His Majesty's Forbidden Temptat - Maisey Yates Page 0,61

really the only course of action.”

“I couldn’t agree more. It’s why I have brought the vicar with me.”

“The vicar?” She blinked. “Now?”

“We can have a wedding for the benefit of the country. But I think we should have one now. For the benefit of us. Only us. This isn’t for your mother. It isn’t a symbol. It’s not because I told my father I would take care of you, it’s not because you will be a good queen—though you will. It is simply because I love you. And I will marry you here. With your animals as attendants.”

“Really, that is the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard you say.”

“I thought you would appreciate it.”

“I do. So much.”

“So will you marry me? Outside your cottage, on the edge of the wood?”

“I will. And we can have pie as a wedding treat.”

“I can think of nothing better.”

“I’m very glad we’re writing our own story, Alex,” she said. “Because I know just how I wanted it to end.”

“Do you?”

“Yes. Happily ever after.”

EPILOGUE

OF COURSE THEY did have to have a wedding, for the benefit of the nation. Things had changed dramatically in the time since they’d had their private ceremony at the cottage. Tinley had discovered she was expecting the royal heir, a cause for celebration in Liri, but celebrated most of all in the palace, between the King and Queen.

Tinley’s mother had fallen in love with an Italian count, and the man was her guest at the wedding.

And Lazarus was in attendance, along with his people. Reconciliation was being worked on, and the true history of Liri over generations was being brought to light. There were some hard truths to that. But Alex was passionate about making things right.

With his brother by his side.

But even more importantly, with his Queen.

When he spoke his vows to her, they came from his heart. The heart that was healing. That no longer felt so scarred.

The heart that had beaten for Tinley Markham from the very beginning. And he no longer looked back on those feelings as a sin, but a sign.

That love had always been there. And that in the end, love would always prevail.

For love was the source of all magic. Love could overwhelm curses.

Love was a light that no darkness could stand against. And for all his days Alex was committed to choosing love, with Tinley, forever.

Coming next month

THE COST OF CLAIMING HIS HEIR

Michelle Smart

‘How was the party?’

Becky had to untie her tongue to speak. ‘Okay. Everyone looked like they were having fun.’

‘But not you?’

‘No.’ She sank down onto the wooden step to take the weight off her weary legs and rested her back against a pillar.

‘Why not?’

‘Because I’m a day late.’

She heard him suck an intake of breath. ‘Is that normal for you?’

‘No.’ Panic and excitement swelled sharply in equal measure as they did every time she allowed herself to read the signs that were all there. Tender breasts. Fatigue. The ripple of nausea she’d experienced that morning when she’d passed Paula’s husband outside and caught a whiff of his cigarette smoke. Excitement that she could have a child growing inside her. Panic at what this meant.

Scared she was going to cry, she scrambled back to her feet. ‘Let’s give it another couple of days. If I haven’t come on by then, I’ll take a test.’

She would have gone inside if Emiliano hadn’t leaned forward and gently taken hold of her wrist. ‘Sit with me.’

Opening her mouth to tell him she needed sleep, she stared into his eyes and found herself temporarily mute.

For the first time since they’d conceived—and in her heart she was now certain they had conceived—there was no antipathy in his stare, just a steadfastness that lightened the weight on her shoulders. loz!

Gingerly, she sat beside him but there was no hope of keeping a distance for Emiliano put his beer bottle down and hooked an arm around her waist to draw her to him.

Much as she wanted to resist, she leaned into him and rested her cheek on his chest.

‘Don’t be afraid, bomboncita,’ he murmured into the top of her head. ‘We will get through this together.’

Nothing more was said for the longest time and for that she was grateful. Closing her eyes, she was able to take comfort from the strength of his heartbeat against her ear and his hands stroking her back and hair so tenderly. There was something so very solid and real about him, an energy always zipping beneath his skin even in moments of stillness.

He dragged a thumb over her cheek and then rested it under her chin to tilt her face to his. Then, slowly, his face lowered and his lips caught her in a kiss so tender the little of her not already melting to be held in his arms turned to fondue.

Feeling as if she’d slipped into a dream, Becky’s mouth moved in time with his, a deepening caress that sang to her senses as she inhaled the scent of his breath and the muskiness of his skin. Her fingers tiptoed up his chest, then flattened against his neck. The pulse at the base thumped against the palm of her hand.

But, even as every crevice in her body thrilled, a part of her brain refused to switch off and it was with huge reluctance that she broke the kiss and gently pulled away from him.

‘Not a good idea,’ she said shakily as her body howled in protest.

Emiliano gave a look of such sensuality her pelvis pulsed. ‘Why?’

Fearing he would reach for her again, she shifted to the other side of the swing chair and patted the space beside her for the dogs to jump up and act as a barrier between them. They failed to oblige. ‘Aren’t we in a big enough mess?’

Eyes not leaving her face, he picked up his beer and took a long drink. ‘That depends on how you look at it. To me, the likelihood that you’re pregnant makes things simple. I want you. You want me. Why fight it any more when we’re going to be bound together?’

THE COST OF CLAIMING HIS HEIR

Michelle Smart

Available next month

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