A Ring to Secure His Crown

by Kim Lawrence

  ‘But you are touching me.’ Sabrina, her head spinning, let out a faint whimper as his hand moved to cup the soft curve of her cheek in his hand before rubbing his thumb across the plump lower lip of her Cupid’s bow mouth. ‘You love someone else.’

  He shook his head. ‘How could I when I can only see you? Your eyes are extraordinary.’ He stood staring deep into the dark liquid depths framed by long curling lashes, waiting for them to darken with passion before he kissed her.

  The kiss seemed to go on for ever, and when he lifted his head she felt as though she were floating.

  ‘You are my life. I love you.’

  ‘I love you, Sebastian...’ Her whispered echo was barely audible above the clamouring beat of her heart.

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  THE KISS WAS deep and so tender that there were tears in her eyes when he finally lifted his head.

  ‘The first thing I remember is your mouth and kissing you in the car.’

  ‘You were cruel,’ she remembered. ‘And drunk.’

  ‘Not really, but I do remember that you looked at me like I was the devil so I played it up a bit.’ His eyes darkened as he curled his fingers round her chin and turned her face up to him. ‘But all the time I was thinking about your mouth.’

  She swallowed, feeling dizzy, happiness bubbling up inside her. Could this really be happening? ‘Thinking what?’

  ‘That it was a total miracle and many...so many things I wanted to do to and with it, and I thought of my brother having that mouth and I wanted to—’ His hand fell away and he inhaled. ‘I felt like hell.’ He gave a twisted smile. ‘Because as you probably realised the honourable stuff is not a natural fit for me. Every time I looked at you I wanted to taste you and every time I tasted you I wanted to do it again, but you belonged to Luis.

  ‘When he dumped you at the altar I was furious with him—for about ten seconds. Then I was glad, because there was nothing stopping me from having you.’

  She lifted a hand to his cheek. He turned his face into it and kissed her palm as she stood there, tears streaming down her face as the words poured out of him.

  His blue eyes blazed fiercely, bathing her in the love that shone in them as he took both her hands in his and, bending forward, kissed her again. This time the tenderness tipped over into hunger that made her knees give way.

  Sebastian reacted by picking her up and carrying her over to the sofa in the corner of the room, and after pulling her across his knees he carried on kissing her.

  Then minutes later, breathing hard, several items of clothing on the floor, she pressed her hand on his chest and shook her head.

  ‘Why...why now? I’ve been crazy about you for weeks and weeks and you...couldn’t you see that I loved you?’

  The breath caught in her throat at the look in his eyes. ‘Say that again!’ he demanded fiercely.

  ‘I love you, Sebastian.’

  He smiled, the fierce tenderness in his face making her head spin as he curved a hand around one side of her face, taking his time to taste every inch of her face before pausing, his nose pressed to the side of hers, their warm breath mingling.

  ‘You were with me out of duty, not choice. I never forgot that, and I have gone through life telling myself that love was a mugs’ game, I didn’t believe in it, but the truth is,’ he admitted heavily, clenching his teeth as the full level of his stupidity was laid bare for her, ‘I was scared of feeling anything that much. I watched the person I cared for most in the world destroyed by love...’

  ‘Your mother...’ she breathed, her voice soft with sympathy.

  He nodded. ‘I judged her and I was helpless to help her. I never wanted to love anyone again and let them down.’ He gave a hard laugh. ‘I really thought that there was choice involved and then you happened. I have learnt so much being with you and I swear that I’ll always be there—’

  She pressed a finger to his lips. ‘Don’t swear—kiss.’

  With a growl he responded to the imperious little command and, tipping her under him, he gathered her to him and proceeded to kiss her senseless in the process, losing his own sense also.

  * * *

  As she moved in his arms and almost fell off the narrow couch her eyes caught sight of the clock on the wall. ‘Oh, my God, look at the time!’ she exclaimed. ‘There’s no need to look so smug.’

  ‘I feel smug.’ He felt...complete.

  ‘We’ve been here all afternoon, Seb. We need to get dressed for dinner.’

  She was about to draw her legs up to her chin when his hand went to the smooth naked curve of her bottom. ‘You look like a little cat when you stretch.’

  ‘Seb!’ she pleaded, struggling to inject some reproach and not only throaty appeal into her voice. ‘Dinner...’ She felt a little slug of disappointment when he reacted to the reminder and sat upright.

  Sabrina followed suit, mentally calculating how quickly they could make themselves presentable for the formal dinner awaiting them and get back to their suite without anyone noticing how dishevelled they both looked.

  ‘Should I ring down and tell them we’ll be late dining?’

  ‘Don’t bother. I’ve already dealt with that.’ He stretched to ease the kinks out of his spine, drawing her eyes to the perfect muscular development of his lean torso. Everything about his body delighted her.

