He shook his head. “You don’t need to pretend with me. This is truth time. I did something terribly selfish to ask you to marry me.”
A pained look entered her eyes. “Is this your way of telling me you wish we hadn’t gone through with the wedding?”
“No, Christina, no—” He reached across the table and grasped both her hands. “I’m just thankful you consented to be my bride. If you’ll let me, I’d like us to start over again. Through Elena we’ve been friends for years, but you and I don’t know each other. I want to get to know all about you. What are the things you love to do? What are the things you hope to do?”
Her silvery gaze enveloped him. “Besides grow old with you?”
“Yes. I’d like to learn it all.”
“I’m a pretty normal woman, Antonio. I like reading books and eating chocolate. I like spending time with my friends, especially your sister. I love Africa and the time I spent there helping others. But I suppose my greatest wish would be to have a family of my own. When I first visited the Kikuyu villages with all the adorable children, I hungered for a child of my own. How do you feel about children?”
“I want them too, Christina.”
“But I want to take care of them myself. Even if I’ll be queen, I want to be their mother in the truest sense of the word.”
“So you don’t want to send them away to boarding school?”
“Why? It doesn’t make sense to me that if you have a child, you would send it away as soon as possible.”
He released her hands. “You’re talking about yourself.”
“Yes.”
He saw her eyes glaze over.
“I wanted my mother and father during my growing-up years. If you and I have a baby, would you want it to leave us before it was time to let him or her go? Did you like being sent away to boarding school?”
“I didn’t have a choice.”
“But did you like it?”
“No. I’ve never admitted that out loud.”
“Neither did Elena.”
“I know.”
“But we’ll be the parents,” Christina said, then added in an anxious tone, “Will our son have a choice? You say you want to know all about me. If you tell me our children will have to leave home before I’m ready to see them go, I couldn’t bear it. Why have them at all?”
Antonio got out of the chair and went around to hunker down beside her. He grasped the hand closest to him. “Look at me.” She finally did his bidding. “I was wrong not to come to Africa. We did need time to talk about all these things so I could reassure you.”
He heard her heavy sigh before she spoke. “I’m sorry I’ve turned this beautiful night into something else. Forgive me.”
“There’s nothing to forgive. You have my word that we’ll keep any children we have with us for as long as they want to be with us. The only time they’ll have a nanny is if you need to attend a royal function with me.”
Her eyes lit up again. “Honest? Is that a promise?”
He could deny her nothing. “I swear it.”
“Oh, Antonio. You’ve made me so happy.”
To crush her in his arms was all he had on his mind, but he wanted to give her time and feel comfortable with him. “I was afraid you were going to tell me that you wanted to live in Africa part of the year.”
“My life is with you, but I’d love it if we took some trips there together one day. Maybe when our children are old enough to enjoy the animal life? But we’ve been talking about me. What is one of your dreams?”
“I’m a pretty normal man too. I want a family. I want to be a success at what I do. Because I’ll be king, I want to change the country’s impression of a monarchy that has shown a breakdown in the old values.”
“Like what for instance?”
“The excess spending for one. There are so many areas that need change. But I’m boring you.”
“Never.”
“Spoken like my queen already.” He got to his feet and drew her over to the terrace railing with him. He looked out over the peaceful Tuscan landscape. His pulse throbbed with new life. He wasn’t the same man who’d slipped the brooch into the bedchamber earlier in the day.
If he had to describe his feelings at this minute, he was excited for what was to come. When he’d anticipated his wedding weeks ago, he didn’t count on being thrilled by this woman who surprised him at every turn. He no longer felt trapped.
Things were going so well he didn’t dare make the wrong move until she was ready for the physical side of their marriage. For them to get through the wedding without problems when they were virtual strangers led him to believe they could turn their marriage into something strong, maybe even wonderful given enough time.
He already felt strong feelings for her, which surprised him. They’d discussed one crucial element concerning their marriage by talking about the children they would have. But as near to each other as they were physically right now, they were still worlds apart.
“Christina?” He turned to her and cupped her face in his hands. “Tonight I’m happier than any man has a right to be.” He lowered his head and closed his mouth over hers. The taste and feel of her set his pulse racing. “You’re the most wonderful thing to come into my life.”
Antonio pressed kisses over every feature. “I need to get closer to you. Would you like me to undo the buttons at the back of your wedding dress before I change?”
He saw a little nerve jump at the base of her throat. His bride was nervous. That was his fault for not visiting her and letting her get comfortable with him.
“Yes, please.”
She turned, reminding him of a modest young maiden. It brought out his tenderest feelings as he began undoing them from the top of her neckline to the bottom, which ran below her waistline. His fingers brushed her warm skin as he set about freeing her trembling body. Never had he enjoyed a task more.
“A-are you finished?” she stammered.
He smiled to himself. “Not quite.” When he was done, he lifted her hair and kissed the nape of her neck. Her mane felt like silk. “There. You’re free,” he whispered, and turned her around. The sleeves and bodice of her gown were loose. All he had to do...
But he didn’t dare. “I don’t think you have any idea how lovely you are. I want to kiss you, esposa mia. Really kiss you.” He found her trembling mouth and began to devour her. The few kisses they’d shared up to now bore little resemblance to the desire he felt for her as she responded with growing hunger.
He clasped her against him, feeling her heart thundering into his. Antonio had an almost primitive need to make love to her, but not this stand-up kind of loving. He wanted her in his bed and was so enthralled by her he moaned when she unexpectedly tore her lips from his and eased away from him.
“Christina?” He had to catch his breath. “Have I frightened you?”
“No.” She shook her head, clutching her gown to her.
He could tell she was as shocked as he was by what had just happened. He needed to reassure her. “This has been a huge day, especially for you. I’m going to let you go right now. Since we have to be up early to leave on our honeymoon, I’ll bid you buonanotte, bellissima, and make myself a bed on the couch in the sitting room.”