Ari took Grayson's arm and he patted her hand, reassuring her. Then he turned toward the priest and nodded. But she couldn't take her eyes off him. He was about a foot taller than her and stood very tall and straight, adding to his height. There was a regal air about him, one cultivated only with time and having been raised with royalty.Vickie had been right. She could do worse.Ari turned toward the priest, listening to the words as old as time itself, that would bind them as man and wife. When it was time, Ari said "I do" without hesitation. Somehow, she was already his, and he was hers. She wondered if he felt it, too. Finally, the priest said, "I now pronounce you man and wife." Then he turned to Grayson and said, "You may now kiss the bride."Grayson took her into his strong arms and looked into her eyes, as if seeing into her soul. Searching her eyes for acceptance and finding it, his lips descended upon hers in a kiss filled with passion and promise for the future. He was the
The next morning, Greyson woke with his new bride in his arms. Ari she was perfect: beautiful, funny... Xavier adored her, and he could see through anyone. And there were no long engagements. As he watched her sleep, he was glad that things had worked out as they had. Love was overrated, but might come with time. But as he watched her sleep, he realized that he was already attracted to her. When she had walked down the aisle headed toward him at the church, taking her last steps before becoming his wife, she had taken his breath away. At that moment, he had never seen a woman as beautiful as her in his life. She had a grace about her that he hadn't expected. And when she met Xavier, she was kind.And last night, she had given herself to him completely.During the night, he had truly made love to her as he had no other woman before. He had tried to be as gentle with her as he possibly could, but she had responded as he hadn't expected, deepening their kisses and their lovemaking.He h
After Declan left, Grayson looked toward the restroom and heard the shower come on. He was tempted to join her but ordered room service first. After he hung up, he slipped into the bathroom and pulled back the shower curtain."Mind if I join you?" he asked.She shrugged, leaning back into the water to rinse her hair. He was suddenly jealous, having wanted to shampoo her long hair for her."Look...." Grayson sighed. "I'm so sorry about Dima... that you were put into that position with her. I promise you that I'll have a talk with Piers about keeping you safe."She opened her eyes and stood before him, letting the water run over her glorious body. "I have one thing to say to you."One corner of his lips curled into a smile. "Oh? And what's that?"She shrugged. "Who's going to protect you... from me?" Before he could say anything more, she pulled him into the shower, robe and all. ***After their shower, room service had delivered their breakfast. They spent the morning feeding each othe
Grayson opened the door for Ari, headed for the castle, when flashbulbs went off in their faces."Is it true that you're married?" one woman asked."Where're you from?" a man asked Ari. "How did you meet?" another man asked Grayson.Grayson grabbed Ari's arm, pulled her back inside, and closed the door. "Where are my bodyguards?" He whipped out his phone and quickly dialed Piers Wingfield's number."Yeah?" Piers answered on the first ring. "I can't get out my door! The paparazzi are swarming!" Grayson spat into the phone. "Where are my guards?"It sounded as if Piers started walking and then running. "Are you at the hotel? Is Her Royal Highness with you, too?""Yes, she is." Grayson looked over at her and she folded her arms across her chest. Then he turned his attention back to Piers. "Where are my bodyguards?"Grayson heard a car door slam shut at Piers' end of the phone. "That's what I'm going to find out. I'm on my way."Grayson clicked off and shoved his cell phone into the insi
Bang! Bang! Bang!Grayson opened the door and Piers was on the other side. "We're ready."Grayson nodded, then he closed the door and held Ari's coat for her. "They're ready."Ari slipped into her coat, colder than she had been before."About Dima—""Let's not talk about it now," Ari cut him off. "I said what I had to. What you do with the information is entirely up to you." Then she turned to look into his eyes. "But know this. It's not just about you anymore. It's about me now, too."Grayson nodded once. "Let's go." He wasn't going to make her promises that he couldn't keep. He wasn't going to tell her that Dima would no longer bother them because, frankly, he didn't know. He had hoped that he meant more to Dima than for her to destroy not only his marriage, but his life. But after this, he no longer knew."Let's go!" Piers and two other guards whisked Grayson and Ari down the hallway. A guard was standing by the elevator, waiting. Another guard blocked off the stairwell close by. Pi
Ari pulled her coat around her to shield herself from the cold. But the cold was not only from the weather.Grayson reached over and held her hand. "I don't want there to be anything bad between us. Not now."She nodded, letting him take her hand. She was amazed at the level of attraction she felt for him. When she had agreed to marry him, Ari hadn't expected that. She had no idea what she expected, but this wasn't it. It was as if she already knew him, as if they had known each other in another life. But she pushed the thought aside. She knew that married life, and the adjustments that came along with it, would be hard. But she had no idea it would have this many good points. Ari snuggled close to him. "I just wish everyone would leave us alone and let us be a normal married couple."Grayson nodded, wrapping his arm around her. "Welcome to the monarchy. Nothing's ever normal." Then he lips curled into a smile. "What is normal, anyway?"Ari smirked. "I surely wouldn't know."A few mom
Ari and Grayson were ready to leave the castle, but the King stopped them. "Grayson, a word." His father stepped to the side, out of earshot.Ari slipped into her coat while she waited. Grayson came back a moment later. "How would you like to continue our honeymoon in Switzerland, away from prying eyes?""Switzerland?" Ari asked in disbelief. It was going to take a while for her to get used to this level of life, thinking nothing of taking off to some place like Switzerland on a moment's notice.The King nodded. "Yes. I have a chalet in Switzerland, and I feel that you both will be safer while on your honeymoon, away from the paparazzi." He took her hands and looked into her eyes. "Please. Do this for me. It'll give me peace of mind.""Thank you." Ari replied, and then turned to Grayson. "Do you think it'll be safe?"He nodded, "It should be much safer than staying. Here, the paparazzi will find us, no matter where we go."Ava nodded, understanding. Grayson was right about one thing:
Ari and Grayson only had a few hours of sleep when Piers knocked on the door of the townhouse the next morning, but they were packed and ready to go. After their things were brought to them from the hotel the night before, they had spent most of the night packing."Ready?" Piers asked, peeking his head through the door.Grayson opened the door wide, letting him in. "Our bags are in here."Piers nodded and had some of his team bring out the bags. Then he turned to Grayson, "The path is clear to the limo so we should have no problem getting you out safely.""Good." Grayson turned to Ari and raised an eyebrow. "Ready?"Ari yawned, tired for not having had much sleep. "Let's do this."Grayson rubbed her back, smiling. "You can sleep in the car—""Or on the plane," Ari finished.Grayson nodded and then gently kissed her forehead. "We're ready."Within minutes, they were in the limo, headed for the airport, and minutes after that, they were on a private jet."Anything to drink?" a flight att