“For a short time, a time we both knew wouldend once we got back to the rest of the world.”
Her expression grew serious.“It was neverabout me being a princess and you being a bastard.”
“No,” Aleksi agreed.“It wasn’t.It was aboutboth of us being too stubborn to admit that we needed someone else.That we need each other.”He waited for her to argue with him, totell him that he was wrong, that she did not need him or anybodyelse.
“You’re right,” she said.“About all of it.About us.”She took the hand cupping her chin in hers and kissedhis open palm.“I love you too.”
He grinned like the lovesick fool he was, andtook both her hands in his.“Will you marry me, Sahar?Will you dome the honor of taking me as your husband?”
She smiled, and Aleksi basked in thebrilliance of her glow.
“At least you knew my name this time,” shesaid.
“I know more than your name, my tigress.Iknow you.I know you are the only woman I want by my side and in mybed for all the days and nights of my life.”
She slanted her green cat eyes at him andsmiled.
“Yes, Aleksandr.I’ll marry you.I’ll gladlytake you as my husband and proudly be your wife.I’ll stand by yourside and love you in bed and out.I’ll bear your sons, and yourdaughters, and we will raise them together.We’ll raise them andthey’ll always know they are loved, and they’ll always know theyare deserving of love.”
Aleksi wrapped her in his embrace and kissedher.He kissed her so that she’d never have to question his need,desire, and love again.So she would know he loved her down to hermarrow.
She kissed him back, hot, demanding, andpassionate.Her hands clutching his arms as if she would never lethim go.
When at last they broke for air, Aleksi ledher over to their horses and booted her up onto Lasair.
“Where are we going?”she asked as he mountedZ.
“We’re going back to the palace to make lovein your soft, clean, warm bed, where I am going to put a baby inyou before you can change your mind about marrying me.”
She grinned, baring neat, white teeth that hecould not wait to have nipping at his flesh.
“Perfect,” she said.
EPILOGUE
“Our firstborn foal,” Aleksi beamed down athis wife, who swiped a bead of sweat from her flushed cheeks.
“As handsome as his sire,” she mutteredwearily.
“He’ll have his mother’s grace andspeed.”
“And his father’s strength and stamina.”
Aleksi crouched beside Sahar.“You look wornout, my beautiful wife.”He kissed her cheek.
“What I am is hungry.Labor works up anappetite.”
“I’ll have Ursula cook you up a feast of allyour favorites.”
“I’d like that.Your mother taught her well.Ursula’s running the kitchens here as smoothly as Anya did at myparents’ palace.”
Aleksi plucked a sweat-plastered strand ofhair from her neck and leaned in for a nuzzle as a crowd of voicesapproached.
“We heard the new arrival is here,” hisfather called out as he entered the stables, flanked by Anya andVladimir.
Ten and four years of age now, Vladimir hadtaken to his new family, and had confessed to his father and Aleksithat the boy had dreaded ever becoming king.He was glad Aleksi hadbeen named heir.His mother had been allowed to stay and live inthe palace as the king’s second wife, and Vladimir had been ashappy as the palace servants to bid Theodesia and her waspishdaughter, Gertruda, good riddance.They’d gone to live withAnastasia and her new husband.
Aleksi stood and stepped aside so that theycould see the new arrival for themselves.
