Royal Affairs: His Princess of Convenience / Her Royal Wedding Wish / The Secret Princess

“We don’t need a telescope when the universe seems so close. It’s even in your eyes. They are shimmering like newly minted silver. Combined with the red gold of your hair, you’re an amazing sight. A new heavenly body to light up this unforgettable night.”

His words overwhelmed her before he wrapped his arms around her and started dancing with her. Not the kind of dancing they did at the reception. This was slow dancing. She melted into him. The night had seduced her. There was a fragrance in the air from the flowers on the deck that intoxicated her. Being held against his hard body like this was pure revelation.

Her womanhood had come alive in his arms. She liked being taller because their bodies fit together. He’d buried his face in her hair. She could feel the warmth of his breath, tantalizing her because she longed to feel his mouth on hers. On their wedding night she’d thought the fantasy was over. How could she have known they would come to this paradise where she was finding rapture beyond her dreams?

“Give me your mouth, Christina,” he murmured. “I’m aching for you.”

She had the same ache and lifted her head. Their mouths met and they kissed for a long time, giving and taking, back and forth. She clung to him, needing the pleasure he gave her with every caress of his hands roaming over her back. When he moved his mouth lower, she moaned as he slowly kissed her neck and throat. Everywhere his lips touched, it brought heat that spread through her body like fire.

Without her realizing it, he’d danced them back inside. Then he swept her into his arms and followed her down on the bed. “I could eat you alive,” he whispered against her lips, and once again Christina was consumed by his kiss, hot with desire. A husband’s desire. She hadn’t known it could be like this.

“Bellissima? Tell me something. Have you ever been to bed with a man?”

The question jolted her. “No. Does my inexperience show so much?”

“Not at all. But I worried that if I’m the first man to make love to you, then I don’t want to rush you into anything. You’re so sweet, Christina. I didn’t need Elena to tell me just how sweet you really are. I want our first time to be everything for you.”

“Everything has been perfect so far,” she whispered, fearing something had to be lacking in her for him to bring it up. When he didn’t say anything, she eased away a little, but he drew her to him with her back resting against his chest.

“I’m glad, but I want to give you time to get used to me. Until you’re truly ready, let’s simply hold each other tonight. If I’d gone to Africa to see you, this is what we would have done. We have the rest of our lives and don’t need to be in a hurry.” He kissed her neck. “This is heavenly, you know? You smell and feel divine to me.”

To be held in his arms was heavenly, but little did he know she was ready! Though she loved him for trying to make their first time perfect, she was dying inside. Still, by his determination to ease her into marriage, it showed a tender side of his nature that proved what a wonderful man she’d married. How many men would care enough about their brides’ feelings to go to these lengths?

“This has been my idea of heaven, Antonio. I can’t wait until tomorrow.” Maybe tomorrow night he’d realize she didn’t want to wait a second longer.

When she awakened the next morning, she discovered her husband fast asleep. They’d slept late. Christina slid out of bed without disturbing him and rushed into the kitchen to phone Manu and order breakfast. Then she showered to get ready for the day.

With that accomplished she put on another bikini. This one had an apple-green flutter top. Both she and Elena had loved the crocheted look of the top and bottom overlying a white lining. It was more modest than many of the suits.

Since they’d probably be out in the water most of the day, she decided the best thing to do with her hair was to sweep it on top and secure it with her tortoiseshell clip. She removed her gold studs and put on a pair of tiny earrings the shape of half-moons in a green that matched her bikini.

Before going in to Antonio, she threw on a lacy white beach jacket that fell to just below her thighs. Now she was ready to greet her husband. But when she entered the bedroom, he’d turned onto his stomach and was still out for the count. Only a sheet covered his lower half. What a fabulous-looking man! She was still pinching herself to believe he was her husband.

He would need a shave, but she loved the shadow on his hard jaw. He looks were so arresting that his state of dress or his grooming didn’t matter. She’d loved the handsome eighteen-year-old prince. But over the years he’d grown into a breathtaking man no woman could be immune to.

While she sat feasting her eyes on him, she heard sounds coming from the kitchen. She got up from the side of the bed and went back to bring him their breakfast tray. She brought it in and put it on the end of the bed.

The aroma of the coffee must have awakened him. He turned on his side and opened his eyes. Between the dark fringe of his lashes, their brilliant blue color stole her breath. Antonio raised himself up on one elbow. “Well, what do we have here? Could it be the nymph from the fountain holding the seashell?”

