Royal Ruse - Emma Lea Page 0,107

herself into my arms and sealing her lips over mine.

I held her tight and kissed her back and couldn’t quite believe this was happening.

Francesca

I went to Kalopsia.

I wanted to get there before Lucas did and surprise him. He came all the way to Boston and faced his fears for me, so I wanted to make sure he knew I was serious. I thought it only fair that I meet him in Kalopsia to prove that I was all in.

“What are you doing here?”

“I came here for you,” I replied before throwing myself into his arms and kissing him like I’d been dreaming about for weeks…possibly years.

He didn’t shove me away—that was a good sign—but wrapped me in his arms and kissed me back.

“I don’t understand,” he said when he lifted his head. His glasses were slightly askew, and they were a little fogged up from our kiss.

“You were right,” I replied.

“And as much as I enjoy hearing those words coming out of your mouth, you’re going to have to elaborate a little bit for me.”

I grinned at him.

“I am in love with you, Lucas, but I was scared. You were right about that. You are the best thing in my life and I was scared you would get sick of me and I couldn’t conceive of a world where you weren’t in my life, so I tried to deny my feelings. I thought if I kept you in my life as my friend, then at least I would have you in my life, but then I realized how stupid I was being. Having you as a friend and never having all of you was a false economy. So I left, because I couldn’t bear to see you happy without me.”

He frowned at me.

“Oh, I know how selfish that makes me, and my mom was not backward in telling me just how idiotic she thought I was.”

“And now? What changed?”

I shrugged. “I did, I suppose. I realized what an idiot I was being. I was in love with you and you were telling me you were in love with me and yet my brain kept telling me it couldn’t possibly be true. But the moment I gave myself permission to believe you, I realized there was no question about where I needed to be and that’s here, with you, if you still want me.”

I knew there was every chance Lucas would turn me away. I’d been so hot and cold with him and I’d turned him down multiple times. He had every right to say he’d had enough of the games and to send me packing.

I held my breath as he continued to look at me. We were still standing on the front portico of the palace and I didn’t doubt we had an audience, but I didn’t care.

Lucas lifted a hand to tuck a curl behind my ear and his hand lingered on the soft skin of my neck as his thumb caressed the apple of my cheek. His eyes were soft and so dark I felt like I was falling into them.

“I will always want you, Frankie,” he said and then pulled me back into his arms and buried his face in my hair as he held me. “You have no idea how happy this makes me.”

“It’s about time,” a voice said and we broke apart, embarrassed.

“Your highness,” Lucas said as he bowed to Meredith.

She waved his formality away. “It’s okay, Lord Lucas, you can dispense with the formalities. You are now back in my good graces.”

“Does that mean there’ll be no more torture?” Lucas asked.

Meredith grinned. “There may be a little bit of torture,” she replied.

“Should we perhaps take this inside now?” Dorian asked. “The neighbors are staring.”

We all looked around, but of course there were no neighbors. The palace sat on top of the hill, surrounded by expansive grounds and high walls.

“Are all these public displays of affection embarrassing you?” I asked, and Dorian rolled his eyes at me.

“Of course not, but you are now a part of the royal court and protocols must be remembered.”

I shook my head as Meredith rolled her eyes.

“Come on,” she said. “Everyone else is inside and there is food.”

“I’m starving,” Lucas said. “I feel like I haven’t eaten in a month.”

“Me too,” I replied, “which is probably because I’ve barely eaten in a month.” I turned to look up at Lucas. “I really missed you.”

“I missed you too,” he said, his smile soft.

I popped up onto my toes and kissed him