Page 51 of Prince She Shouldn't Crave
Then Gabriel dropped to the floor, down on one knee in front of her. The sight of him so surreal she could hardly believe this wasn’t all a dream.
‘Would you do me the honour of joining me at my sister’s wedding? Of, one day, becoming my wife? Or if you’re still not sure, come with me and we can call it a trial period. Test the waters. See if you like it. See if you still like me.’
She looked at him, beaming up at her. His face full of hope. A man who saw her too. The man she loved. The man who said he would give up everything for her, and she believed him.
‘Kind of a probation period?’
‘Where I get to try and impress you.’
She smiled back at him. ‘You don’t have to impress me. You already have. And I think we both know there’s no point in a probation period when we love each other. We may as well make it official.’
Gabe took her hands in his and smiled right back in a way that pierced her heart with pure joy. ‘Then, Lena. Will you marry me, so that we can spend the rest of our lives together, making each other happy? Because I want you, from this day and for ever.’
‘Yes. I love you, Gabriel Montroy. The answer isalwaysyes.’
Gabe stood and took her into his arms, dropped his lips to her mouth and kissed her, long and deep. As if pouring all of his love into that one moment. Something passionate and endless. The heat of it ignited inside her, the slow burn soon turning into a blazing wildfire as he crushed her to him, and she plunged her hands into his hair. Time lost all meaning now they were together again. After too long and yet not enough they slowly pulled apart, both breathless. Both smiling. Lena drifted her thumb over Gabe’s lips, wiping away the lipstick.
‘Sealed with a kiss,’ she murmured as Gabe cradled her close to his chest.
‘And what a kiss it was.’
Lena sighed. It was the kind of kiss stories might be written about. Happily, she now got to write her own.
There was a loud rap at the door.
‘Montroy, I don’t want to interrupt but we have a wedding to get to and the horses are restless. So are the press who are now surrounding the carriage, asking why we’ve stopped. What do you want me to tell them?’
‘One minute,’ Gabe called out, then looked down at her. ‘That’s Ana’s husband. Are you ready to join me?’
‘Will Priscilla forgive you for stealing the attention on her wedding day?’
‘Always thinking of others. One day I hope to teach you to think of yourself. Do you remember the squeals? As you’ve heard, she’ll be more than happy. She wanted you there. She sent you an invitation. Cilla and Ana will probably try to steal you away from me for all the gossip. Just promise to save me a dance.’
‘Every dance is yours.’
‘Excellent.’ He brushed his lips gently to hers again. ‘So, are you ready to…go viral?’
Lena had never been so desperate to take what she wanted. To leap into the limelight, as now. She didn’t want to hide any more, she simply wanted to be with the man she loved, and nothing else mattered.
‘Can you imagine the headlines?’
‘Yes, I can. They’ll all say something like…A Royal Fairy Tale: Prince Finds True Love with His Secret Cinderella. The moment they see us together they’ll be writing how it’s the romance of the decade. One that’ll enchant and captivate the nation.’
She laughed. ‘I love the sound of that.’
‘So do I.’
Gabe released her from his arms and took her hand. Threading his fingers through her own. His hold so strong and sure, she knew they’d weather anything so long as they were together. That he’d never let her go.
‘Then let’s do it,’ she said, with her heart full of love. Ready to face the world as they walked hand in hand to the door. Heading into their fairy-tale future together.
EPILOGUE
Two years later
A gentle warmsunshine beamed down as Gabriel and Lena sat in the royal carriage on its procession from Halrovia’s cathedral to the palace. Gabe gave a final wave to the jubilant crowd that had lined the streets to celebrate their wedding, before the carriage passed through the palace’s iron gates to the mews beyond. It had been two years since Gabe and Lena had returned to Halrovia in the heady days after Cilla and Caspar’s wedding reception in Isolobello. On that glorious day they’d laughed and danced and showed everyone how much in love they were. Ever since, no one had doubted he and Lena were destined for one another.
Lena turned to him and smiled. Her diamond tiara, which he’d had specially commissioned for this day, twinkling in the sunlight.
