to remind himself how they felt, but also caution her against hurting her throat further. “I’m fine. I was worried about you, but I’m glad you’re back with me.” Anticipating what she might want to know, he went on, “We drove for a long time, but I don’t know the exact amount. We could be all the way on the other side of the kingdom by now.” He gestured around the small room. “They blindfolded me when we climbed out. I think we’re in an apartment complex, although we must be on the bottom floor. Maybe the basement.”

Or maybe some serial killer’s private body-stash. It was difficult to guess, but Alek was determined to be positive about these things. After all, the place had been stocked with supplies for him, so that was a good sign. His mother had taught him diplomacy, politeness, and a strong sense of tradition can often get you things violence can’t, and he intended to apply the hell out of her lessons once “the boss” showed up.

Toni’s lips twitched downward, but she nodded slightly. No-nonsense. “Help me up?”

God, he hated to hear her sounding so weak, but he did everything he could to lift her upright. She rested her head against the back of the sofa, breathing deeply while she eyed their surroundings.

“Locked?”

He knew what she was asking and nodded. Even as weak as she was, Toni was already assessing their prison, trying to find a crack in their defenses. But he’d been over everything already, and didn’t think there was one.

It must be killing her to be so weak that she couldn’t immediately jump up and test the door herself, but he really liked that she was willing to trust his assessment. It made him feel…well, like he was part of her team. Like she trusted him to know what she needed to know. He promised himself to live up to that trust.

“There’s only that one window, and it’s locked from the outside. According to the logo it’s that bullet-proof stuff they put in the palace windows ten years ago, but I don’t know if this one is supposed to be for my protection or to prevent us leaving. The door is locked and reinforced at the hinges.”

He stood up and padded barefoot—he’d shucked off his shoes and socks as soon as the kidnappers had left, while exploring—to the small kitchen area to reach for the tea kettle he’d kept warming. He’d found some honey and tea—his favorite kind—in the cabinet beside the microwave, and it sounded like she could use some.

“Where?”

He winced at how raw her voice sounded. “We could be anywhere, really. There weren’t too many sharp turns, and it felt like we were driving straight…but for all I know, we just drove in a big circle and are back in Solrighavn.” The tea was probably good enough as it was, but he stirred in three extra spoonfuls of honey, just to be sure. “If you’d been awake, I’m sure you could’ve kept track with your James-Bond senses, but I was woozy and worried about you.”

Dammit, he sounded like he was whining, didn’t he? Alek hurried back to the sofa with the tea, sitting beside her and helping her to drink. Before she did though, she touched his wrists, where the marks from the zip ties still reddened his skin. The faint brush of her fingertips sent a shiver through him, and he wanted to grab her, press her against his body, remind them both they were still alive. Instead though, he forced himself to meet her gaze, and saw the guilt there.

“I’m fine.” Now it was his turn to sound hoarse. He cleared his throat. “They didn’t hurt me, just like they’d promised. I’d rather be tied up than unconscious, so that was good.” He winced again. Way to go, idiot, reminding her of what happened to her.

She must’ve seen the wince, and known what it meant, because one side of her lips curled upward in that wry grin he’d come to expect. She lifted the tea herself, and took a long sip of the honey-infused concoction.

Once he thought her throat might be feeling better, he hesitantly asked, “How do you feel?”

She pondered the question a moment, then responded. “Weak. Dizzy.”

Was that because she’d been unconscious, or because of the sedative? He didn’t want to ask her now, not when she was just getting her voice back. He stuck two fingers under the mug and lifted it to her lips, which curled upward as she drank.

When she’d finished the tea, he nodded, satisfied. Surely that much honey would help her throat. And he knew what else could help her…

“Are you hungry?”

She pondered the question for a moment before inhaling deeply. Marshalling her strength? “Yeah,” she said, “But I could go for a shower, too.”

Her voice sounded stronger, and Alek was glad for it. As he watched, her fingers plucked at the dark material of her gown. Even though she’d been hot as hell last night, she was looking a little rumpled now, and understandably so.

