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Page 59
“Fine, but at least tell us what this all means. Are the two of you a couple again?” Ari asked as she stepped back and Rachel assisted her with her veil.
Lia sighed as she finished her makeup, stood up, and turned toward them with nothing but confusion showing on her face.
“I don’t know what it means. I’m scared,” she admitted, her voice catching.
“Oh, sweetie, please, please don’t cry or I’ll join you. ” Ari rushed over awkwardly in her overwhelming dress to throw her arms around Lia and bring her as close as the layers of fabric would allow.
“Then quit questioning me, because I’m on the brink,” Lia said with a watery laugh.
“OK, we’ll wait until the reception, and then you are absolutely talking to us,” Rachel conceded.
“Deal,” Lia promised, and then the three women moved slowly to the door.
Rachel opened it a crack and peeked out. “Go to the cathedral, Rafe. We’re coming out,” she said with a chuckle. She waited a heartbeat before turning to Ari. “It’s time. ”
Ari smiled as she walked through the door and out into the hallway. This was it. She was finally going to become Mrs. Rafe Palazzo.
Excitement carried her through the hallway and out the front door. Stepping outside, she smiled at the sight of the carriage parked at the curb.
“Oh, Ari, this is so romantic,” Rachel sighed as the groomsmen stood on either side of the old-fashioned door and waited for the bride to approach.
“Yes. I’m glad we’re getting married here. I have to admit that I feel like a princess,” she said before facing Rachel. “It’s quite unreal to think that you could actually be one if you just say yes to Adriane. ”
“No, Ari, she would be a queen,” Lia said, lifting an eyebrow at Rachel as if her sister were crazy for not accepting.
“Yeah, that thought isn’t at all appealing,” Rachel had to say, fear obvious in her voice.
“It can’t be that bad to be a queen in such a beautiful country,” Ari remarked, then the women quieted as they neared the carriage.
“Let me help you,” the well-dressed man said, taking Ari’s hand and helping her inside. The luxurious and surprisingly roomy interior, with its soft white velvet and its gold plating, had hundreds of years of wedding stories to tell.
“This is amazing, Ari,” Rachel gasped.
“I know. I will have to thank Adriane for allowing this,” she said. Ari had to value the man, even if he had been a fool. Would someone unromantic allow this wedding to happen? She had some hope that her friend and soon-to-be sister-in-law would find real love with him.
“Yes, even a dictator can do a kind thing now and then,” Rachel grumbled, but she sat back and gazed at the carriage’s furnishings with awe.
As the horses drew the carriage down the cobblestone streets of Corythia, the three women were surprised but waved and smiled when people cheered as they passed, though the villagers had no idea who Ari was. But since the three were traveling in the royal carriage, the people assumed she was somebody important.
“Imagine if this were you,” Lia said to Rachel.
“It won’t be,” Rachel said, her voice hushed.
Ari could imagine the fear she was feeling. She herself would lose some of her anonymity just being married to Rafe, a man so regularly in the media. But if Rachel married Adriane, she would be an actual queen. There would be no more days of leaving the house on a whim, or being grumpy in the mall. Everything she did would be carefully scrutinized. The thought sent a chill down Ari’s spine. It was so overwhelming to imagine.
“If you love him, then nothing else matters,” Lia said, as if she could read Ari’s thoughts, and Rachel’s fear.
“Sometimes love just isn’t enough,” Rachel reminded her sister.
“Do you love him?” she asked, both the girls focusing on Rachel.
“I just want to know him — want to find out if he’s a person I want influencing my children,” Rachel said, avoiding the question.
“You don’t have a lot of choice in that matter, Rachel. The babies are already brewing,” Lia reminded her.
“I know, but if he’s a monster, how could I let him be in their lives?”
“Is he?” Ari asked.
Rachel sat back as she looked out the window, pausing for several long moments. “No. His actions are sometimes reprehensible, but he’s not a monster. He just doesn’t like to lose. ”
“That sounds like you,” Lia commented.
