More, she thought, as she continued to come with each thrust. She wrapped her legs around his hips, holding him in place. More and deeper and forever.
He pumped and thrust, filling her over and over again. She felt herself begin to shatter as every cell of her body sighed in pleasure. Then he stiffened and came and they clung to each other as the aftershocks rippled through them.
She resurfaced on the sofa, his body pressing against her. They lay together, spent and satisfied. She looked at him, at the face that was familiar yet different, and in that moment she knew him.
“Just like before,” she whispered.
He smiled. “Better. How I love to touch you, Mia. You are made for pleasure, and when I am with you, I am the most powerful man in the world.”
Tears burned in her eyes. He had often said such things to her before, but now, knowing about his past and what his first love had done, she felt touched. She could easily use those words against him, humiliate him publicly. He trusted her to keep him safe.
“Katie was right,” she said without thinking.
“Katie? Your sister? Right about what?”
Mia swallowed. It had been five years and she’d never stopped loving him. She’d never moved on. All this time she’d been waiting for the love of her life to return, and he finally had.
“I will marry you, Rafael. I’m proud to marry you.”
His eyes widened slightly. “Are you serious? You are not just saying this in the heat of the moment?”
She grinned. “You’re good, but you’re not that good. This isn’t about us making love, despite the fact that it was spectacular. It’s about the fact that we belong together. I don’t know how it’s all going to work out, but we’ll deal with that later.”
“Mia.” He wrapped his arms around her and kissed her hard. “Thank you. You are right. There are many things to discuss and much for you to learn, but you will see. All will be well.” He grinned. “You’re going to marry me.”
“Apparently.” She thought about the last royal wedding that had been broadcast on television. “It’s going to be huge, isn’t it?”
“A thousand or so guests, long ceremonies. Yes, it will be painful. Or we could elope.”
She blinked at him. “Excuse me, but did you just say elope?”
He nodded. “Some formalities cannot be avoided. You must be made a princess of my country, which can happen through a different ceremony, but there is no need for us to have a big wedding if the thought of it makes you uncomfortable. Or if you don’t want to wait.”
“I don’t want to wait,” she admitted. “But more than that, I’m not ready to be the center of attention.”
“Marrying me will make you such, Mia. You must be willing to accept that. You would one day rule as queen. You must not forget that.”
His desire to make sure she knew what she was getting into just made her love him more.
“Are you sure a quickie wedding is legal?” she asked.
“Of course. You would officially be my wife.”
“Even if we ran off to Las Vegas?”
He smiled. “Is that what you have in mind?”
“Well, any big formal thing is going to include my family. There’s no way we’ll be able to escape that. Which means it will take time and then the king will find out about it. So either we go for it or we stay traditional.”
“Would you like to go for it?”
As he asked, he moved against her. He was already hard again. Her body tightened in response.
“All that for me?” she asked as she reached between them and took him in her hand.
“All that and much more,” he murmured. “I give you my heart, my country, my history, my future. Marry me, Mia Marcelli.”
He shifted so she was on top of him. She slid herself onto his erection and eased into another orgasm.
“Okay,” she gasped as she tightened around him.
He reached up and teased her nipples. “Okay, what?”
“Danny’s birthday is in a couple of days. We’ll fly to Las Vegas after that.”
He raised up and claimed her with a kiss. “As you wish, my love. As you wish.”
10
Rafael woke up alone in his bed. As much as he wanted Mia there with him, they had agreed it would be better for them to keep their relationship a secret until after they eloped.
As he walked into the bathroom attached to his room, he smiled. Last night had been most pleasurable, and not simply because Mia had finally agreed to marry him. Their lovemaking had been as exciting and sensual as he remembered. She had always been able to match him, desire for desire, and time had not eroded that connection.
Although her getting pregnant had been an unexpected complication, he could not regret Daniel’s parentage. Mia brought great strength and heart to the boy.
He shaved, then stepped into the shower. As he reached for the soap, he remembered how she had asked if he had loved before. As if not sure he had loved her.
He had never allowed himself to examine his feelings for her. He had known they would only be together for a short time. But he had never forgotten her. Was that love?
Did it matter? Despite the brief marriage they would share, she was not an appropriate queen. He would let her go because it was the right thing to do. His responsibility demanded…
Everything, he thought, both angry and resigned. It always had. This time, Mia would pay the price for who he was. He stepped out of the shower. He did not want to hurt her. Before he had arrived, she had been an obstacle. Now she was uniquely herself.
When he had dried off, he dressed. Later he would call his father and tell him of his victory. They would need to begin to draw up the required paperwork. Rafael decided that he would be generous. He would allow Mia the right to visit her son as often as she would like. There was no need to keep them apart. Having his mother around would make the transition easier for the boy.
He heard a knock on the door, followed by a low, “Your highness?”
“Enter.”
Oliver stepped into the room. “Your gift has arrived and is ready.”
“Good,” Rafael said, knowing how pleased Daniel would be. “I will get the boy and be right down.”
Oliver nodded and left. Rafael finished dressing, then walked to Daniel’s room.
Mia was already there. He paused in the doorway and watched her brush his son’s hair while outlining their activities for the day. She worked quickly, with the easy grace of someone who has performed this particular task a thousand times before.
Rafael stepped into the room. “Good morning,” he said.
Daniel looked up and grinned, then darted forward. “Daddy, Daddy!”
Rafael dropped to one knee and pulled the boy close. “It has only been one night. Did you miss me so much?”
He asked the question of his son, but his gaze was on Mia as he spoke. She stood by the dresser, wearing her usual shorts and a T-shirt. Her hair was damp from her recent shower, which made him think of her naked, which made him want her again.
“Did you sleep well?” he asked with a smile that only she could see.
“Better than I expected.”
“Perhaps it was the exercise you had yesterday.”
She blushed faintly. “Yes, well, maybe. And you?”
“I slept very well.”
“Good. We’re all rested. Danny, come on. I can smell breakfast.”
Rafael ruffled the boy’s hair. “Perhaps that could wait for a few minutes. I have a surprise for him.”
Mia crossed to the door. “Let me guess. A crown?”
“You mock the scepter.”
“It’s fairly mockable.”
“Your circumstances suggest you will want to understand all of my country’s traditions.”
Her smile faded as something very close to panic filled her eyes. “Good point. Danny, your dad got you an early birthday present. Do you want to go see it?”