Behind Palace Doors(31)

A beautiful, hopeful smile spread across her face. "I don't want you to  give up your title or the documentary...though my brothers are pretty  upset, but I can talk to them."

Stefan squeezed her hands. "I seriously don't care about anything but  being with you. If you're in my future, I can handle whatever comes my  way."

She leaned toward him and kissed his lips before whispering in his ear,  "Then let's see if we can finish this coronation ceremony and we can  celebrate alone wearing only our crowns."

The archbishop stepped forward. "Are the two of you certain this marriage is legitimate now?"

Victoria smiled and nodded. "I'm certain."

Stefan stared into her watery eyes. "Never been more sure of anything in my life."

"Then I approve the continuation of this coronation ceremony," the archbishop declared as the crowd began to clap and cheer.

* * *

Stefan hadn't seen Victoria for several minutes and was starting to  wonder if she'd changed her mind and run out the palace doors with their  last guest.

Midnight had come and gone and the coronation celebration had just  calmed down. Dancing, laughing and holding Victoria in his arms nearly  the entire evening had been the best moments of his life.

When she could've chosen to turn her back on him, on his title and his  beloved country, she hadn't. She'd stood by his side, even when he'd  hurt her.

And that gnawing ache would haunt him the rest of his life. Knowing  he'd caused her even a second of grief made him ill. But the fact their  love overcame his moments of idiocy proved they were meant to be.
                       
       
           



       
"Your Majesty."

Stefan stopped in the corridor leading to his wing and turned to the sound of Hector's voice.

"Yes?"

His loyal assistant and guard smiled. "I'm to give you a message from your queen."

A smile spread across Stefan's face. Yes, she was his queen, his wife, the love of his life.

"And what is it?"

Hector cleared his throat. "I am to tell you, and I quote, ‘Tell my  king that the last part of his dream is coming true, and he'll know  where to find me.'"

Stefan thought for about a half second before he laughed. "Thank you,  Hector. Please make sure the staff stays out of the east wing tonight."

With a faint redness to his wrinkled cheeks, Hector bowed. "As you wish, King Alexander."

As much as he loved hearing that title and knowing it belonged to him,  he was loving even more what his sneaky wife had in store for him. He  knew just where to find her.

Arousal shot through him fast and hard as his long strides ate up the hallways leading to the destination.

Through the wall of glass, he saw her-his queen wearing her jeweled  crown...and nothing else. She hadn't been kidding about the celebration  wearing only the crowns. He liked her style of thinking.

Stefan entered the pool area and began undoing the double-breasted buttons of his jacket.

"Queen Alexander, are you aware of the age and expense of that crown upon your head?" he asked, slipping out of the garment.

She smiled, rested her arms on the edge of the pool and peered up at  him. "I have a pretty good idea, but I wanted to add a bit to this  fantasy, too."

Unlike her, he left his crown sitting on the bench where she'd draped her silk gown.

"And what's your fantasy?"

"Making love while wearing my crown," she told him, a sultry grin  inviting him to join her. "I added some pins, so I think we're safe from  it falling off."

When he slid off the last of his clothes and turned, he waited until recognition dawned in her eyes.

"Stefan?"

Unable to stop his grin, he took a step closer. "What do you think?"

"I can't believe... When did you get it?"

He glanced down at the new ink on his chest. "A few weeks ago. I found  some of your drawings lying on the desk. I was partial to the one with  the crest and our initials. Since I already had the crest, I only had to  add your work."

"Come closer and let me see," she told him. "I want to get a better look."

He moved to the edge and hopped in, coming to stand directly beside  her. "By all means, feel free to look all you want. Touching is allowed,  too."

Her fingertip traced the design that he'd had done in her honor, imagining her face when she finally saw it.

"It's beautiful," she whispered. "I can't believe you took one of my  crazy doodles and turned it into something so beautiful. Meaningful."

He grasped her bare shoulders in his hands and pulled her against him.  "Everything about you is beautiful and meaningful, Tori. And I think  this should be your royal wardrobe," he told her. "The tiara and nothing  else."

Soft laughter spilled from her lips. "That's exactly how I want you all the time," she told him.

He nipped at her lips, tilting his hips toward hers. "I'll see about setting that into an order."

"Speaking of orders, how did you manage to find a loophole that would allow Mikos to take your place?"

Not something he wanted to talk about when he was aroused and his wife  was wet and in his arms, but he did want her to know the lengths he  would go to in order to keep her.

"When I told Mikos that our family would lose control of Galini Isle to  Greece because I had to give up the title, he started doing some  digging about the rules of divorce and taking the title for himself.  Since Karina is pregnant, Mikos could act as ruler until the child  became of age, and then that child would take over as ruler."

Tears shimmered in her eyes. "And you were going to step aside?"

"Without a doubt. I would've turned this country over to Satan himself  to get you back." His hold tightened on her. "Mikos and I went to the  head counsel and stated our case. They were more than willing to let him  take the title temporarily until his baby was twenty-one if I chose to  step aside."

She searched his eyes. "I didn't know I could ever love like this.  Didn't know that someone could love me so unselfishly. God, Stefan, I'm  so glad you fought for us."

He ran his hands up her bare, wet back then slid them down to cup her  rear. "I wouldn't have let you go, Tori. I can't live without you."                       
       
           



       

As he claimed his wife, he knew there was nothing he wouldn't do for  her. His life was completely perfect, and the girl with braces who'd  once captured his teenage attention now held his heart until the day he  died.





     Epilogue

One year later...

Love surrounded her. Even with the flashbulbs going off like a strobe  light outside her limo, Queen Victoria Dane Alexander knew she'd  remember this monumental moment forever.

As the car pulled up to the red carpet, Victoria waited for her driver to open the door.

"Are we all ready?" she asked.

Her entire family, Bronson, Mia, Anthony, Charlotte, Olivia and  Stefan, all smiled. They'd agreed to ride together to the L.A. premiere  of Legendary Icon. So much had happened in the past few years, and they  wanted to make a united front, to show they were a family first, movie  moguls second.

The limo door opened; screams, cameras and the red carpet awaited  them. Victoria never tired of the positive attention the media gave to  her brothers and mother. They were so talented and she was thrilled to  be part of this night, this movie.

The driver helped Olivia out first and the crowd grew even louder.

"She's going to shine tonight," Bronson said with a smile on his face.

Anthony nodded. "She always shines, but she's waited for this for so long. I'm glad we could give this to her."

Emotions overwhelmed Victoria. It wasn't that long ago that Bronson  and Anthony were at each other's throats, but now they were family and  they loved each other...all because of Olivia Dane.

Anthony and Charlotte exited the limo next, followed by Bronson and Mia. Stefan reached over and took her hand.

"Have I told you how oraios you look tonight?"

Victoria had learned over the past year that the Greek term meant  "beautiful," but she always loved hearing it come from his lips.

"You've told me." She took a deep breath, ready to really change his life. "I have something to tell you, as well."

He glanced to the open car door. "Shouldn't we be getting out?"

Victoria shrugged. "They're all still dazzled by the rest of my  family. I wanted to impress you with my own Greek I've been working on."

One dark brow rose. "Oh, really? And what is that, my love?"

She leaned in and whispered, "Moro."

Those dark chocolate eyes widened, dropped to her stomach and back up. "A baby?" he asked. "Tori, my God. Are you serious?"