Читать книгу Royal Affairs: His Princess of Convenience / Her Royal Wedding Wish / The Secret Princess - Rebecca Winters - Страница 15

CHAPTER SEVEN

ANTONIO HAD CALLED her his treasure. Christina felt cherished and desirable. His hunger aroused her to the depth of her being. This was her husband bringing her to life, shocking her, thrilling her as they found new ways to worship each other with their bodies.

His long legs trapped hers. “Why did I wait four years?”

She couldn’t have answered him if she’d wanted to. Enthralled by the things he was doing to her, Christina was too consumed by her own hunger for him. Like the spiral constellations lighting the canopy above, he sent her spiraling into another realm of existence. Throughout the hours of the night they loved fully until they finally fell asleep, only temporarily sated.

After their passion-filled night of ecstasy, she couldn’t believe they were still on earth. During the night he’d swept her to a different place, so intimate she’d wanted to stay on that sphere of euphoria forever.

She lay there wondering if last night’s lovemaking had resulted in a baby. Stranger things had happened to other women. She suddenly realized that she wanted his baby so badly she could hardly stand it.

Heat washed over her to remember what had happened between them last night. Christina wasn’t sorry that he hadn’t made love to her at first. Far from it. Last night had been magical.

Taking great care not to wake her husband and lover, she lay there looking at him. The sun was already high in the morning sky. They’d slept in late again, but it didn’t matter.

Oh, Antonio—I love you so much, you have no idea.

* * *

Antonio heard his wife sigh and glanced at her in sleep. She was the most unselfish lover he could ever have imagined. Last night she’d made him feel totally alive. Whole. When had he ever felt like this? Long after the stars had come out, they’d made love again and early this morning, again. He’d found paradise with her.

The next time he had cognizance of his surroundings, the sun was high in the sky. His wife lay on her side facing him. For a while he lay there studying her, then got to his feet and took a dip in the pool before pulling on his bathing trunks. He opened the backpack to get out some rolls and fruit. They’d need more food to stay on this island. He drank half a bottle of water while he ate.

She must have heard him and opened her eyes. “Oh—you’re up!”

“Just barely. Loving you has given me a ferocious appetite.”

She laughed. “I’m getting up, but you’ll have to turn your head.”

“Why?” he teased.

Christina blushed beautifully. “You know why.”

“I’m your husband.”

“I know, but—”

“All right. I’ll close my eyes, but I’ll give you to the count of ten to reach the water before I open them again.”

“Antonio—” she squealed.

“One, two.” He could hear the blanket rustle before she got up. A second later he heard water splashing and turned to watch her treading water. “You see? You made it.”

“If you’ll please put my bikini near the water and turn around, I’ll get dressed.”

* * *

Antonio’s deep laughter resounded through the forest. She could feel it reverberate inside her. “Anything to oblige.” He did her bidding. “I hate to tell you this, but the water is so transparent I can see you perfectly.”

“You’re no gentleman to say that to me.”

“Is that what you thought I was?” he mocked before turning his back.

She climbed out and dressed as fast as she could. When she reached him, he crushed her in his arms and gave her a kiss to die for. Then he handed her food and drink.

“Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”

“I wish we could stay here longer. Last night—” Her voice caught.

Their eyes met. “Last night will be burned in my memory forever, tesora.”

“Mine too.” She finished eating and started putting everything in their packs.

He worked with her. “Are you about ready?”

“Yes.”

After slipping on their tennis shoes, they started down the trail to the beach. In some parts she walked behind him, enjoying the play of muscle across his back and shoulders. Antonio had great legs for a man. In fact, there wasn’t a part of him that wasn’t perfect.

They reached the boat and loaded it. Christina helped him push it into the water, and then he helped ease her up and in before he took his place at the front. Before they took off across the lagoon, he looked back at her. As far as he could see, they were the only people out on this part of the lagoon.

“What do you want to do after we get back to the hut?” he called over his shoulder.

“I’d love to go to that coral sea garden and do some more snorkeling.”

“That makes two of us. When in our lives will we ever have a chance to see fish like this up close?”

“Probably never. I’m still pinching myself to believe there’s a spot like this on earth.”

“We’ll eat a meal and then go out for the rest of the day. Do you know what?”

“What?”

“You’re more fun than any of my friends.”

“Thank you.”

“I mean it. I don’t know anyone, male or female, who loves what I love and can do everything with me and keep up.”

“I’m afraid I didn’t turn out to be like my socialite parents.”

“Thank heaven!”

Those two words warmed her heart all the way back to their island. After putting things away, they sat down to a meal, then went back out to the deck. Antonio covered her in sunscreen. His touch made her knees buckle. “Shall we stay in bed the rest of the day instead?”

Christina could hardly talk. “I’d love it, but our time here is so short, we need to take advantage of it.” She couldn’t believe she’d worried that in a week Antonio might be bored with her. Maybe it was because all the time they’d spent together in Switzerland had prepared her to be more comfortable with him where everything felt so natural.

“Just remember we’ll have all night,” he whispered against her neck. His breath sent tendrils of delight through her system. While she was still trying to recover, he got out the snorkels and fins. Once again they got into the boat and went looking for fish. The lagoon was home to so many species they had the time of their lives viewing everything.

She lost track of the time. So did Antonio. It wasn’t until they suffered hunger pains that she realized it was time to go in. When they returned to the island and were tying up the boat, Manu was there to greet them.