Chapter 29Marco
Chapter 29
Marco
My heart is hammering like a broken washing machine as I look at the mirror reflection of the woman I love. She’s in her Princess Sofia uniform, a prim and proper red jacket and skirt that conceals the sexy womanly curves I know lie beneath, her single string of pearls around her neck. But what’s different, what doesn’t fit with her usual image, is that her long, chestnut hair is loose. Loose and beautiful, just as she looked that magical night in Monteluce.
I drink her in, every inch of her, this woman who has bewitched me. This woman I think of day and night. This woman I love.
“ Principessa ,” I murmur, and slowly, she turns to face me.
“Wh-what are you doing here?” she stammers, shock registering on her face. Shock and something else.
I reach out and take a curl of her hair in my hand. “I always thought you looked the most beautiful with your hair loose.”
She places a hand over mine, stilling it, and I curl my fingers through hers.
“I couldn’t stay away,” I tell her.
“But we said?—”
“I know what we said. And I’m trying, really. I’m trying. But Enzo insisted I come because I’m on the invitation list and he sticks to the rules and… I needed to see you again. This past week has been torture.”
“It has,” she replies.
“Are you okay?”
“You’re the second person to ask me that in the last two minutes. I must look absolutely terrible.”
“You look so, so beautiful,” I whisper, my breath ragged.
When we said goodbye after our adventure to Monteluce, I gave her time. I knew that if she had the depth of feeling for me that I have for her she would find that time apart hard to bear. It was my hope that it would force her to come back to me, to overcome her fear and be with me.
But it turns out I’m not as patient as I thought.
So, when I knew I would see her here today, I leapt at the chance .
“It’s good to see you, my Principessa ,” I murmur, our fingers intwined.
“It’s good to see you, too, Marco,” she replies as the corners of her full lips lift into a soft smile, brightening her face.
“I know you made your choice, and I know I’m not it, but you need to know there aren’t enough words to describe everything I feel for you. I love you in so many ways, too many to count.”
Her breath hitches.
I take a tentative step closer to her and breathe in her distinctly Sofia scent, the scent I remember so clearly from our time together. “You have touched me in a way I never thought possible. You have inched your way into my heart so gradually, I barely knew it was happening.” I lift a hand to her face and stroke my fingers across her soft skin. “Sofia, my love, you are my everything.”
She swallows, her face creased with pain. “I’m… I’m scared, Marco.”
“I know you are. You just have to trust in my love for you. I’m yours, now and forever. That I promise you.” I slide my hand up her arm until I reach her neck. Placing my finger under her chin I gently tilt her face upward. Her gaze meets mine and I feel such a strong a wave of desire and love and need roll through me, it feels as though it could engulf us both.
“It’s hard for me,” she says, her voice small.
“I know it is, and you can take as much time as you need, as long as you know that I’m here, waiting for you. Loving you.”
Her breath is ragged, her chest heaving as she throws her arms around my neck and pulls me to her, pressing an urgent kiss to my lips. I sink into the kiss, wrapping my arms around her and holding her close against me so our beating hearts become one. Our kiss is deep, full of passion and love, and when we finally pull apart, she’s looking at me with such love in her eyes it takes my breath away.
“You don’t have to wait. I’m yours,” she tells me, and a bubble of giddy joy rises up in me and I let out a laugh of pure, unadulterated happiness. I pick her up and swing her around and she giggles. “I love you so much,” I say.
“I love you too. With all my heart,” she replies, tears streaming down her face as she kisses me again and again and again.
There’s a sudden bang that reverberates through the hallway, sending my already rapid pulse into overdrive. I pull Sofia against me as a man in a neat dark suit and tie, an impassive look on his square jawed face, walks toward us.
“Jason,” Sofia says, her voice unusually high as she raises her chin in her characteristic way. “Are you looking for me?”
Jason gives a short bow, his eyes darting between us. “Your father, the King, has sent me to find you, Your Royal Highness. You’re needed at the reception.”
“Of course. Thank you,” Sofia replies. “I was just… err, talking with Marco about a few things.” Her face flushes pink.
There was a lot more going on than just talking.
“Of course, ma’am,” he replies smoothly as he gestures with his arm toward the door leading into the throne room.
“I’ll talk with you later, Marco,” she says.
“Talk, sure,” I reply with a grin.
“Actually, the King has requested both of you join him and your mother, ma’am,” Jason replies.
“Why me?” I ask, surprised.
“I’m not privy to that information, sir,” he replies .
Sofia slips her hand into mine. “Don’t worry. We can face them together.”
I capture her gaze, this wonderful, smart, beautiful princess who loves a guy like me with the same depth, the same ferocity I have for her.
“That sounds like a plan to me, my Principessa .”