Part of me is still so happy I can hardly think straight. Victoria is going to be my wife. That one fact has completely changed my world, opened my eyes to possibilities I never dared imagine.

The other part of me knows these next few months will be difficult. And not just difficult—but a true test of this relationship and our commitment to each other. This was never going to be easy—we’re from two different worlds, and it isn’t lost on me that life here will be something of an adjustment for her—but I’d hoped we’d have a little time to bask in our happiness before tackling our first major challenge.

And King Maximilian will definitely be a challenge.

Still, I have every intention of holding my ground and standing up for my betrothed. It was my actions that put us into this position, and I have every intention of taking responsibility.

Right now, though, I refuse to succumb to worry. We’ll face Maximilian when he gets here. In the meantime, I want to celebrate with Victoria. I won’t let a surly king ruin this beautiful day.

We take a car back to the palace. On another day, I might have recommended we walk, but I’m not sure exposing her to public scrutiny right now would be the best option.

When we return to the palace, I walk her to her room. I can see the worry on her face, and I want nothing more than to chase it all away.

“Don’t fret,” I tell her. “We can conquer anything together.”

“I have no idea what I’m even supposed to do,” she says. “I’ve never formally received anyone, let alone a king. Are there rules? Traditions I should know about? I don’t even know if I’m supposed to fucking bow.”

“We’ll discuss everything,” I tell her. “But don’t worry—no one expects you to know everything right away.”

“Not even King Maximilian?” She spins and looks at me. “You don’t think if I fuck up somehow he’s going to hold it against me? He’s already pissed. From what you guys have said about him, I suspect he’ll take every opportunity to use my inexperience against me.”

“I will handle King Max,” I assure her. “On another occasion, I’d even be happy to let you stay in your chamber while the meeting took place. But I refuse to act like I’m ashamed of you, Victoria, especially in front of him. You are going to be my wife, and I couldn’t be prouder.”

Her frown deepens. “Won’t he just think you’re rubbing it in his face? You just humiliated his daughter on live television.”

“I stand by my decision,” I say. “And the only way through this is to continue to do so.”

We’re at her door, but rather than go into her room immediately, I raise my hands to her face, gently cupping her cheeks.

“I love you, Victoria,” I say softly. “I love you more than anyone and anything else in this world. Perhaps I shouldn’t admit such a thing, but I’d humiliate a thousand women on live television if it meant getting closer to you.”

“Definitely keep that sentiment out of the press,” she says.

“You are everything to me,” I continue. “I refuse to let anything come between us—and yes, that includes Maximilian. We belong together, you and I. And I always feel stronger when you are by my side.”

She looks up at me with wide eyes. “I’m going to fuck this up somehow. I know it.”

“You’re going to be wonderful. I know it.” I dip my face closer to hers.

“I don’t even have anything to wear,” she says.

“We’ll borrow something from my sister,” I murmur. “I’m sure we can find something that fits you.”

“And the etiquette—”

“As I said, I’ll go over everything with you. You’ll be brilliant, trust me.” My lips are even closer to hers now, but before I can kiss her, she pulls away.

“I’m not cut out to be a royal,” she says, and I see the panic in her eyes. “I’m not.”

“I believe your friend Elle said the same thing,” I tell her. “And yet now, at least from where I stand, she couldn’t be happier.” I straighten slightly. “Trust in your gifts, Victoria. You have many talents, and you’ve already won over my family.”

“Not your father.”

“My father will come to love you in time.” Please let him survive this ordeal. “And you cannot be blind to how my mother and siblings feel about you. You have a certain charm about you, Victoria. A genuineness that wins people over. My mother trusted you when we only knew you as a reporter, and her judgment is never wrong.” Though I wonder sometimes, considering she married my father.

I push a bit of hair out of Victoria’s face. For a moment, neither of us speaks. Her eyes are full of fear and uncertainty, and I want nothing more than to bring back the pure joy I saw in them only an hour ago when she agreed to be my wife.

“I need to get you your ring,” I say softly, taking her hand. “There are several in our treasury—heirlooms from several generations back. My mother once told me I’d have my pick of them when I decided to wed, and I always wondered how I’d choose between them. All of them are quite valuable, and all have a special place in my family.” I raise her fingers to my lips. “Now that I’ve found you, though, I know exactly which one belongs to you.”

I see curiosity flicker in her eyes. “Which one?”

