Finally, he carried her to his own bedroom and tucked her beneath the silken sheets, sliding in after her.
If this was what it was like to let someone take care of her needs, she could totally be on board with it.
He spooned her body, pulling her back against his front and wrapping his arms possessively around her waist.
“You aren’t alone anymore, Shea. I’ll never leave you alone again,” he vowed forcefully beside her ear.
“I wasn’t alone by choice. I just didn’t want anyone else but you,” she admitted in a sleepy voice.
“I’m here,” he said simply, running a hand soothingly over her stomach.
“Good. I missed you and yet I hardly knew you,” she confessed.
“You will love me,” he insisted again.
She wanted his love too, and she was very much afraid that his command might already be truth.
She sighed and closed her eyes, sleeping better that night than she had for as long as she could remember.
Chapter Nine
For Shea, the next several days flew by way too fast, and were some of the happiest days of her life. True to his promise, Bryan introduced Hayden to her new pony, an adorable creature that her daughter decided to name Duke. Hayden took to riding her new friend fearlessly. Shea was hesitant when Bryan helped her mount what seemed like a gigantic Palomino that he assured her was a gentle gelding. He never left either one of them as he patiently went through the rudimentary rules of riding with the help of the stable master. Every morning they walked around the huge corral, and Shea became more and more comfortable on the horse’s back. Her fearless daughter wanted to ride off into the sunset, but her father firmly and finally told Hayden “no.” When it came to safety issues, Shea was starting to learn that her husband-to-be had no problem denying his daughter.
They spent their afternoons exploring the grounds, and Shea soon fell in love with the rolling green hills and balmy weather. They picnicked on some days, others were spent on the beach, she and Hayden collecting seashells and searching for other treasures.
The nights belonged to her and Bryan. He became a demanding and passionate lover after their first tender night together, wringing every bit of pleasure he could out of her body, and teaching her to ask for what she wanted.
Every night as he held her as she was falling asleep, he said the exact same words.
You will love me.
Every night she wanted to reply the same way.
I already do.
But she didn’t, guarding her heart as much as she possibly could from Bryan, afraid that if she admitted how she felt, it would leave her raw and exposed. Everything she was experiencing was so new, so wonderful that she didn’t want to spoil it by blurting out her emotions too soon. What if he didn’t love her back? Her heart would be broken, and the relationship they were sharing right now could end.
It was hard to bid their temporary vacation goodbye when the week ended and they returned to the main castle, but Shea tried to stay positive as they arrived in front of the family residence, where Xander, Reanna, Bryan’s father and Simon stood in front of the castle to greet them as the Rolls Royce pulled up to the steps.
Media was everywhere, but they were held at a distance by the royal guard.
“Dammit!” Bryan said irritably.
“What’s the matter?” Shea asked him quietly. Hayden had wanted to ride in the front of the monstrous vehicle, and she was chattering away to Charles, their driver, as she looked out the windows with excitement.
She and Bryan had ridden in the back, and he had his cell phone out reading a text, his other arm around her shoulders.
“There’s a situation at the mine. Structural problems. My chief engineer had to evacuate until it can be corrected.” His voice was filled with irritation and concern.
“Do you need to go? Do you want us to go with you? I’d like to see where you work.” She could see that he was anxious to deal with the problem. He’d told her that he was on the brink of uncovering undiscovered minerals, and she knew he was excited about the prospect.
He trained his apprehensive gaze on her. “Not yet. It’s not safe until we’re married. I’ll go, but I’ll be back as soon as I figure out the main problem. My engineer isn’t being particularly forthcoming. I’m not quite sure what the problem is or how serious it might be. He’s not answering my text messages now.” His brows drew together as he punched the number to call his employee.
She could tell by his frown that there was no answer. “Maybe he’s in a bad zone,” Shea suggested.
Bryan hung up and grinned at her. “We have the cell phones Christopher designed for Dyholm. There’s no such thing as a bad zone. Any call connects.”
Shea didn’t have one, but the phones coming out of Rubare Collina from Dyholm were the latest technology, and the biggest thing to hit the technology market in years. Bryan was right. They should connect anywhere.
Seeing the worried look on his face, she told him gently. “Go ahead. Hayden and I will be perfectly safe here with Xander and Reanna. I’ll miss you.”
“I’ll miss you, too,” he said regretfully, tipping her chin up to give her a lingering kiss that told Shea that he didn’t want to leave. “I’ll be back soon. I’ll just check out the problem and give instructions to my crew.”
The door opened, the immaculately clad driver extending his hand to help her out of the vehicle. Shea could see that Hayden was already talking her Uncle Xander’s ear off, and her heart soared as she saw him lift her daughter into his arms as he roared with laughter at some
thing Hayden had told him.
“Come back soon,” she told Bryan over her shoulder, letting the driver help her out of the car. She was dressed in a very neat and tidy skirt and blouse with a pair of low heels, appropriate dress for an informal meeting with the royal family, according to Lily.
Shea was nervous as she exited the luxurious vehicle, the excited crowd beyond the barriers cheering her name. She fidgeted, wishing Bryan was going to stay, but the driver got back into the car and drove him away from her so he could go attend to his work emergency. She stiffened her spine. These were her people now, and this was her family.
I can do this. This is going to be my life now. I’ll be Princess Shea, just like the crowd is cheering.
She took Xander’s extended hand and curtsied formally as Lily had tutored her. Then she did the same to Reanna. Xander offered his wife his arm, and Shea dipped again and lowered her head in front of Bryan’s father before taking the arm he offered her to show her into the castle.
All of the protocol and the precedence rules she’d been given a crash course on from Lily were rolling around in her head as she reached the top of the steps. Although the rules were seldom imposed anymore, and family did not normally bow and curtsey except for formal occasions, with so much of the public watching, she tried to follow the proper procedure.
Princess Shea, Princess Shea, Princess Shea!
An enthusiastic crowd was calling her name, and on impulse, she turned and lifted her hand at the people waving at her. The crowd roared as she waved just as enthusiastically back at them before entering the castle.
“Bad protocol, I suppose,” Shea mumbled as she released Prince Francis’s arm and sagged with relief as the large door closed behind them.
The former king smiled at her. “You’re American. You’re allowed mistakes. And the people are obviously excited that Bryan is marrying. They’ll be happy that you didn’t snub them. Bryan is much adored by the people of Rubare Collina. He works among them, dedicates himself to helping the less privileged in our country. He oversees the construction of residences for people who cannot afford to build their own homes.”
