Her Bodyguard Read online

  that’s okay.”

  He’s asking permission from Fake Elvis to go off-script at our wedding.

  The thought sends a ripple of laughter through me again, and when I try to hold it in, my eyes water.

  “I know you’re all shook up by this grand gesture,” Albie says. And I snort. Out loud.

  I try to glare at him, but find it impossible to be angry.

  “On a serious note,” Albie says, clearing his throat. “People have an idea about how relationships should be. Boy meets girl, they fall in love, get married, and live happily ever after. Nothing about our relationship has happened the way it’s supposed to. We got married first. And you couldn’t stand me.”

  “I can’t imagine why,” I say, and the crowd laughs.

  “But then we fell in love,” Albie says. “And here we are, getting married for real this time. But that night in Las Vegas, when it was just the two of us – and Fake Elvis – that was the night I first fell in love with you. And as ridiculous as it might be, that’s where we began. And I never want to forget it.”

  Albie pulls me forward, his lips close to mine, and now we’re really off-script, but I don’t care.

  Fake Elvis says, “Well, you may kiss this hunk of –“

  And I do.

  Before Elvis even finishes, Albie pulls me against him and brings his lips down on mine. And when I close my eyes, it’s like kissing him again for the first time – butterflies in my stomach and the world spinning around me. Except this time, that’s not because I’ve had five shots of tequila in the back of a limo in Vegas.

  This time, it’s because I’m undeniably, head-over-heels, irresistibly in love.

  And I’m not the least bit nervous about showing it.

  In front of God and all of these witnesses.

  Including Fake Elvis.

  103

  Extra Epilogue

  Belle

  FIVE YEARS LATER

  "The juniors are going to be total hellions tonight," I inform Albie with a shake of my head. We call the twins (Leopold Jr. and Albert Jr.) "the juniors" for short. They're three years old now, and they're total terrors after a good dosage of sugar, which is exactly what King Leopold and my mother have planned for them tonight. How many kids get to have an ice-cream-sundae-making-party followed by movie night in a theater in a castle? The twins definitely don't know how lucky they are.

  It's a good thing they're adorable, because they'll be hyped-up little monsters for a while. I almost feel bad for my mother and Leo, but by now they should know what they're getting into.

  It's our fifth anniversary. Five years ago, Albie and I were married in the castle where in Protrovia where he was raised. Now our children get to tear headlong down the castle halls pretending to be knights slaying their grandfather, who makes a mean dragon. He also does a pretty dramatic fake death scene that never fails to send the kids into hysterics.

  "My father and Sofia are ecstatic to keep the boys tonight, whether they're hellions or not," Albie informs me. "They'll feed them sugar and let them stay up past their bedtimes and the boys will have a blast – and I'll get to spend my anniversary night debauching my wife."

  I laugh. "Oh, really?"

  "I have plans for you, wife." Albie grins as he pulls me against him and brings his lips to mine. My mouth opens for him and when his tongue finds mine, my heart races.

  He still makes my heart race after five years of marriage. I know that's not a lot of time in the grand scheme of things, but in parenting-of-twins years it feels like it's been longer. My mother implored us to get nannies, but both of us wanted to do everything ourselves.

  I think the lack of help made us stronger as a couple – all of the late-night feedings and the early months where we were both delirious and perpetually exhausted ended up being good for us. Albie is a great dad and a strong partner in life.

  Our romantic life has slowed down a little bit. Being parents of twins definitely takes a toll sometimes. The boys are exhausting. We haven't been swinging from the rafters lately. Our sex life now is more like stolen quickies during naptime and making out when the boys are in bed at night.

  But that's okay. Things might not be wild and crazy like when we were sneaking around the castle and trying not to get caught by Leo and my mother. Our relationship has grown and deepened over the years, which means that the sex has too – and Albie still manages to surprise me sometimes.

  I love this man with all of my heart and kissing him still gives me butterflies. It still sends a little shiver down my spine.

  "You have goose bumps," Albie whispers as his hands skim over my bare arms. I'm all dressed up for dinner tonight in my heels and a little black dress. Suddenly, though, I wish dinner wasn't part of the evening plans at all.

  "It's chilly in here."

  He smiles. "You're such a liar, Belle."

  I laugh. "Fine. You gave me goose bumps. Is that what you want to hear?"

  He lets out a low rumble under his breath. "Always. Always and forever."

  "Do we have to go to dinner?" I put my finger on his chest and slide it down the front of his shirt. What I really want to do is yank at the buttons and tear this shirt right off of my husband.

  Albie's eyebrows go up. "We don't have to do anything you don't want to do." When he pulls me tighter against him, his hardness presses into my leg and sends a rush of heat through my body. "What would you like to do, Belle?"

  "Hmm." I pretend to consider the question for a moment. "I'm not really sure. Do you have any suggestions?"

  I inhale sharply as he slides his hands under my thighs and lifts me up off the floor. "Let's skip dinner. That's my suggestion."

  "I do have a different kind of meal in mind," he replies lasciviously.

  I let out a giggle as he carries me upstairs, applying kisses to my neck along the way. After we were married, the king gave us the summer house. This place has become our home and it's a wonderful one – loud and sometimes chaotic, but always warm and filled with love. When he passes the bedroom with me still in his arms, my breath quickens. "What kind of meal would that be? And where are you taking me?"

  "You'll see. I was saving a little surprise for later, but it seems as if it would come in handier now."

  "There's a glint in your eye I haven't seen in a while."

  "I have reason for that, wife." Stopping at one of the guest rooms, he puts his finger on a keypad to unlock it.

  "That's some high-tech security. Are you hiding something pricey in here? Did you get me diamonds?"

  Albie laughs. "You're not getting diamonds, but nice try." He pauses just inside the room. "Close your eyes."

  "Now I'm intrigued."

  I close my eyes and he sets me down. Without saying a word he unzips the back of my dress and it falls to the floor. Then I'm just standing there in my bra, panties, and heels. He lets out a little growl, and then his hands are on my hips as he pulls off my panties.

  Slowly, he reaches around my back and unhooks my bra, sliding the straps over my shoulders. Then I'm standing there with the cool air wafting over my naked body and my eyes closed, waiting for whatever comes next.

  "Well?" I ask.

  I inhale sharply as he begins to make his way up my body, applying kisses up the length of my legs and to the sides of my hips. He doesn't put his tongue between my legs the way I'm already aching for him to do. Instead he keeps moving up my body, his lips trailing along my abdomen until he reaches my breasts. There, his tongue finds one nipple and then the other, stroking each until they're hard little nubs. My eyes still closed, I pull his head tighter against my breasts as arousal washes over me.

  "Keep your eyes closed, Belle," he orders. I do as he says, waiting with anticipation as he moves away from my breasts and takes my hand in his to lead me blindly toward whatever he has planned for us. When he stands behind me, his breath warms my skin. "Now you can look."

  When I open my eyes, my hand immediately goes to my mouth. "What is this?"