Page 24 of Engaged to the Mountain Man

“And a very happy one at that,” he practically purrs the words, leaving me no doubt that he’s been fully sated.

“That would make you the king,” I point out. “We’ll share the duties, the power, the leadership. Everything.”

He’s quiet for a long moment. “Didn’t consider that.”

“I know you don’t want to be royalty, and—”

He tucks a strand of hair behind my ear. “Sitting on a throne does not appeal to me. But I’ll do whatever it takes to be with you. At the end of the day, it’s a title. What I care about is being there for my woman.”

I blink back moisture at his words. He always knows what to say to make me feel loved.

“To the rest of the world we’ll be the King and Queen,” he says, “but in here it’s you and me.”

I smile against his chest and close my eyes, sleep overtaking me after the whirlwind of the past few days.

* * *

The next morning,there’s a knock on the door.

Violet enters the room after I give permission. It strikes me then that she always used to knock and enter without waiting. But things are different now because I’m a married woman. Rafe is in the bathroom, brushing his teeth.

Violet’s gaze flicks over me, probably noting all the places with beard burn. There’s not a centimeter of my skin that my mountain man didn’t spend the night sucking and nibbling and licking. “I’m sorry. I waited as long as possible before I had to disturb you.”

I wrap a robe around myself. “What is it?”

I know that Rafe and I didn’t exactly pick the ideal time to get married. Between my father’s passing and the sudden discovering of the Republic of Portia’s new prince, there will be a lot of questions to answer and many details to attend.

Before she can answer, Rafe steps out of the bathroom. She drops her gaze when she realizes he isn’t wearing a shirt. She bows, murmuring quietly, “Your Highness.”

Rafe scowls at me, and I look to Violet. “Not behind closed doors.”

She straightens. “I have come to notify you both that Your Highness—Rafael—your brother awaits you in the dining hall.”

“What?” He gasps out.

“I apologize. We could not hold him much longer. King Mateo has been eager to meet you since the moment he heard of your existence. We could send him away but the ensuing political turmoil would be—”

Rafe sighs. “This is not political for me.”

Violet has the decency to look apologetic. “Of course, I didn’t mean to imply that it should be.”

Rafe scratches his beard. He’s probably as nervous about meeting his brother as he is about what he might discover.

I reach for his hand, threading his fingers through mine and focus my attention on Violet. “Keep him entertained for fifteen more minutes, then we’ll be there.”

Relief flickers across Rafe’s face, and I know this was the right move. But that’s the thing about being married. We no longer fight our own battles. Now we stand shoulder to shoulder always supporting each other and lifting each other up.

He watches me get ready, his gaze hungry. “I should make him wait another twenty minutes so I can ravage my wife.”

“Or meet your brother, and your wife will take care of you later.” I waggle my eyebrows so there’s no doubt about what I mean.

Together, we walk hand in hand to meet with Rafe’s brother. The moment I enter the dining room, there’s no doubt in my mind that they’re brothers. They have similar features, except that Rafe is taller, and Mateo has far more gray hair around his temples. It makes me think about growing old with Rafael, and I smile at the thought

Neither of them speaks for a long moment. Finally, I approach his brother, King Mateo. “We’re glad you’re here.”

“I came as soon as I heard the news.” He shakes his head. “All this time. I thought you were dead.”

Rafe’s voice is gruff when he speaks, and I know how much emotion my stoic man is fighting back against. “I had no idea. I was raised with no knowledge of you or my country.”

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