Amy's eyes were wide as she stared out the window of the car when they entered the outer gates of the North Castle. Lucio hoped she loved it here as it would be their permanent home after they married. He sat quietly and watched her every reaction. Her wheat-colored hair that she brushed behind her ears, her pert nose aimed where her assessing brown gaze took in the green front gardens.

The driver pulled up to the steps of the main castle, parked, and a liveried servant rushed out to open her door. Amy clutched her pearls as she walked on the first marble step. Lucio followed her and placed his hand on her back. "Let's go inside."

"This is grander than the pictures online show," she said with enthusiasm. "We'll have to hire a professional photographer if you wish to encourage tourists to visit more of the country than the church."

The main door opened once they reached the top step and he showed her inside and introduced her to his main staff. "Amy, this is Nino. He runs the estate, and Katarina, she's the head housekeeper. Any questions on our home, please ask them. This is Amy Fields, my fiancée."

"Nice to meet you." Amy shook hands with Nino and Katarina. "So far, I'm impressed with everything I see and I can't wait to explore the inside of the house." She smiled and pointed at a gleaming white cross beam in the ceiling. "I have no idea how you dust the rafters to make them shine like that."

Katarina nodded with appreciation and gestured to the other women under her supervision. Lucio realized that Amy would be able to run a household for him. Now he needed to figure out how to get her to ask him to bed. Her ex, the idiot Kevin, had clearly done more damage than good.

She walked beside him as they left the foyer and said in a quiet undertone, "Let's see our room."

Perhaps she wanted him, right now, in his bed. His body became rigid at the thought, but he shook it off as he took her hand. Amy would need more persuasion than seeing a bed, but as his hands held hers more firmly and they walked up the marble steps together, he hoped he was wrong. Her kisses had been innocent but passionate enough to make him wish which was a rather new emotion for him.

On the top step, he guided her down the blue hall toward his private chambers. The moment they entered the north wing, he closed the doors. "This entire wing is intended as a family residence."

She looked around but stayed near an indoor ficus plant beneath a portrait of his parents and his brothers and him all in a family still from when they’d first arrived in Avce, as if uncertain. "It’s like a huge apartment."

He pointed toward the bedroom and the living room. There was a kitchenette in the rear and two smaller bedrooms. "This is our family quarters. Our bedroom is to the right, but I want you to feel free to redo anything you want in our future home."

"I'm not the best decorator, but I'm sure we can figure out something." She opened the two doors that led to the main bedroom and walked inside. "This room is already gorgeous. I love the sky blue comforter—it matches the trim! The cream on the walls make this very elegant but light at the same time."

He pushed off the wall and followed her inside as she walked toward the balcony on the other end of his bedroom. She opened the glass doors and hugged her waist. "Gorgeous again. Lucio, I can't believe all of this—but most amazing of all is that you want to marry me."

The brightness in her eyes and the way the sun's light reflected on Amy's hair made her seem so innocent. He walked over to her, took her hands in his and led her toward the balcony ledge. "Marrying you is one of the easiest decisions I’ve ever made. I was blind as a teenager, clearly, because you outshine every woman I’ve ever met."

She looked up with hopeful eyes and his pulse skipped a little faster. He'd have to find a way to make her happy. For now, he let the jolt in his skin dictate his actions. He closed his eyes while he reached out to kiss her.

A slight moan escaped her lips as his mouth crashed into hers. She tasted better than any sweet delicacy from Alain Ducasse and his entire body begged for him to claim all of her.

He ended the kiss abruptly and his heart beat wildly. He had to seduce her to ensure she invited him in his bed, and right now, he needed to find the quickest path. But he would be fair, he’d promised himself. He slipped his hand out of hers. "Let's show you the family dining room, as that's far safer."

"Safer? You don't have to keep me safe or anything. We're here to get to know each other." Her mouth, pink and soft, quivered.

"I promised to let you ask me for sex." He stepped back and stood taller. "I intend to keep my word, so it's safer for me if you keep your distance."

She let out a huge laugh, like what he’d said was the funniest thing she’d ever heard. Finally, she stepped to join him and go into the next room, but she stopped in her tracks and continued her belly laugh.

"What's so funny?"

With tears in her eyes, she spoke between giggles. "I kept picturing myself as some seductress that could lure you to bed, and I can't help it. You're way too hot. What can I offer you?"

He crossed the space in three long strides, traced her arms and pushed her hair out of her face. "All you have to say is "now" and we can find out just how easily I'd fall into your bed."

Her laughter ended, but she smiled at him like she had a hidden secret. "That's technically your bed."

"It's our bed now." He kissed the top of her head, inhaling the scent of her shampoo. "I've only slept here alone maybe two weeks of my life. I generally stay in the city castle with my parents." He’d been a teenager when they’d come to power and in the decade since he’d gone to college, traveled, and worked with the FBI on freelance projects. "This castle becomes my permanent home, when I marry you."

"So, if we change the sheets and mattress, it's a whole new place for you too." She rested her hands on his hips. "I think I like that, knowing neither of us has a history here. Right now, we need to work on trusting each other and that's going to take more than going between the sheets."

"You don't know the fun you’re missing." He winked but this time opened the dining room door next to the bedroom. The table was set just as he’d instructed. "We skipped dessert so we'll have afternoon tea with a delicious local pastry."

"What is it?" She took one of the plush dining chairs. "It smells like vanilla."

"Kremšnita." He sat beside her. She immediately poured him a cup of tea and then one for herself. "It's like a cake version of vanilla pie."

She dipped her spoon in it and put a small morsel in her mouth. The ends of her lips curled upward as she swallowed, eyes half-closed with pleasure. "Delicious."

"I think so too." He picked up his spoon, wishing he could kiss her again.

They both ate in silence until they were completely done and sipped tea.

"I don't think I can eat another bite today." Amy rested her hand on her flat stomach. "I'm so full now and this was amazing. Thank you for sharing a piece of your world with me."

Seduction required being comfortable and Lucio had time. Right now, she wanted trust so he'd be open to conversation and getting to know one another. "We'll go tour the small village within the castle walls."

"There’s a village?" Her blonde brow rose with surprise. "I'd love to see it, with you."

He stood and offered his hand. "Perfect." She stood and tightened her grip rather than release his hand. "This castle was designed for defense, so we have a granary and the room for everyone in the village to fit underground, with fortifications to survive for a year-long siege."

"Hopefully no one attacks us!" They walked out the door, arm to arm, their strides matched. "I'd hate for our magical day to end on such a sour note."

"Let's enjoy the late afternoon." He kept her close and for once in his life felt comfortable with a woman. Amy knew his quirky interest in physics, she hadn't believed that nonsense in the tabloids, and didn't stare at him like he offered a prize she might gain with seduction. Her innocence tempted him though he was grateful she wasn't a virgin.

Soon he'd have her as his own and she'd understand bedsport was fun. Today, though, he'd ensure she loved everything about their future home.

They walked down the grand staircase and he led her toward the back exit of the castle. Her fingers on his wrist made him feel confident that she wanted him too.

Tonight, they'd spend their first night alone in his room. He needed to prepare himself for how that went because he'd keep his word and wait for her to ask him—even if it hurt.

A small band played on the patio that overlooked the small park open to the locals. A child's laugh in the distance made him hold Amy closer, imagining his own family, as they walked outside.

Once he thought her a shy bookworm, but now he saw beneath the cocoon she’d wrapped in to protect herself from her parents. Amy was a strong, confident and rather funny woman that pierced a chunk of his own armor off.