Page 29 of A Ring to Claim Her Crown
‘You were always this way.’ He dropped a kiss on her knee. ‘Strung tighter than one of your bows.’
She let a noncommittal sound escape her lips, her thoughts feeling more and more clouded by the minute.
‘Do you miss competing?’ he asked, pulling himself up to sit alongside her.
‘Sometimes,’ she said, leaning against his cool skin. ‘I loved seeing the world and meeting new people. But some of the other archers saw me as a hobbyist rather than a serious competitor. There were many unfair terms thrown my way—some of it from jealousy or dislike, but some were deserved. I can be overly confident, maybe even a bit tunnel-visioned, when I want to do well at something. I was always conscious that I had a very privileged upbringing with some of the world’s best trainers. Even if I lost everything, I returned home to a palace, which wasn’t the case for my competitors.’
‘You deserved your success, Minerva.’
‘I worked hard but, once my mother told me of her wish to step down, it wasn’t a difficult decision to leave it all behind, you know?
‘What about you?’ She tried to appear casual. ‘Do you ever miss royal life?’
‘I miss the version of royal life that existed before my mother’s death. Being in Cisneros brought back some old memories that I’d forgotten. But that life doesn’t exist any more.’
Minerva nodded, wishing she had the courage to ask the question she really wanted to: would you ever return to royal life...for me?
She closed her eyes against that foolish thought, tilting her head up to the sun as though the burning heat might chase away all the shadows that had begun to encroach on her little oasis of freedom. But an oasis was all that this could ever be—a temporary illusion of peace and tranquillity—no matter how much she wished things were different.
‘You have shadows in your eyes again, Minerva.’ Liro tucked his fingers under her chin, turning her to face him. ‘Is this whole shipwrecked fantasy doing nothing for you?’
She laughed, loving how easily he made her smile. Lovinghim. ‘You might have the luxury of being a runaway pirate prince, Señor San Nicolau, but I have to go back eventually.’
Liro’s firm grip tightened ever so slightly around her wrists. ‘If I were a true pirate, I wouldn’t return you. I’d keep you right here.’
‘Would you hold me to ransom?’ She laughed. ‘Make me walk the plank?’
‘I’d tie you to the mast and have my wicked way with you for a while.’ He nuzzled her neck, nipping his teeth against the soft skin there. ‘Yes... I think I’d find endless ways to enjoy my stolen booty.’
‘An endless booty call. Is that what we’re calling this now?’ She laughed. ‘I don’t know... I think you’d tire of me eventually.’
‘A good pirate knows when they’ve found a treasure so rare they could never part with it.’ Liro’s eyes met hers and Minerva stopped breathing for a moment, fearing she might burst into tears if she spoke.
She fought to find the right words, wanting to lay out every messy emotion within her heart for him to see. He cared about her, that much was undeniable.But he can never be yours, that tiny voice within reminded her softly. Even if his identity wouldn’t be a scandalous risk to public opinion about her;...even if he didn’t run his own shipping empire with the world at his feet...deep down, she knew he was still the boy who had longed for freedom from royal life.
The royal role that she adored and worked so hard to keep was part of a life he despised. To ask him to consider being with her, when he knew that she needed to marry immediately, would be selfish. He had already been used as a pawn by his father years ago; she would never do the same thing to him. Not when he had told her how happy and peaceful his new life made him. He already had everything he had ever wanted...
Liro cleared his throat, ducking his head from her view. ‘Of course, I’m not an actual pirate. Let’s make that very clear for any Arqaletan coast guards who might be within hearing distance.’ He raised both hands up for theatrical effect before he dove back into the water.
‘Thanks for making that clear.’ She chuckled to herself, pushing away her morose thoughts as she slid down into the crystal-clear water. It was warm and she welcomed the silence as she let herself sink down under the waves.
Liro’s arms were around her in an instant, their bodies twining around one another and their lips meeting as they floated back up to the surface together.
Minerva woke to the sound of beeping. It was coming from her phone by the side of the bed. Eyes half-closed, she grasped for the device, jabbing her fingers at the screen until the noise stopped.
She lay back down on her pillow with a sigh. The room was quiet but for the sound of Liro’s soft breathing. She turned towards him, taking the opportunity just to look for a while. It was late in the morning, and Minerva could stall no longer. Tonight was the grand ball and with it her mother’s announcement. It was time for her to return to Arqaleta and do what she’d set out to do.
Unease crept up her spine, making her turn from Liro’s handsome face as she pondered what must come next. She’d lain awake for a while last night, after she and Liro had spent a full day doing nothing but eating, laughing and making love. She’d forced herself to think of the practicalities, to prepare herself for her return home and the decision she would have to make.
Of all the suitors she’d entertained, Jean-Claude struck her as the most suited to the role of king consort. He was a descendant of European aristocracy, was handsome, confident and had excellent public speaking skills. She would set a meeting with him this afternoon, formally propose marriage and it would be done. Another item ticked off her list.
‘Good morning.’ Liro’s strong arm curved slowly around her waist, his lips tracing kisses along her bare shoulder as he pulled her back against his gloriously nude body.
‘Good morning to you too,’ she murmured, melting into his embrace. He was hard and she was weak and one last time of having him inside her seemed like the perfect way to say goodbye really.
She laughed as he moved up over her, covering her with his full weight and spreading her legs wide. But, just as he made to enter her, another sound filled the room, this time a more serious tone coming from the intercom upon the wall.
‘Ignore it,’ she pleaded as Liro apologetically stood up and walked over to press the button on the intercom. She understood that aboard a vessel there might be emergencies... Well, at least she understood that on a logical level. It would take quite a lot of fire and brimstone for her to be happy about not making love with Liro again.
