LITMIR.BIZ

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the girls. Christina had the suspicion Louisa was trying to cheer her up. She loved her for it and it was fun for all of them to get together.

      Louisa poured wine from the vineyard and showed off her expertise about the vintage. Christina was impressed that she knew so much about it. Nico definitely had something to do with it.

      Dinner wouldn’t be for another couple of hours. Christina wasn’t a wine drinker, but this afternoon was special, so she joined in with the others to take a sip.

      Marianna smiled. “Hey, you guys—want to know a little gossip? I overheard Connor and Isabella talking wedding plans with Lindsay.”

      “I knew it!” Louisa said while everyone cheered. “Oh—it’s time for the six o’clock news.”

      “Do we care?” Daniella interjected.

      “I do,” Louisa exclaimed. She hurried over to the TV and turned it on. Christina was secretly glad, since it was the only way she had of knowing what was going on at the palace. Her heart was broken for Antonio, who was having to carry on through the fight to determine the destiny of his country.

      “Buonasera. Tonight we have more breaking news coming from the royal palace in Voti, Halencia. Crown Prince Antonio de L’Accardi has broken his long silence and has prepared a statement, which we will bring to you from the front steps of the royal palace.”

      The image flashed to a somber Antonio in a dark blue suit who was so gorgeous that Christina feared her heart would give out. The girls grew quiet as all eyes were focused on him.

      “Fellow countrymen and women, these have been dark times for the crown and it’s time for the conflict to end. I’ll be brief. As I told the National Council this morning, I dare any tabloid to come after me or my wife again.”

      What? Christina shot to her feet.

      “I admit that our engagement was originally a strategic move, but having spent time with Christina, I realize what an amazing person she is, how kind, generous and charitable she is, and how lucky this country is to have her as queen! I defy anyone to call our marriage a fake. To me it’s the most real and true relationship I’ve ever had. So I’ll tell you what I told the council. I’m in love with my wife and will not be giving her up, even if it means losing the throne!”

      Christina was shaking so hard she might have fallen if she’d hadn’t been holding on to the chair. The girls stared at her in wonder.

      Louisa smiled at her. “Every woman in the world with eyes in her head would love to be in your shoes right now, Christina Rose.”

      She nodded. “I’d like to be in them too, but he’s not here.”

      Footsteps coming from the hall caused them to turn. Christina came close to fainting when Antonio walked in. “Who says I’m not?”

      “Antonio,” she gasped. “But you were just on television.” He was dressed in a sport shirt and chinos instead of his dark suit.

      “That was taped at noon. This afternoon the council reassembled and voted unanimously for our marriage to stand. The coronation will take place in two weeks. Once I was given the news, I flew here in the helicopter. It’s standing by for me to take you back to the palace.”

      By now the girls were on their feet, hugging her and each other for joy.

      Christina watched as her husband in all his male glory walked over to her. His brilliant blue eyes blinded her with their heat.

      “H-how did you know I was here?”

      “Palace security traced you once we heard from the guard that you’d left the grounds with Arianna.”

      “I thought I was being so careful.”

      “You were. For a few hours your disappearance gave me a heart attack. Since we’d barely returned from Bora Bora, I hardly think that’s fair. Don’t you ever do that to me again.”

      Her love for him was bursting out of her. “I promise.”

      In front of everyone he picked her up in his arms as he’d done twice before. “Excuse us, ladies. We have very personal matters of state to discuss and must get back to the palace. The limo is waiting for us.”

      Heat flooded her body as he carried her out of the room and the palazzo. After helping her into the car, he told the driver to head for Monte Calanetti before crushing her in his arms. “You don’t have to worry about the state of our marriage, cara. I’m madly in love with you and this is a new day.”

      Christina was euphoric during their flight to Voti. Once they touched ground and were driven to the palace, he swept her along to their home on the second floor. Again he gathered her in his arms and carried her through to their bedroom.

      After following her down onto the bed, he began kissing her. They were starving for each other. Christina couldn’t get enough of him fast enough. Everything that had kept them apart had been cleared away. She was able to give him all the love she’d stored up in her heart and body.

      The next morning she heard a sound of satisfaction as he pulled her on top of him. Their night of lovemaking had appeased them for a little while. She sat up and looked at their clothes strewn all over the floor.

      Antonio pulled her back down. “I’m in love with you, Christina. So terribly in love with my red-haired beauty I’ll never get over it. You believe me, don’t you?”

      There was a vulnerability about the question that touched her heart. “I feel your love in every atom of my body, my darling. Is there any doubt how I feel about you after last night? I need you desperately and want your baby.”

      “Anything to oblige the woman who has made me thankful I was born a man.”

      “I loved you from the time I was fifteen, but I never dared admit it to myself because—”

      Another kiss stifled any words. “We’re never going to talk about past sadness. When I called your father to find out what he said to you, he gave me the answer and I had a revelation of what it was like to grow up with him. All we can do is feel sorry for him. I believe your mother has always been afraid of him.”

      “I know you’re right.” Just when Christina didn’t think she could love him anymore, he said or did something that made her love for him burn hotter. “I can’t wait to thank your parents for Bora Bora.”

      “They’ve always lived their life over-the-top, but there’s one thing they did I’ll always be thankful for. They wanted us to find love.”

      “Yes, darling, and we found it there.”

      He kissed her neck and shoulders. “I’m the happiest man alive.”

      “Are you ready for a little more happy news?”

      “What?”

      “Enzio has asked Elena to marry him.”

      Antonio grinned. “He’s a brave man to want to take her on.”

      “She’s worth the risk. Guess what else? Marusha is expecting a baby.” Christina kissed every feature. “I can’t wait until we can announce we’re having our own baby.”

      “I’m going to do my best to make that happen. I know now the one thing missing in my life was you and the family we’re planning to have. We should have gotten married instead of engaged.”

      “I think about that too, all the time. But I don’t think we were destined to get together until the time was right. We both had work to do first.”

      Antonio rolled her over and looked down at her. “You’re the most beautiful sight this man has ever seen. I love you, tesoro mio. Never leave me.”

      “You know why I did.”

      A pained look entered his eyes. “The last three weeks have been the worst of my entire life.”

      “For me too. But as you

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