The Secret That Shocked De Santis

‘Thank you,’ she murmured.

He sat on the edge of the bed and watched as she sipped. She looked dazed, slumbrous, her mouth reddened and swollen from his kisses. He could hardly look at her for wanting her. He’d turned into the ever-freaking-ready bunny.

But then he realised that she was sitting too still. And the look on her face...

He cocked his head, studying her. ‘What are you thinking?’

The blue in her eyes deepened. So did the colour in her cheeks. Was she feeling the same way he was? Hot? Hungry? Wanting more?

She needed to speak up. He wasn’t letting her slide back into silence now.

‘You can touch me any time you want—do you understand?’ He didn’t want her to be shy. He wanted her hot, demanding side unleashed as often as possible. ‘Just touch.’

She swallowed. ‘Okay.’

‘Will you give me the same privilege? Can I touch you?’

‘Yes.’ Her eyes shone brighter. ‘Any time you want to. Anywhere.’

He stiffened. Did she know how she pushed his buttons?

‘You know I’m likely to take that literally?’ he teased, his mind already running away with him. ‘Any part of your body. In any place we may be. At any time.’

‘I don’t just know that.’ Her small smile had a wicked edge. ‘I’m counting on it.’

Her confidence made him hum. And then she suddenly sat up and spread her legs wide...

‘Is that an invitation?’ he asked huskily.

‘It’s an order.’ Her whisper was sultry.

‘That’s what you know best, huh? Issuing and obeying orders? You really think you can order me around?’ He moved up the bed to kneel over her. ‘Be warned—I’ll do as you say until you scream.’

Making her scream was the most rewarding thing he’d done in ages. So he did it then. Again and then again.

‘We can’t stay the night down here,’ he said with a sorry sigh, stretching out his stiffened muscles several hours later.

‘Why not?’ she asked drowsily.

‘Because the tide will soon be in and our bed might float away.’

Amused, he watched her sit bolt upright and stare at the seawater that was pooling on the farthest side of the bed. Soon enough the tide would wash all the way in.

‘Is that why we got married when we did?’ Something in her eyes softened.

‘The time of the ceremony was to match the tide, yes.’ It had seemed a good idea last night—a play on her pirate talk. Now he felt a little embarrassed. ‘I thought you might like it here.’

‘I do.’

She answered so quietly he wasn’t quite sure he’d heard her. He combed her hair back from her face with his fingers and looked into her shining eyes. Luminescent. Honest. Giving. That playfulness, that power, was emerging again.

She’d echoed her vows only a few hours ago. At the time he’d been so intent on having her it had been all he could think about. In truth, it was still mostly all he could think about.

I do.

Now those words moved him differently. This woman he barely knew was his wife. That wild idea had seemed like the best thing at the time. He’d given in to impulse as always. Duty underlay it, sure, but now an unexpected tension coiled within him.

Wife.

The ramification hit—permanence. Because this couldn’t be over in a few days. They’d have to see it through until the birth of the baby and a bit beyond that at least. Pretty much a year, minimum.

Oddly there was no panic—only a hint of regret. For her. She had no idea what he’d set her up for.

This island fantasy would end and reality would return. His reality. No prince and princess fairy tale, more a ‘scary’ tale. And he didn’t have long to prepare her for what she was going to face.

* * *

Stella silently walked barefoot along the beach and then climbed up to the palace. She showered and shrugged on the silk robe left on her bed, then went to find Eduardo.

‘Is this your favourite room?’ she asked as she explored the trinkets on the shelves in the library.

He nodded. ‘I like the view. The books. My chair.’

She chuckled. ‘Old man.’

‘Let me guess—your favourite room is the gym.’ He rolled his eyes.

‘Oh, no.’ She wrinkled her nose. ‘I prefer to be outdoors.’

‘So do I—when it’s sunny and warm. So sit here.’ He gestured to a large seat. ‘At least here you can see outside.’