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He looked pained. ‘I thought you’d soon realise—that you’d be relieved I let you go.’

She ducked her head, hating that he’d not believed her, and saw what he was still holding. ‘Why did you bring the tiara?’

‘I was angry, I figured that if you were going to still perform as a princess, you needed it. But then I couldn’t bear to interrupt you and you couldn’t look more regal than when you walked in with that smile.’

‘I met the jeweller. She said she made it ages ago.’

‘Yes.’ Colour rose in his cheeks. ‘I commissioned it for your twenty-first birthday. You were a princess—your coming-of-age gift needed to reflect your status.’

‘With emeralds that reflect the flecks in my eyes?’ She watched his colour deepen and her heart melted—was Alex almost shy about this? ‘You didn’t give it to me at the time.’

‘I realised it wasn’t appropriate.’ His lips twisted ruefully. ‘I didn’t want Domenico to give it to you, didn’t want to share it as a gift from both Erik and me. So I kept it.’

‘Alex…’ She couldn’t hold back her small smile. ‘All this time.’

‘Uh-huh.’

She cupped his face—felt the heat of his skin, the tension in his jaw—and began to believe.

‘I’ve been an idiot,’ he mumbled.

‘No. Just a little lost. Confused. Like me.’

‘If you come back you won’t be a princess any more. It’ll be worse. You’ll be a queen.’

Hope rose. Happiness rose. Tears rose. ‘I’ll be your queen.’

‘You’re already that. You have dominion over all of me. But this is a very public life and I don’t want you to feel constrained or judged or at risk—I don’t know that I can protect you from all that awful side, Tilly, and you’ve suffered enough. I hate that you’ve—’

‘With you beside me, I can handle anything.’ She drew in a breath. ‘I love Montaurella, you know I do. I never wanted to leave, just wanted a quieter life. Or at least a life that I felt I deserved. But actually I think I can make a small difference to some things…’

‘You make a massive difference and you deserve everything. You always have. It tipped me over the edge seeing you with those kids. You should have a family, Tilly. Create that kingdom of your own.’

‘With you. I will with you.’

‘Yes.’ He put the tiara box down and pulled her close. ‘Come home to me. Stay with me. Let’s begin every day with a ride.’ He smiled and it was that lovely, open smile she adored. ‘Love me just a fraction of how much I love you and I’ll try to be the best husband to you, a good father…’

‘You’re enough as you are, Alex. Just don’t shut me out—’

‘I have work to do, Tilly, and you know I don’t mean royal duties. But I don’t want to burden you. You’re not a band-aid. Don’t feel as if you have to fix me or hold me together. I’m okay and I’ll be okay if you say no to me now. But I hope you can be patient while I do that work.’

She leaned against him. ‘I have some work of my own to do too, you know.’

‘I’ll be with you through that if you want me to be.’ His hand slid to the nape of her neck, massaging into her hair.

‘Yes, please. Always.’

‘You’re the light in my life, Tilly. I want you more than you will ever know.’ His lips brushed hers. ‘I love you.’

Her heart swelled to bursting. ‘I love you too, Alex.’

‘God, I’ve missed you.’ He crushed her to him. ‘I’ve missed holding you. Kissing you. I’ve missed teasing you.’ His hands swept over her, pressing her close as his walls crumbled.

Fortress Alex was open and loving and hers, and Tilly finally crumbled too—melting into him in a hot, messy mix of tears and kisses and breathless, ardent whispers.

‘How are we going to get out of here?’ she murmured, agonised, long minutes later. ‘I can’t see anyone looking like this.’ Not so flushed and trembling and needy.

‘Rafa will smooth it while we sneak out the back.’ He kissed her and brushed her hair back tenderly. ‘My car is circling the block and it’s only ten minutes to the helipad.’

That sounded like forever to Tilly and it proved to be too long for Alex as well. As soon as they were safely in his car he activated the privacy screen and turned to her, pulling her into his lap. Tremors racked them both. United in breathless, desperate need, they felt a connection so fiery Tilly had to check as she clutched him, ‘This is real, isn’t it? Promise me it’s real.’

‘I broke your trust when I didn’t tell you how I really feel. That was a secret I never should have kept. I’ll tell you every day henceforth—’

‘Loudly,’ she teased.

‘Very,’ he agreed. ‘I’m here, Tilly.’

He lifted her so she could sink onto him and she gasped as his strength filled her. No doubt now. He was here, hers, always. She shook, clinging to him in ardent ecstasy. Loving that he too groaned, unable to hold the overwhelming sensations back.

Breathless and unbearably happy, she pressed her face against his neck. ‘That was too quick.’

‘That was the first of forever,’ he promised. ‘Let’s go home. Now we have all the time for love—’

‘Yes.’ Tilly smiled.

Because they did love—truly, endlessly, always.

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