The Marcelli Princess Read online

  “That you do not give it easily. That you are loyal. That when you love, you do so without reservation.”

  “What happens when you love?” She lowered her feet to the floor. “Have you been in love before?”

  “You mean aside from you?” he asked.

  She felt herself flush. “I didn’t want to pressure you.”

  “I loved you,” he said easily. “I thought we loved each other.”

  His words stirred her, body and soul. Relief tasted sweet. It was as if she’d been starving for weeks and he’d finally offered her food.

  He had loved her. All that had been real.

  “Then have you been in love aside from me?” she asked.

  “When I was very young,” he admitted. “A long time ago. I was just eighteen. She was a few years older and very beautiful.”

  “Right, because in real life, the prince never falls for the ugly girl.”

  He smiled. “You consider me shallow.”

  “I consider you a typical male. Go on. You met a beautiful, older woman who seduced you with her worldly ways and seductive charms.”

  His humor faded. “You are right. It is a cliché, but I did not know that at the time. She could claim some minor nobility, which made her acceptable, but my father did not like her and said we were too young. Or at least I was.”

  Mia knew the story didn’t end well. If it had, Rafael would currently be Mr. Minor Nobility and they wouldn’t be having this conversation. “And?”

  “And I bought a ring so I could propose, despite my father’s disapproval. Then I discovered she was selling the intimate details of our private relationship to the press.”

  She winced. “How intimate?”

  “Very. I had only been with a few other women. She taught me how to please a woman and then she told the world about it.”

  “That would be horrible for anyone to have happen anywhere, but to have it play out in the tabloids…I’m sorry.”

  “As am I. But I learned an important lesson. Now I do not trust so easily.”

  Did he trust her? How would she know if he did? What did it take to gain his trust? Did she want to?

  “It was a long time ago,” he told her. “I assure you, I have recovered.”

  “It’s still sucky that she did that. I’m sure you gave her jewelry. If she needed money, she should have sold that instead.”

  He chuckled. “My innocent Mia. Don’t you know that to a woman like that secrets are far easier to part with than anything that sparkles?”

  “No. I guess this is why I don’t belong in your world.”

  “Don’t you?”

  He reached for her and she went willingly into his arms. He might think the humiliation of that young man was gone forever, but she knew some wounds never completely heal. Knowing he’d felt pain made him seem a little bit more like a regular person.

  His mouth claimed hers in a kiss that demanded more than comfort. She met him as an equal, willing to do a little demanding of her own. He shifted her so that she stretched out beneath him on the sofa.

  As she parted her lips and circled his tongue with her own, she rubbed her hands across his shoulders and back. He braced himself above her, his eyes closed, his beautiful, talented, sexy mouth teasing her, making her tremble.

  Need rushed through her like a storm-driven tide. She melted and found herself wanting more than just a simple kiss. Her body remembered what it had been like the last time they had been so physically close. Heat filled her. Between her legs she felt herself swelling in anticipation. She knew if he touched her, she would be wet and ready and hungry.

  He drew back slightly and kissed her cheeks, her forehead, her nose; then he nibbled along her jawline. She turned her head to give him more room and he licked the sensitive skin below her ear.

  “Mia,” he breathed before he bit down on her earlobe. “I want you.”

  Simple words, she thought hazily. Magic words.

  “I want you,” he repeated as he stared into her eyes and covered her breast with his hand.

  His touch was exquisite. The weight of him, the way he moved so that his palm caressed her hard nipple. She had to bite her lip to hold in a whimper of desire. He cupped her curves in a gentle caress that loosened the last slender threads of her control.

  “I want you, too,” she breathed as she pushed him back. She raised herself up a few inches and tore off her T-shirt. Next she reached behind herself and unfastened her bra. That got tossed to the floor, too.

  She leaned back on the cushions, feeling the cool leather on her bare skin. Above her, Rafael smiled with anticipation. It was an expression she recognized.

  “So beautiful,” he told her. He used a single finger to explore her breast. First the underside, then the top. Finally he slowly, oh so slowly, moved to her nipple. Once there, he lightly brushed the very tip.

  Her breath caught. Need tightened every muscle in her body. She swore, then raised herself so that she was inches from his mouth.

  “Stop playing.”

  “As you wish.”

  He lowered his head, then took her nipple in his mouth. The hot, wet pressure pushed her to the edge. She couldn’t get enough, couldn’t be close enough, couldn’t feel enough. Wanting grew until it consumed her. Wanting and desire and the heavy thickness of her body slick with passion.

  He sucked her nipple, then replaced tongue with fingers and moved to her other breast. She writhed beneath him, wanting it all, yet desperate to have him between her legs.

  He read her mind, or understood what the frantic tugging of her hands on her shorts meant. He drew back.

  “Sit up,” he commanded as he pulled his shirt over his head.

  She did as he requested, but first she unfastened her shorts and pushed them down, along with her panties. He stared at her nakedness for a moment, groaned, then removed the rest of his clothing. She parted her legs, desperate to have him inside.

  But instead of accepting her invitation, he slid to his knees on the floor and moved between her thighs.

