‘You’re twenty-four years old. You were little more than a child when the burden of taking care of your father fell on your shoulders. You turned your life inside out for him. I am confident our marriage will be far less challenging.’
Because he would never feel the wild, dizzying breadth of emotion for her that he’d felt for Celeste.
The churning inside her intensified as he rose and advanced towards her. When he cupped her cheeks, tilted her face up to his and angled his head towards hers, she stopped breathing.
Without speaking, he sealed his mouth over hers.
The kiss was thorough, deep and knee-buckling. Steel-like arms gripped her, plastering her body against his as he patiently, ruthlessly, explored her.
When it was over he raised his head. For several seconds they stared at one another as her pulse thundered in her ears.
‘What...what was that for?’ she eventually stuttered.
‘Practice. For all the ways that count, Maddie, I expect this marriage to appear real.’
* * *
From that moment on the series of events that tripped into each other was exponentially overwhelming. Both in London and Montegova, the publicity ball was rolling forward, gathering furious momentum.
When they left the hotel for the airport the next morning, it was through the front doors, to find media interest triple the size of any they’d encountered hitherto.
‘What’s going on?’ she asked.
‘My press office have alerted the right people that my interest in you has become something...more.’
He didn’t answer any of the media’s frenzied questions, but his hold around her was proprietorial, the long look he sent her before they got into the limo possessive
and sensual.
She was just reiterating to herself that this was all an act when they arrived at a private airport and she caught a glimpse of the jaw-dropping Montegovan royal jet.
Enough to accommodate several families comfortably, the two-deck plane was so opulent Maddie was afraid to touch any gleaming surface. Her sense of disquiet was intensified when, upon boarding, Remi swiftly disappeared with a clutch of officious-looking advisers.
When an elderly gentleman approached and introduced himself as a history professor, specialising in Montegovan history, Maddie was grateful for the chance not to dwell on the overwhelming things happening to her.
Over the next few hours she learnt that only Remi’s direct ancestors or their queens had ruled Montegova.
Which brought a question screeching into her mind.
They hadn’t discussed children or future heirs to the throne. But Remi’s words from last night returned with a deeper, more frightening meaning.
‘For all the ways that count, Maddie, I expect this marriage to appear real.’
Did that mean children? With her?
She was grappling with this disturbing new dynamic when Remi entered the cabin. His eyes narrowed on her as he casually dismissed the professor.
‘What’s wrong? You look as if you’ve seen a ghost.’
‘I have a question,’ she blurted, before she lost her nerve.
One imperious eyebrow lifted.
‘I’ve just discovered that only your family have ruled Montegova.’ She licked dry lips, attempted not to react when his gaze dropped to her mouth. ‘That means you intend your own children to rule...’
Her words trailed off when a harsh, bleak look hardened his face. Something jagged slashed at her heart but she forced herself to keep breathing.
‘I intended my children to take the throne one day, yes.’