Page 33 of The Accidental Prince (Accidentally in Love #3)

“ Y ou’re not going to drown me, are you?” Serena held on to the sides of the sailboat, while the wind battered her bonnet. The skies were gray, and the dark waters of the North Sea appeared more grim than inviting.

“I’ve sailed before, but it’s been a few years.” He pulled at one of the ropes, adjusting the canvas sail and tying it off. “If we do capsize, we’ll die together.”

“That’s not reassuring.” When another wave tossed the boat, she lurched forward, landing on her knees. “Was this meant to be romantic?”

Karl reached out to help her up. “The boat is yours. If it’s your wish, I’ll take you anywhere you want to go.”

He meant it. This was his way of offering to help her, if she no longer wished to face her father.

Deep inside, her heart softened at his gesture.

“I know this…journey of ours never turned out the way it should have,” she said.

Sadness clung to her heart as she saw the stoic expression on his face.

“I want you to go back to Lohenberg. Create the life you were meant to have. Perhaps you could be an ambassador.” The role would suit him, for he could be the voice of the king better than anyone.

Karl edged his way closer and reached around her waist for another rope.

“That’s not the life I want.” His hazel eyes held a steadiness and a sudden flash of anger.

“There’s something else I want now.” Within his expression, she saw a man who wasn’t going to let her go. A man bent upon possessing her.

“What is it?”

His mouth came close, resting above hers. “I want to watch you dancing in the rain until your gown is wet against your skin.” He kissed her throat, his hands sliding over her shoulders. “I want to smash hazelnuts with rocks and hear your laughter.”

When his arms closed around her, Serena released the tears gathering. “We had that, only a few days ago.”

His hand passed over her tears, wiping the dampness away, then kissing her cheeks. “I want it back. And I want you to leave with me now.”

“I wish I could give you my kingdom,” she murmured, resting her head against his chest.

“I don’t need it any more.”

Another gust of wind struck the boat, and Karl adjusted the sails, bringing them closer to the shoreline. Serena realized it was a more isolated part of the island, one she’d never seen before.

The bottom of the boat struck sand, and Karl disembarked, his legs sloshing through the frigid water.

He hauled the vessel closer and lowered the sails, anchoring it.

Grassy hills stretched from the sand, lined with occasional boulders of limestone.

There were no houses or people, as far as she could see.

They were alone here, and as he guided her up the hill, she reveled in the freedom.

“Norway lies over there,” he told her, pointing out toward the sea. “Or Sweden, if you’d prefer it.”

Though she understood his offer to take her away was sincere, she couldn’t accept it. “He would only follow me there. I need to face him, Karl.”

“Then I’m not leaving your side.”

She stared at him, understanding that he would be caught up in her father’s fury and suffer for it. Or there would be fighting between the Lohenberg guards and her father’s soldiers. Her rebellion would cause men to be wounded or some might die.

She took a deep breath, knowing that the only way she could protect any of them was to surrender herself and go back to Badenstein.

Her father’s greatest weakness was his pride, and she could irrevocably damage it by publicly admitting her desire for freedom, abdicating the throne.

The king would have no choice but to let her go, particularly if she threatened to expose his punishments and create a scandal.

She didn’t doubt that he would strike her again. But she could endure the pain if it meant fighting for her freedom. And when she’d cut the ties to her country, she might find a way to be with Karl.

“Why did you bring me here?” she whispered.

“To give you a choice. I didn’t want you to be taken against your will.” He led her to sit down upon the hill, and he joined her, staring out at the dark gray water.

Serena untied her bonnet, setting it aside.

Today would be their last afternoon together for a long time.

Perhaps forever, if her plan didn’t work.

The thought was like a jagged blade slicing her heart open, for Karl would always be the man who had shown her courage, who had taught her how to live without fear.

She couldn’t find the words to show him the way she felt.

But before she ventured back into the lion’s den, she wanted a precious memory for herself.

Something that would let him know what he meant to her.

The sunlight spilled over the hills, warming her skin. One by one, Serena removed the pins in her hair, placing them inside the bonnet for safekeeping. Her hair slid over her shoulders, and Karl was watching her with unguarded need—as if he were savoring the very sight of her.