  ‘You’re totally...’ Their eyes connected; emotion rose in her chest, consolidating into a knot of sheer longing. She had never in her life imagined that loving someone could feel like this, that it could be so all-consuming and the physical aspect so incredible.

  And he loved her back...it still felt as though she were living a dream.

  ‘Looking for these?’ He picked a pair of lacy pants from the table on her side of the sofa and tossed them to her, feeling his libido kick in hard as she straightened and raised a hand, causing her firm breasts to jiggle and sway as she caught them.

  ‘How organised—and when?’

  ‘While you were snoring.’

  ‘I do not snore!’

  ‘I shall invest in a set of earplugs.’ His eyes were warm as he levered himself lazily from the tumbled bed, reaching for his boxers.

  Sabrina watched the play of muscle gliding and bunching under the golden skin of his back as he stood with his back to her pulling his jeans on over his narrow hips.

  God, but he was beautiful!

  Hand in hand, they walked up the rear staircase that led to their bedroom suite; the sitting-room door was not closed. Inside two maids bobbed curtsies as they entered before one pushed a trolley with a cloth thrown over up to one of the sofas in the room and the other plugged in the large flatscreen TV that rested on the second trolley.

  ‘We’ll serve ourselves, thank you.’

  The maids nodded and vanished.

  Sabrina watched as Sebastian lifted the cloth with a flourish to reveal silver domes, which he lifted to inspect the food underneath, filling the room with smells that made her realise how hungry she was.

  ‘We are going to eat on trays and watch television?’ she said, thinking, How crazy is this? She was feeling the sort of excited incredulity that most women would if their husband said that he’d arranged for them to eat food created by a Michelin-starred chef served on antique china sitting at a table loaded with silver and crystal.

  But in her world this was a treat.

  ‘Isn’t it what people do?’

  She nodded, thinking that Sebastian was a billion miles from other people; he was extraordinary!

  ‘I thought you might like a night off.’

  She nodded vigorously.

  ‘Movie’s your choice, so kick off your shoes—’

  She looked down, a smile tugging at her lips as she realised she had walked barefoot down the corridor. ‘I’m
not wearing any.’

  They had just sat down when the door opened; without warning a figure scanned the room before the King walked in.

  When he saw the TV and the trays he could not have looked more shocked had he walked in and found them rolling around on the floor naked. Half an hour earlier and he might have, she thought, hiding a grin.

  ‘Father.’ Sebastian got to his feet slowly, his casual attitude thinly masking his anger. Seeing it there just below the surface, Sabrina felt her heart sink like a stone. ‘Sorry, if we’d known you were coming we’d have saved you some.’

  ‘You would possibly have dressed for dinner too?’ The King took a deep breath and shook his head. ‘No, it is none of my business. I accept that things change. I have come to apologise,’ he said stiffly. ‘Some...most of the things you said were right. You are doing a good job. I should have said it before but I... It is hard not to feel needed.

  ‘Your brother—if he and his family wish to come to the reunification ceremony then I will be glad to see them as my guests. And, Sabrina, I have no objection to you working, and, yes, I agree it will be a good example to set to your daughters and the young women of our country.’ He inclined his head. ‘So I will say goodnight.’

  * * *

  ‘What,’ Sabrina gasped as the door closed, ‘was that?’

  ‘That, my dearest darling, was hell freezing over—with style, to give the devil his due,’ he added wryly. ‘Now, where were we?’

  Sabrina shook her head and pushed him away as he leaned in to kiss her. ‘Luis? Me working? What was all that about?’

  ‘When I went to Paris it wasn’t for a meeting—I was seeing Luis.’

  She drew back, startled. ‘Luis?’

  ‘Do you mind?’

  ‘Why would I mind? I would actually love to thank him for dumping me at the altar considering how things have worked out.’

  Sebastian grinned. ‘So you’d have no problem with him coming to the reunification ceremony next year?’

  ‘And your father agreed?’

  ‘That was quite a climb-down. And quick,’ he admitted. ‘But I think it is the idea of a baby—’

  ‘Luis is having a baby?’ she exclaimed.

  ‘Well, not Luis—but, yes, and I think that might be the swing vote. I’m starting to think that Father is getting a little soft in his old age.’

  Sabrina gave a sceptical grunt. ‘That is only one part of the mystery. What about me working?’

  ‘I think he has decided that to have talent in the family firm and not utilise it is a waste—especially when the research is so important.’

  ‘He has decided?’ She shook her head. ‘What have you been up to, Seb?’

  ‘Me?’ he said, looking innocent. ‘I had nothing to do with it except to mention the need for further research into dementia and expertise right here.’

  ‘Oh, my God—truly? Me, work?’ She began to bounce excitedly.

