A Royal Amnesia Scandal(29)
“They’re at the orphanage you were living in as a baby.” Luc cupped her damp face. “And that’s why they are so important to you. I can completely see why you wanted me to go visit. Those little kids thought talking to a real prince was so neat. I didn’t talk much about the royalty side of my life with Carly and Thomas, but we did discuss Portuguese culture, and they were so fascinated.”
“I can’t believe you went and didn’t tell me,” she exclaimed.
“Actually, we just missed each other. When I arrived, I was told you had left the day before.”
Kate’s eyes widened. “I wish I’d known.”
“Why, Kate? Would you have stayed there? Would you have waited for me?”
She shook her head. “I—I don’t know.”
“I want to start over with you.” That sounded so lame he laughed. “I’ve been miserable without you and I went to that orphanage not because you kept asking me to, but because I wanted to know more about you. I wanted to know more about the woman I had fallen in love with. I love you, Kate. I want a life with you, a life just like the one we had when we were all alone here.”
Kate closed her eyes as her body fell into his. Her forehead rested against his chest. “You don’t mean all of that,” she whispered. “Because if you even think I can just try this out, or be with you because of some tradition, you’re wrong.”
When she lifted her head, Luc smoothed her hair away from her damp cheeks. “I don’t want to try it, Kate. I want to do it. My calling you here has nothing to do with the throne, my birthday or the baby. I mean, I want to build a family with you, but I’m not using the baby to do so. I want you for you. The days we spent here were some of the best of my life. I want more days like that, and nobody else will do. You’re it for me, Kate.”
When her mouth parted in another gasp, he kissed her. Luc nipped at her lips and nearly cried when she responded and opened for him.
The gentle, tender kiss had that sliver of hope in his chest practically exploding now.
“I missed you,” he murmured against her lips. “I missed holding you, I missed watching you cook, I missed seeing you smile, and even arguing with you over stupid things like my schedule. I missed seeing you wearing my ring.”
Her brows drew in as Luc pulled the amethyst ring from his pocket.
“Você vai casar comigo?” he asked.
Will you marry me?
“Not because of the throne, not because of anything else but us,” he quickly said, before she got the wrong idea of his intentions. “I can feel utter fullness and love only with you, Kate. You’re the only one who can make me complete.”
Without waiting for her reply, he slid the ring onto her finger and gripped her hand in his. “This is where the ring belongs, until I can get you a diamond or whatever you want.”
Kate stared down at her hand and said nothing. She studied the ring, even toyed with it before she smiled up at him. “I don’t want another ring. I want this one. It’s exactly what I would have chosen, and I don’t need anything more.”
“Does this mean you’ll marry me?” he asked.
Kate threw her arms around his neck, buried her face against his skin and squeezed him tight. “I’ll marry you, Luc. I’ll raise babies with you and grow old with you.”
Luc crushed her body to his and let out the first good breath he’d had since she stepped into his house. No, their house.
Kate jerked back. “Wait. We need to marry soon. Your birthday—”
“It will be fine. My father may have rigged the law a tad to buy us a few extra weeks. I want to give you the wedding you deserve.”
“I don’t want a huge, highly publicized wedding. Is that okay?”
Luc framed her face, sliding his thumb across her full bottom lip. “Perfectly fine with me. But right now I’d rather have you in my shower, where I can properly show you how much I’ve missed you.”
“I do love that shower of yours.”
He kissed her smile. “After I make love to you, we can discuss the wedding. Oh, and the fact I’d like to adopt Carly and Thomas. I wanted to talk to you first. With the new baby and all I wasn’t sure—”
Kate’s mouth cut him off as she rained kisses all over his lips, his chin, his cheeks. “Yes, yes, yes. I’d love to have them with me. I love those two so much. I just felt such a connection the first time I saw them.”
“I did, too, honey.” Luc picked her up and headed toward the master suite. “We’ll discuss that later, too.”
“You can’t carry me,” she cried. “I’ve gained weight.”
His eyes dipped to her chest. “I’ve noticed, and I’m certainly not complaining.”
She slapped his shoulder. “That’s so typical of a man, to say that when bigger boobs are involved.”
“There better never be another man eyeing your boobs,” he scolded. “That’s my job.”
Kate’s head fell against his shoulder as she laced her fingers together behind his neck. “Always, Luc. You’re the only man for me.”
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