She loved the imagery. He’d noticed the fountain sculpture in the courtyard in front of the palazzo. “Yes, sire.” His eyes darkened with emotion. “I’m here with your breakfast. Your wife told me you would awaken with a huge appetite.”

“My wife told you that? Her exact words?”

“I never lie.”

“Then will you tell her that spending the day with her yesterday was more than wonderful? But I’ll tell her just how wonderful when we’re alone again today. Those will be words for her ears only.”

Christina couldn’t prevent the blush that rose into her cheeks. “I’ll be happy to do that after I’ve served you your breakfast.” She got up and put the tray in front of him. “Do you wish me to leave? You have only to command me.”

“Then I command you to bring that chair over to the side of the bed and we’ll enjoy this food together.”

She smiled secretly and moved it next to the bed. “Your wife won’t mind?”

He flicked her an all-encompassing gaze. “She might. A woman serving me breakfast who looks as gorgeous as you might worry, so I think we’ll keep this moment to ourselves. How does that sound to you?”

She reached for a roll and bit into it. “You flatter me, sire.”

“I haven’t even started. That’s quite an outfit you’re wearing.”

Christina drank some orange juice and reached for a strip of bacon. “You like it?”

“I can’t keep my eyes off you. Do you serve all the men like that?”

“What men? You’re the only one on this whole island.”

He ate his food in record time. “That’s good because if I found out otherwise, I’d have to confine you to a room in the palace where I have the only key.”

Their conversation was getting sillier and sillier, but she loved it. She loved him.

“What are your plans for today, sire?”

“This and that.”

“Does your wife know about that?”

His eyes narrowed on her mouth. “She’ll find out.”

“I see.” Her heart jumped. “Well, if you’ve finished your breakfast, I’ll take the tray back to the kitchen.”

“Grazie. When you see her, tell her I want her to come to me. Now. I don’t like to be kept waiting.”

She trembled as she reached for the tray. “Si, Your Highness.”

* * *

The second his wife left the bedroom on those long, shapely legs, Antonio headed for the shower and freshened up. Since she’d already put on her bikini, he pulled on a fresh pair of white bathing trunks. When he’d told her last night he could eat her alive, he hadn’t been kidding.

“Ciao, Antonio.” She was looking at one of the brochures while waiting for him.

“I understood you wanted to see me?” Her smile curved so seductively he wanted to throw her on the bed and stay there all day, but he resisted the urge. She was a fetching siren. Who would have guessed?

“How would you like to go to the nearby island with the waterfall? Manu says it’s a short hike, but worth it if you’re wearing tennis shoes.”

“I love hikes. I did it all over Switzerland and Kenya.”

She was amazing. “Manu told me it’s off-limits to everyone else while we’re here on our honeymoon.”

Her eyes lit up. “A whole island to ourselves? Let’s do it! I’ll pack us some food so we don’t have to come back for dinner.”

“Why not pack enough food in case we want to stay there overnight?”

“You mean sleep by the waterfall?”

He smiled at her. It was all he could think about. “Why not? Haven’t you ever wondered what it would be like to be Tarzan and Jane?”

She chuckled in response. “Yes. Many times.”

“We’ll take the speedboat.”

With their day decided, they packed things in the backpacks supplied by the resort, including light blankets, food and water. Antonio rang Manu to let him know where they were going. Then they left their retreat and took off for one of the dark green islands they could see in the distance that was taller than the others.

“The lagoon never changes, Antonio. It’s like eternal beauty all the time. I’ve never been this excited to do anything.”

She was reading his mind. They skimmed across the gorgeous blue water before reaching the white beach. Once they’d drunk some bottled water, they headed for the trail Manu said would be visible. Sure enough, they found it and started up the incline.

“The vegetation is so lush!” she exclaimed.

“Our own rain forest.” Their gazes clung before they got going on their trek. It took them less time to reach their destination than to have kayaked over there. Flowers grew in abundance. They spotted terns and swallows. The water came down in a stream, small at first, then widening before they reached the waterfall itself.

“Oh, Antonio—it reminds me of a waterfall scene in an old movie I once saw, but I think it was filmed in Hawaii.”

“This is as primitive as it gets.” He helped her off with her pack and gave her a long kiss. Then he removed his.

