Page 19

CHAPTER 19

S unlight danced across Victoria’s sleeping form, casting her in the kind of ethereal glow reserved for those renaissance paintings Ash had seen at her investiture. She’d thought Victoria was dreamy that first day they met, but last night had shown Ash she was all that, and so much more.

But in the harsh light of morning, reality settled on Ash’s chest like a lead crown.

Just over a year earlier, when the media and women’s football crowd had picked over the carcass of her last relationship, she’d vowed not to get involved with another footballer. She couldn’t take the constant speculation when they were together, and then when they weren’t.

She’d kept to her word.

However, if she’d been trying to keep her next relationship quiet, she’d spectacularly failed by falling for literally the most photographed woman in the country.

When Ash had blinked awake in the darkness, reality crashed over her like a wave. These weren’t her sheets. That wasn’t her ceiling. And the soft, steady breathing beside her belonged to actual royalty. The knowledge fizzed through her blood, equal parts terror and wild joy.

She could have chosen someone who wasn’t famous. That barista at her local coffee shop who always slipped her free drinks. The lawyer who’d given her their card with too much lingering eye contact after finalising a lucrative boot deal.

But Ash had never been one to take the easy route. Her career told the story of that, coming as she had through the ranks of the Ravens, cleaning boots, going out on loan, taking every single step to get to where she was today. Perhaps that was what she needed to do with Victoria? Take it one day at a time.

Victoria stirred, her dark lashes fluttering against her cheeks, and Ash’s heart performed its now-familiar stumble. Victoria’s hand moved across Ash’s body, her mouth kissing Ash’s shoulder as she rolled into her with the kind of unconscious intimacy that already spoke of trust. The simple warmth of that touch scattered all Ash’s careful logic like leaves in an autumn storm.

The most worthwhile things were rarely simple.

“Morning.” Victoria’s voice was coarse. “What time is it?”

“Eight o’clock.”

She nudged Ash with her arm. “What are you doing awake? You need your beauty sleep so you can bang in the goals.”

Ash felt Victoria’s smile against her shoulder.

Victoria raised her head with an arched eyebrow. “Wouldn’t the world be outraged if they knew you’d been up banging me instead?”

“They’d be surprised. I know that for sure.”

Victoria reached up and kissed Ash. It was softer than last night's desperate heat, but no less devastating. “Also, you’re thinking too loud,” she murmured, propping herself up on one elbow.

The white sheet slipped down, and Ash forced her gaze back up to Victoria’s face. Not an easy task when her breasts were that perfect.

“I can practically hear the wheels turning. ‘What the fuck have I done; everyone is going to think I’ve corrupted the heir to the throne’.”

“That's not—” Ash started, but Victoria pressed a finger to her lips.

“It is. And you look adorable when you worry, by the way. But here’s the thing about being a princess in the 21st century: I’m not some delicate flower who needs protecting from her own choices. I knew exactly what I was doing when I asked you here.” Her smile turned wicked. “I knew it the first time, the second time, and the third.”

The blush that heated Ash’s cheeks had nothing to do with embarrassment and everything to do with those memories. “Still. You have responsibilities, expectations—”

“You think I don't know that?” Victoria’s expression softened. “Last night wasn’t a rebellion or a mistake. It was me choosing something that made me happy. Someone who sees me as Victoria first, and Her Royal Highness second.”

“But you know how it is. Social media makes it doubly treacherous. It’s not just the regular media we have to worry about. When I was made England captain, I was told to dial down my sexuality. Be a little more mysterious. That’s been easy while I wasn’t seeing anyone.” She glanced at Victoria. Had she said too much? “And I don’t know what this is, and I’m not professing undying love for you…”

She’d said too much. Post-coital anxiety was not an appealing quality.

“Ash.”

Ash moved her mouth, furious at herself for letting her thoughts spiral. “Yes?”

“It’s normal to feel what you’re feeling. This situation isn’t normal. But then again, it really is. Just two people having dinner, being attracted to each other, doing what comes naturally.”

Ash nodded. Victoria was being nice about it.

“I guess what I mean is, what happens next?”

She hated how vulnerable the question made her sound.

But Victoria simply kissed Ash’s shoulder. “Next? It’s a bank holiday weekend. I’m thinking breakfast. Then maybe a repeat performance of last night. And after that...” She shrugged, the gesture somehow both elegant and casual. “We figure it out. Bit by bit. Unless you’re planning to run?”

The challenge in her voice made Ash smile despite herself. “Not a chance, Ma’am.”

Victoria closed her eyes and groaned. “Why do I find it so hot when you call me that? When you did it on the pitch at the FA, I couldn’t look at you.” She bruised Ash’s lips with a kiss. “We’re never going to have breakfast at this rate. Because I’m not done with you yet. Not even close.” She kissed Ash again. “Besides, how hard can it be to keep quiet that you’re sleeping with the heir to the throne?”

