Dazed, Luisa stared into his tense face. A pulse jerked at the base of his neck and another beat at his temple. He looked like a man on the edge.
‘It can’t be,’ she whispered, stunned into immobility.
‘It’s true.’
Silently she shook her head, afraid to believe.
‘I didn’t realise it myself.’ His mouth twisted in a lopsided grimace that made her want to cuddle him close. ‘I’d spent so long explaining away my feelings because the alternative was too terrifying. All my adult life I’ve worked to shut off my emotions. Then you came along. You made me feel so much, so intensely.’
Raul threaded his fingers through hers and tingling heat spread through her bloodstream. ‘I’ve been torn, regretting the way I forced you here, forced you to marry me.’ His eyes flashed. ‘Yet knowing that in my heart I couldn’t be truly sorry because it brought you to me and I couldn’t let you go. How selfish is that?’
He thrust his other hand through his glossy hair in a distracted gesture that made her want to wrap her arms around him. ‘I’d told myself for so long that love was a fool’s game. And here I was falling for a woman who had every reason to hate me.’
‘I don’t hate you.’ The admission slipped out. She was numb, dazed.
‘Really?’ Hope blazed in his eyes. ‘Then it’s far more than I deserve.’ His hand moved up to stroke her cheek and thread into her hair. Hope whispered through her.
‘I’ve been torturing myself, telling myself I should find the strength to let you walk away and be happy.’ His hold tightened.
He brought their joined hands up so he could kiss her wrist. ‘But I can’t do it. I have to fight for you.’
‘Tell me again,’ she whispered, her voice uneven. ‘Tell me you love me.’
Raul lifted both hands, tenderly bracketing her face.
‘I love you, Luisa. Never doubt it. I want to be by your side always. To share with you, be the one you turn to. Teach you to waltz and whatever else you want if you’ll share your warmth and your laughter with me.’
Something shifted deep inside her. A tightness eased and Luisa drew breath, it seemed for the first time in an age.
‘Oh, Raul!’ She choked with emotion. ‘I’ve loved you so long. I never thought …’ She blinked furiously as tears welled.
‘Truly?’ His voice was husky with awe.
She nodded and gentle fingers wiped the wetness from her cheeks. ‘Truly. Desperately.’
‘My darling!’ His forest-dark eyes meshed with hers. ‘I didn’t mean to make you cry, sweetheart. I only want to make you happy. Always.’
‘You do.’ She blinked and smiled. ‘I’ve been happy here with you.’
She saw doubt and fear etched across his features. Uncertainty in the man who’d strode into her life and grabbed her destiny in his strong hands. Who ruled a kingdom with an ease anyone would envy.
‘I’ll make mistakes,’ he admitted. ‘This is all new to me. I’ve never felt like this.’ He swallowed hard and she read a flicker of anxiety in his eyes. ‘I’m not a good risk, I know. I don’t have your gift of closeness and warmth. I have no experience of real family life. No role model of how to be a good father—’
Luisa’s fingers on his lips stopped his words. Her heart contracted, seeing the man she loved unsure of himself.
Seeing his self-doubt, Luisa knew the truth. She had to cast off her own fear. She had to trust, in him and in herself and put the past behind her.
‘I’m willing to try if you are,’ she whispered in a voice croaky with emotion. It welled inside, making her whole being tremble.
Dark eyes met hers and the love she read there made her poor bruised heart squeeze tight.
‘Luisa!’ He gathered her close, kissing her neck, her cheeks. He held her as if she was the most precious thing in the world.
It was glorious, but it wasn’t enough. Not when her heart soared with wonderment.
She cupped his hard jaw and pressed her lips full on his mouth. Instantly he responded, his mouth hungry, as if it had been a lifetime since they’d kissed. As if they’d never kissed.
Not really.
Not like this.
Raul’s kiss healed. It was demanding, possessive, yet poignantly sweet. A giving and receiving, not just of physical delight but of love. True love.
Eventually they pulled apart, enough to gulp in much needed air. But Raul’s arms were locked close around her and Luisa’s hands were clamped tight at his shoulders.
Happiness surged so strongly she felt incandescent with it.
‘I can’t believe this is real.’
His shining eyes met hers and her heart somersaulted when she read the tenderness there. ‘Let me show you how real, my sweet.’ He gathered her close and kissed her till the world fell away.
EPILOGUE
THE ballroom was packed. Out in the courtyard more people gathered beneath fluttering royal banners, garlands and gilded lanterns.
Cheers reverberated off the antique mirrors and frescoed ceiling as the crowd applauded their new rulers: King Raul and Queen Luisa. The first joint monarchs in Maritzian history.
Goosebumps rose on Luisa’s bare arms as she heard their names shouted once, twice, three times, first by the herald and then by the swelling voices of the throng.
On her head sat a delicate diadem of pure gold and dazzling brilliant cut diamonds. In her hand rested the mediaeval bejewelled orb and in Raul’s, seated beside her, the engraved golden sceptre.
She breathed deep, hardly daring to believe this moment was real. But then a warm hand enfolded hers and squeezed. She turned and fell into the warm green depths of Raul’s loving gaze.
It was real. The ceremony, the crowd, but most important of all, Raul’s love.
He raised her hand and pressed a fervent kiss there. Instantly excitement shot through her. And anticipation.
He smiled, a devilish light in his eyes and she knew her expression gave her away. He read her feelings for him on her face. She didn’t care. She revelled in their love.
And this was only the beginning …
Raul laughed and through the haze of well-being she heard the crowd applaud again.
She turned and looked down from her throne. There was Lukas standing with Luisa’s new secretary, Sasha. From this angle it looked like they held hands. Then there were Tamsin and Alaric, their smiles conspiratorial. Mary and Sam were in the front row, in places of honour, beaming at Luisa as if it were the most natural thing that she should marry a king and rule a country.
She shook her head in wonderment.
‘Are you ready, sweetheart?’
Raul rose and drew her to her feet. Officials appeared to take the precious orb and sceptre.
‘Ready as I’ll ever be.’ He led her down from the dais to the polished floor where space was made for them.
‘You’ll be fine,’ he murmured and pulled her into his arms. ‘If there’s a problem, blame it on your teacher.’
She gazed into his eyes, ablaze with love, felt him swing her into a waltz and smiled. The music soared and she whirled in the arms of the man she adored. She was home.