Page 132 of Reckless Royalty

I swallow the lump in my throat, leaning over to kiss him softly. “Thank you, Mihai. I love it.”

“Good,” he says, smirking again and making grabby hands. “Now your turn to spoil me.”

I laugh and reach for the box I’d set aside earlier. “Here. It’s not as fancy as yours, but…”

He takes the box, raising an eyebrow at my nervous tone. When he opens it, his expression shifts to something I don’t see often—genuine surprise. Inside is a set of custom knives, sleek and deadly.

“Connor mentioned you’d had your eye on these,” I explain, feeling a little self-conscious. “I thought… I don’t know. You’d like them.”

“Of course, he did, the little snitch,” he chuckles and looks up at me, his dark eyes warm. “Maddy, this is perfect. Thank you.”

He leans over, kissing me deeply, and I can’t help but smile against his lips. “You’re welcome,” I say.

We continue exchanging gifts, each one more thoughtful than the last. I give him a leather belt with his initials engravedon the buckle, and he gives me a necklace with a delicate silver pendant shaped like a rose.

Each gift feels like a piece of him, a reminder of how much he listens, how much he cares. By the time I’ve unwrapped the last box, I’m already overwhelmed with gratitude, but then he stands, a mischievous glint in his eyes.

“Wait here,” he says, disappearing into the bedroom.

When he returns, he’s carrying a large rectangular case. My heart skips a beat as he sets it on the floor in front of me and gestures for me to open it.

My hands tremble as I undo the latches, and when I lift the lid, I can’t stop the gasp that escapes me. Inside is a guitar—sleek, polished, and absolutely stunning.

But it’s not just any guitar—it’sthe guitar. A Gibson Hummingbird and one identical to the one I used to play in my videos and on stage, down to the smallest detail. The same one I left behind when the gunshots started.

“Mihai…” My voice trembles as I lift it carefully, my fingers brushing over the strings. “How did you…?”

“I had it custom-made,” he says, his voice softer now. “I know how much you love music and thought you’d want to play again.”

I stare at him, my eyes welling with tears. “It’s perfect. I don’t even know what to say.”

“You don’t have to say anything.” He leans forward, brushing a tear from my cheek. “Just promise me you’ll play it. When you’re ready.”

I nod, unable to speak as I run my fingers over the strings. The sound is perfect, and it sends a wave of emotion crashing over me. Before I know it, I’m throwing my arms around his neck, burying my face against his shoulder.

“Thank you,” I whisper, my voice breaking. “Thank you so much.”

He holds me tightly, his hand rubbing soothing circles on my back. “You deserve it, Maddy.”

I pull back slightly, wiping at my cheeks with a watery laugh. “Now my gifts to you look silly.”

He shakes his head, a soft smile on his lips. “As long as you’re in my life, that’s the best gift I could ever have.”

We sit in comfortable silence for a while, me gently strumming the guitar as Mihai leans back against the couch. The warmth of the fire and the contentment of the moment make everything feel perfect.

“You know,” I say, glancing at him. “You’re not so bad at this whole boyfriend thing.”

He snorts. “Not so bad? That’s the best you’ve got?”

I grin. “I’m British. We don’t do over-the-top praise.”

He chuckles, shaking his head. “You’re impossible.”

“And yet, here you are,” I tease, using his own line on him this time and sticking my tongue out at him.

He reaches over, tugging on a strand of my hair. “Yeah, well… I’m in love with you, so what does that say about me?”

The words hang in the air, and I freeze. Mihai does too, his eyes widening as if he just realized what he said.

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