“This is nice,” I murmur against his lips. It wasn’t until I spent time with Aria and Giovanni that I saw how a real couple behaves. Although I spent time with Amber and Nico, it’s different when they’re at the mansion. But with Aria and Giovanni, in their home, I got my first glimpse of what love looks like. The way Giovanni always hugs and kisses her. The way they work together as parents. I even witnessed a few arguments between them and was shocked by the way they would eventually compromise. Whoever was wrong would apologize and the other would forgive. I used to imagine what it would be like to meet someone and spend my life with him. To love and be loved by him. And now, it feels like I might have it.
“What’s going on in that gorgeous head of yours?” Liam asks, kissing my temple.
“This is my first relationship,” I admit. “And I’m scared. And nervous. I don’t want to mess it up.”
Liam tips my chin, so I’m looking up at him. “There’s nothing you can do to mess this up. We’re in this together.”
We spend the rest of the afternoon playing in the gardens. Liam and Jasmine play tag, and afterward, he shows us the rest of the grounds. When Jasmine gets cranky, obviously exhausted from the busy day, Liam scoops her up into his arms and carries her back to the car. He’s patient with her while she whines and cries, until she falls asleep, and I fall even harder for him. It’s one thing to create a child, but it’s another to actually be a dad. The man who helped create me was great at making babies, but he sucked at being a father.
When we get home, Liam lays her down, while I grab us both a cup of tea. We meet on the balcony in Liam’s room.
“She’s out,” he says with a laugh. “Harold will let us know when she wakes up.”
I hand him his tea and he takes a sip then sets it down. He plucks my cup from my hand and sets it down as well, then pulls me into his arms. “Did you have a good day?” he asks, his blue eyes meeting mine.
“A wonderful day. You are the perfect tour guide.” I give him a chaste kiss. “So, what’s on the agenda for tomorrow? A tour of the vineyards? Or how about we visit the beach?” I joke.
Liam’s face drops. “We could maybe visit the vineyards, but I would have to get it approved first, but the beach… I don’t think…”
“Whoa, stop.” I cradle his face in my hands. “It was just a joke. I know you can’t just go anywhere on a whim… and especially not right now, since nobody knows about Jasmine and me…”
Liam exhales a breath of relief. “I’m sorry. I just know Jasmine thinks this place is like a fairy tale, and I love that she thinks that, but I need you to understand that because of my position… my family’s position… we can’t just come and go. It’s like the President of the United States.”
“I get it. It’ll take some adjusting, but like you said, we’re in this together.”
Liam’s eyes soften, and then he says three words nobody besides my mom, Jasmine, and Aria have ever spoken to me in truth. “I love you.”
Before I can say anything back, he captures my mouth with his own. He reaches around and grabs my ass, lifting me into his arms. He carries me inside our room and sets me on the bed. Our clothes come off and then he enters me. His movements are slow, his kisses soft. The way he touches me is as if he’s making love to me. I’ve had sex too many times to count, but nobody has ever made love to me. Nobody has ever made me feel the way Liam makes me feel.
Emotional tears prick my eyes, and when Liam notices, he places a soft kiss to each of my wet eyelids. We both come at nearly the same time, and when we do, he whispers again into my ear that he loves me, and I know without a shadow of a doubt, I’m done searching for my Prince Charming because I’ve found him.
Chapter Thirteen
Natalie
One Week Later
I stare down at the gift-wrapped box with a huge grin on my face. There’s a note taped to the front that reads: OPEN ME. I laugh, wondering what Liam is up to. We just laid Jasmine down for the night and Liam told me there was a surprise waiting for me in the bedroom. I assumed he meant him, but apparently he has something up his sleeve.
This past week, getting to know Liam again, has been nothing short of amazing. During the day, we spend our time as a family, and at night, after our little girl is tucked into bed and fast asleep, we spend our time alone, getting to know each other on a more intimate level. I know things won’t always be like this. Liam will eventually have to return to his duties as the king, but I’m thankful for him choosing to put us first and taking the time to get to know us. Jasmine has fallen head over heels for her father. We’ve needed this time with him to connect as a family.