Free [Montacroix Royal Family Series 01] - Guarded Moments by Joann Ross Page A

leaving his, "you are willing to turn your back on whatever is happening between us because of artificial barriers."
    "They're not artificial," he insisted.
    How could she not see that they came from different worlds? Different universes. His days consisted of long, often boring work, and although traveling with the president of the United States had its moments, his life was far removed from the glitter and wealthy circles a princess moved in. He lived in a comfortable, two-bedroom apartment in one of the city's more eclectic neighborhoods; she resided in a palace. He made a decent living; her jewels alone were worth more than the entire treasuries of most Third World nations.
    "Your food's getting cold," he pointed out, looking at her untouched plate of enchiladas, tacos, rice and refried beans.
    "I'm suddenly no longer hungry."
    "Now that's a first."
    "As you so succinctly pointed out," Chantal said, "I'm full of surprises." Rising from the table, she marched out of the restaurant, leaving Caine to follow.
    The ride back to the hotel was a silent one. A short, intermittent rain had begun during their dinner, and the only sound in the limousine was the swish-swish of the wipers as they brushed the water off the windshield.
    "Aren't you at all curious?" she asked finally.
    "Curious?"
    They'd stopped at a red light. Chantal's head was turned away, her gaze directed toward the rain-washed sidewalk where a man and woman were kissing under the protection of a wide black umbrella. As she watched the tender lovers so oblivious to the outside world, Chantal felt a sharp stab of envy like nothing she'd ever known.
    "I've been wondering for days what it would be like to kiss you," she said. Her soft voice was little more than a whisper but easily heard in the intimate confines of the limousine.
    "I suppose it's a natural enough curiosity."
    "Then you have also wondered?"
    Caine shrugged. "Of course. You're a remarkably enticing woman. Princess. Any man would be tempted to kiss you."
    "Yet you're not a man to easily succumb to temptation, are you, Caine?"
    "No. I'm not."
    He was an absolute paragon of restraint. Chantal found herself admiring Caine even though his rigid self-control was driving her crazy. She sighed softly. "Then I'm afraid we have a slight problem."
    "What's that?"
    "Unlike you, I've always believed in following my instincts. And to tell the truth, I'm not certain I can get through another night without knowing."
    As the light turned green and the car started through the intersection, she leaned toward Caine, her eyes gleaming with sensual intent.
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    Muttering a soft oath, Caine succumbed to the inevitable as Chantal brushed her lips lightly against his, tasting, testing.
    She had thought she'd known what Caine's kiss would be like, but as he drew her closer, she realized that even her most vivid fantasy paled in the face of reality.
    It wasn't that his mouth was harsh or impatient. To her surprise, he made no attempt to rush them into quick intimacy. When the tip of his tongue circled her parted lips, she sighed. When his teeth nibbled enticingly at her lower lip, she trembled. And when he slipped his tongue between her lips to touch hers, she sighed again and shuddered.
    Chantal had grown up in the lap of wealth and privilege. Never had she known need. Until now. As every tingling nerve ending in her body became focused on her mouth, on the sheer glory Caine was capable of bringing to a mere kiss, Chantal, for the first time in her life, experienced true hunger.
    "Well? Is your curiosity satisfied?" he asked, nibbling gently on her earlobe.
    "Oh, not yet." Her hands went to either side of his face, drawing his lips back to hers. "More."
    "Anything you say, Your Highness," he said against her mouth. He'd tried to resist her and failed. Now the only thing to do was to accept this for what it was—an exceptional, once-in-a-lifetime experience—then get on with his life.
    A longing slowly built up