My mouth drops when the bellhop opens the double doors to the Presidential Suite. Henry got us a room at the Ritz-Carlton for the night. Everyone here must know who he is because I’ve never been treated so well when I’ve checked into a hotel. Well, I suppose that might be because I’ve only ever stayed in motels before. But even there, the people working could tell I was trailer trash.

Henry grins and tugs my hand to get my feet moving. “Come on. The view from here is incredible.”

His excitement is contagious and I suddenly feel like seeing my father was a million years ago. We rush over to the French doors and Henry opens them so we can walk out onto the enormous balcony. A cool breeze hits my skin and wakes me up, making me feel somehow more alive than I’ve ever been. I stare out at the sparkling lights that seem to go on for miles and suddenly my problems seem insignificant. “It’s beautiful.”

“I’m glad you like it,” he says, wrapping his arms around me and pressing himself against my back to warm me.

“I love it. I may never want to leave,” I say, turning my head and resting my cheek against his.

“If you think this place is amazing, I can’t wait to show you the world, Addie.” He nuzzles against my cheek. “The wilds of Africa, the Brazilian rain forest, the Great Barrier Reef, Paris, London. We’re going to see it all and do it all together.”

“Promise?” I turn in his arms so I’m facing him now.

“I promise,” he says, giving me a long, deep kiss. “If you’ll let me, I’ll give you the world.”

“I just might let you,” I whisper.

We kiss until my panties are soaked with desire and my entire body is humming with lust. “Let’s go inside,” I say, finally. “I want you to make love to me.”

“Are you sure you’re ready, Addison? Because when we do this, it means forever.”

“I’m ready. I want forever with you.”

A huge grin crosses his face and he picks me up under my knees, then carries me back into the warmth of the room. Kicking the door shut behind him, he carries me to the enormous en suite and sets me down on the counter.

I blink in surprise. “We’re starting our forever in the bathroom?”

“No. I’m going to treat you like a queen tonight, Addie, because that’s who you are.” He walks over to the huge jetted tub and runs the water, adding lots of bath oil.

When he returns, he lifts my shirt over my head, then looks at me with an expression of adoration. His fingertips trace the outline of my bra and my flesh tingles in response to his touch. His thumbs rub over my nipples and they pebble for him. He carefully sucks on my earlobe, sending waves of lust through my entire body. He unfastens the button on my jeans, then slides them off my legs as I lift myself off the counter to help him.

Henry reaches out, gripping my waist and pulling me closer to the edge of the counter. He plants slow kisses along the nape of my neck to my shoulder while his hands move up to my breasts, then down the front of my body. Henry’s lips graze my shoulder as he moves his hand down between my thighs and rubs his palm over my lacy panties.

I moan and press myself against the warmth of his big hand but he doesn’t stay there long. Instead he smiles at me while he runs his hands up my back and unclasps my bra with one quick flick of his fingers. I gasp a little knowing that this man clearly knows what he’s doing. I hold his gaze as he slides my bra straps down, revealing my full breasts. He takes his time with each one, gently sucking on my nipples until I feel dizzy with the intensity of my desire. His mouth on my skin does things to me I’ve only read about in romance books.

Henry lifts his mouth back up to mine, kissing me urgently now. Taking both of my hands, he backs up, pulling me off the counter so I’m standing before him in only my panties. He slides them off me, lowering himself as he does, so he can plant kisses down the center of my body. I feel like he’s worshiping me. I feel like a princess when he looks at me and touches me.

He stands and pulls me toward the over-sized bathtub. Silence fills the air as he turns off the water. I step into the tub and let my body slide into the hot water, feeling myself relax. “Aren’t you getting in?”

“Not just yet,” he says, crouching down to kiss me. Taking the soap, he rubs it over my body, lovingly, carefully, as I lay exposed to him.

“I want you,” I whisper, starting to feel a greed for him that is undeniable.

“Soon. I want you to relax first. I’m going to run downstairs to the lobby for a second. I need to get something.”

“Oh, right,” I say, feeling slightly embarrassed. “Protection.”

“I’ll be back here as fast as I can.”

I nod and watch him walk out, missing him already.

Laying in the heat of the tub, I grin, feeling beautiful and special and happy for the first time in my life.

***

It’s over twenty minutes now and he’s still not back. I’m starting to panic a little that he’s changed his mind. What if all the talk of forever scared him off? I get out of the tub and dry off, wondering if I should get dressed or pull on one of the hotel’s robes and wait. I tell myself to have a little faith and reach for the robe. Walking to the bed, I climb onto the middle of it, then try to lean against the pillows and position my body in a way I hope looks confident and sexy.

A moment later, the door opens and he walks in. He’s got a bottle of champagne and two glasses in one hand as he strides across the room to me. Setting the bottle and glasses down on the night stand, he lowers himself onto one knee.

“What are you doing down there?” I ask. “I need you up here.”

“I need to ask you something first.” He opens his palm and in it is a small black velvet box. Opening it, he reveals a stunning emerald-cut diamond ring bigger than any gem I’ve ever seen.

Tears prick my eyes immediately and I’m unable to speak.

“I know we’ve only known each other for a short time, Addie, but in these short weeks, I’ve spent more time talking and getting to know you than I have probably anyone. You’re all I think about, you’re the only person I ever want to be with, day and night, forever. I want to grow old with you by my side. I want to marry you and have children with you and someday, when I’m king, I want you by my side helping me rule.” He smiles at me, his eyes shining. “Addison Cooke, will you marry me?”

I gasp and breathe out a shaky breath, unable to believe this is happening. Nodding, I let the tears flow now, unable to stop them. “Yes, Henry. Yes, I will marry you.”

He leaps up and wraps his arms around me, kissing me hard on the mouth. When he pulls back, he takes the ring out of the box and places it on my finger.

“A perfect fit,” I say.

“Just like us.” His mouth crushes over mine now, claiming me with a raw, intense passion. I return it with my own lust as his tongue finds mine and our mouths move in unison. I have never been kissed like this before, and I had no idea it could feel so powerful, so all-consuming. He kisses me again and this time, I’m desperate to have him. I tug at his shirt, breaking away from him just long enough to pull it over his head. I stop to have my first look at him and my mouth makes a little ‘o’ as I try to stop myself from drooling.

My hands work their way down his rock-hard arms, then to his chiseled abs. I run my hand down the front of his jeans and feel the huge ridge his erection makes. He lets out a low growl, and his hands pull at the sash of my robe, then he yanks it open.

I work frantically to get his zipper undone, but I can’t concentrate because the things he’s doing with his mouth on my breasts are rendering my brain useless. He backs up, then stands, quickly ridding himself of the rest of his clothes and letting me see him in all his perfect male glory. His cock is enormous—almost frightening even—and I bite my bottom lip, trying to figure out how I’ll fit that inside me.

“You look worried,” he says, laying back down on the bed with me.

“To be honest, I’m not exactly…experienced, and I’ve never seen one that big before.”

“We’ll go slow and I promise I won’t do anything until you’re ready for it.” He kisses his way down to my wet pussy, then smiles up at me. “I’m going to make you feel so good, you’ll forget you’ve ever known anything but pleasure.”