“You’re not… disappointed?” I stare hard at him and demand, “The truth. You know there can be no lies between us.”
He sigh heavily. “I’m not disappointed inyou. I’m impatient and eager to start a family with you. But I could never be disappointed in you.” He hauls me into his lap, curving his body around mine. “I want everything with you. And I want to give you everything your heart desires. Especially a child. But I will learn to be more patient.”
I snuggle against him, feeling cherished. “What if I can’t give you a child?”
“Then we’ll be happy without children.”
“But what about the treaty between our families? Only an heir, a child of our bloodlines will secure the truce forever. Until then, it’s fragile.”
“I know. But that kind of pressure isn’t helping either one of us relax and get pregnant, is it?”
“I guess not.”
“Besides, the truce and our families shouldn’t obligate us to anything. I want you, Ravenna O’Rourke. What’s important isus. Nothing else. Do I make myself clear?”
“Crystal clear.”
He grunts in approval. “Good.”
“Where are we going?” I ask as the limo drives us to the outer edge of Rome. We’re clearly leaving the city behind, but our hotel room’s booked through tomorrow.
Cian chuckles at my concerned expression. “Don’t worry, I’ll have you tucked in bed by midnight at the latest.”
I glance out the window again. It’s not even sunset. Though we’re heading out much too late for a day trip.
“You’re really not going to tell me where we’re going?”
“Nope.” He thumbs through his phone. “But I am going to have to blindfold you soon. We’re almost there.”
Before I can search for clues out the window, thick silk fabric drapes across my eyes. My world goes dark.
My heartbeat pounds against my ribs. “Is this really necessary?”
“It is,” Cian’s deep, gravelly voice speaks into my ear. He’s much closer than he was a moment ago.
Right now, I’m at his mercy. A delicious shiver rushes across my skin.
The car slows to a stop. As soon as the door opens, I strain my other senses for any hints as to where we are. Cian’s calloused hand wraps around mine as he helps me stand, then he leads me across a hard-packed surface.
We’re greeted by a stranger with a heavy Italian accent. “Welcome, Mr. and Mrs. O’Rourke. Please come aboard.”
Aboard? At first I expect a boat, but as we walk forward, there’s what feels like a short ramp, then we’re being seated ina cushioned bench. There’s no telltale rocking, we seem to be firmly planted on earth.
All of a sudden, the ground shifts, lurching and rocking. With a startled gasp, I reach for Cian, and hold onto him to keep my balance. With one arm, he plasters me to his side.
“What’s happening?” My stomach feels weightless as we rise into the air. A warm summer breeze caresses my face.
To answer my question, Cian removes the blindfold.
My breath catches in my throat as I take in the scene before me. We’re in a hot air balloon, cruising over trees, headed toward Rome in the distance.
Inside the small space, we’re seated at a table. A chef, who I vaguely recognize from television, begins to cook our meal at a tiny kitchen against one side of the carriage. Heady aromas of Italian spices drift by on the breeze. The only other person aboard is a server, who bobs his head at us and pours wine.
Cian murmurs in my ear, “Do you like it?”
I gape at him. “Like it? Iloveit! Are we really having dinner as we fly over Rome at sunset?” The whole idea seems too wild to be true. Yet here we are.
He chuckles. “I wanted to do something especially memorable for our last night of our honeymoon.”
