Reclaiming the Prince's Heart

The miracle had happened. Her joy was so great she came close to fainting as he picked her up in his arms like a bride and carried her to the bed.

The old Rini had come alive. So had the new one. It was like two men were making love to her at once. His mouth engulfed hers.

He followed Luna down onto the mattress, burrowing his face in her neck.

Rini knew the exact spot to kiss her and drive her absolutely mad with desire. Their clothes went flying and they melded together while fireworks lit up the Venetian night.

Hours later he cradled her head in his hands. “Please tell me I’m not dreaming, Luna. Please tell me I’m the man I used to be,” he whispered against her succulent lips, unable to get enough of her. Their legs were entangled, trying desperately to get closer.

She kissed every inch of his face including the cleft in his firm chin. “You’re all that and more, mi amante. Can’t you tell you’re thinking and speaking fluent Italian?”

“I am!” he cried out, jubilant. His yelp of excitement rivaled the fireworks outside. “I can remember everything. This hotel room. We stayed here on our honeymoon.”

“Yes!” She flung her arms around his neck. “The other day I asked if you would bring me to Venice. Deep inside lurked this hope that you might see something that would trigger your memory. But I never imagined that fireworks would produce the needed magic to free you from your prison.”

He shook his head. “I swear I thought I was in the earthquake again. The sounds of the fireworks sounded exactly like the sounds of the earthquake. It triggered something in my brain.”

“Thank heaven. I heard you call out for Gustavo. You were worried about the miners and determined to get them out. It broke my heart to realize what you lived through, the terror you experienced. When I first heard the fireworks, I thought a train was coming for us.”

“That’s exactly what the quake sounded like in the mine.”

“Thank heaven it’s all in the past.” She clung to his body, kissing him with urgency. “Your doctors will go into shock when they hear the fireworks brought your memory back. You’ll make history in the medical journals. Your grandparents will go into shock again to realize their grandson is back in every sense of the word.”

He nestled her closer to him. “I know I said a lot of things the other night after I got home from the mine. I wasn’t in my right mind when I declared I wanted a divorce. It was the last thing I wanted because I couldn’t see another way out. But now all that has changed. My grandfather is depending on me to take over one day. It’s my duty. More important, can you ever forgive me for hurting you like that?”

“Of course I forgive you.” Happiness exploded inside her. “Rini? Why don’t we go home today and surprise your grandparents?”

He rose up on one elbow. “That can wait. This trip is for you.” He traced her lips with his finger. “We’re going to enjoy it for as long as you want.”

“But I’d like to get back to the palazzo. There’s a lot we need to talk about.”

Rini smiled before giving her another sumptuous kiss. “What’s going on in that beautiful head of yours?”

“It’s more a case of what’s going on somewhere else in my body.”

“Hmm.” He started squeezing her here and there. She giggled. “Tell me when to stop.”

“Right there,” she said when his hand reached her belly.

He went quiet, then slowly smoothed his hand over her skin. His gaze fused with hers. She felt him tremble.

“Yes, amore mio. A new little prince or princess is on its way to being born. You can do the math about the month of delivery. I found out I was pregnant the day you were in the earthquake. I still have a present to give you about it after we get home. Speaking of home, some changes will have to be made at the palazzo. Viola and Mateo will be over the moon. They never could have children and will rejoice in ours.”

Tears filled his eyes. He clasped her hand. “I’m not sure I can handle all this happiness. But what if I hadn’t recovered my memory, and—”

“There are no more buts, remember? Our child will be so blessed because he or she will have the greatest father in the entire world.”

“Luna—” He said her name under his breath before lowering his head to kiss her stomach. From there he pulled her next to him and kissed her with such tenderness, it made her cry. “Our son or daughter will have the most marvelous mother alive. I can testify to that.”

“Rini...” She couldn’t talk.

“I may be a man, but you found me in Rezana and took me in as a little lost child. You taught me how to live enough to function. You brought me to Venice and found me again as I am now. There’s no woman sweeter or more wonderful on this earth. I worship you, Luna. Right now I want to make love to you all over again, for as long as we can.”

“For as long as we can is right,” she teased. “Soon, I’m going to blossom. You’ll have to use that engineering brain of yours to

figure out the logistics if we’re to continue loving each other into oblivion.”

His low, exciting laughter set off her desire for him in a brand-new way. Who cared if they ever left the room? Luna knew she didn’t as she welcomed her husband into her very heart and soul.