The Lord's Passionate Lover (The Royals of Monaco, #3) by Leslie North Read Free Book Online Page A

found anyone that I want to marry,” he replied.
    “Will you ever remarry?”
    “I don't know.” Olivier shrugged his shoulders. As the breeze picked up, Francesca’s hair lifted enticingly. His gaze grew darker and more intense. She was beautiful. Francesca found herself feeling shy. It was so hard for her to look him in the eye. It was even harder now because they were standing so close to each other.
    Olivier ran his fingers through her hair, as he caressed her jaw. Francesca blushed, unsure what to say as her stomach knotted up. His hand felt good, as he stroked her face. She wanted to close her eyes and enjoy his touch but she was determined not to show him that she was enjoying it. She was not sure how to act in this situation. Was she to touch him back or slap his hand away?

Chapter 9
    “H ow old are you?” Francesca asked him. She felt like she needed to say something to diffuse the awkwardness and she was actually wondering how old he was. She felt that was the appropriate moment to ask him.
    “Thirty-six,” he replied.
    “You are fifteen years older than I am.” She had no idea why she said that. Olivier's facial expression did not change.
    “Yes, I am,” he replied as he caressed her collarbone with the back of his hand. Francesca let out a sigh.
    “I do not understand you. What are your motives?” she asked him.
    “They are certainly pure,” he said to her. While it was obvious that she was an innocent, he still found himself amused by her reaction. He slid his hands in his pockets.
    “Are they?”
    “Did you think I was going to make love to you here?”
    Her eyes flew open. She had not thought of that. She was surprised by his lack of tact. He just came out and said it. She could feel her cheeks turning red. “I was not thinking that!” she said but now she was. There was a nice cool breeze, the sun had set and they were on his boat. It was perfect.
    “Then why are you blushing?” 
    “I am not blushing. I am just shocked at your boldness.”
    “Just say what you are thinking.”
    “I was not thinking that.”
    “But now you are.” 
    Francesca looked away from him. She hated that it was obvious to him that she was thinking about it now. She wanted to stop thinking about it but she could not help but wonder what he would look like naked. His physique was incredible, as his suits hid nothing. If anything, it accentuated his body even more.
    “There you go making assumptions again,” she said. She ran her hand through her hair. She was still uncomfortable. If she closed her eyes, she could still feel his feather light touch on her. Olivier laughed softly.
    “I shall make it clear for you. I am not going to take you now or in the near the future,” he said as she looked at him.
    “You make it sound as if there is something wrong with me.” She immediately regretted the words as soon as she said them. Olivier was now even more amused.
    “There is nothing wrong with you and I never insinuated that there was.”
    “Forget what I said.”
    “You are a virgin.”
    “Oh God,” Francesca never discussed that with people and she was not about to start now. Especially with a stranger.
    “I respect that. So I will not-” Before he could finish talking, Francesca cut him off.
    “We are not talking about that. How long until we are back to the harbour?” Even though she liked being at sea, she did not like the direction their conversation was moving.
    “About twenty minutes.”
    Twenty minutes sounded like a long time, as Francesca was ready to get off the boat now. She was feeling incredibly shy and uncomfortable and now she was cold as the wind picked up. She heard Olivier walk away as she sighed with relief. She needed to catch her breath and relax. Moments later, he reappeared with a blanket, which he placed on her shoulders before wrapping it around her.
    “I was not cold,” she lied. She hated how he assumed things about her and got it right every time.
    “Yes, you were and