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And when they flicked back up to meet hers a meteor shower of dazzling sensation exploded inside her pelvis.
Oh, Lord, he still wanted her. She knew it. Also knew he was fighting it. Fighting it with all his might. As if his anger lingered and he wanted to hate her but couldn’t persuade his body to obey.
‘You were going to say…?’ she prompted.
His throat undulated on a hard swallow. ‘Only that I’d like us to try and be a family today.’
She wanted to ask why. For whose benefit. But caught herself in the nick of time, annoyed at her suspicious mind. Who cared why? He wanted to try and that was okay with her. An enormous step in the right direction.
‘I would too,’ she said softly. ‘And maybe later we could talk?’
The sooner they discussed her going home and their marriage the better for all of them. They couldn’t go on like this.
Thane gave her an enigmatic smile that failed miserably to instil her with any kind of confidence. But before she could pin him down Nate burst between them, bouncing on his loafered feet like a coiled spring.
‘There’s Santa’s house! And look over there! A big sleigh! Can we ride in it? Can we? Oh… Is that the Three Kings? They look scary.’ Of course he looked up to his big warrior. ‘I don’t want to see them, Daddy.’
Luciana watched those wide shoulders relax, watched bad-boy, dominant Thane disintegrate like milk-sodden cereal in the face of all that cherubic idolisation.
‘I’ll take you to meet them and show you there is nothing to be afraid of—okay?’
Nate didn’t look convinced, but climbed up Thane like a monkey all the same. ‘Okay. I’m ready.’
‘Are you ready, Luciana?’ Thane asked.
To spend an evening being a family? Something she’d always dreamed of?
‘I’m definitely ready.’
* * *
Ten minutes. That was all it took to sense that Nate’s insuperable case of hero-worship for his father was nothing in comparison to that of Thane’s people.
The intense magnetism he exuded grew in strength the further they walked, until he was an imposing impression of vibrant and unrelenting power. But those waves of energy flowed with a palpable warmth that was positively endearing. And for the first time she didn’t see a ruthless soldier, born to fight, she saw a prince of the realm born to be King.
It was such a thrilling sight she couldn’t calm the flurry of burning butterflies inside her, their tiny gossamer wings stroking her heart with pride and her stomach with want.
The town was utterly delightful. Stone façades with deep wooden lintels and picturesque fairytale windows lined the intricate alleyways, and there was a lovely blend of quaint bespoke shops and chocolate box family homes. A few were a little shabby, and there was a subtle cloud of poverty in the air, but it wasn’t so obvious as it had been in the outskirts they’d driven through to get here.
As Thane had told her, his uncle’s tyrannical rein choked his people. The fact that they were still so pleasant and joyful was humbling. In truth, she still found it amazing they were so accepting of her. The enemy in their midst.
By the time they reached the main square night had fallen, and the colossal fir tree taking centre-stage near the clock tower burst into a dazzling display of a million twinkling stars of light.
Nate gasped in delight, cheering along with the flock of festive gatherers, and Thane laced his warm fingers through hers with a gorgeous half-smile that sent a shower of unadulterated happiness raining over her. It was one of those moments in time she wished she could freeze-frame, because it held the promise of unaccountable tomorrows. Of what might be.
He was trying so hard tonight. And she was determined not to suspect that his efforts were merely for the cameras. The cameras that now flashed around them in a dazzling firework display.
Squeezing his hand, she relished the spark of their fiery magical connection and tugged him towards a carpet of colour: rows of stalls that were a complete festive indulgence. Jingle-bell-shaped cookies. Apples dunked in glossy red candy and Swiss white chocolate. Unique crafts and objets d’art. Handmade jewellery and amazing tree decorations—intricate blown glass figurines, hand-carved wooden rocking horses and baubles etched with snowflakes.
Thane bought half of that stall, since Luciana and Nate oohed and ahhed over it all.
The yummy, nutty smell of roast chestnuts and frangipane Stollen floated in the air and lured them to the food tent, where Thane and Nate indulged in pancakes drizzled with chocolate sauce. Luciana chose the Galancian version of mulled wine, its scent heady and seductive, and by the time she cradled her third cup she felt half sloshed.