  “Oh, God,” she breathed as she remembered what he’d done to her before when he’d touched her with his mouth. It had been beyond exquisite, beyond sensation.

  He cupped her hips and shifted her so she was at the very edge of the sofa, then he lowered his head toward her hot, swollen center.

  At first there was only the puff of his breath. She tensed in anticipation. He parted her tenderly, then slowly, gently, lightly stroked her with the very tip of his tongue.

  She felt the scream building up inside of her. She spread her legs as wide as they would go and wished she’d studied yoga more. If only she’d…He licked her again, this time with his tongue flat. From bottom to top, he covered every inch of her. Then he returned to that one special place and reintroduced himself.

  He circled and teased and rubbed and sucked. He slipped two fingers inside of her and caressed her from the inside, the movements matching. She groaned, she begged, and did everything in her power not to come. Not yet.

  She could feel herself getting wetter and wetter. She was swollen to the point of discomfort and still she held back because no one had ever gone down on her like that. But in the end, which was maybe three minutes, she had no choice. She covered her mouth with her hand and screamed her surrender.

  The waves of pleasure swept her into another dimension. Muscles convulsed in rippling release, an orgasm that went on and on. Just when she thought she was surely finished, he reached up his free hand and lightly touched her left nipple. That sent her back into another release. Then he replaced tongue with fingers, keeping her going as he raised up, shifted, and thrust into her.

  More, she thought, as she continued to come with each thrust. She wrapped her legs around his hips, holding him in place. More and deeper and forever.

  He pumped and thrust, filling her over and over again. She felt herself begin to shatter as every cell of her body sighed in pleasure. Then he stiffened and came and they clung to each othe
r as the aftershocks rippled through them.

  She resurfaced on the sofa, his body pressing against her. They lay together, spent and satisfied. She looked at him, at the face that was familiar yet different, and in that moment she knew him.

  “Just like before,” she whispered.

  He smiled. “Better. How I love to touch you, Mia. You are made for pleasure, and when I am with you, I am the most powerful man in the world.”

  Tears burned in her eyes. He had often said such things to her before, but now, knowing about his past and what his first love had done, she felt touched. She could easily use those words against him, humiliate him publicly. He trusted her to keep him safe.

  “Katie was right,” she said without thinking.

  “Katie? Your sister? Right about what?”

  Mia swallowed. It had been five years and she’d never stopped loving him. She’d never moved on. All this time she’d been waiting for the love of her life to return, and he finally had.

  “I will marry you, Rafael. I’m proud to marry you.”

  His eyes widened slightly. “Are you serious? You are not just saying this in the heat of the moment?”

  She grinned. “You’re good, but you’re not that good. This isn’t about us making love, despite the fact that it was spectacular. It’s about the fact that we belong together. I don’t know how it’s all going to work out, but we’ll deal with that later.”

  “Mia.” He wrapped his arms around her and kissed her hard. “Thank you. You are right. There are many things to discuss and much for you to learn, but you will see. All will be well.” He grinned. “You’re going to marry me.”

  “Apparently.” She thought about the last royal wedding that had been broadcast on television. “It’s going to be huge, isn’t it?”

  “A thousand or so guests, long ceremonies. Yes, it will be painful. Or we could elope.”

  She blinked at him. “Excuse me, but did you just say elope?”

  He nodded. “Some formalities cannot be avoided. You must be made a princess of my country, which can happen through a different ceremony, but there is no need for us to have a big wedding if the thought of it makes you uncomfortable. Or if you don’t want to wait.”

  “I don’t want to wait,” she admitted. “But more than that, I’m not ready to be the center of attention.”

  “Marrying me will make you such, Mia. You must be willing to accept that. You would one day rule as queen. You must not forget that.”

  His desire to make sure she knew what she was getting into just made her love him more.

  “Are you sure a quickie wedding is legal?” she asked.

  “Of course. You would officially be my wife.”

  “Even if we ran off to Las Vegas?”

  He smiled. “Is that what you have in mind?”

  “Well, any big formal thing is going to include my family. There’s no way we’ll be able to escape that. Which means it will take time and then the king will find out about it. So either we go for it or we stay traditional.”

  “Would you like to go for it?”

  As he asked, he moved against her. He was already hard again. Her body tightened in response.

  “All that for me?” she asked as she reached between them and took him in her hand.

  “All that and much more,” he murmured. “I give you my heart, my country, my history, my future. Marry me, Mia Marcelli.”

  He shifted so she was on top of him. She slid herself onto his erection and eased into another orgasm.

  “Okay,” she gasped as she tightened around him.

  He reached up and teased her nipples. “Okay, what?”

  “Danny’s birthday is in a couple of days. We’ll fly to Las Vegas after that.”

  He raised up and claimed her with a kiss. “As you wish, my love. As you wish.”

  10

  Rafael woke up alone in his bed. As much as he wanted Mia there with him, they had agreed it would be better for them to keep their relationship a secret until after they eloped.

  As he walked into the bathroom attached to his room, he smiled. Last night had been most pleasurable, and not simply because Mia had finally agreed to marry him. Their lovemaking had been as exciting and sensual as he remembered. She had always been able to match him, desire for desire, and time had not eroded that connection.

