Page 63 of Back to Claim His Crown
‘I’ll join you as soon as I can.’
But a long time later he still hadn’t made it up to their suite. She turned the light out yet couldn’t sleep. Still nervous. She loved living with him. She would live here for the rest of her days just like this. But she wanted more. She wanted a family with him. She dreamed of the two of them having italltogether.
‘Zara?’ She heard his voice in her dreams, husky and loving. ‘Are you awake, darling?’
She stirred drowsily. ‘What time is it?’
‘Just past midnight.’
He sounded very serious and she came fully awake.
‘Is something wrong?’
He lit the small lamp on the table and sat on her side of the bed. ‘I wanted to keep my promise, but not for a second longer than I have to.’
‘Your promise?’
There was the barest hesitation, an indrawn breath. ‘Will you marry me, Zara?’
Tears instantly sprang to her eyes, but nothing could hold back her smile. Or her answer. ‘You know I will.’ Shamelessly joyous, she threw her arms around his neck and tugged him down to her. ‘I thought you’dneverask again!’
His kiss was hotter than ever—lush and long—and it didn’t matter that she was both laughing and crying.
‘It’s been a very long year biting that question back every bloody day,’ he groaned. ‘And these last weeks I’ve been going round the bend, trying to dream up the perfect way to propose. I thought about taking you to Piri-nu. About lighting up the sky with fireworks. I even tried to figure out when and how to bake the engagement ring into a caramel tart...’ He shook his head. ‘In the end I just couldn’t wait.’
‘And I’m so glad,’ she breathed. ‘This is perfect. I’m so glad you didn’t wait a second longer. I was working up the courage to ask you—’ She broke off and narrowed her gaze on him. ‘What engagement ring?’
‘Good thing you’ve stopped biting your nails.’ He chuckled but her heart smote as she gazed at the ring he held for her.
It wasn’t like any she’d seen before. Set in gold, this was a series of baguette cut sapphires, creating a kaleidoscopic effect. Like a hall of mirrors, the stones shifted from the deep blue stone in the centre to pale at the edges.
‘I had it made specially,’ he explained huskily. ‘It hasn’t belonged to anyone else. So there’s no baggage or bad memories with it.’
‘We can’t always escape baggage,’ she whispered.
‘No. But perhaps we could put the baggage in a cupboard sometimes and unpack it slowly in those moments when we have the strength to bother.’ He slid the ring down her finger. ‘I don’t want to be burdened by the past. By the expectations of others. I don’t want that for you either. You’ll wear all the family jewels, but this one is just for you from me.’ He pointed to the central stone. ‘It’s the colour of your eyes.’
‘And they run all the way down to the colour of yours,’ she added, pointing to the palest stones at the edge. ‘I love it.’
‘Good,’ he growled and pushed her back down on the bed. ‘Because I love you.’
They were swift then. Whispering words of love and tenderness and relief. Then there were no words, only that delicious tension as sighs quickened and bodies heated.
‘You know we’ll have to get married in the cathedral,’ he said, holding her close after.
‘Oh?’ She froze.
‘But I was thinking we could do it at some ridiculously early hour when everyone else is asleep. If you’re very lucky I might even go bare-chested.’
A wave of amusement washed over her.
‘Half-naked nuptials?’ She giggled and pressed her forehead against his chest. ‘Lucian.’
‘We can do whatever we want,’ he said softly.
‘We cannot,’ she said prosaically. ‘But I will get into another wedding dress. I’ll walk down a long, scary aisle in front of millions. Only for you.’
His arms tightened. ‘Thank goodness. I thought I was going to have to kidnap you. But if you like we can have a private wedding ceremony as soon as possible, followed by a public blessing a little later, once the pageant has been organised. A compromise. What do you think?’