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“Yeah, well, I wouldn’t talk if I were you,” Rachel remarked, looking pointedly at her sister.
“I’m not stubborn — I’m just always right,” Lia informed her with a wink and a smile.
The tension evaporated and the three women laughed.
They arrived at the royal cathedral, the steps lined with people, guards keeping a clear path from the carriage to the door. The people of Corythia were wondering who was important enough to get married in the royal cathedral, and, speculating among themselves, they waited for the women to emerge.
They would be disappointed to learn she wasn’t a princess who had traveled from afar to marry in their land. Too bad.
“It’s time, and you are breathtaking,” Rachel said, all her attention turning to Ari.
“Thank you. Yes, it’s time,” Ari replied with a nervous grin as she took the hand of the man ready to help her from the carriage. “I can’t wait to be Rafe’s wife. ”
Looking only ahead, Ari made her way to the huge doors, then stood impatiently as Rachel and Lia stepped ahead of her and began the long, stately walk down the aisle.
When they were finally in view of the altar, Ari’s breath left her in a trembling sigh. Shane was there beside his best friend, looking devastating. But Ari’s eyes were only on one man — the man she would stay beside for the rest of all time.
Ari’s steps faltered as Rafe mouthed I love you to her when she was still several feet away.
With her eyes filled with happy tears, she quickened her step, breaking time with the wedding march. She was unwilling to wait any longer to hold his hand in this sacred moment, to look deep into his eyes and take him as hers forever.
“I love you, too,” she whispered as he lifted his arm and caressed her cheek.
Forgetting about what she was supposed to do, Ari lifted her arms and placed them around his neck, leaning against him as she lifted her head. He quickly accommodated her, and bent down, taking her lips in a soft kiss that had her knees trembling.
The priest cleared his throat and the audience laughed softly, as Ari reluctantly pulled back and a blush stole over her cheeks. She turned to look at the man who would preside over the wedding, without an inkling of remorse for having tasted Rafe’s sweet kiss a little too soon.
“Now that the kiss is out of the way, we can begin,” the man said in a beautiful accent and with a sparkle in his eyes. “We are gathered here today…”
The ceremony flashed by in a blur, both Ari and Rafe repeating vows as they promised to love, honor and obey each other. She didn’t miss the mischievous grin on Rafe’s face as she repeated the word obey. She was sure he’d specifically asked the priest to leave it in her vows and to add it to his.
They would just have to see who obeyed whom more, she thought.
“Now you may kiss your bride,” the priest told Rafe with a light chuckle, and Rafe didn’t hesitate, pulling Ari into his arms.
After a few heartbeats, he drew back and looked into her eyes. “I’m a very lucky man, Mrs. Palazzo. ”
“And I am one lucky woman, Mr. Palazzo,” she said, holding him tight, and praying this wasn’t just a dream.
“Mmm, how soon do you think we can ditch the party and leave for our honeymoon?” he asked, his hand resting low on her back and sending a myriad of chills through her body.
“Right now?” she asked hopefully.
The look in his eyes told her he might just whisk her away.
“Not a chance, lover boy,” Shane whispered from behind as he nu
dged the two of them to take their walk down the aisle as man and wife.
Rafe sent an irritated look his best friend’s way, but then he turned back toward Ari, releasing her body only to grab her hand.
Leading her down the aisle, he whispered in her ear just before they left the church. “I can’t wait to enforce the obey part of our vows. ”
Ari gasped and looked around. But she turned back to him and said, “And neither can I. Get ready. ”
Oh, this would be one very passionate honeymoon.
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
“CONGRATULATIONS, RAFE. I’M happy for you,” Shane said, then took a deep draft from his bottle of beer and clapped his best friend on the shoulder. It was good that Rafe had found “The One. ” Now, if only he could convince Lia that the two of them were meant to be together forever, life would be perfect — complete even. “This has been one hell of a party. The king really knows how to pull off an event on a short notice,” he added with a laugh.
