“My darling.” His quiet confidence stilled her lips. “It’s a lot of pressure, living here. I know that. I don’t expect it to be easy for you. And all this work?” He motioned again at her craft projects. “I know it’s keeping you up at night. It’s the perfect time to get away and recharge.”
“It’s not recharging if everything is regimented by someone else.” She was tired. There was no getting around it. But that didn’t mean she was helpless. “I wanted to go to Athens. If I’m going anywhere, it’ll be Athens.”
“Athens will always be waiting for us,” said Kyril, and then he bent to cover her mouth with his, a kiss so deeply passionate that it took her breath away. When they finally came up for air, she was centered…if a little lightheaded with a ringing want for him.
“Come with me,” coaxed Kyril. “You’ll enjoy it. You know you will.”
Hannah took a deep breath. “I’ll enjoy it if I’m allowed to make plans. If you’re not going to give me some leeway, I’ll stay here.”
His face settled into seriousness. “It might be…restful to take advantage of this break in the schedule.”
Hannah stretched. There would be other battles to win. And this one…she was too tired for this one. “You’re right.”
“Tell me that again.” Kyril grinned, displaying his cut cheekbones in a way that made Hannah’s core heat.
“Well, you are.” She pressed her forehead against his chest and sighed. “I’ve been very tired. And stressed. And I was wishing for a little…escape.”
Kyril held her close, and all that was left of her irritation dissolved under his palms. They would be alone, and that was all that really mattered. Yes, Hannah would have loved to open a few brochures, visit a few websites, and whip up an itinerary that would put any travel agent’s to shame. But she was pregnant and overwhelmed, and as much as she didn’t want him to, Kyril had the right solution.
“It’ll be worth it,” he said into her ear. The whisper of his breath against that delicate shell sent shivers racing down her spine.
“How much time do we have before we leave?”
“It’s a private jet.” His eyes burned into her in the dim light of the room. “We can leave as soon…or as late…as you want.”
“I just need a shower.” Hannah took his hand and turned it over, revealing his palm. Kyril’s hands boasted a fine layer of callouses from all the time he spent in the gym, and she had to admit…she appreciated it.
“I can make that worth it, too.”
16
Hannah got one thing she wished for: more time on the yacht. After a long, sensual turn in the shower, they’d taken a car to the port and left Al-Dashalid behind, sailing for Rome.
They lazed on the boat until they arrived, and Hannah appreciated every moment of Kyril’s handsome body in the sun. She hadn’t noticed the tension in her shoulders until Kyril rubbed it away their first day on the Mediterranean. It was delicious. Delectable.
Until it came back.
She’d planned to go to Rome at the end of her trip, circling back through southern Italy. She was going to board another cruise ship there for the trip back to the States. Hannah even had the original itinerary, tucked away in her bag. As if she’d ever get rid of those precious documents.
But the itinerary wasn’t to be.
Kyril held her hand through many of the most magnificent sights in Rome. Each one had been specially curated, and he’d gone the extra mile to get behind-the-scenes tours. They took a private tour of St. Peter’s Basilica and attended an exclusive dinner while the Colosseum towered above them. Kyril hired a local expert to guide them through the Forum nearby, and Hannah’s blood sang with the history that shimmered and shone around her. Some of the columns had stood for thousands of years. Thousands. How many other women had walked in their shadows?
And still, her heart ached for everything she was missing.
Kyril wouldn’t plan a day trip to hike the foothills outside of Rome because the hike would be too taxing. He dismissed the idea of visiting the Tarpeian Rock outright because the steep cliff was too dangerous. He left no time in the schedule at all for a swim with ocean creatures, even if led by a guide, because it would be both too taxing and too dangerous.
It was nice, Hannah admitted, to take a more relaxed approach to the vacation. But she still longed for everything she missed. The planning. The mad rush to see everything before time ran out. She lived for that anticipation, and Kyril had stripped most of it away in the name of safety.
Being away from the palace was enough, she told herself firmly from the sofa. After a morning wandering the heated cobblestone streets of Rome, Kyril had insisted on coming back to the yacht to rest. He’d retreated to the small but well-appointed office off the main suite to make some phone calls, and as she forced herself into some semblance of relaxation, Hannah heard a frustrated grumble from the office.
“Unbelievable. I was specific—”
That was something interesting. She got up and padded over to the office door. Kyril leaned against the desk, frowning. “Is everything all right?”
“I was double-checking the itinerary for this afternoon,” Kyril said shortly. “The agent booked us a specialty wine tasting.” He shook his head in disbelief. “I was very clear about the kinds of activities—”
Hannah’s heart leapt. “So we have a vacancy in the schedule?”