He nodded. “It’s your lucky day, then. The bathroom in this holding cell is state-of-the-art, and our captors were nice enough to provide some changes of clothing.” He nodded to the drawer under the TV. “The sweatpants and t-shirts will be baggy—the kidnappers were obviously planning on only me being stuck here—but would probably be a welcome change, huh?”

She huffed a little, something that might be a laugh, and he felt a loosening in the band which had been tied around his chest for the last six hours. She was going to be okay.

“In the meantime, I’ll whip us up something to eat.”

Her head still resting against the back of the sofa, she tilted it slightly to stare at him, and raised one blonde brow. “You can cook?”

Huffing at her incredulous tone, Alek pulled himself upright. “I’ll have you know I make the best damn fried egg sandwich I’ve ever tasted.” It was just about the only thing he knew how to make. “And there’re two cartons of eggs in there,” he nodded at the small fridge, “plus some prepared sides and microwave meals. Oh, and lox, cheese—basic sandwich stuff—and fresh fruit.” It was like whoever stocked this place knew his culinary skills were limited.

“Swell,” she said, her lips twitching upwards. “I’ll make a quiche for dinner.”

“If we’re even here that long,” he said as he snatched the cup from her hand. “Go take a shower, and when you’re out I’ll have more tea and an amazing breakfast of fried egg and cheese and sliced oranges.”

“Sounds nice.”

She was still smiling as she allowed him to help her to her feet, and moved slowly—carefully, like she was made of glass—across the room to the bathroom door. He watched, worried about how weak she was, reminding himself she was strong enough to overcome this.

But once the shower turned on, and he pictured her in there naked and wet and hot, he had to distract himself by rummaging around for a pan to cook in. Bodyguard or not, wounded or not, selfish or not…he was damn glad she was stuck here with him.

 

 

It was amazing how much more human she could feel after a steaming hot shower. Toni had been knocked unconscious before—growing up riding horses without helmets, then in the Army—but this had felt worse than that. When she’d found the pinprick on her arm, she realized the kidnappers must’ve given her the sedative they’d planned to give Alek.

Standing there in the foggy bathroom, rubbing at that little red mark on her bicep, Toni analyzed her feelings. She’d been so terrified when they’d waved that syringe at Alek, so scared of what they were going to do to him. But now, knowing they’d done it to her…? For some reason, all she could muster was “meh.” But why? Did she not care about her own well-being—something her brother had often teased her about? Or was it just that she cared so much more for Alek’s?

She’d cared for other clients’ well-being, certainly. But what she’d felt last night when those men had threatened Alek…that had gone beyond caring. She’d felt a deep, gut-searing terror that he would be hurt, the way she might if Eric or Lin or their parents were in trouble. When had she started thinking of Alek as family?

When had she fallen in love with him?

“Toni? Ready for breakfast?”

Alek’s call from the other room broke through her thoughts, which she noticed were beginning to wander. She hated this foggy feeling, and vowed to consider these new realizations later. Was she in love with her employer? She was the one who’d kissed him, after all. Maybe he felt nothing in return for her—he was naturally a protective and loyal man. It was what made him such a good ruler, if a bit prickly.

Still, she couldn’t think about that now. Now, she needed to find a way out of here for both of them.

Her stomach rumbled. Wait, no, now she needed food. Maybe then she could work on the lock on the door.

A yawn took her by surprise, but she brushed it away. She needed food, then action, then she might allow herself to nap a little. Whatever she’d been doing on that sofa, it hadn’t been sleep.

Later, she sat with Alek at a small table which had been tucked in beside the hot plate and microwave he’d used to cook the surprisingly good fried-egg-and-cheese sandwich he’d placed proudly in front of her.

“So wait, where did you learn to cook like this?” Toni knew the question was rude, but she liked teasing Alek. And judging from the slight upward tilt of his lips, he didn't mind much.

