Royal Affairs. Rebecca Winters

after a few steps there was a drop-off, but when he swam underwater he found it was only about twenty feet deep. When he emerged, he waved to her. “Come on in. It’s safe but a little cooler than the lagoon. Keep your tennis shoes on.”

      For several hours they played in the water like children. Eventually they climbed up the side to reach the spot where the water from the mountain poured over the top of the rocks. He turned to his wife. “Shall we do it?”

      “Yes.”

      “Scared?”

      “Terrified.”

      “Take my hand.”

      Together they moved onto the slippery rocks and before long the strength of the waterfall washed over them, plunging them down into the pool. Christina came up laughing. “Oh, Antonio—talk about a rush! This just couldn’t be real.”

      He swam to her and kissed her over and over again while keeping them afloat. “We’ve found paradise, innamorata. How about one more jump, and then we’ll make camp for the night?”

      Once again they hiked up the side to the top. Before they went out on the rocks, he plucked a white flower with a gardenia scent, growing on a nearby vine. He tucked it behind her ear. “Now you’re my Polynesian princess.”

      Her eyes wandered over him. “I don’t ever want to go home.”

      “Then we won’t.” He grabbed her hand and they inched their way onto the rocks until the force of the water took them over the edge. It was like free-falling into space until the water caught them and brought them to the surface.

      Together they swam to the edge of the pool where they’d left their packs. He helped her out of the water and they proceeded to set up camp. After they’d made their bed, they put out the food. The exertion had made them hungry. They sat across from each other and ate to their hearts’ content.

      He finally stretched. “I’ve never felt so good, never tasted food so good, never been with anyone I enjoyed more. In truth, I’ve never been this happy in my life.”

      “I feel the same way,” she responded. “I want it to last, but I know it’s not going to.”

      He shook his head. “Shh. Don’t spoil this heavenly evening. We have two more days and nights ahead of us.”

      “You’re right.”

      “You’ve lost your gardenia. I’m going to pick another one.” He got up and walked a ways until he found one. When he returned, he hunkered down next to her and put it behind her ear. “This is how I’m always going to remember you.”

      Antonio couldn’t wait to get close to her again and cleaned up their picnic. When everything had been put away, she started to leave, but he caught her by the ankle. “Stay with me.”

      “I was just going to get out of my bathing suit.”

      “But I want to hold you first.” He pulled her down and rolled onto his side so he could look at her. “I’ve been waiting all day for tonight to come.”

      “So have I.” Her voice throbbed.

      He pulled her into him and claimed her luscious mouth that had given him a heart attack last night. “You could have no idea how much I want you. Love me, Christina. I need you.”

      * * *

      “Would it shock you if I told I wanted you to love me on our wedding night?” she admitted against his throat.

      He let out a slight groan. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

      “I was afraid you would think I was too eager. I decided you needed time.”

      Laughter broke from him. When he looked down at her, those fabulous silvery eyes were smiling. “I think that from here on out we each need to stop worrying about what the other one is thinking, and do more doing.”

      “I couldn’t agree more. You drove me crazy on the way over in the jet.”

      “Maybe that was a good thing,” he teased, kissing every feature on her face.

      “It was painful!”

      “Tesora mia,” he cried in a husky voice before starting to devour her. “I love your honesty. Come here to me.”

      Christina melted in his arms and kissed him with the kind of passion he’d never imagined to find in this marriage. His heart jumped to realize he had such a loving, demonstrative wife.