Rafe wasn’t thrilled to allow any praise to go to Adriane, not after what the man had done. Nevertheless, he had to soften just the tiniest bit because it was obvious that his sister had feelings for the man. Still, the creep shouldn’t have forced her to stay.
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The direction of Rafe’s thoughts brought on the return of a twinge of guilt that pierced his heart. What he’d put Ari through that first year of their relationship. How could he have been such a fool?
But that was in the past. They’d both moved on, and there was no use in dredging up the bad memories. He had the rest of his life to make it up to her — and make it up to her he would indeed.
“When do you leave again, Shane?” he asked. Rafe would rather talk of that than voice his opinions about Adriane and his sister, or about this lavish event, one he hadn’t asked for.
“I’m on leave for an undetermined amount of time right now. The last mission didn’t go well,” Shane said, tensing as he thought about the friend and teammate he’d lost.
“Maybe it’s time to retire,” Rafe remarked.
“I’m considering it,” Shane had to say.
Rafe was taken back. He looked up at his friend and noticed the stress behind his eyes. This was something new.
“Does this have anything to do with Lia?”
“Yes and no. I want to be with Lia — like a ‘white picket fence, two dogs and some rug rats running around’ kind of being with her — but I wouldn’t make a decision like this solely because of a woman, not even a woman I care the world about. I think the old job has just lost its appeal. Caring about someone so much has put the dangers into perspective. I think I may want to just focus on my businesses, and let go of being GI Joe,” he said with a forced laugh.
Rafe knew better than to accept the joke. But he also knew he couldn’t push his friend. Though Shane was obviously going through some sort of private hell, it was also obvious that he had to deal with it on his own. Rafe would be there when and if Shane was ready to talk about it, but only then.
The two men looked silently out across the crowd. Rafe sought out Ari, who was gossiping in the corner with Lia and Rachel. Shane was looking in the same direction, but his eyes were all for Lia.
Rafe could feel for his friend. Not being with Ari every day had been rough. At least that problem was solved. She was now his wife and he would prove to her every single day that she’d made the right decision.
Even so, he had to admit, a fight now and then could lead up to some incredibly good makeup sex. Just the thought had his body stirring as he anticipated all their nights together.
Let the honeymoon begin!
Snagging a passing waiter, the two men set their empty bottles on his tray and grabbed cold replacements. It had taken some doing, but Rafe had managed to get some good beer ordered for the reception, much to the king’s disapproval. Yes, the party was nice, but it was just about time to be alone with his bride. He couldn’t wait to strip off her exquisite wedding gown, and what was on underneath. . . the latter with his teeth.
It was like Christmas and his birthday all rolled into one. Shaking those thoughts away before he got himself into trouble, he turned back to face his friend.
“You know, I’m here anytime,” Rafe said. Neither of them was good at sharing emotions, but he’d been there for Shane in the past when things had gone wrong on the field and Shane had needed to vent.
Shane turned toward his friend.
He didn’t think he was ready to talk about it. Not yet.
“I know, Rafe. But today is your wedding day and you should stay focused on that bride of yours. If I were you, I’d be over there claiming her right now. ” Shane sent a wink Rafe’s way, followed by a smile, though Rafe could easily see past the cocky façade.
He didn’t call him on it.
“I think you are right, my man. It’s time for a dance,” Rafe said, punching Shane in the shoulder before draining his bottle and setting it aside.
As Shane watched Rafe walk toward Ari, eagerness evident in his every step, he let out a sigh. When would his life get just a little bit more simple?
It wasn’t as if he wanted to throw a pity party. It was just that whenever his life seemed to even out into some sort of normalcy, something would come along and knock him back several paces. He and Lia had been together for the past three days, incredibly amazing days, and now that they were out in public, she seemed to be pulling away again. He couldn’t allow that to happen. Plus, whenever he allowed himself a few minutes to breathe, all the pain of the past few months flooded back.
