Page 85 of Royal Games (The Royals of Monterra)

Just the memory of the box made me shudder. We were quiet for a moment before I asked, “They had presents for me, didn’t they?”

He stifled a yawn. “Yes.”

“And you had someone remove them?”

“I did. I’ll have someone ship them back home to us.”

Besides being touched by the idea that he would go out of his way to make sure that I was comfortable, my heart flittered at him calling Iowa home.

Home is where the people you love are.

I saw that once on a sign, and it had stuck with me. Homewaswhere the people you loved were. I slipped my hand into his.

He put his arm around me, pulling me against him. He closed his eyes and leaned his head against the back of the couch.

I couldn’t believe how much I loved him. How much everything had changed. “Hey. I got you something for Christmas.”

He opened one eye and focused it on me. “You did?”

Getting up on my knees, I put my hands against his chest for balance. Now he had both eyes open, watching me. I very slowly, very deliberately leaned forward, pressing my lips against his.

Amusement tugged at the corner of his eyes. “Was that your way of asking me to kiss you? Because that wasn’t asking.”

“Are you saying you don’t want to kiss me?”

His hands slid around me, pulling me into his lap. “Maybe I don’t.”

“Liar,” I said, tugging at his undone bow tie.

He smiled, and then he kissed me for a very enjoyable and very long time.

When we had to come up for air, he leaned his forehead against mine. “That was the best Christmas present ever.”

I totally agreed.

Chapter 25

The entire castle was in another uproar the following morning. I got myself dressed just as two frazzled looking women knocked on my door, telling me that they had come to do my hair and makeup. They spoke some English, so I found out that they’d been up since four in the morning helping everyone get ready. They were extremely fast and efficient, and they finished up right as Rafe arrived to escort me to the wedding. “You look beautiful,” he said, holding me at arm’s length while he took me in, head to foot.

“You make me feel beautiful,” I told him. He kissed me gently, softly. Like a whispered promise.

He had to be to the church early, so he led me with him into a waiting limo. We didn’t talk as the limo drove toward the center of town. Snow glittered all around us, but the roads had been totally cleared. The closer we got, the more people we saw lined up behind barricades, waving to us. Rafe rolled down his window, smiling and waving back.

Could I do this? Could I really be part of his life? Could I be a princess and a veterinarian at the same time? Could I be happy here?

Then he turned his smile to me and I thought, yes, absolutely. I could be very, very happy in Monterra.

Rafe put me in a seat near the front of the church. He reached inside his pocket. “For while you’re waiting.”

It was a Snickers bar. It wasn’t exactly breakfast food, but I loved that he knew me well enough to know what I wanted. I ate my candy bar as other people began to file in and were seated by ushers. I realized he had put me on his family’s side of the church, and in a spot where we could easily see each other as he performed his groomsman duties. He stood talking to a man who looked vaguely like the prince of England, near where Nico and Dante were speaking to each other. Although I couldn’t hear what was being said, it looked like Dante was teasing Nico, but nothing could remove the huge grin on Nico’s face. He didn’t look at all nervous or worried. He looked thrilled and excited.

The music started, and everyone stood. I got up a half second later, as I hadn’t known that was expected of me. I hadn’t ever been to an actual royal wedding before.

Rafe’s sisters entered the church in adorable red ball gowns. Serafina had a basket and seemed to be taking her flower girl duties very seriously. She threw big fistfuls of flowers in a pattern only she seemed to understand. Chiara and Violetta followed behind her, with Lemon bringing up the rear. They each carried bouquets of red and white flowers.

A choir started to sing, and it was Kat’s turn to enter the church. I heard sighs and murmurs around me as everyone fixed their gaze on her. She held on to the king’s wheelchair, letting him escort her down the aisle. Her dress sparkled like snow, and she was so happy she glowed. She had a red velvet bow around her waist, and she wore a tiara filled with red hearts. She was stunning.

I could tell she was trying to be dignified and move slowly, but she had to keep adjusting her pace because she wanted to get up to the front quicker, to where her soon-to-be husband was waiting for her.

---