“Isn’t that spray marvelous? Look up there. If we can get on those rocks, we can ride the water down to the pool,” she said.

“Let me test the depth of it first.” He walked over to the edge and waded in the swirling water. He discovered that after a few steps there was a drop-off, but when he swam underwater he found it was only about twenty feet deep. When he emerged, he waved to her. “Come on in. It’s safe but a little cooler than the lagoon. Keep your tennis shoes on.”

For several hours they played in the water like children. Eventually they climbed up the side to reach the spot where the water from the mountain poured over the top of the rocks. He turned to his wife. “Shall we do it?”

“Yes.”

“Scared?”

“Terrified.”

“Take my hand.”

Together they moved onto the slippery rocks and before long the strength of the waterfall washed over them, plunging them down into the pool. Christina came up laughing. “Oh, Antonio—talk about a rush! This just couldn’t be real.”

He swam to her and kissed her over and over again while keeping them afloat. “We’ve found paradise, innamorata. How about one more jump, and then we’ll make camp for the night?”

Once again they hiked up the side to the top. Before they went out on the rocks, he plucked a white flower with a gardenia scent, growing on a nearby vine. He tucked it behind her ear. “Now you’re my Polynesian princess.”

Her eyes wandered over him. “I don’t ever want to go home.”

“Then we won’t.” He grabbed her hand and they inched their way onto the rocks until the force of the water took them over the edge. It was like free-falling into space until the water caught them and brought them to the surface.

Together they swam to the edge of the pool where they’d left their packs. He helped her out of the water and they proceeded to set up camp. After they’d made their bed, they put out the food. The exertion had made them hungry. They sat across from each other and ate to their hearts’ content.

He finally stretched. “I’ve never felt so good, never tasted food so good, never been with anyone I enjoyed more. In truth, I’ve never been this happy in my life.”

“I feel the same way,” she responded. “I want it to last, but I know it’s not going to.”

He shook his head. “Shh. Don’t spoil this heavenly evening. We have two more days and nights ahead of us.”

“You’re right.”

“You’ve lost your gardenia. I’m going to pick another one.” He got up and walked a ways until he found one. When he returned, he hunkered down next to her and put it behind her ear. “This is how I’m always going to remember you.”

Antonio couldn’t wait to get close to her again and cleaned up their picnic. When everything had been put away, she started to leave, but he caught her by the ankle. “Stay with me.”

“I was just going to get out of my bathing suit.”

“But I want to hold you first.” He pulled her down and rolled onto his side so he could look at her. “I’ve been waiting all day for tonight to come.”

“So have I.” Her voice throbbed.

He pulled her into him and claimed her luscious mouth that had given him a heart attack last night. “You could have no idea how much I want you. Love me, Christina. I need you.”

* * *

“Would it shock you if I told I wanted you to love me on our wedding night?” she admitted against his throat.

He let out a slight groan. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

“I was afraid you would think I was too eager. I decided you needed time.”

Laughter broke from him. When he looked down at her, those fabulous silvery eyes were smiling. “I think that from here on out we each need to stop worrying about what the other one is thinking, and do more doing.”

“I couldn’t agree more. You drove me crazy on the way over in the jet.”

“Maybe that was a good thing,” he teased, kissing every feature on her face.

“It was painful!”

“Tesora mia,” he cried in a husky voice before starting to devour her. “I love your honesty. Come here to me.”

Christina melted in his arms and kissed him with the kind of passion he’d never imagined to find in this marriage. His heart jumped to realize he had such a loving, demonstrative wife.

CHAPTER SEVEN

ANTONIO HAD CALLED her his treasure. Christina felt cherished and desirable. His hunger aroused her to the depth of her being. This was her husband bringing her to life, shocking her, thrilling her as they found new ways to worship each other with their bodies.

His long legs trapped hers. “Why did I wait four years?”

She couldn’t have answered him if she’d wanted to. Enthralled by the things he was doing to her, Christina was too consumed by her own hunger for him. Like the spiral constellations lighting the canopy above, he sent her spiraling into another realm of existence. Throughout the hours of the night they loved fully until they finally fell asleep, only temporarily sated.

After their passion-filled night of ecstasy, she couldn’t believe they were still on earth. During the night he’d swept her to a different place, so intimate she’d wanted to stay on that sphere of euphoria forever.

She lay there wondering if last night’s lovemaking had resulted in a baby. Stranger things had happened to other women. She suddenly realized that she wanted his baby so badly she could hardly stand it.