“That, my love, is a surprise.” I brush my lips against her knuckles. It’s strange to think of a ring suiting a person, but the more I come to know Victoria, the more I come to see her everywhere—in trees, in the sky, and yes, even in a ring.

I drop her hand and lean into her again, touching my lips lightly to hers.

“We still have some time before our guest arrives,” I say. “What say we celebrate our engagement?” I kiss her more fully this time, letting my mouth slide over hers until she clings to the front of my shirt.

After a moment, though, she pulls back. “There isn’t time—”

“There’s plenty of time for you,” I return. “Always.”

I kiss her again, and this time she doesn’t pull away. Her arms slide up around my neck as my tongue slips into her mouth.

No one will take this away from me. Not my father or King Maximilian.

I grab the door handle behind her and twist it. Together we tumble into her chambers without even breaking our kiss.

The moment the door is closed behind us again, my hands are on her clothes. I undress her in a matter of seconds, and her hands are hard at work on my clothes, too. In record time, we’re naked and clinging to each other.

Her skin is so hot beneath my hands. I pull her hard against me, bare skin against bare skin, and I groan at the feeling of her hard nipples pressed against my chest.

“I love you,” I tell her as my fingers tangle in her hair. “I’ll never stop loving you, Victoria.”

“I love you, too,” she says.

Our mouths find each other again, and I start to back her toward the bedroom—only I’ve forgotten that we’re in her room, not mine, so in my distraction I lead her the wrong way. I don’t realize my mistake until her back hits the window.

A wise, patient man would recognize his mistake and correct course—but I’m neither of those things right now. All I know is that I want Victoria and I don’t want to wait another moment to join with her.

Without warning, I grab her and lift her up. Her legs go around my waist, and her arms tighten around my neck as I press her back against the window. A small voice in the back of my mind points out that this is highly improper, that anyone passing by below might look up and see what we’re doing—but I don’t care. I need to be with her. Now.

It only takes a moment of repositioning, and then a jerk of my hips—and then we’re joined again, intertwined as we were meant to be. She gasps as she sinks onto me, and I fight back an animal-like moan.

She’s mine. Forever.

Fuck those who would tear us apart. Fuck foreign kings and stupid drunken bets and everything else in this damned world. I won’t let them take away the joy I find in this woman—the joy we find in each other. She is truly my other half.

I drive into her again and again, trying to show her with my body the things I still can’t quite put into words. She knows I love her, but what we have goes so much deeper than that. It’s physical, emotional, and spiritual—something as pure and true as life itself.

I never imaged it could be like this. That I’d find someone who could both tear me completely apart and put me fully back together again. I no longer belong to myself, or even to Montovia—I belong to her, completely.

My grip tightens on her as my body starts to tense. Her whimpers are turning into louder cries, and I know she’s getting close as well.

My mouth finds hers again, moving roughly across her lips. I want to help her over the edge, but I’m not sure I can hold out much longer. All of this is beyond my control now—I can only be pulled along by this violent tide.

But then she groans and stiffens against me, and a second later I feel her body tighten around my cock. My own release comes quickly, and I growl and dig my nails into the skin of her back as I empty myself into her.

My muscles tremble as I carefully lower her to her feet. We’re still leaning against the window, but neither of us can seem to find the strength to pull away from each other—or to stand upright without any support.

I lower my head and kiss the bare skin of her shoulder.

“That was a fine start to our celebrations,” I murmur. “But I expect to continue this later tonight.”

“Okay,” she says breathlessly.

I kiss the base of her throat, then up the side of her neck. When I reach her ear, I pause.

“You’ll do wonderfully today,” I murmur. “And just remember—I have your back every step of the way. We are stronger together.”

She nods before letting her head fall forward to rest against my shoulder.

I could stay here like this forever, just holding her. Feeling her warm, sweat-damp skin against mine. Sensing the tickle of her breath as she struggles to breathe normally again. She’s softness and fire, sweetness and passion, energy and light. She’s everything.

But as much as I’d love to spend the rest of eternity right here, it won’t help her to upset King Maximilian. There are still many things that must be prepared before his arrival.

“I’ll go find an appropriate dress for you from my sister’s wardrobe,” I tell her. “And order us a quick meal. As much as I’d love to spend the rest of the afternoon in your arms, I’m afraid we have a very long day ahead of us.”