A Queen for Christmas Read online

  Finishing up, I use the ashtray placed out here for my guests. Walking back inside, I am just in time for the dinner gong. I follow the swarm of people who are making their way to the dining room. Most people are already seated and eating bread by the time I make my way to the head of the table which suggests a severe lack of manners. My queen would know to wait for their host before sitting down to eat. This helps me narrow down who I will not be choosing. I sit down and gesture to the few women who remained standing. Class and breeding are a thing of the past it seems. We are well into the second course when the door to the dining room bangs open. Everyone stops talking and looks up at the site then back at me.

  "Your Highness, Princess Grace of Morea and Lady Sarina Des Plase of Morea," the herald says in his signature manner. When he steps to the left and the women come into view, I drop my fork. It, of course, makes the loudest clanging sound as humanly possible as it hits my plate and then the table. Both girls are in a deep curtsey, but they look up at the sound. I am met with the warmest honey brown eyes I have ever seen. Her long blonde hair is curly, at least I think it is blonde. She is covered head to toe in mud.

  "Who is who?" I blurt out gruffly. The one who is pristinely dressed in a white dress elbows the other and pushes in front of her. But it’s the girl who looks like she's been rolling around in the mud that I cannot take my eyes off of. It is as if my eyes are glued to her angelic hourglass image.

  "I am Sarina, Your Majesty," the girl in white says.

  Abruptly, I stand and walk over to them. "You may sit and eat,” I tell Sarina. Looking at the angel, “You will come with me, Princess," I say boldly taking her hand. Pulling her from the room, I all but drag her to my study. “What happened to you?” I ask tucking a piece of soaked hair behind her ear.

  "Your Majesty?" she questions. The soft sound of her voice goes through me.

  "Please call me Holden," I tell her. I do not have a plan but getting her alone was all I could think about. She smiles softly. “Tell me how this came to be,” I say gesturing to her once peach-colored pantsuit that is now soaked and splattered with dirt.

  “This crazy storm came out of nowhere making it next to impossible to see a few feet in front of us. While I was driving, I was hit from behind and ended up sliding into a ditch on the side of the road. I got out to see that everything was okay and realized we were stuck.” she says, surprising me.

  “Where is the person that hit you?” I all but growl.

  “They drove off. I have no idea who they were.”

  “You were driving yourself?” I ask. She just nods. “And you were going to what, fix your car on your own?” When she nods again my dick hardens. She might be a princess, but she sure as hell doesn’t act like the ones I’ve met. Damn, that is pretty inspiring.

  "Holden, why am in here?" she asks looking around the office.

  "I, uh," Rubbing the back of my neck in frustration, I stop short. "I am sure you'd like to change. I'd like to offer my assistance," I say grinning.

  She giggles. "You want to help me change my clothes?"

  "More than I want my next breath." I can just imagine it now. Having her bared to me will bring me the greatest joy. Watching her get round with my child will do that as well.

  "I have never been that kind of girl, Your Majesty. And I never will be." She says sharply.

  "Holden," I remind her moving closer. "You may not have been that kind of girl, but you will be." I can already imagine her lithe body underneath mine. My cock is hard just thinking about it. Everything in me is telling me to claim her. It is as though it is ingrained in my DNA, propelling me to act out of character.

  "Excuse me?" she asks incredulously.

  "When you are my queen, you will think nothing of disrobing in front of me," I tell her matter of factly. She does not balk at my suggestion, she merely raises her eyebrow at me. She’s acting proper, but I can see the heat that burns in her eyes.

  "That is pretty presumptuous of you, milord. You don't know the first thing about me. I could be a bitch and make your life miserable."

  "No, you are not,” I say disagreeing with her. “Lady Sarina, total bitch. You, not so much. Tell me I am wrong." She opens and closes her mouth but says nothing. “That’s what I thought,” I tell her, closing the little bit of distance between us pressing her against the nearest wall.

