Page 104 of A Royal Mistake

And now here she was, launching her second worksite with Henry at her side. Their work often took them in opposite directions, but they were making the best of it, planning their missions carefully and taking respite in Valeria or Liechtenstein whenever their schedules allowed.

Well, maybe respite was too gentle a word for what they were doing, but they were newlyweds, after all.

Life was good, even if the pump she’d spent all afternoon installing was defective. Sure, wasting an entire afternoon grated, but there was nothing to be done about it now. Besides, the morning had been a smashing success.

Four new students had shown up for her entrepreneurship lessons and all the women had proven to be quick studies. Stanley International wasn’t without its setbacks, but she was living her dream and paying it forward.

“Just give it a few quick pumps,” Henry said, staring down the faucet of the water pump.

Busara, who was standing closest to the hand pump, shot Pippa a questioning glance. She shrugged. Who was she to deny her dearest husband from proving her wrong?

The girl did as instructed and thewhooshof running water rushed up the line. Much to Henry’s surprise, it didn’t run out of the faucet. It burst from the base pipe, an icy stream of water hitting him right in the groin.

He doubled over with a rather colorful curse—his firm arse on display for all to see—and the volunteers broke into peals of laughter. Pippa joined in when her husband slipped and fell, landing flat on his back in the mud.

When the stream of water slowed to a trickle, she sauntered over, staring down at him from above. “What was that you were saying about a defective pipe?”

He grinned up at her, no worse for the wear, despite having mud caked in his hair. “It’s possible I was mistaken.”

“A man who can admit when he’s wrong.” She crouched down at his side. “A rare breed. Or so I’m told.”

“Just one of the many reasons you love me.”

“Modest too.” Pippa rolled her eyes, not caring that her smile was giving her away. She loved Henry with all her heart, and she couldn’t imagine her life without him. “Need a hand?”

She reached out to help him up, but when he took her hand, he gave a hard tug, pulling her down in the mud with him. She squealed and tumbled forward, landing right on top of him.

“I may need more than a hand.”

“You’re incorrigible.” She tried to get up, but the mud squished beneath them, making it impossible to climb to her feet. Resigned to her fate, she smiled wide and scooped up a handful of mud. Then she wiped it on Henry’s cheek.

“I may be incorrigible,” he said, grabbing her wrists and pinning them to his chest, “but at least I don’t fight dirty.”

“Just one of the many reasons you love me,” she returned, laughing as she threw his own line back at him.

“Indeed.” He shifted onto his side, effectively rolling her into the muck. Cool mud slipped up the back of her shirt and under the hem of her shorts, but it wasn’t so bad. Everything was better with Henry, even a mud bath. “You know what else I’m going to love?” he asked, whispering against her ear. “Washing every inch of your sexy body when we get back to camp.”

Heat pooled low in her belly and she had to remind herself they had an audience. Otherwise, she might’ve started humping him right there in the mud. Talk about undignified. Her hormones had been out of control lately, but apparently that was to be expected.

Still, she was a princess and married or not, she did occasionally have to follow the rules of decorum.

Or, you know, decency.

“The broken pipe can wait until tomorrow,” she announced, lifting her head to address the volunteers who were still snickering at their expense. “It’s getting late and we should probably head back to camp.”

Henry squeezed her hip. “Have I told you lately that I like the way your mind works?”

“Don’t tell me. Show me.”

* * *

Pippa was alreadyin the shower by the time Henry shucked his filthy clothes and grabbed a clean pair of shorts. A quick inspection of the bath house confirmed they had the place to themselves.

Thank Christ.He needed some quality time with his wife.

He pushed the curtain aside and slipped into the makeshift stall with Pippa. The water was icy and barely a trickle, but he didn’t care. He intended to make good on his promise to scrub every inch of her clean.

Hell, maybe he’d even use his tongue.