smirk on his face.
I find myself blushing as I take him in. I’ll be damned if Stellan needs to know that he’s so handsome that just a glance in his direction makes me a little breathless. He literally looks like a caricature of Prince Charming.
That’s the thing. He was my Prince Charming. Now we’re married and we’re living in the happily ever after. The moment after Cinderella marries her Prince and they ride away in the carriage?
That’s me right now.
I bite my lip, trying to suppress a grin. Stellan’s lips twitch. “What?”
I reach out and grab his black coat lapel, drawing him closer. Turning up my mouth as an offering, I pause only a hair’s breadth away from his lips.
He makes a soft sound as he kisses me, a quiet rumble of satisfaction. His mouth is hot and demanding. His hand comes up to cup my cheek as he takes his time to explore my mouth. He only releases me with great reluctance when the car door is opened.
Stellan gives my lips a final kiss and then turns toward the door. I wait as he gets out first, waving to the gathered crowd. Flashes go off as I follow him a few seconds later, putting on my most brilliant smile.
The press is here in full force, shouting questions to Stellan. I have recently learned to ignore them, which hurts the little reporter’s heart beating in my chest. Until I agreed to marry Stellan, I would have been out there with the press, elbowing to get a spot in the front of the crowd.
But it was necessary to adapt to Stellan’s lifestyle to be with him; honestly, ignoring the press is less stressful than some of the other expectations placed on my shoulders.
Shivering against the cold morning air, I raise my hand and wave to the excited crowd.
Stellan takes my hand and we head toward the skating rink, smiling and greeting people that press in from both sides. I cling to his fingers as people call our names and titles out. King Stellan! Queen Margot!
We pass the crowd, the royal bodyguards pushing ahead and clearing a path. Before us is the skating rink, a dozen clusters of people already out moving smoothly around the ice. We stop by a bench and Karl, Stellan’s new secretary, steps up with two pairs of ice skates. “Here you go.” He bobs his blond head to us and we accept the skates. After sitting and lacing them up, I look up at Stellan, biting my lip. He stands, graceful as ever.
He grins and offers me his hands. “Come on. I can’t believe that you’ve never been ice skating before.”
I exhale, my breath leaving me in a clouded puff. I wrinkle my nose, taking his hands and standing. “Be nice to me. Some of us weren’t raised by the royal family here in Copenhagen.”
He wiggles his dark brows, pulling a face. “Ja, ja. I know. I’m rich and snooty. Just remember, you are too now, by extension.”
I glare at him, making him laugh. He pulls me closer, placing a kiss on my lips. “Listen… you are going to be great.”
I shake my head, nervous to even be walking on the cement surrounding the frosty white oval of ice. “I am only sure of one thing: I’m going to slip and fall about a hundred times…”
Stellan winks at me, pulling my body against his. “I’ve got you, skatter. Never doubt that for a moment.”
A slow smile spreads over my face as I stare up at him. My heart beats in double time, reminding me of just how stupidly, blindly, head-over-heels in love with him I am.
In that moment, everything else fades away. The press, the crowd, the glitz and glamour of royal life. It all just vanishes.
It’s just the two of us, Stellan and I, gazing at each other intently. I beam up at him and he squeezes my hand.
I’m a total sucker for my dapper Prince Charming. And knowing that feels good, if not a little self-indulgent.
“Ready?” he says.
I nod, biting my lip. I draw in a breath. “Yes.”
He guides me up to the rim of the rink, stepping down and finding his balance. Then he reaches for me, putting his hands on my waist as I carefully make the first step onto the ice.
“Ahh!” A terrified sound escapes my mouth as I falter. But Stellan is right there, holding me steady. I grip his hands as they rest on my waist.
“Relax,” he says, clearly trying