Chapter 14
He surfaced at dawn to see her standing by the window. Last night... he shook his head in wonder at the fact that he had been unable to keep his hands off her. He had made love to her three times, the yearning, desperation increasing with each touch, each taste. Throwing back the covers, he swung his legs off the bed. Silently putting on his robe and leaving it open, he walked up behind her. She saw him reflected in the glass, just as he slid his hands around her waist and brought her flush against his body.
The feel of his naked skin came through the thin silk of her robe and sent her. She had been awake for an hour, most of which she had spent staring at his handsome face, admiring the thick brows, the lock of hair on his forehead and marveling that his lashes were so long.
"Buenos días," he whispered against her ear. "The bed felt lonely without you in it."
"People know you're sleeping in my room."
"Yes." He nuzzled her ear. "I want them to." He glanced at her and their eyes met in the glass. "I was thinking you should move into my suite. It's much bigger and that's where you'll be staying anyway. Marry me." He spoke implacably.
"I can't." She refused to allow her treacherous heart to dictate to her.
"You can." He turned her to face him, fingers firm on her shoulders. "I'm not him. I love you. Christ knows how much." One hand slid up to her neck, cupping it.
"I want to spend the rest of my life with you, see my children growing inside you." He smiled slightly. "I was thinking four."
"What?" Her heart was racing, because he was saying exactly what she had always wanted.
"Four," he said decisively. "I've never wanted that before. This is a first for me. We could get married in December. I have to warn you though, querida, if you're hoping for a quiet intimate ceremony, that's not going to be possible."
"The fact that I'm a prince, and heir to the throne means that there will be pomp and ceremony with a week of celebration." He tilted her chin up. "It's a big deal."
She started trembling. "You're scaring me."
"No need for that," he told her solemnly. "I promise to be there every step of the way. Say yes."
"I need to think," she hedged. Her hands came up to clutch the lapels of his robe. "I was in this place before, not the physical place. I had a guy telling me that I was the only one..."
"Don't!" His deep voice was sharp. "Please do me a favor and don't compare with that... that piece of trash you were engaged to." His eyes flashed. "I'm in love with you. For the first time in my life, I'm in love and it's driving me insane." His fingers dug into her skin. "I need you in my life."
"Do you know how difficult it is for me to admit to that? But here I am, opening myself to you, asking you to marry me, give yourself to me, the way I want to give myself to you." He sucked in a harsh breath. "Marry me, mi amor. Let me show you how different it can be. I'm Spanish and we're very passionate. I never knew how much until I met you." He drew her closer, head descending.
"You light a fire inside me that's unquenchable." His breath whispered over her lips, making her faint. "I cannot stop thinking about you." He brushed his lips on hers. "Wanting you." He tasted her flesh. "Loving you, needing you."
"You consume my every waking moment and occupy my dreams." He parted her lips slowly. "I see no one else but you. Take me out of my misery and marry me."
"Tomas..."
"Please." He plunged his tongue inside her mouth and swallowed her moan as he kissed her hungrily. She wrapped her hands around his neck, her head tilted back as she returned his kisses. Her heart melted, her skin took on the familiar heat that always happened whenever he was near. Now he was touching her, and it felt as if she was melting from the inside out.
He was the one who ended the kiss and left her bereft.
"Say yes," he insisted. "Marry me."
"Tomas."
"I'm not going to stop until you do. You love me."
"Yes," she admitted achingly, her throat tight. "I'm in love with you and it's scary as hell because it's nowhere near what I thought I felt for Brian. It's more." She pressed a fist to her heart.
"It's powerful, intense and damned scary. I never knew anything like this existed and I'm not certain I can handle it." She took a deep breath. "If you cheated on me-"
"I won't. I promise-"
"Please let me finish."
"All right."
