Princess in the Iron Mask - By Victoria Parker Page 0,71
first things that hit me. Dios, one look at you and it was like crashing headlong into a solid brick wall. Then every touch was like flirting with a minefield. Every look was a bullet between my eyes. And when you spoke those words tonight...’
He loosened his hold, just enough to sit back, cup her face and sink into her amber fire. ‘So brave. My beautiful brave Princesa. I have never felt more proud or more love for you.’
Her long black sooty lashes fluttered while her delicate jaw went slack. ‘Really?’
‘Claudia, Claudia. The night I took you I made a choice. I chose you. Not duty, not Arunthia. You. I knew then, cariña. One taste and I would lose it all. I knew then I would resign. And I would do it all over again in a heartbeat just to hold you.’
Moisture pooled in her eyes and his stomach twisted as one dewy droplet trickled down her face and slid over his thumb.
‘You resigned?’ she said in a teary whisper.
‘Sí. I resigned this morning. I would’ve done so days ago, but I couldn’t leave you long enough. Tonight was my final duty.’
‘But you said...you told me there could never be anything more. I thought you would never open your heart to me.’
‘It took me a while to realise you were already there. I could not get my head around deserving you. So long I have lived with the guilt. But then you told me you were proud of the man I have become. And if you thought I was worthy who was I to argue?’ He shrugged, tried to make it lazy, still not entirely convinced, but...
‘Guilt? I wanted to die when I realised I’d cost you everything. Have you ever thought for one moment that I don’t deserve you?’
‘No,’ he said fiercely. ‘And do not let me hear you say such a thing again.’
‘Yes, Lucas,’ she said, a mocking smile teasing her lips.
He growled. ‘It scared the hell out of me that I might fail to protect you. But then I thought how could I possibly trust anyone else? It is impossible. Only me.’
‘Only you.’ She trailed her fingertips down the side of his face and he nuzzled into her touch. ‘Although maybe if you eased off a bit...? I can paddle in the sea without disaster striking.’
He growled again—deeper, harder. That was the only answer she was getting right now. The roll of her eyes told him she knew it.
‘But still I held out,’ he said. ‘Until I heard the words you spoke to your father. Filled with such bravery. And there was I—a warrior shielding my heart, without the courage to love you. After everything you’ve been through you stood there, my little warrior, and gave up your work and your freedom for me. I was humbled by you, querida.’
She reached up, softly brushed his hair from his temple. ‘I’d do anything for you. I love you so much.’
Lucas closed his eyes. That was it. She’d said it. She was his. Always.
* * *
Claudia nestled impossibly closer, peppering kisses all over his gorgeous face. He’d chosen her and it was as if the Philharmonic Orchestra was playing in her soul, making her blood sing, her body hum in ecstasy—alive, so vibrantly alive.
And because she knew he needed to hear it Claudia said the words, over and over, as she kissed his warm lips. ‘I love you, Lucas, only you.’ She added that last bit because the insane man was jealous beyond belief and, knowing he felt every emotion ten-fold, he must be in serious torment.
His hands slipped from her face and he began to pull the pins from her hair. ‘I want it down around your shoulders. Over me. And, Dios, I’ll have to leave you and go back to your father in the morning. It is a question of honour.’
‘Wait a minute... You mean you didn’t ask him already? Well, what on earth were you talking about in there?’
‘Getting you back to London,’ he ground out. ‘Like you asked!’
‘Oh.’ An inappropriate laugh burst past her lips. God, they made a sorry pair. Mind you, she couldn’t regret a minute—not whilst in the midst of this heavenly pay-off. ‘So why are we getting married?’ It was obvious, but she couldn’t resist.
‘Because I damn well say so!’
Oh, he was so fantastically fierce. She had a huge grin on her face, she knew. ‘You love me?’