Page 78
‘It is unbelievable, from an outside perspective, that an empress would want to be with me instead of an actual real-life prince,’ said Gia. ‘And here we are, fielding off his advances against the inevitability of your engagement. Maybe I am the one fooling myself here.’
Claudia would not have that.
‘I can only comment from an inside perspective,’ she said.
She delicately climbed into Gia’s lap, spreading her legs on either side of Gia’s hips and pushing her backwards onto the bed. She wound their fingers together, pushing Gia’s arms back up over her head.
‘But I am not in any doubt about whether I love you or not.’
‘No?’
‘The trouble is, my feelings aren’t dependent on being reciprocated,’ Claudia said. ‘My feelings for you simply exist, regardless of how you feel about me. They will not go away easily, if ever at all. But let it be said that I did say it, and that I do love you, for the record.’
‘For the record?’ said Gia, smiling.
‘Yes, the record.’
‘Are you sure you want that on the record? I don’t think the prince would like that.’
‘Fuck the prince. Forget everyone else. Let it be written in history,’ said Claudia, ‘for all to see.’
Gia’s expression softened, her eyes melting.
She sat up, her hands looping around Claudia’s waist, pulling her closer and kissing her neck.
‘Then let it also be written that I love you, too,’ she said.
‘You do?’
‘Unquestionably.’
Claudia’s heart skipped over a beat in excitement, as her entire body shivered deliciously.
‘Say it again,’ she said, in wonderment.
‘Unquestionably.’
‘Not that part, the first bit.’
‘I love you,’ said Gia, kissing her collarbone.
‘And again,’ Claudia demanded.
‘I love you,’ said Gia, kissing her lips.
‘You know, I didn’t quite catch that,’ said Claudia when they broke apart, holding one hand to her ear.
‘If I say it any louder, all of Rome shall know,’ said Gia.
They quieted, gazing at each other in speechless silence.
‘You love me,’ Claudia repeated, as if willing it into existence.
‘I didn’t think that would be such a surprise, after everything we’ve been through,’ said Gia, smiling lopsidedly.
‘I had to be sure, before I let myself fall,’ said Claudia. ‘Love is frightening. This… us… it terrifies me.’
‘You could not be more terrified than me,’ said Gia.