  “I don’t want to get your suit dirty, Holden,” she whispers.

  “What the fuck do I care about a suit, Grace?” At this moment, the state of my suit is not on my radar.

  “You should. You have a house full of guests.”

  “You are the only one that matters,” I tell her.

  “You shouldn’t say that,” she says.

  “Why not? It is the truth.”

  “I don’t understand what’s happening,” she breathes out innocently.

  Her lips are under mine before I can stop myself. When she moans, I deepen the kiss but then pull back slightly. “You are mine, Princess Grace of Morea. You better get used to it,” I tell her before taking her lips again.

  Chapter Four

  Gracie

  For a first kiss, it blows all of my expectations out of the water. His words play in my mind as his tongue sweeps across my closed lips, coaxing me to open. You are mine. I hear as his fingers slip into my wet locks, holding onto me like I’m his. I’ve never wanted to be owned more in my life then I do in this instant. He tugs on the strands of my hair and I gasp, feeling the tug all the way down to my core. Slipping his tongue into my mouth, I moan at his taste. I reach my hands up over his chest and wrap my hands around his thick muscular neck falling deeper into his kiss.

  Long moments later I slide my hands down his shoulders and grasp his bulging biceps to pull away from the kiss. I’m breathing heavy, trying to catch my breath. Holy shit, did that just happen? Did King Montrose just kiss me? When I look up at the devilishly handsome king, he’s staring down at me with something akin to desire in his deep blue eyes. He reaches up and wipes just under my bottom lip.

  “Let’s get you into dry clothes so you don’t catch a cold.” He says, then steps back and grasps my hand, lacing his fingers through mine. Holden walks us over to stand in front of the fireplace that already has a fire burning in it. “I will find your things, stay here in front of the fire to stay warm.” He says then kisses the top of my head and walks out of the study closing the door behind him.

  Holding my hands close to the fire, the warmth seeps into my cold and wet body. A crystal clock ticks on the mantle of the ornate fireplace. The constant ticking and the crackle of the burning wood sets me at ease. When the bone-deep chill is gone, I turn to look around the king’s study. The room is large with bookcases taking up the far wall, filled with an array of many books. A large mahogany desk sits towards the back of the room in front of the bookcases. There are two brown leather club chairs in front of his desk and the fireplace is in the center of one of the side walls. The room is dark but lit with warm lighting and reminds me of my father’s study. The subtle differences let me know I am in the heart of the lion’s den so to speak.

  I’ve lived my entire life on the outside with no friends to rely on or share my life with. Even when I was away at University, I was lonely. It could have been my guards that were always ten steps behind me. Maybe it was that I wasn’t the charismatic Princess the public was hoping for. Instead of worrying about this, I focused on my studies and helping out at the teen shelters when able. My look and social standing have never meant much to me. From the beginning, I could always spot those who tried getting close, hoping to gain something from being in my circle. Not that I had a circle to speak of. Eventually, I ignored the people who tried talking to me. For this reason, I’ve always been close with my parents and brother. Sadly, being a Princess isn’t as glamorous as some make it out to be.

  The door opens and in walks Holden wearing an expression I cannot decipher. If I had to guess, I’d say he looked frustrated.

  “Everythi
ng okay?” I ask uneasily.

  He smiles at me and the feeling disappears. “Of course. I just had to do a bit of moving things around. You’d think since I’m the king, it wouldn’t be an issue,” he says holding out his elbow for me to take.

  Looping my arm through his, he walks me out of his study and up a sprawling staircase. The ornately detailed banister is smooth as I glide my hand up to the second flight of stairs. The home is beautiful and reminds me of my own. It must be lonely living in such a large estate alone.

  “Does anyone else live here?” I wonder aloud as we reach the second floor.

  “Only some of the people who work for me.”

  I follow along as Holden leads us down one corridor, then the next, getting further and further away from the main floor. I doubt he has his guests staying this close to what has to be his royal chambers. After turning down another corridor, he stops in front of a door and opens it, gesturing for me to enter.