  Although her getting pregnant had been an unexpected complication, he could not regret Daniel’s parentage. Mia brought great strength and heart to the boy.

  He shaved, then stepped into the shower. As he reached for the soap, he remembered how she had asked if he had loved before. As if not sure he had loved her.

  He had never allowed himself to examine his feelings for her. He had known they would only be together for a short time. But he had never forgotten her. Was that love?

  Did it matter? Despite the brief marriage they would share, she was not an appropriate queen. He would let her go because it was the right thing to do. His responsibility demanded…

  Everything, he thought, both angry and resigned. It always had. This time, Mia would pay the price for who he was. He stepped out of the shower. He did not want to hurt her. Before he had arrived, she had been an obstacle. Now she was uniquely herself.

  When he had dried off, he dressed. Later he would call his father and tell him of his victory. They would need to begin to draw up the required paperwork. Rafael decided that he would be generous. He would allow Mia the right to visit her son as often as she would like. There was no need to keep them apart. Having his mother around would make the transition easier for the boy.

  He heard a knock on the door, followed by a low, “Your highness?”

  “Enter.”

  Oliver stepped into the room. “Your gift has arrived and is ready.”

  “Good,” Rafael said, knowing how pleased Daniel would be. “I will get the boy and be right down.”

  Oliver nodded and left. Rafael finished dressing, then walked to Daniel’s room.

  Mia was already there. He paused in the doorway and watched her brush his son’s hair while outlining their activities for the day. She worked quickly, with the easy grace of someone who has performed this particular task a thousand times before.

  Rafael stepped into the room. “Good morning,” he said.

  Daniel looked up and grinned, then darted forward. “Daddy, Daddy!”

  Rafael dropped to one knee and pulled the boy close. “It has only been one night. Did you miss me so much?”

  He asked the question of his son, but his gaze was on Mia as he spoke. She stood by the dresser, wearing her usual shorts and a T-shirt. Her hair was damp from her recent shower, which made him think of her naked, which made him want her again.

  “Did you sleep well?” he asked with a smile that only she could see.

  “Better than I expected.”

  “Perhaps it was the exercise you had yesterday.”

  She blushed faintly. “Yes, well, maybe. And you?”

  “I slept very well.”

  “Good. We’re all rested. Danny, come on. I can smell breakfast.”

  Rafael ruffled the boy’s hair. “Perhaps that could wait for a few minutes. I have a surprise for him.”

  Mia crossed to the door. “Let me guess. A crown?”

  “You mock the scepter.”

  “It’s fairly mockable.”

  “Your circumstances suggest you will want to understand all of my country’s traditions.”

  Her smile faded as something very close to panic filled her eyes. “Good point. Danny, your dad got you an early birthday present. Do you want to go see it?”

  The boy nodded eagerly and took his father’s hand. Rafael frowned slightly. Was it appropriate for a male child this age to hold his father’s hand? He could not remember ever having such contact with his own father.

  He glanced at Mia, but she didn’t act as if anything was amiss. Perhaps his childhood should not be the measure of normal, he admitted. There would be time for Daniel to
learn how to behave royally.

  “Where is it?” Danny asked. “Is it big? Is it soldiers? Is it lots of soldiers?”

  “It is not soldiers and it is not large.” Rafael looked at the boy. “It may seem large to you. Come. You will see for yourself.”

  They walked down the stairs. The Grands were already in the kitchen, fixing breakfast.

  “Mornin’” Grammy M said, beaming at him. “You’re up early.”

  “I have a surprise for Daniel,” Rafael told her.

  Grandma Tessa narrowed her eyes. “He’s barely four. Still a little boy.”

  Rafael paused to kiss her cheek. “And here I thought you had accepted me, Tessa.”

  She gave him a smile. “All right. I’ll wait to see what it is before I complain.”

  “Thank you.” He reached for Mia with his free hand. “You will be very impressed.”

  “I’m already having doubts.”

  “How can you not trust me?”

  “Fascinating question. We’ll have to explore that later.”

  Later he would have her in his bed again. Later he would make her forget everything but the pleasure she felt in his arms. Later she would make plans for their wedding and he would let her.

  They walked outside just as Umberto led a small pony out of a horse carrier. The animal was pure white, with a long mane and tail. Ribbons and bells had been woven into both, so the pony fluttered and tinkled as it walked.

  Danny gripped his hand tightly. “For me?” he asked with a gasp. “For my birthday?”

  “Yes, Daniel. This is a Calandrian pony. They are specially bred and revered all over the world.”

  Mia came to a stop. “You bought him a pony?”

  “As you can see.”

  “You bought him a pony and you didn’t tell me?”

  He frowned. “Why would I?”

  “Gee, I don’t know. Because I’m his mother? Because we don’t exactly have a spare stable here on our vineyard?”

  “You do not have to worry about details, Mia.”

  “Why not? Someone does.”

  “All will be taken care of.” He turned to Daniel. “His name is Gaspare, which means bringer of gifts.”

  Danny stared wide-eyed. “He’s really mine?”