His mouth finds my neck, and his weight falls against me. “I didn’t want to trouble you when you’re already troubled.”
“And if I had pulled something like that with you?”
He groans as I continue to rub him, only now I give him a firm squeeze to let him know I mean business. “Fine. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you. You’re right, that wasn’t respectful of me, and it won’t happen again. I never had to be so…communicative with Nora, so this is a bit new for me. Anyway, the tiara, since I know Althea told you about that, is missing from the tower along with a few other pieces our mother swears she had no part in.”
I bite into my lip as I regretfully ask, “Do you believe that?”
His hands squeeze my breasts, his new favorite toys. “I don’t know. I’m not sure what purpose her lying to us has. She lost her husband and child that night and has mourned their loss since. She was never the same after.” She also didn’t come to our wedding because she didn’t approve of me. I have no nobility in my blood, nor am I even French or Italian. Before our wedding, I overheard Sebastian on the phone with her when she called me gold-digging American trash or something like that.
He subsequently told her she was never allowed to speak of me that way and hung up, but still, it stung to be dismissed without her even meeting me.
“Is that from guilt for her crimes or grief from those she lost?”
Another sigh, this one heavier. “I don’t know. We’ll have to confront her soon. But for now,” he reaches into his pocket, pulls out a box, and places it in my palm. “I want you to have these. Since we were there.”
“Sebastian!”
He chuckles, running his nose against mine. “Don’t argue. They’ll look so lovely on your ears. What good are all these jewels just sitting in cases if I can’t give them to the most beautiful woman I’ve ever met? You’re my queen. I want to spoil you as such.”
He pulls back and both of us stare down at the black cube in my hand. Without waiting on me because he knows I’ll never freely open it, he lifts the lid, and there are two massive—and I mean fuckingmassive—diamond studs.
“I can’t.”
“You can. They’re your Valentine’s Day present.”
“Valentine’s Day?” I snort. “That…” I trail off as I think about it.
“Was yesterday. I forgot too until Rowan reminded me this morning.”
I scrunch up my nose. “Oh. Sorry, I didn’t get you anything.”
“I’ll take your body again later and we’ll call it even. Your hair will cover the earrings most of the time, but I might have you put it up when it’s just us so I can see them in your ears. You know…I’d have the rarest, most priceless diamonds and gemstones turned into pieces of art designed simply for your body.” A smirk curls his lips. “That was, of course, before you allowed our daughters to bring home a fucking ferret.”
I burst out laughing. “Don’t blame me. Your daughters are crafty and insanely smart.”
“And I’m a sucker.”
“There are worse crimes than a man being a sucker for his children. In fact, it’s beyond endearing and sexy.”
“Endearing and sexy enough to get you to wear these for me?”
They each have to be at least five carats. “You’re going to have me dripping in diamonds I’m not fully comfortable wearing. What if I get mugged and someone steals the crown jewels?”
“Mugged in the palace?”
“You never know.”
“I’ll take the risk with how stunning you look in my country’s priceless gems.” He grins against my lips and licks the seam before demanding entrance and kissing me like a man in love. Like a man staking his claim.
My heart gives a thump.
“Say yes.”
Like I could ever say no to him. “Yes.”
Another deep, plunging kiss. “How’s your father?”
“Not good,” I admit, sagging against him. “I’m hoping some of this cloud clears when the worst of the fall is behind him.”
