As we walk around, you’ll see evidence of the Cycladic civilization and the Byzantium empire.”
Alex had seen the show many times before with visiting dignitaries, but tonight he was with Dottie and he’d never felt so alive. The balmy air caused him to forget everything but the exciting woman who sat next to him.
Throughout the program he could tell by her questions and remarks that she loved it. After it was over he lounged against a temple column while she explored. The tourists had started leaving, yet all he could see was her beautiful silhouette against the night sky. She’d put her hair back so her distinctive profile was revealed. She was dressed in another skirt and blouse, and he was reminded of the first time he’d seen her in his office.
“Dottie?” he called softly in the fragrant night air as he moved behind her. She let out a slight gasp and swung around.
He caught her to him swiftly and kissed her mouth to stop any other sound from escaping. Her lips were warm and tempting, but he didn’t deepen the kiss. “Forgive me for doing that,” he whispered against them, “but I didn’t want you to say Your Highness and draw attention. Come and get in the car. It’s late.”
He helped her into the backseat with him and shut the door. “I’m not going to apologize for what I did,” he murmured against her hot cheek. “If you want to slap me, you have my permission. But if I’m going to be punished for it, I’ll take my chances now and give you a proper reason.”
Alex’s compelling mouth closed over Dottie’s with a hunger that set her knees knocking. She’d sensed this moment was inevitable. Since her arrival in Hellenica, they’d been together early in the morning, late at night and most of the hours in between. He possessed a lethal sensuality for which she had no immunity.
Knowing he had no plans to marry Princess Genevieve, Dottie settled deeper into his arms and found herself giving him kiss for kiss. It was time she faced an ironic truth about herself. She wasn’t any different than the rest of the female population who found the prince so attractive, they’d give anything to be in her position.
Royal scandal might abound, but she’d just discovered there was a reason for it. Forbidden fruit with this gorgeous male made these moments of physical intimacy exquisite. When a man was as incredibly potent and exciting as Alex, you could blot out everything else, even the fact that the driver ferrying them back to the palace was aware of every sound of ecstasy pouring out of her.
She finally put her hands against his chest and tore her mouth from his so she could ease back enough to look at him. Still trying to catch her breath, she asked, “Do you know what we are, Your Highness?” Her voice sounded less than steady to her own ears. She hated her inability to control that part of her.
“Suppose you tell me,” he said in a husky voice.
“We’re both a cliché. The prince and the hired help, nipping out for a little pleasure. I’ve just confirmed everything I’ve ever read in books and have seen on the news about palace intrigue.”
“Who are you more angry at?” he murmured, kissing the tips of her fingers. “Me, for having taken unfair advantage? Or you, for having the right of refusal at any time which you didn’t exercise? I’m asking myself if I’m fighting your righteous indignation that served you too late, or the ghost of your dead husband.”
She squirmed because he’d hit the mark dead center. “Both,” she answered honestly.
“Tell me about your husband. Was it love at first sight with him?”
“I don’t know. It just seemed right from the beginning.”
“Give me a few details. I really want to know what it would be like to have that kind of freedom.”
Dottie stirred restlessly, sensing he meant what he said. “We met in Albany, New York, where I was raised. I went to the local pharmacy to pick up a prescription for my aunt. Neil had just been hired as a new pharmacist. It was late and there weren’t any other customers.
“He told me it would take a while to get it ready, so we began talking. The next day he phoned and asked me out with the excuse that he’d just moved there from New York City and didn’t know anyone. He was fun and kind and very smart.
“On our first date we went to a movie. After it was over, he told me he was going to marry me and there was nothing I could do about it. Four months later we got married and before we knew it, Cory was on the way. I was incredibly happy.”
Alex’s arm tightened around her. “I envy you for having those kinds of memories.”
“Surely you have some wonderful ones, too.”
A troubled sigh escaped his lips. “To quote you on several occasions, even if I am a prince, the one thing I’ve never had power over was my own personal happiness. Duty to my country came first. My marriage to Teresa was planned years before we got together, so any relationships I had before the wedding couldn’t be taken seriously.
“She was beautiful in her own way, very accomplished. Sweet. But it was never an affair of the heart or anything close to it. On his deathbed, my father commanded me to marry her. I couldn’t tell him I wouldn’t.”
Dottie shuddered. “Did you love him?”
“Yes.”
“I can’t comprehend being in your shoes, but I admire you for being so devoted to your father and your country. Did Teresa love you?”
He took a steadying breath. “Before she died, she told me she’d fallen in love with me. I told her the same thing, not wanting to hurt her. She told me I was a liar, but she said she loved me for it.”
“Oh, Alex … How hard for both of you.”
“I wanted to fall in love with her, but we both know you can’t force something that’s not there. Zoe was my one gift from the gods who brood over Mount Pelos.”
Her gaze lifted to his. “Not to be in love and have to marry—that’s anathema to me. No wonder you seek relief in the shadows with someone handy like me. I get it, Alex. I really do. And you didn’t take unfair advantage of me. It’s been so long since I’ve been around an attractive man, my hormones are out of kilter right now.”
“Is that what this tension is between us? Hormones?” he said with a twinge of bitterness she felt pierce her where it hurt most.
“I don’t have a better word for it.” She buried her face in her hands. “I loved Neil more than you can imagine. Thank heaven neither of us had a royal bone in our bodies to prevent us from knowing joy.”
He stroked the back of her neck in a way that sent fingers of delight down her spine. “How did you manage after they were killed?”
“My aunt. She reminded me not everyone had been as lucky as I’d been. Her boyfriend got killed when he was deployed overseas in the military, so she never married. In her inimitable way she told me to stop pitying myself and get on with something useful.
“Her advice prompted me to go to graduate school in New York City and become a speech therapist. After graduation I was hired on by the Stillman Institute. Little did I know that all the time I’d been helping Cory with his speech that last year, I was preparing for a lifetime career.”
“Is your aunt still alive?”
“No. She died fourteen months ago.”
“I’m sorry. I wish she were still living so I could thank her for her inspired advice. My Zoe is thriving because of you.” He pulled her closer. “What about your parents?”
“They died in a car crash when I was just a little girl.”
“It saddens me you’ve had to deal with so much grief.”
“It comes to us all. In my aunt’s case, it was good she passed away. With her chronic pneumonia, she could never recover and every illness made her worse.”
“My