“Hey.” He placed a finger beneath her chin and lifted her face to meet his once again. “This marriage may not be a traditional one, but I say from here on out we keep your ex and my past out of it. Deal?”
“Deal.”
The quick snapping of an automatic camera had him jerking his attention around.
He spotted a man crouched in the lush plants surrounding what was supposed to be the private beach to his family’s palace.
Stefan jumped to his feet and took off after the unwanted intruder. “Stop,” he yelled.
Hot sand squished beneath his feet, making him slide with each step. By the time he’d gotten to the area where the man had been in hiding, the guy was gone.
What the hell had the intruder overheard?
Stefan pulled his cell from his pocket and punched a button. “There’s a man on the grounds,” Stefan said before his security guard could utter a word. “If you find him first, take his camera. Then call the cops. I’m looking near the beach. Take the front of the palace.”
Knowing Victoria would be fine for a few minutes, Stefan moved through the foliage in the direction the trespasser took off. No way in hell was he letting someone invade his privacy, and on his own secluded beach, as well.
Even though he knew without a doubt that Victoria didn’t think anything of flashing bulbs and media circuses, he wanted their marriage, their life to be private. The bond they shared was so special, and even though the paparazzi had them practically married as teens, he didn’t want their engagement or wedding tarnished. What transpired between him and Victoria was nobody’s business.
But he had to find the guy and find out exactly what he’d overheard and take that damn camera. He couldn’t afford for this secret to get out before the coronation. This country was his, damn it, and he’d do anything to keep it.
Besides, he wanted Tori all to himself...he was selfish like that. He wouldn’t share her with the public any more than necessary.
More than anything, though, he wanted to shield her, protect her from any more pain. Because he cared for her more than any other woman in his life, he wanted to be the one to ride to her rescue and keep her life worry-free and happy.
Stefan spotted footprints in the sand and followed them up the embankment toward the tiny village. Sweat trickled down his back, but the heat was nothing compared to the anger in knowing someone had infiltrated his home. What the hell had his guards been doing? A discussion he’d be taking up later with the head of his security.
Stefan stopped when he spotted the man crouched down on the sidewalk, holding his camera, and from what Stefan could see, the man was looking through his shots. Probably checking to see if he needed to come back for more.
Without a sound, Stefan moved in from behind and wrapped an arm around the guy’s neck, hauling him up to his feet.
“Drop the camera,” Stefan growled in his ear.
Immediately the camera clattered to ground. With his free hand, Stefan pulled his cell from his pocket and dialed security to come collect the trash.
“You made a mistake in trespassing,” Stefan told him, tightening his grip. “I don’t take kindly to people invading my wife’s privacy.”
“I’m sorry,” the man choked out. “Please.”
“Whatever you think you overheard, forget it. If I even suspect you’ve gone to the media with lies, there won’t be a place you can hide that I won’t find you.” Stefan loosened his hold but kept the guy in a lock until backup arrived. “I better never catch you on my property or even looking in my family’s direction again or a smashed camera will be the least of your worries.”
The heavy pounding of footsteps had Stefan shouting for the guards. “Over here,” he yelled.
Once the guards had the trespasser secure, Stefan stepped around to get a good look at the man’s face so he could remember it. Then he crouched down, picked up the broken camera and pulled the memory card out, sliding it into his pocket.
“Take him to the front while you wait for the cops,” Stefan ordered his guards.
Tamping down his anger and wiping the sweat off his forehead, Stefan made his way back to Victoria. Her long, golden hair danced around in the ocean breeze, her face tilted up while she watched the water as if her privacy hadn’t just been invaded.
“We secured the guy. Cops are on their way, and I personally confiscated the memory card.” Stefan took a seat beside her. “Sorry about that.”
With a shrug, Victoria turned to face him. “I’m used to it. Privacy really means nothing to me. I wouldn’t know what to do with complete seclusion.”