When she turned to him, she admitted, “I wish I could have married you.”

“Then we’ll do it now. Right here.”

Serena smiled at him, and he took her hands, staring into her eyes. “I, Karl Ludwig Eduard von Lohenberg, take you—”

She saw the hooded desire in his face, and the last barrier in her heart crumbled away. “Serena Louisa Alexandra von Badenstein,” she finished.

“To be my wife.”

Tears filled up her eyes, but she repeated the vow of marriage. It wasn’t legal, and there were no witnesses. In the eyes of the world, they weren’t married.

But she understood the unspoken meaning behind his words. They were a promise, to love and protect her. When Karl bent to kiss her, his mouth was warm, demanding her surrender as he took her lips with his.

She returned the kiss, seeking the forbidden tremors that he evoked within her body. Every part of her opened to him, knowing that his touch would never seek to hurt her. She guided his hands to the back of her gown, placing his fingers against the buttons. “Help me with these, Karl.”

His mouth pressed to hers, his heated breath melting through her. “You don’t know what you’re asking of me.”

“I’m asking you to love me. In the time we have left together.”

In his eyes, she saw the dark resolve and he swore, “This isn’t finished between us, Serena. I’m not letting you go.”

She gave him no answer, distracting him with her kiss. She didn’t care if she was throwing herself at him. This was their time together. A time when she would do as she wanted, not what she ought to do.

Her kiss provoked him, and when his tongue slid against hers, she opened to him. Serena felt the buttons falling away, revealing her chemise and corset. Karl broke away, his breathing deep, his eyes burning into hers.

Against her shoulders, she felt the heat of his hands. “Don’t stop,” she breathed. Beneath her fingertips, she could feel his pulse pounding. She sent him a tentative smile, so afraid he would turn her away. “You’re quite good at taking things apart. Perhaps you should try it out with me.”

Karl had never before seen a more beautiful female body. And it wasn’t because Serena was perfect. Her breasts were full, her skin pale and smooth. But when she lay back upon the grass, she stole the breath from his lungs.

Though he’d once believed he couldn’t live as a common man, he could with her. If it meant waking up in her arms, watching her smile…he was willing to live in rags.

He understood that she was planning to face the wrath of her father. And despite her insistence that he leave her, there was nothing she could say to make him go. He would protect her, despite the risk.

“You’re so quiet,” she said. “Was I wrong in…asking this of you?”

He lay beside her, both of them resting upon a bed made of their clothing.

Reaching out to her shoulder, he palmed the bare skin, caressing her arm then drifting his fingers down to her hip.

“No.” He followed the path of his hand, moving his mouth over her skin. “I’m taking the time to memorize you.”

The wind rippled through the grass, tightening her nipples. He saw the goosebumps rising over her skin and tried to shield her body from the cool air. With her body beneath him, he could feel the softness of her curves, and he wanted her so badly, his hands were practically shaking.

“In my mind, I’ve been with you a thousand times.

” He moved his mouth to the dip of her waist, his fingers spreading upward to caress her breasts.

“I’ve touched you everywhere. I’ve discovered your most secret places.

” With that, he moved his hand between her legs, dipping his fingers against the cleft of her body.

She gasped, her hands coming up to touch his shoulders.

To be with this woman, to take her body with his, was a gift he was almost afraid to accept. Though he wanted her badly, he didn’t want to hurt her.

She never took her eyes from him, though her cheeks flushed at the sight of his nudity. He stroked her hip, moving down her thigh. He explored her body, searching for the places that would arouse her. With his mouth and hands, he tried to show her what she meant to him.

Serena shivered and he covered her body with his own, gently coaxing her legs open. It brought his shaft up against her silken hair, and the sensation made him want to open her, to slide deep within her body and find the fulfillment they both wanted.

“Don’t be afraid,” he said, stealing a kiss from her.

“I know you won’t hurt me,” she answered.

Her trust made him all the more determined to bring her nothing but the deepest pleasure.

Serena’s arms came around him, pressing her sweet breasts against him.

When he lowered his mouth to taste her nipple, she trembled and opened her legs a little wider.

As an experiment, he moved his erection against her center, watching her response.

Her fingers dug into his hair and she let out a soft moan.