But it was an honest question, too. In all the months she been working for him, she'd never seen him cook anything. She’d never even seen him in the palace kitchens! They had an entire staff—two shifts of people!—entirely devoted to the royal family's meals. Every morning, breakfast was waiting for him in his sitting room, and his dinners were spent either with his family in the formal dining room, or with diplomats or businessmen who shared his interests. In fact, come to think of it, he spent his lunches that way too—working while sharing meals with people who could expand the interests of Aegiria. So where the hell had he learned to cook a fried egg?

Alek took the time to chew and swallow, then wiped some crumbs off his beard with a napkin he’d pulled from a roll. It was a far cry from the formal dinners he was used to, but it felt right to Toni. Normal. Like the meals she’d grown up with.

He cleared his throat as he reached for his tea. “Are you saying that because you’re appalled by my cooking skills?”

She chuckled. “No. I’m downright impressed. This was my father’s go-to meal whenever he had to cook for us kids when we were younger.” She smiled at the memory. “Tastes like home.”

“Oh. Well…” Alek shifted in his seat, as if uncomfortable. “It’s just about all I know how to make, honestly.”

“That’s okay. It’s all my father knows how to make too, I think.” She bit into the sandwich once more.

Across the table, Alek watched her for a few moments, before picking up his fried egg as well. Was he just making sure she was really eating, or did he honestly care about her opinion? Well, she hadn’t lied; this was good.

For the first time since waking up in his lap—hadn’t that been nice?—she really studied him. How did he manage to be this gorgeous after a kidnapping and imprisonment? He’d shucked his jacket and unbuttoned his tuxedo shirt down to his undershirt, and rolled up the sleeves. He was barefoot, but his pants were still perfectly pressed. He didn’t look any worse for the wear, except his eyes were ringed with exhaustion—when had he last slept?—and his beard needed some upkeep. Well, she’d seen the disposable razor in the bathroom, along with men’s toiletries. Whoever had kidnapped him hadn’t just wanted him to be unhurt, but well-taken care of, too.

To her surprise, Alek continued his story, although he spoke into his mug, which he cradled in two hands. She’d never seen him sit with both elbows on the table like that. There was something comforting about it, to see a rich and powerful man with his shirtsleeves rolled up and his elbows on the table…

“When I was a kid, my parents used to take us on a family vacation. Two weeks, just the eight of us, up in the mountains at a nice little cabin.” He smiled at his tea, as if remembering. “Well, it was actually a complex, with bunks for our security guards, but Mother insisted they be discrete, and allow us our privacy. It was the one time a year we didn’t have maids or nannies or cooks—just the family, a nice view of the lake, and some canoes. My younger brothers used to get into so much trouble.”

It sounded idyllic to Toni. “What about you?”

“What about me?”

“Did you get into trouble?” she clarified. “Or were you too busy being diplomatic and worrying about everyone else, and trying to make them get along?”

His stormy grey eyes narrowed. “You think you’ve got me all figured out, huh?”

“Well, I thought I did…” She propped her elbows on the table to match him, and waved her sandwich. “Until I discovered you make a mean fried egg.”

His lips twitched. “My mother insisted we learn how to fend for ourselves, at least during those two weeks. My father had been in the army, so while he wasn’t a gourmet chef, he could make plenty of simple meals. Mother was basically hopeless in the kitchen, which is why she wanted us to learn. Father taught us each to make a meal, and we were in charge of dinner one day during the vacation.” He chuckled a little. “Well, except for #5 and Johann—they can’t manage to do anything on their own, I guess, so they each learned to make two meals.”

“And you learned how to fry an egg?”

He looked a little abashed. “Ahh, sort of. The meal Father taught me to make was a pasta in pesto sauce, which I can manage, but it’s not my favorite. A fried egg sandwich is the only thing my mother can make, and she taught me how to do it one time when we got out of a meeting at two a.m. and she wouldn’t allow Maarten to wake any of the kitchen staff.”

The image of the crown prince and the queen huddled together in the kitchen in the wee hours of the morning was…endearing. Toni slowly smiled, then began to chuckle, at the picture Alek painted.

“What?”

“It’s…it’s just that’s not at all how you two appear to the public, but it’s really obvious you’re close. I can see why you admire her so much.” And are so conflicted about what you see as her betrayal, Toni silently added.