  ‘I expect you’ll be running the university in a few years.’

  ‘If having those daughters he was talking about doesn’t get in the way.’

  ‘What can I say? He’s keen on grandchildren.’

  She smiled and looked at him, eyes gleaming through her lashes as she straddled him.

  ‘And how do you feel about children?’

  ‘Pretty damn good so long as you’re the mother.’ He let out a low growl and tugged her down onto him. ‘How do you feel about starting now? I’ve heard it can take a while.’

  ‘In that case, less talk more action, hmm?’

  ‘Shut up, woman, can’t you see I’m dynasty-building?’

  There was very little talking for some time, but a lot of communicating.

  EPILOGUE

  SEBASTIAN WAS THE last to speak. He kept it short.

  ‘I feel that the people here today to celebrate the day our country becomes one have already said it.’

  He gestured with a flourish towards his father and the Duke, who were seated on the stage, and there was a cheer from the crowds that filled the palace parkland as far as the eye could see.

  ‘I have only one thing to add. A wise man once said...’ he smiled at his father ‘...that it is all about family.’ He moved to the edge of the stage and held out a hand to his brother, who sat with his wife and baby in the front row.

  Luis jumped up on the stage to a loud cheer.

  Sebastian put his arm around his brother.

  ‘And today our family, our country, has expanded in a beautiful way, a little like my lovely wife.’

  It was Luis, along with Chloe, who pulled Sabrina, heavily pregnant, to her feet and escorted her over to Sebastian before clapping his hands and backing away to leave them centre stage.

  The applause was thunderous as Sebastian kissed his wife on the lips, his grin flashing.

  ‘You promised you wouldn’t do this.’

  He shrugged. ‘My memory, darling, it is not what it once was.’

  She dabbed the emotional tears running down her cheeks and began to laugh while the crowds cheered on, but she had the last laugh.

  ‘If my waters break right here and now it won’t be pretty.’

  He leaned in close and whispered, ‘Everything you do, my love, is beautiful!’

  * * *

  The reunification of Vela was also the birthday of the future King—the people said it was a very good omen...

  * * * * *

  EXCLUSIVE EXTRACT

  Being forced to spurn Nikos Kyriazis devastated Marnie Kenington. Years later, he offers to absolve her family’s bankruptcy—if she marries him! Nikos wants revenge – and he knows that in the bedroom he can take Marnie apart...piece by sensual piece...

  Read on for a sneak preview of debut author Clare Connelly’s book

  BOUGHT FOR THE BILLIONAIRE’S REVENGE

  ‘Now you will marry me, and he will have to spend the rest of his life knowing it was me—the man he wouldn’t have in his house—who was his salvation.’

  The sheer fury of his words whipped Marnie like a rope. ‘Nikos,’ she said, surprised at how calm she could sound in the midst of his stormy declaration. ‘He should never have made you feel like that.’

  ‘Your father could have called me every name under the sun for all I cared, agape. It was you I expected more of.’

  She swallowed. Expectations were not new to Marnie. Her parents’. Her sister’s. Her own.

  ‘And now you will marry me.’

  Anticipation formed a cliff’s edge and she was tumbling over it, free-falling from a great height. She shook her head, but they both knew it was denial for the sake of it.

  ‘No more waiting,’ he intoned darkly, crushing his mouth to hers in a kiss that stole her breath and coloured her soul.

  His tongue clashed with hers. It was a kiss of slavish possession, a kiss designed to challenge and disarm. He blew away every defence she had, reminding her that his body had always been able to manipulate hers. A single look had always been enough to make her break out in a cold sweat of need.

  ‘No more waiting.’

  ‘You can’t still want me,’ she said into his mouth, wrapping her hands around his back. ‘You’ve hardly lived the life of a monk. I would have thought I’d lost all appeal by now.’

  ‘Call it unfinished business,’ he responded, breaking the kiss to scrape his lips down her neck, nipping at her shoulder.

  She pushed her hips forward, instinctively wanting more. Wanting everything.

  Her brain was wrapped in cotton wool, foggy and filled with questions softened by confusion. ‘It was six years ago.’

  ‘Yes. And still you’re the only woman I have ever believed myself in love with. The only woman I have ever wanted a future with. Once upon a time for love.’

  ‘And now?’

  ‘For...less noble
reasons.’

  Don’t miss

  BOUGHT FOR THE BILLIONAIRE’S REVENGE

  by Clare Connelly

  Available August 2017

  PRE-ORDER YOUR COPY TODAY

  www.millsandboon.co.uk

  Copyright © 2017 Clare Connelly

  ISBN: 978-1-474-05264-1

  A RING TO SECURE HIS CROWN

  © 2017 Kim Lawrence

  Published in Great Britain 2017

  by Mills & Boon, an imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF

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