Page 59 of Falling for the King

She dared not believe her hearing, that he felt the same way about her, that he’d opened himself to love, her love.

‘I love you, Kat, please give me another chance to prove it to you. I won’t ever let you down again.’ Desperation flashed in his eyes.

Tears gathered at his impassioned declaration. She blinked, still one escaped tracking down her face.

‘Don’t, please don’t,’ he whispered moving in front of her and brushing a forefinger against her cheek. She jerked but didn’t move away at his featherlike touch and dragged in a lungful of his hot, spicy scent.

‘Say something, please.’

‘Do you mean it?’ She looked up into his eyes, her voice full of the doubts that her head screamed in warning. Yet her heart knew the answer registering the love and vulnerability shining back at her.

‘With everything that I have, everything I am. I’m standing here so in love with you, handing you my heart, if you’ll have it, me.’ He raised his hands, seeming to reach for her then fisted them by his side again.

‘Is this a dream?’ she asked scared she’d wake up and find herself alone in her bed after the best dream of her life.

‘It’s not, it’s the truth of how I feel about you.’

‘Are you asking me to marry you?’

Unlocking her trembling hands he placed them in his own that were no steadier. He dropped onto one knee. Her heart pounded like it would explode at the look on his face as he stared up at her.

‘Kat, I love you. Would you do me the honour of being my wife? I promise I won’t ever give you any reason to doubt my love for you as I stand beside you for the rest of my life.’ His eyes never left hers, his vulnerability palpable as the realisation finally hit, this magnificent man felt the same way about her.

She took a deep, choppy breath. ‘I’ll accept your heart and give you mine in return.’

His shoulders slumped in relief and tears glistened in his eyes mirroring those she felt gather again in hers.

‘And I’ll be your wife. I love you, Xavier.’

‘You do. You will?’ he husked.

‘Yes, and yes.’ All the doubts about his feelings for her, them, their future, banished.

He smiled, a heart stopping one as he slowly rose and enveloped her in a hug resting his forehead against hers.

‘I love you,’ he whispered his body shaking against hers.

‘I love you,’ she whispered back and tilted her head up bringing her lips to his and kissed him.

Epilogue

‘You fell asleep,’ Katerina said in a low, mock stern voice.

‘I was resting my eyes,’ Xavier whispered.

‘Again,’ she teased.

‘All this fresh air makes them close,’ he said with a sleepy smile. She never tired of seeing him like this—relaxed and a little ruffled, so unlike his suited and booted public image. It got to her every single time like the day-old stubble he’d kept at her request as her pulse spiked remembering the rasp of it against her skin.

‘Oh, here I was thinking there was some other reason.’ She laughed softly and lowered the charcoal she’d been holding, setting it on the easel.

‘You mean like Little Miss.’ He gently tapped the protective hand he held over their five-month-old daughter who napped on his t-shirted chest. The tiny black-haired bundle was a breath-stealing contrast to the powerful body she rested on. He stretched, careful not to disturb the baby, his bare feet reaching further over the lounger. Katerina’s heart squeezed, then expanded, feeling it would explode with gratitude, with awe for the gift of them both.

‘She didn’t take long to settle last night.’ He looked down at their daughter, his expression full of unguarded wonder at the miracle they created before his gaze moved up to meet hers. ‘My wife on the other hand.’ A slow, sexy smile spread across his face that even three years after that fateful tour had her body tingling, a blush creeping along her cheeks. His eyes darkened and she knew he felt the same. She marvelled but no longer doubted that she could also make him tremble, moan, beg. And not only while they were on holidays. Although the week they’d shared in the treehouse had given them ample opportunity. But they’d also talked, laughed, read, napped and hiked with the baby strapped to either one of their chests. There was no schedule other than the whims of an infant, no phones, and it was absolute bliss.

‘And to think we’ve got another week to struggle through,’ she said. No nanny or staff accompanied them except for security guards who remained stationed elsewhere in the eco complex. There were other places she and Xavier had vacationed, but they kept returning here to their special place. The spot where he’d declared his love for her, they’d first slept together, honeymooned.

‘Hmmmm plenty of time for more practice,’ Xavier said with a twist to his lips and she shivered with anticipation, appreciation. Neither wanted Isabella to be an only child and had agreed on at least one more. The aim was for a two-year gap but whatever happened, they’d be thrilled.