“She’s taught me to be proper and upstanding in the public eye.” Alek said stiffly, placing his mug down and sitting upright with a little frown. “It’s the way to maintain a healthy image.”

Damn, she shouldn’t have pointed it out. “No, I mean, it’s nice to know you’re not as uptight and arrogant as the media makes you appear.” It wasn’t completely a joke, so she hurried on when his frown deepened. “Spending time together, teaching skills, getting into trouble together, just your family…Forget public image. That’s how you maintain a healthy family life. How you foster love and respect.”

The frown stayed on his lips, but now he was staring down at his tea once more. Thinking about what she had said? Toni finished off the last of her sandwich, trying not to disturb him.

Man, this really is good.

Just as she reached for her own tea, a giant yawn caught her by surprise. She hadn’t realized how tired she was, but having food in her belly, and all her muscles relaxed from that hot shower…bliss. They were still prisoners, but with an endless supply of fried egg sandwiches and her very own intriguing boss—who she wasn’t completely sure she didn’t love—this imprisonment wasn’t so bad.

And Alek wasn’t in danger anymore, so there was that.

Another yawn, and this time he matched it, meeting her eyes. They both dissolved into chuckles, but that meant they just had to make up the yawns with another try.

“Did you sleep at all last night?”

“No,” Alek began to clumsily stack the dishes. “I’ll take care of these, then go lie down a bit.”

She stopped him, her hand on his. “No, they can wait. Go lie down now. Sleep.” He was her client, after all, and she cared about his well-being. Yeah, girl, she snorted at herself. Keep telling yourself that’s why.

He twisted his hand until it was upright and somehow holding hers, fingers entwined. How had that happened? And why didn’t she mind it, not one bit?

“And while I’m sleeping, Toni?”

“What?”

He stared into her eyes, a question on his face. “While I’m sleeping, what will you be doing? Poking around in here, rattling the locks and trying to break the window again? Pacing? Doing pushups?”

He knew her well. “I’ll be guarding you.” That’s my job, bodyguard.

His grip tightened. “Could you do that from the bedroom, please?”

Toni blinked at the please. It really meant that much to him? “Yeah, sure, I’ll sit watch while you sleep.” She probably didn’t have enough energy to pace anyhow.

He nodded and pulled her to her feet. Once in the bedroom and he finished unbuttoning his shirt and shucked it off, Toni flushed at the sight of him in his undershirt. He doesn’t look any worse for the wear, does he? Just as fine as during their training sessions.

He snagged her hand again, and sat down on the bed. She didn’t think anything of it ‘til he stretched out—on top of the blankets—and tugged her towards him. What?

Her confusion must’ve shown, because he adjusted his head to a comfier position, and said merely, “You can watch over me while you’re lying down, can’t you? You look like you’re about to fall over.”

Did she? Well, she could admit when she was exhausted. She sat beside him, and carefully stretched out on the bed. It really was comfortable.

“Good,” he murmured, right before he rolled over and gathered her in his arms.

She must’ve stiffened in surprise, because he made a soothing noise—halfway between a “shush” and a hum—and curled himself around her.

It wasn’t the first time she’d been in a bed with a man, but it was the first time in a long time she didn’t react with alarm when he pinned her down. Today, now…it was different. With Alek, she didn’t feel pinned down, didn’t feel pressed into the mattress, didn’t feel vulnerable.

She felt protected. Comforted. Cherished.

Slowly she rolled over, her back to him, and wiggled backwards a little until she could just feel this chest. The steady rise and fall was hypnotic, and she found herself breathing along with him.

He hummed again, shifted, and she felt his knee press between hers in the most natural, comfortable position. His arm tightened around her, his breath stirred the hairs at the back of her neck, and Toni realized it’d been a long time since she felt this comfortable.

A hell of a discovery, after a kidnapping. Still, this was…nice.

And if she could serve him by lying here with him while he slept, helping him feel better, she’d do it. After all, he watched over her all night, protecting her. The least she could do was lie here with him, listening to his deep breathing, and…keep…watch…