a compliment.”
“It is, because you’re going to be queen and now I know you have the steel to help me. Any other woman would have gone into hysterics a little while ago. Not you.”
She smiled in secret pleasure. “You wouldn’t let me. That’s the sign of a great king.”
“The priest’s words never had as much meaning to me until now.”
“Which words were those?”
“The part where he said ‘From this day forward you shall be each other’s home, comfort and refuge.’ Whatever we have to face when we get back home, Christina, I’m not worried because you’ve become my refuge in a very short time.”
Tears stung her eyelids. He kissed them. “I didn’t mean to make you cry.”
“It’s the good kind. When I’m happy, I often cry.”
“I saw tears when you looked at your parents in the chapel. What was going on in your mind?”
“That I didn’t always want to be a disappointment to them. Now that there’s a national scandal, they’ll consider that I’ve hit rock bottom.”
“If they can’t see beyond the end of their noses and recognize a hatchet job of major proportions, how sad for them. But I couldn’t be happier that you turned out just the way you are. My one regret is that we’re going to have to leave our paradise far too soon. I’ve had you all to myself since the wedding ceremony and I love the privacy so much I’m loath to give it up.”
“I feel the same. We’ve been living most people’s fantasy.”
He suddenly held her tighter and burrowed his face in her neck. “I want this fantasy to go on and on.” The longing in his voice echoed the desire of her heart. “I want you to know I’ll treasure this time together for the rest of my life.”
“I’ve loved every second of it too. Isn’t this place wonderful?”
“Yes, but it would be a waste without the right person along. We’ll come back again one day and spend time over at the coral garden. We’ll do a lot of things, but right now I just want to make love to you.”
Once again the age-old ritual began. This time Christina took the initiative to show her husband how much she loved him. She loved him in every atom of her body and poured out her feelings, wanting to take away any pain he was feeling tonight. At one point he pulled her on top of him. It was heaven to cover his face with kisses and play with his hair. He was such a beautiful man, there were no words.
“Christina? We only have a few hours before we have to return to Halencia and deal with the mess. If I’d known it was going to happen, I would have insisted we get married sooner and enjoy a month’s honeymoon at least. Now it’s too late for that.”
But before their wedding, neither of them had a clue that they would come to care for each other in so short a time. Christina was positive that flare of desire she’d felt when he kissed her at the altar had been unexpected for him too.
“Are you happy?” His voice sounded anxious. “Because I want you to be happy.”
She heard the longing and drew in a breath. “I’m happier right now than I’ve ever been in my life.”
“Grazie a Dio, because I am too. I hope our daughter has red hair like her mother.”
“Would you mind if our son has red hair instead?”
“Your hair is glorious. Why would I mind?”
“Mother wanted to turn me into a brunette.”
“It’s a good thing you didn’t listen to her. When the time came, I wanted you for my bride.”
Yes. And he wound up with Christina to save his sister from disgrace. And now that the news had leaked, it was a national scandal, but he didn’t seem worried.
Their trust was on solid ground. More than ever she understood the deeper words of the priest. Be able to forgive, do not hold grudges, and live each day that you may share it together. From this day forward you shall be each other’s home, comfort and refuge, your marriage strengthened by your love and respect.
So far they’d shared each incredible day together. Their nights had been euphoric. This bedroom had become their home and refuge. She’d been able to comfort him in a way she wouldn’t have imagined. Living with Antonio was already changing her life and it frightened her that the happiness she was experiencing might be taken away from her after they returned home.
The next morning they awakened for breakfast. It had arrived with a newspaper. He pored over it.
Her heart thudded. “Anything to report about us?”
“There’s a photo of me taken at the airport. No matter how hard my father tried, the word still got out. But so far Manu has managed to keep our exact location a secret. He’s worth every Eurodollar he’s being paid.”
“Do you think your father will be upset?”
“Yes.” He flicked her a searching glance. “Are you in with me?”
“All the way. You know that.”
He put the newspaper down and moved himself away from the table. “Come out on the deck with me. I crave a walk along the beach with you before it rains.”
Her husband reached for her hand as they stepped down to the edge of the water and started walking. “With Bora Bora appearing and disappearing mystically through the clouds this morning, it looks surreal, Antonio. I feel like we’re in some primordial world. The air is so balmy it’s unreal.”
After they’d gone a ways, he stopped and grasped her arms so she faced him. “You’re so lovely you seem unreal. I need to know if I’m with a phantom wife.” In the next breath he lowered his mouth to hers and gave her the husband’s kiss she’d been dying for. Fire licked through her veins as she was caught up in his embrace. She knew he had to be in pain, but the way he was kissing her had her senses reeling.
Their bodies clung. She could feel the powerful muscles in his legs and melted against him. He released her mouth long enough to kiss her face and neck. His hands plunged into her hair before he kissed her throat, in fact, all the area of skin exposed by the sundress she was wearing home.
“Touch me,” he whispered in a ragged voice.
Succumbing to his entreaty, she wrapped her arms around his waist and heard his moan of pleasure as his mouth began devouring hers. The rain had started and was so ethereal in nature it felt more like a mist, adding to the rapture building inside her. Antonio was doing the most amazing things to her with his hands and mouth.
Too soon Manu arrived to tell them the helicopter had arrived. It was time to go.
THIRTY HOURS LATER the royal jet landed at Voti International Airport, where a helicopter was waiting