  I’m used to nice accommodations since my father is a king, but this is on another level. The room is warm, with a new fire burning in the fireplace. There are red roses in crystal vases placed around the room and the four-poster canopy bed has been turned down with a single rose placed in the middle of the pillows. There are also candles that have been lit among the room giving a warm glow and the scent of Christmas trees. I inhale the sweet and spicy scent.

  “You didn’t need to go to this much trouble for me Holden. I would have been fine to have stayed with the rest of the guests.”

  “How did you know?” He asks with a smile quirking at his mouth

  “A smart king wouldn’t put his guests this close to him. Which begs the question, why me?”

  His smile fades and the intensity and heat from before are back. Stepping up to me, he holds my face in the palm of one of his large hands. “I’m not willing to scare you off my Gracie, but I need you close. You will be queen soon enough and you’ll need to be protected at all costs.”

  “What if I don’t want to be your queen?” I ask, crossing my arms across my chest. He’s sexy as hell and I feel connected to him like no one I ever have before, but I barely know him.

  Holden’s expression gets more serious if that’s even possible. Stepping closer, instinctively I move back until my back is flat against one of the bedposts. Holden takes my mouth in another soul-searing kiss leaving my head dizzy, my heart fluttering, and my panties drenched with need. Grabbing my hands, he holds them high against the post in one of his while his other grasps my chin in a firm but loving hold.

  Holden pulls away and I moan in frustration. “Every time you say you aren’t going to be my queen, I’ll prove that you will be, and soon. You cannot deny our connection, Gracie. I knew the moment I looked into your honey-colored eyes you were going to be my queen and help me lead this country as you grow round with our Princes and Princesses.”

  The fact that he’s calling me Gracie only softens my heart to the man. He’s right, there is something between us that I cannot deny, even if I wanted to. Every time he says I’ll be his queen, the restlessness and loneliness that’s plagued me for months eases. Like pieces of a puzzle that never came together, suddenly he’s filling in all the empty spaces making me whole.

  “Get dressed into something warm. Do you want to eat downstairs with everyone else or would you prefer to eat just the two of us?”

  I’d love to get into something warm and snuggle into the bed behind me, but that’s not what I should do. “I’ll be down in ten minutes.”

  Holden releases my hands to my sides and kisses me softly. “I’ll wait outside for you. Take your time.” Then he walks out the door and closes it, no room for argument.

  Chapter Five

  Holden

  I have barely been outside the closed door for two seconds when she flings the door open again. I look her up and down. She has kicked off her heels and she’s now even shorter than she was. I could pick her up and put her in my pocket. She barely reaches my chest.

  “You really stayed?” she asks incredulously.

  “Of course. I said that I would. I always keep my word.”

  “I seem to remember you said you would help with my clothes,” she says shyly.

  “I did say that,” I tell her crowding her until we walk back into the room.

  Reaching my hands out, I deftly open the two buttons on her still soaked blazer and slowly drop it down her shoulders and off of her arms. Her peach silk tank top is just as dirty as the rest of her clothes. Poor girl. I am beginning to hate her traveling companion a little more than I did downstairs. Who the fuck lets their princess do something like that? I hesitate for a split second at the edge of the shirt. She puts her tiny cold hands on mine.

  “My king?” she questions, snapping me back to reality. She has finally accepted that she will be mine.

  “This shirt is ruined, no?”

  “It is,” she breathes. Her chest rising and falling rapidly as she sucks in breath after breath. I grin and grip her scooped collar, wrenching it down the middle and toss the scraps. She gasps and then she moans. I cannot help but stare. Her large breasts are impressively encased in a lacy peach bra. I suck in a breath as she opens the clasp on her pants and lets them fall down her legs. Gracefully, she steps out of them leaving her in skimpy underthings.

