Royal Affairs. Rebecca Winters
smell and feel divine to me.”
To be held in his arms was heavenly, but little did he know she was ready! Though she loved him for trying to make their first time perfect, she was dying inside. Still, by his determination to ease her into marriage, it showed a tender side of his nature that proved what a wonderful man she’d married. How many men would care enough about their brides’ feelings to go to these lengths?
“This has been my idea of heaven, Antonio. I can’t wait until tomorrow.” Maybe tomorrow night he’d realize she didn’t want to wait a second longer.
When she awakened the next morning, she discovered her husband fast asleep. They’d slept late. Christina slid out of bed without disturbing him and rushed into the kitchen to phone Manu and order breakfast. Then she showered to get ready for the day.
With that accomplished she put on another bikini. This one had an apple-green flutter top. Both she and Elena had loved the crocheted look of the top and bottom overlying a white lining. It was more modest than many of the suits.
Since they’d probably be out in the water most of the day, she decided the best thing to do with her hair was to sweep it on top and secure it with her tortoiseshell clip. She removed her gold studs and put on a pair of tiny earrings the shape of half-moons in a green that matched her bikini.
Before going in to Antonio, she threw on a lacy white beach jacket that fell to just below her thighs. Now she was ready to greet her husband. But when she entered the bedroom, he’d turned onto his stomach and was still out for the count. Only a sheet covered his lower half. What a fabulous-looking man! She was still pinching herself to believe he was her husband.
He would need a shave, but she loved the shadow on his hard jaw. He looks were so arresting that his state of dress or his grooming didn’t matter. She’d loved the handsome eighteen-year-old prince. But over the years he’d grown into a breathtaking man no woman could be immune to.
While she sat feasting her eyes on him, she heard sounds coming from the kitchen. She got up from the side of the bed and went back to bring him their breakfast tray. She brought it in and put it on the end of the bed.
The aroma of the coffee must have awakened him. He turned on his side and opened his eyes. Between the dark fringe of his lashes, their brilliant blue color stole her breath. Antonio raised himself up on one elbow. “Well, what do we have here? Could it be the nymph from the fountain holding the seashell?”
She loved the imagery. He’d noticed the fountain sculpture in the courtyard in front of the palazzo. “Yes, sire.” His eyes darkened with emotion. “I’m here with your breakfast. Your wife told me you would awaken with a huge appetite.”
“My wife told you that? Her exact words?”
“I never lie.”
“Then will you tell her that spending the day with her yesterday was more than wonderful? But I’ll tell her just how wonderful when we’re alone again today. Those will be words for her ears only.”
Christina couldn’t prevent the blush that rose into her cheeks. “I’ll be happy to do that after I’ve served you your breakfast.” She got up and put the tray in front of him. “Do you wish me to leave? You have only to command me.”
“Then I command you to bring that chair over to the side of the bed and we’ll enjoy this food together.”
She smiled secretly and moved it next to the bed. “Your wife won’t mind?”
He flicked her an all-encompassing gaze. “She might. A woman serving me breakfast who looks as gorgeous as you might worry, so I think we’ll keep this moment to ourselves. How does that sound to you?”
She reached for a roll and bit into it. “You flatter me, sire.”
“I haven’t even started. That’s quite an outfit you’re wearing.”
Christina drank some orange juice and reached for a strip of bacon. “You like it?”
“I can’t keep my eyes off you. Do you serve all the men like that?”
“What men? You’re the only one on this whole island.”
He ate his food in record time. “That’s good because if I found out otherwise, I’d have to confine you to a room in the palace where I have the only key.”
Their conversation was getting sillier and sillier, but she loved it. She loved him.
“What are your plans for today, sire?”
“This and that.”
“Does your wife know about that?”
His eyes narrowed on her mouth. “She’ll find out.”
“I see.” Her heart jumped. “Well, if you’ve finished your breakfast, I’ll take the tray back to the kitchen.”
“Grazie. When you see her, tell her I want her to come to me. Now. I don’t like to be kept waiting.”
She trembled as she reached for the tray. “Si, Your Highness.”
* * *
The second his wife left the bedroom on those long, shapely legs, Antonio headed for the shower and freshened up. Since she’d already put on her bikini, he pulled on a fresh pair of white bathing trunks. When he’d told her last night he could eat her alive, he hadn’t been kidding.
“Ciao, Antonio.” She was looking at one of the brochures while waiting for him.
“I understood you wanted to see me?” Her smile curved so seductively he wanted to throw her on the bed and stay there all day, but he resisted the urge. She was a fetching siren. Who would have guessed?
“How would you like to go to the nearby island with the waterfall? Manu says it’s a short hike, but worth it if you’re wearing tennis shoes.”
“I love hikes. I did it all over Switzerland and Kenya.”
She was amazing. “Manu told me it’s off-limits to everyone else while we’re here on our honeymoon.”
Her eyes lit up. “A whole island to ourselves? Let’s do it! I’ll pack us some food so we don’t have to come back for dinner.”
“Why not pack enough food in case we want to stay there overnight?”
“You mean sleep by the waterfall?”
He smiled at her. It was all he could think about. “Why not? Haven’t you ever wondered what it would be like to be Tarzan and Jane?”
She chuckled in response. “Yes. Many times.”
“We’ll take the speedboat.”
With their day decided, they packed things in the backpacks supplied by the resort, including light blankets, food and water. Antonio rang Manu to let him know where they were going. Then they left their retreat and took off for one of the dark green islands they could see in the distance that was taller than the others.
“The lagoon never changes, Antonio. It’s like eternal beauty all the time. I’ve never been this excited to do anything.”
She was reading his mind. They skimmed across the gorgeous blue water before reaching the white beach. Once they’d drunk some bottled water, they headed for the trail Manu said would be visible. Sure enough, they found it and started up the incline.
“The vegetation is so lush!” she exclaimed.
“Our own rain forest.” Their gazes clung before they got going on their trek. It took them less time to reach their destination than to have kayaked over there. Flowers grew in abundance. They spotted terns and swallows. The water came down in a stream, small at first, then widening before they reached the waterfall itself.
“Oh, Antonio—it reminds me of a waterfall scene in an old movie I once saw, but I think it was filmed in Hawaii.”
“This