Heat washed over her to remember what had happened between them last night. Christina wasn’t sorry that he hadn’t made love to her at first. Far from it. Last night had been magical.

Taking great care not to wake her husband and lover, she lay there looking at him. The sun was already high in the morning sky. They’d slept in late again, but it didn’t matter.

Oh, Antonio—I love you so much, you have no idea.

* * *

Antonio heard his wife sigh and glanced at her in sleep. She was the most unselfish lover he could ever have imagined. Last night she’d made him feel totally alive. Whole. When had he ever felt like this? Long after the stars had come out, they’d made love again and early this morning, again. He’d found paradise with her.

The next time he had cognizance of his surroundings, the sun was high in the sky. His wife lay on her side facing him. For a while he lay there studying her, then got to his feet and took a dip in the pool before pulling on his bathing trunks. He opened the backpack to get out some rolls and fruit. They’d need more food to stay on this island. He drank half a bottle of water while he ate.

She must have heard him and opened her eyes. “Oh—you’re up!”

“Just barely. Loving you has given me a ferocious appetite.”

She laughed. “I’m getting up, but you’ll have to turn your head.”

“Why?” he teased.

Christina blushed beautifully. “You know why.”

“I’m your husband.”

“I know, but—”

“All right. I’ll close my eyes, but I’ll give you to the count of ten to reach the water before I open them again.”

“Antonio—” she squealed.

“One, two.” He could hear the blanket rustle before she got up. A second later he heard water splashing and turned to watch her treading water. “You see? You made it.”

“If you’ll please put my bikini near the water and turn around, I’ll get dressed.”

* * *

Antonio’s deep laughter resounded through the forest. She could feel it reverberate inside her. “Anything to oblige.” He did her bidding. “I hate to tell you this, but the water is so transparent I can see you perfectly.”

“You’re no gentleman to say that to me.”

“Is that what you thought I was?” he mocked before turning his back.

She climbed out and dressed as fast as she could. When she reached him, he crushed her in his arms and gave her a kiss to die for. Then he handed her food and drink.

“Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”

“I wish we could stay here longer. Last night—” Her voice caught.

Their eyes met. “Last night will be burned in my memory forever, tesora.”

“Mine too.” She finished eating and started putting everything in their packs.

He worked with her. “Are you about ready?”

“Yes.”

After slipping on their tennis shoes, they started down the trail to the beach. In some parts she walked behind him, enjoying the play of muscle across his back and shoulders. Antonio had great legs for a man. In fact, there wasn’t a part of him that wasn’t perfect.

They reached the boat and loaded it. Christina helped him push it into the water, and then he helped ease her up and in before he took his place at the front. Before they took off across the lagoon, he looked back at her. As far as he could see, they were the only people out on this part of the lagoon.

“What do you want to do after we get back to the hut?” he called over his shoulder.

“I’d love to go to that coral sea garden and do some more snorkeling.”

“That makes two of us. When in our lives will we ever have a chance to see fish like this up close?”

“Probably never. I’m still pinching myself to believe there’s a spot like this on earth.”

“We’ll eat a meal and then go out for the rest of the day. Do you know what?”

“What?”

“You’re more fun than any of my friends.”

“Thank you.”

“I mean it. I don’t know anyone, male or female, who loves what I love and can do everything with me and keep up.”

“I’m afraid I didn’t turn out to be like my socialite parents.”

“Thank heaven!”

Those two words warmed her heart all the way back to their island. After putting things away, they sat down to a meal, then went back out to the deck. Antonio covered her in sunscreen. His touch made her knees buckle. “Shall we stay in bed the rest of the day instead?”

Christina could hardly talk. “I’d love it, but our time here is so short, we need to take advantage of it.” She couldn’t believe she’d worried that in a week Antonio might be bored with her. Maybe it was because all the time they’d spent together in Switzerland had prepared her to be more comfortable with him where everything felt so natural.

“Just remember we’ll have all night,” he whispered against her neck. His breath sent tendrils of delight through her system. While she was still trying to recover, he got out the snorkels and fins. Once again they got into the boat and went looking for fish. The lagoon was home to so many species they had the time of their lives viewing everything.

She lost track of the time. So did Antonio. It wasn’t until they suffered hunger pains that she realized it was time to go in. When they returned to the island and were tying up the boat, Manu was there to greet them.

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