  “I have never been this exposed in front of a man,” she tells me, the meaning behind her words clear. I should not take this for granted, and I won’t.

  “I am not just any man though, am I?” She shakes her head, but I need more. “Answer me, princess. I must hear the words,” I demand.

  “No, my king.”

  My lips are on hers in a second. Her answering moan spurs me on. Lifting her into my arms, her legs wrap around my waist and I realize that I am wearing entirely too many clothes. I take her to the bed, and lay her across it, sideways. She props her feet up on the bed so I can see just how wet she is through her panties. I lean back and begin to remove my jacket. She jumps up from the bed and loosens the knot in my tie and swiftly unbuttons my shirt and tosses it away. She fumbles a little at my belt but gets it open. Then my pants are around my ankles. I never wear boxers or anything, so I am bared to her. She lets out a sexy squeak when her gaze lowers to my cock but does not say anything.

  “You are so fucking beautiful,” I tell her advancing on her until the backs of her knees hit the bed.

  “Thank you, Holden,” she says as she falls back on the bed. I stand between her thighs and look down at her. Hooking my thumbs into the edge of her soaked panties, I slide them down her legs and toss them behind me. I palm her breasts through the delicate fabric of her bra before opening the front clasp. Her nipples are pebbled to hard points. My mouth waters as I lean down and pull one into my mouth before moving to the other one. She moans and writhes under my touch.

  I grip my cock and stroke the length of it before placing it at her opening.

  “Once I do this my sweet Gracie, you are mine forever. I have never been with another woman, and I never will be. Only my queen will have me. Do you want this, us, forever?”

  “Yes,” she says looking into my eyes without hesitation. I slide into her slowly. So slowly in order to savor the feel of her tight pussy wrapped around my cock. I can feel her virginity. In this day and age, I had hoped she would be pure for me, but I did not really expect it. I pause. “Don’t stop, my king. Make me yours,” she moans, and I surge forward, quickly breaking through her barrier. She sucks in a breath and bites her lips as she adjusts to my size. I’m worried I’ve hurt her and consider pulling out and running her a hot bath to soothe the pain I’ve caused. Slowly she looks up, lets out a breath, and her eyes lock on mine. Gripping my shoulders, she shocks me when she moves her hips, trying to get closer to me. Her legs wrap around my waist as I fuck into her, still standing by the edge of the bed. I slide in and out of her, over and over until she starts to shake beneath me and screams loudly, her long fingernails digging into my forearms. I am sure the entire c
astle can hear her, but I do not care at this moment. I can’t take it anymore and I fill her with my seed and pray that it takes hold.

  Pulling out of her, I lift her into my arms and carry her into the on-suite bathroom that connects the king’s and queen’s quarters. We will not be using that side as her bedroom. She will be in my bed from this day onward. I set her down on the counter and move to turn the shower on. Once the room is filled with steam, I carry her into the shower. She clings to me and I love it. I assist her in washing up and then do the same. Her skin is pink as we step out onto the bathmat before I take her into my room.

  “Wait here,” I say as I step back into the other room and grab her suitcase. I deposit it on my bed, and she begins to get dressed while I step into my closet and put on another suit. I leave my tie undone, but she expertly ties it for me. She raises up on her tiptoes to kiss me when she is done causing me to chuckle. She looks amazing in a green dress and brown boots. The only makeup she puts on is lipgloss.

  “Are you ready, my king? I’m starving,” she asks drawing me out of my staring game. Fuck, I could look at her forever. God willing, I will get to.

  Hand in hand, we walk back downstairs, not caring that the rest of the party can see us as we enter the dining room. From a glance at the plate closest to me, they are still on the fourth course of eight. I move to the head of the table, both seats next to me are taken, so I do the only thing I can think of.

  “I need everyone on this side to scoot down one seat,” I say gesturing to the right side.

  “Excuse me, Your Majesty?” Lady Danvie of Degros asks.