Page 112 of Coerced Queen

Saverio appears next to me.Putting his palm on my lower back, he presses his lips against my ear and says in a raspy voice, “There you are.”

Goosebumps break out over my arms.The heat of his body wraps around me, inviting a shiver.I drink in the smell of his spicy cologne, wanting to drown in it.I turn around and wrap my arms around his neck, but I only get in a small kiss before a waiter wheels in a giant three-tier cake with twenty-five candles on the top.It’s a beautiful creation of artful layers of apricot-colored ganache decorated with sugared mini oranges and figs.I’m already regretting having to cut it.

“Make a wish,” Saverio says, looking at me as if he wants to eat me instead of the cake.

My skin heats under his bold stare, my body coming alive for him.Desire trickles down my belly and gathers between my legs.Only he can have this effect on me—in a room full of people no less.

Closing my eyes, I wish for one thing only.I wish that our little family will always be safe.We’re in this now, for better or for worse, by free will and by choice, and all I can do is give it my best shot.I’ll always do whatever is necessary to protect the people I love.

With that wish firmly embedded in my heart, I blow out the candles.When I open my eyes, smoke curls in thin ribbons to the roof, rising like a prayer with my wish to the ceiling.

Someone gives me a knife.Saverio’s arm brushes against mine when I cut the first slice of cake and plate it.A waiter hands me a cake fork.I cut off a piece of the spongy cake, feeding it to Saverio.He holds my gaze as he takes the bite.A spark ignites in my lower body when he licks the icing from his bottom lip.Mesmerized by the sight, I stare at him.I have a sudden urge to taste that icing on his lips, to trace the shape of his sensual mouth—the fuller bottom lip with the perfectly arched top one—with my tongue.

He takes the fork from my hand and cuts off a piece of cake that he feeds me.Flavors of passionfruit and mango explode on my tongue.The sweet and tangy tastes come as a surprise.I expected apricot or orange.The ganache is deliciously light, tasting like gooseberries.The combination of fruits works well together.He follows the action when I swallow with his eyes, fixing his gaze on the arch of my neck with desire he doesn’t bother to hide.

It’s then that it hits me.The cake and the flowers and the music—this is the wedding we never had.Fresh emotions clog up my throat.Saverio did all of this not only to make my birthday special but to give me back something that was cruelly taken from us.

The band starts playing a slow song.

Saverio holds out his hand.“May I have the honor of this dance, Mrs.De Luca?”

Swept off my feet by my husband, I place my palm in his.People stand aside for us to pass, letting us through to the center of the gazebo.

I’m surprised when Saverio hands his cane to Dante who stands at the edge of the circle of spectators who formed around the dance floor.Livy offers me an encouraging nod.

“What are you doing?”I whisper in alarm as Saverio pulls me close and locks me in an embrace.

He smiles down at me.“Dancing with my wife.”

Oh my God.That’s why he pushed himself so hard all these weeks.He wanted to do this for me.

Tears well up in my eyes as I wrap my arms around his neck.Our bodies are pressed close together as we sway to the tune.It’s a beautiful song.Something romantic.But I can only concentrate on the man who holds me in his arms and how his hardness fits against my softness.He rocks me gently while looking into my eyes with a savage hunger.

We were made for each other, to fit together like puzzle pieces.I don’t want the song to end.I want to stay here forever, swaying my hips to the rhythm of his and letting the warmth of his body envelope me.I want that alluring smell of his cologne and the safety of his strong arms to encase me.I want to revel in the knowledge that my husband is dancing with me and that he’s doing it not with a cane but with his arms around me.

A few people join us.

Lowering his head to mine, he presses our cheeks together.“I wanted to wait for the right moment to give you your gift, but this is as good a moment as any.”

“A gift?”I pull away to look at him.“This dance is the best gift you could give me.”

“We did never have a honeymoon.I was thinking the Greek islands.Or maybe you prefer Hawaii or the Maldives.”

“You want to take me to the Greek islands?”

“Someplace warm where the sun shines every day and there’s lots of sand for Claire to play in.”

“You want to take Claire with us?”

“You don’t think I’ll leave her behind?”

“I’m just surprised.I didn’t think you’d want to go away.”

“We deserve a holiday, don’t you think?”

When all of this is over.The unsaid hangs between us.He doesn’t have to put it in words for me to understand.

Accepting his generosity, I say with a smile, “I’d love that.”

---