Page 33 of Forbidden King

The air smelled like her rose perfume. He stood and offered his hand for her to rise. Leo traced the curve of her hip over the robe. “Since it’s raining outside and we’ve eaten, I thought I’d show you how much I care. But only if you aren’t sore.”

He walked her backward away from the midnight picnic toward the bed. Her sway in how she walked was a little different, more relaxed and sure of her body now. “So you were being thoughtful of me?”

Once they crossed the threshold of the room, he reached for the tie to the robe so he could see for himself if she was naked, or if she’d slipped something on underneath. “Is that a problem?”

She didn’t object as he pushed the robe away and let her see her nakedness that housed how sweet and passionate she was on the inside. He twirled her toward the bed while she said, “No. You’re surprising, Leo. In a good way.”

He slipped his pants off. “How?”

Her lips quirked into a sideways smile as she leaned backward on the bed. He climbed next to her, inhaling her scent. Feasting on her beauty. He lowered his mouth just above hers when she said, “Thatyougave me a shot when you opened your heart.”

His lips were a fraction from hers, but he stopped and stared at her. Anna was beautiful, smart, caring and maybe his perfect match. He trailed kisses up her neck. “I don’t deserve you, Anna. In many ways you’re better than me and you’ll be excellent at my side as the queen.”

She ran her hands over his shoulders. He leaned forward to kiss her naked body and she sighed. “I hope to do good work with you.”

He studied her—her lips were beacons he needed to claim. “I don’t see how you’d ever do anything else.”

And then his lips pressed against hers. She moaned and wrapped her arms around him.

No more words were needed. Anna was his. Now and forever.