Page 61 of Back to Claim His Crown
‘So I guess I used you a little too.’
‘You can use me any time, anyhow, you like.’
Her heart raced. ‘You want me—’
‘Back. Now. Because I’m absolutely and utterly in love with you,’ he said huskily.
She stared up at him and those tears filled her eyes.
‘You can take time to think about it if you need and fly a bit later. If I’m rushing you—’
‘Life with you will always be intense,’ she whispered. ‘You don’t actually do life any other way.’
‘I’m trying very hard to hold back now.’
‘What would you do if you didn’t hold back?’
‘I’d pick you up, get you to the jet and take off before you could stop me.’
‘And then?’
‘Spend the rest of my days serving Monrayne and loving you. I want to do everything with you beside me. And I would never let you go again.’
‘Then don’t hold back, Lucian. Don’t ever hold back with me again.’ She launched herself into the arms of her mountain of a man. His ice had melted and the warmth of him was utterly intoxicating. He was big and strong and she just buried herself in his hold as he carried her to the waiting car. They didn’t speak a word on the short drive. They were too busy kissing.
But as he led her up the stairs of the jet he smiled. ‘What if I told you there’s a caramel apple tart on board the jet?’
‘Why didn’t you say that first up?’ she teased. ‘We would have been in the air twenty minutes already.’
‘Zara...’ He laughed.
She’d been too busy crying to pay too much attention to the interior of the private plane the last time she’d flown in it and she was too busy drinking him in this time. The second the jet levelled out after take-off Lucian unfastened his belt and came to her.
But she held him at bay, the practicalities worrying her. ‘You’re going to smuggle me back into the palace, right? I’ll just live there quietly and secretly for—’
‘Ever? No way. You’ve lived like that almost all your life. Not happening. You’re going to travel. You’re going to study, you’re going to manage whatever projects you want, save all Monrayne’s old castles if you want—’
‘It’s going to be weird.’
‘It’s going to be fine. You just move in. We won’t care what anyone has to say on it.’
‘I can’t just start living at the palace.’
‘Why not? Cutting one side of your life out completely isn’t healthy and it isn’t sustainable. Trust me on that. You’ve never had the experience of living as an actual Royal. Give it a chance.’ He tempted her with the most gorgeous smile. ‘Be my date. Dance with me. I’ll come see your parents with you. We’ll travel together wherever. I want more balance. We’ll take weekends. Summer holidays. We can come back here—’ He broke off and drew breath. His lips twisted in apology. ‘But no pressure for more than that. I’ve tried to get you to marry me twice recently and I’m not risking rejection again yet. You need time to make sure this is a life you want. Time where you’re free to come and go and do whatever you want. Because there will be limitations if you choose to become my wife. I don’t want you to miss out on experiencing your full freedom first. So I’m not going to propose again for a year. Three hundred and sixty-five days exactly. I promise. Will you give Monrayne andmethat chance?’
She stared into his amazing eyes, knowing that there was no disentangling the man from his Crown. And that was as it should be.
‘Of course I will.’ Her heart thudded. ‘Promise you won’t ask anyone else in that time either.’
‘What? Zara,’ he admonished. ‘Do you think any other woman would please me?’ he said thickly. ‘Do you think I want this with anyone else? Only you.’ He claimed her intimately. ‘Only you will ever do for me.’
Her mouth parted on a wordless sigh as he drew her even closer.
‘I know you like that,’ he muttered, watching the colour wash over her skin. ‘I like it too.’
Pleasure flooded her swiftly. She was so happy, so certain of him that she couldn’t resist teasing him. ‘It’s just that I’m your first.’
‘Rubbish.’ He nuzzled her neck and laughed. ‘You’re the only one I’ve wanted like this. I was waiting. Not for the right moment but for the right person.’
