Sympathy reflected in Demetrius’s eyes. “And the night you left the palace.”
“That was the night that I could no longer ignore what was happening to her and by extension my life. That night she got lost and the polizia picked her up. She couldn’t remember where she lived. Luckily, she remembered her name.”
His voice was soft and soothing. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Tell you what? That my mother needed me, and I didn’t have time to be a princess?”
Demetrius frowned. “I’m being serious. I would have helped you.”
“I know. And that’s why I didn’t tell you. I didn’t want you looking at me like you are now.” She took off down the hallway.
He followed her to the living room where he stopped in front of her. “And how am I looking at you?”
She stared at the floor. “With pity in your eyes.”
He placed a finger beneath her chin and lifted until their gazes met. “No, that’s compassion you see. I can feel compassion, can’t I?”
She shrugged, not exactly sure what to say.
“You shouldn’t have to go through all of this alone.”
The truth is she’d never felt more alone. Her gaze met his. She yearned to reach out to him, to feel his reassuring touch. Her fingers tingled, longing to slip around his hand—to feel that human connection.
She staved off the desire. “I...I’m not alone. I still have my mother.”
* * *
He had never seen this coming.
Demetrius felt totally at a loss.
Witnessing Zoe’s pain tore at him. He wanted to make it all better for her, but not even a prince could solve her misery. All he could do was let her know that he’d be there for her. Right now, he’d do almost anything for her.
She was, after all, his wife. Maybe they hadn’t realized exactly what that meant when they’d made their vows, but he’d done a lot of reflecting since then. Being married meant being there for each other through the good and the bad. He wouldn’t abandon her. She needed him, even if she refused to admit it.
He gazed deep into her eyes while feeling a tug in his gut. “And you’ve got me should you ever need a friend. After all, you’re still my wife. My very amazing, compassionate wife.”
“And you are still my husband.” Her voice wobbled.
“Which gives me the right to do this.” He pulled her closer. She didn’t resist as her hands came to rest upon his chest.
At last, he could do what he’d been thinking about since they’d kissed at the beach house. His hold on her tightened. Her hands slid up over his shoulders and wrapped around his neck.
His head dipped, seeking out her petal-soft lips. His mouth brushed over hers, sending a jolt of awareness zinging through his whole body. His heart ached for her and everything she’d endured on her own. He wanted her to know that she wasn’t alone.
Her lips moved hungrily under his as her fingernails raked through his hair. Her soft curves pressed up against the length of him and a moan swelled deep in his throat. They’d been apart for far too long. He was still her husband, and he had every right to comfort his wife.
Their kiss grew in intensity and it no longer mattered that they were standing in the center of her living room. All that mattered is that they were together and they weren’t arguing. They definitely weren’t arguing. At last, they seemed to be on the right page and he wasn’t about to let her go. Not now when he’d just got her back in his arms. There was plenty of time later to figure out where they went from here. It wasn’t important now.
In the background there was a sound. He tried to listen but when Zoe caught his bottom lip between her teeth and sucked, his thoughts spiraled in a totally different direction. She was as turned on as he was. He moaned. It’d been so long—so very long.
There was that sound again. This time it was louder. And it didn’t stop.
The annoying sound was a knock on the door, followed by someone calling out his name.
The moan in his throat turned to a groan of frustration. Damn.
With the greatest regret, he pulled back from Zoe. Her eyes fluttered open, showing her utter confusion. Her lips were rosy red and slightly swollen. And her cheeks were flushed. A smile pulled at his lips knowing that he was responsible for putting that freshly loved look on her face.
“I’ll be right there.” He called out to his bodyguard to keep him from intruding on his last few moments alone with Zoe. “I’m sorry. But we have to get moving, and I’m sure your neighbors will be relieved not to have my detail littering their hallways.”