Page 57 of Awakened On Her Royal Wedding Night
“Has a new title.Youare Queen of Nazarine. Shall we dance?” He ached to touch her.
She mutely let him take her hand and lead her onto the floor.
He could have crushed her, he wanted so badly to absorb her into his skin, but he made himself lock his arms in a civilized embrace.
“We need to talk about some things,” she said.
“If you’re here to ask for a divorce, I’ve instructed my lawyers to negotiate in good faith.”
Her step faltered.
He steadied her and noted the way her face had paled. Was she well? The baby? His blood congealed with fear in his veins.
“There are things they’re not in a position to give me,” she said cryptically.
“Such as?”
Her brow furrowed with frustration. “I want your heart, Felipe.”
“On a silver platter?” he said on a husk of a laugh, tempted to say,You have it.
Everything in him went very still. He stopped moving as realization poured through him.Thatwas why he had been feeling so empty. She had taken his heart when she left. He loved her.
He stood there with his eyes closed, absorbing that stunning realization, utterly speechless as understanding of that emotion finally exploded through him. It was esteem and loyalty and admiration and so many more things than she had described. It was beauty and affection and faith and joyous laughter.
“Please don’t make jokes.” Her mouth quivered and she looked down at the ruffles on his shirt.
He could only blink in bemusement at her, utterly thrown by what was happening to him. But a remarkable tenderness was rising in him like a king tide.
“I shouldn’t have done this here,” she continued under her breath. “I thought I could be bold and brave. I thought I could be in control for a change.”
“Do you really think I’ve ever been in control where you’re concerned?” he scoffed.
Cupid’s arrow had pierced him the moment he saw her. He remembered it clearly, yet it was such a foreign concept that he had dismissed it as lust and fascination. Those things didn’t leave you feeling as though you were bleeding out when you were apart, though. Only love could have made him suffer this intensely.
“People are staring,” she said, aggrieved. “I have a room upstairs. Can we talk there?”
“We’ll go to mine.” He cradled her elbow and the crowd parted as they made their way to the elevators.
He was pleased to see she had a bodyguard shadowing her—one who had previously worked for him. Vinicio and his own guard for the evening joined them as they waited for the elevator and the three men nodded a friendly greeting at each other.
The doors opened and the startled occupants slipped past them, allowing them to enter the empty car.
Felipe took her hand and drew her to the back, unable to stop staring at her. She was magnificent. She washere.
She looked up at him and a soft noise that was anguish and helplessness and relief left her as she pressed herself into him, sliding her arms around his waist as though she had every right. Which she did. He was hers in every way that mattered.
Her yearning gaze matched the longing that stretched out inside him. Her mouth lifted in invitation and her hand went to the back of his head, urging him to kiss her.
Catching her close with one arm, he cradled the back of her skull with his free hand, covered her mouth with his own. Then he stole back every kiss he had missed while she’d been gone. No matter how hard he tried, he would never be able to kiss her thoroughly enough, or hold her closely enough, or fill her deeply enough, to quell this need in him for her.
The elevator pinged and the doors opened. Vinicio stepped out and the two guards shifted to stand in the opening, forming a wall of privacy while freezing the elevator in place.
Felipe could have made love to her right here. He wanted to. Badly. But she was already drawing away, blinking and glancing self-consciously at the backs of their guards. She touched her mouth where her lipstick was smudged, looking contrite.
That had nearly got out of hand! Claudine was mortified.
Felipe offered his pocket square and cleared his throat. The guards shifted and Vinicio led them down the hall to the sort of presidential suite Felipe always occupied when he was in Rome. The guard who was stationed at the door brightened when he saw her and gave her a nod of greeting.
