“And what would you say to me?” I ask, my skin prickling, my heart pounding, my need for him so strong that I’m surprised I’ve been able to keep myself together.
“That if you give me another chance, if you allow me back in your life, I promise you, till my dying day, I’ll spend it keeping your heart close to mine and showing you how much you’re meant to be mine.” He reaches out and takes my hand in his. “I’m not asking for forgiveness. I’m asking for the chance to prove to you my undying love.” And then he squeezes my hand three times, causing a tear to cascade down my cheek.
I look at him and say, “I don’t want to do this without you, Keller.” Hope springs in his eyes. “The last couple of weeks have been dreadful. The best part of them was when I saw you. You hurt me, but it hurts worse not being with you.” I move off the settee and straddle his lap. His hands fall to my waist, and as I run my hands up his chest, I can feel the rapid beat of his heart. “I need you to promise me you’re mine and that you won’t ever abandon me again. Don’t lie to me. I need you, Keller, by my side.”
“I promise you, love,” he says softly, his hands smoothing up my sides. “Nothing is more important than you and me, than us.”
That puts a smile on my face, and as I lean closer to him, I cup his cheeks and look him in the eyes. “I’ve missed you so much.”
“Fuck, Lilly. I’ve been a wreck without you. And watching you from a distance, reading about you in the paper, seeing the reactions from everyone in Torskethorpe made me so goddamn proud. I hated myself for not being there with you and sharing your accomplishments.”
“But you’re here now.”
“And I’m not going anywhere.”
I lower my mouth to his and one of his hands moves to the back of my head, his fingers tangling through my wavy locks.
“I love you,” I say.
“I love you, Lilly,” he replies right before our lips collide.
Desperate, our kiss sears through me, reminding me how much this man owns me, every inch of me. As if I haven’t been able to breathe the last couple of weeks, he fills my lungs with life, reclaiming what’s his.
I melt into his embrace as he wraps me up tightly. His slow, drugging kisses are just what I need in this moment, and when I swipe my tongue over his lips, he parts them, letting me in. Our tongues tangle, our breath mixes, and before I know what’s happening, his hand is up my dress and my hand is trying to unbutton his shirt.
“Fuck, Lilly,” he says as his mouth falls to my neck. “I missed you so damn much.”
“I missed you,” I say just as the door opens and a throat is cleared behind us.
We still, and on a gulp, I look over my shoulder, where I find Runa.
“Oh . . . uh, hi, Runa.”
“Miss Campbell, you’re to report to the grand entrance in ten minutes, and they’re not expecting you with disheveled clothes and smeared lipstick.”
I awkwardly laugh. “Uh, sorry, I got carried away.”
When I slide off Keller’s lap, Runa gives him the evil eye. “I’m pleased you two have found reconciliation, but, Keller, you know better than this. Not before an event.”
“Sorry.” He clears his throat as his hand clasps mine. “Won’t happen again.”
And then, with three squeezes, he stands from the settee and helps me rise. “Runa, can I have five minutes? I promise she’ll be ready.”
“She better be,” Runa says with a smirk before leaving.
Turning toward me, he lifts my chin and looks me in the eyes. “Forever mine?”
“Forever yours . . . my King.”
He smirks and presses another kiss to my lips, filling me with so much love and life that I know, from the depths of my heart, that even though I was so not ready for my royal adventure, I’m more than happy I took it.
I found family.
I found friends.
I found purpose.
And I found the love of my life.
Epilogue
KELLER
“Don’t move.”
“But . . . but I need to.”
I pause and lift from where I rest between her legs. “Who makes the rules in this bedroom?”
“You, my King,” Lilly whispers.
“And I said don’t move. So don’t fucking move.”
Her chest rises and falls, arching her back off the mattress, while my silk ties hold her arms and legs tightly in place.
I move between her legs and continue to lightly lap at her clit, barely touching her. Enough to drive her crazy but not to bring her the climax she’s chasing.