“When you put it like that, I don’t know what I’m worried about.” Ash reached out and stroked Victoria’s breast, then gathered her in her arms and pressed their bodies together.

Victoria groaned into her mouth. “I love the way you feel against me.”

Ash ran her tongue along Victoria’s bottom lip. “The feeling’s mutual, Ma’am.”

Her rough, throaty laugh followed. “Talk dirty to me.”

A fire ignited within, and suddenly, Ash knew what kind of breakfast was now on the menu. She was just about to kiss her again when three curt knocks interrupted them.

“Madam? Are you up? I have your morning coffee and papers.”

Victoria froze in Ash’s arms, then pulled away. Alarm stained her features. “Shit. Shit, shit, shit! I thought I told her not to come in today. But maybe I didn’t. I don’t know.” She jumped out of bed, and threw on a white silk dressing gown. “Shit, shit, shit.” She glanced at Ash, then at the bedroom door.

“Hang on a minute, Tanya!”

She winced. “Do you mind going in the bathroom? Just for a minute? I know she knows about you, and I know what I just said, but I thought I’d have a little time to process what to do next after we took the next step.” She shook her head. “I’m sorry.”

But Ash was already out of bed, already collecting up any stray clothing from the night before, wiping away any trace of it.

“I understand. Knock when you’re done.” Unease circled in her mind.

Ash stood in Victoria’s marble bathroom, bare feet cold against black tiles, hearing the muffled voices beyond the door. The irony of hiding like some dirty secret wasn’t lost on her. Not when mere minutes ago, Victoria had been talking about choosing happiness and figuring things out together. Easy words in their intimate bubble. Harder to maintain when faced with the realities of royal life.

Even through the thick door, she could hear Tanya’s crisp, efficient tone reviewing the day’s schedule. All duties that couldn’t wait just because the princess had spent the night falling apart in her arms.

The worst part was how natural it seemed to Victoria. Like hiding her lover was just another part of the morning routine. Maybe it was?

Ash pressed her forehead against the cool mirror, her breath fogging the glass.

Last night she’d felt special, chosen, like maybe she could be more than just another secret lover. Now, standing naked in her bathroom, she wasn’t so sure. She didn’t want to be a secret, but also, she didn’t want to be scrutinised. The real challenge of being involved with royalty started to dawn.

The door opening interrupted her thoughts, and Victoria stood there, her face torn in a way it hadn’t been a few minutes earlier. She walked over and took Ash in her arms.

Ash let her. She was too winded to do anything else.

“I really am sorry.” Victoria’s hand settled on Ash’s naked arse.

Ash should shake it off, but she didn’t want to.

“I know I could have handled that better, but I didn’t want to throw you right into it.” Victoria shook her head again, then pulled back. “However, bundling you into a bathroom was hardly a skilled move.” She licked her lips and stared into Ash’s eyes. “Can you forgive me just this once?”

“I get it.” And she did. However, that didn’t mean it didn’t hurt. “But I’m not interested in being your dirty little secret. If that’s what this is going to be...” She trailed off as Victoria’s gaze softened, becoming something raw and honest.

“You’re not a secret,” Victoria whispered, stepping closer. “You’re just new. And precious. And I want to protect this, protect us , until we figure out how to face everything else. But I handled it badly, and I’m sorry.” Her hand came up to cup Ash’s cheek. “Let me make it up to you soon? Are you free this week?”

Victoria’s hand travelled up Ash’s back, making it hard to focus on what her week entailed.

“Pre-season training. A few sponsorship things.”

She pressed her thigh between Ash’s legs, all the while never losing eye contact.

Ash’s mind scrambled. “What about you?”

When did her voice get so raspy?

“Tanya just told me, but I’ve forgotten already. Because all I could think about was you, naked, in this bathroom. And what I wanted to do with you.” With that, Victoria reached down between Ash’s legs, and slipped two fingers inside.

Ash gasped, as glitter rattled through her. She pressed down on Victoria’s fingers, grinding hard despite what she just said.

“After pushing you in here, I wanted to leave a different lasting impression on you.” Victoria curled into her, then added a thumb onto Ash’s clit. “One that will make you smile when you fall asleep later.”

Ash pressed herself against the wall, her insides coiling tight. When Victoria swiped over her, she saw stars.

“You’re not my dirty little secret, Ash,” Victoria whispered in her ear. “You’re someone I want in my life. I want to take you to Scotland, show you places I love. Say you’ll come with me.”

But Ash couldn’t respond as Victoria started to fuck her hard in a way that was so all-consuming, she was surprised she was still standing. She clung to her for dear life, and as she came apart at the seams, she knew she was in this, whatever being with Victoria entailed. It wasn’t going to be plain sailing, she’d known that from the start.

But the way Victoria had her in the palm of her hand?

It wasn’t nothing.

She wasn’t nothing.

Ash came all over Victoria’s fingers with a guttural moan.

She knew then, this thing was bigger than both of them.