When would it stop?
When would the pain of losing his friend ease? When did he get to have the girl for more than just a few nights of passion-filled pleasure?
Well, at least that last part was much easier. She was here in all her glory, and it was time to claim her for a dance.
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She’d avoided him since taking off from his hotel room and rushing back to the palace to get ready for the wedding. But if she thought he was going to allow her to withdraw from him again, she had a lot to learn.
If he’d learned nothing else over the last few days, he knew beyond any doubt that they were truly meant to be together. When they made love, it was simple, erotic, satisfying — and, yes, it seemed odd to say it to himself, but it was easy.
Their bodies molded together because they’d been created to fit perfectly to only each other. But what came afterward was what had at first terrified him to his very soul.
As he used to be, after sex, he was done, ready to get the hell out of there and move on. But Lia changed everything. He could never be done with her. The moment he pulled from her, he felt an emptiness — a loss. The only way to curb that feeling was to gather her into his arms, and hold on tight.
Falling asleep in her arms felt right.
He wasn’t letting her go again — there was no way he could. Maybe Adriane had pissed them all off, but the man seemed to have the right idea.
Maybe it was time to just take Lia and damn the consequences.
The thought of doing just that put the first real smile on his face he’d had since Delzado’s death. Being with Lia over the last few days had eased his body, but thinking of having her forever eased the pain in his heart.
Shane turned in Lia’s direction again and their eyes met. He could see the way his gaze held hers captive, the way her chest heaved. He sent a clear message her way. You are mine, and I’m not letting go.
She bit down on her lip before a secret smile crept up as she seemed to send her own message. I don’t belong to anyone.
Her curls hung loose around her slim neck, and her eyes sparkled as she gazed at him. The slight flush to her cheeks made her look as if she’d just climbed from his bed.
Oh, and the dress.
My, my, the dress was enough to have his body hardening instantly
as he imagined peeling it from her incredible curves. He had to thank whoever had picked it out, because it molded to her body like a second skin and wasn’t hiding anything from his view.
Yes, he was ready for whatever excuses she had to throw at him, and this time when they played ball, he intended to win. Not just for the night or the weekend, but for the rest of time.
Lia was going to be his wife. No matter what it took.
With determination and a firm resolve, Shane set down his bottle and took a step in her direction.
The hunger in her eyes was his guiding light.
They were now in overtime, and he was calling a foul. She wasn’t getting away this time.
CHAPTER THIRTY
MS. PALAZZO, TEAR down that wall. That, it seemed, was the unexpected result of Lia’s talk therapy.
As her eyes locked with Shane’s, she wondered what her next move was going to be. Ari and Rachel had finally dragged the entire story from her, and, no, it didn’t help close her off to Shane’s attractions. Instead, it speedily increased her need for him — releasing the floodgates of passion.
While she’d talked about him, she realized that in keeping him at bay, she was mainly trying to protect herself. Maybe because she’d wanted him for so long without him wanting her that she’d built some sort of fortress around her heart.
Whatever the reason, she could no longer keep that solid wall from crumbling down around her feet.
He was the man she loved; maybe it would be best if she just gave in to both his and her own desires. Maybe it was time she grew up and took what was being offered to her. She didn’t need to look for all the reasons they couldn’t be together. It was time to appreciate what she had right in front of her.
Surely she wouldn’t lose herself that way. Her life would gain another person.
But she couldn’t keep from dwelling on her unhappy fears. What if she gave him her entire heart, and the next day he shipped out, only to be taken away from her forever? What would that do to her in the long run?
Could she ever pick herself up off the ground after such devastation? And yet, would it really make a difference at this point? If he were to go away and never return, wouldn’t her heart shatter, even now?
Yes, yes, it would.
