A Royal Holiday (Royals of Valleria #5) (13 page)

It hit her. In a few moments, she wouldn’t just be his daughter anymore. She would become someone’s wife.

“I love you, Papa.”

“Oh, my child. I love you, too. Dearly. Your Mama isn’t the only one who misses seeing you every day, remember that.”

She nodded, clutching her simple bouquet of white roses tighter in a bid to hold back any tears. She took a deep breath to steady herself. “Shall we go in then?”

“Yes,” Gabriel said as he stepped back and adjusted his coat. “Let me just tell the others we’re ready.”

Gabriel signaled to Finn. As classical music started playing, Arianna stepped into the doorway, greeting her family with a smile before locking eyes with Finn.

God, he looked sexy in his suit, his tie the same colour as the ribbon around her waist. She couldn’t wait to peel that suit from his body later. When Finn’s mouth curved in a half smile, she knew her thoughts must have been visible on her face; she only hoped no one else saw.

When they reached the altar, Gabriel kissed her hand and gave it to Finn. “Take care of my daughter.”

“Always.” Finn shook Gabriel’s hand and then turned back to Arianna. “You look beautiful, by the way.”

“Not as beautiful as you,” she shot back and gave him another look over.

“There will be time for that later,” Ethan said with a wink, before addressing the whole room. “We’re gathered here today to join Arianna and Finn in matrimony. According to Finn, this first ceremony is traditionally a short one. Because of that, I’m going to jump right to the part we’re all waiting for. Arianna and Finn, please join hands.”

Arianna handed her bouquet to Cat, then took Finn’s outstretched hands. Tears were threatening again. She was getting married. Married!

“Finn, please recite your vows first.”

Arianna watched Finn clear his throat, and his brilliant green eyes swirl with emotion. “I never thought I’d find love. I never really thought I deserved it. I still don’t know that I deserve you, Arianna. But I promise, with every fiber of my being, that I’ll love you and our children, and try to be the best damn husband and father that you need. I love you.”

Arianna itched to wrap herself around him and kiss him senseless, but she held herself back. “Thank you, Finn.”

Finn kissed her hands. “Thank
you
, baby, for loving me.”

“Arianna,” Ethan interjected, “please recite your vows.”

Her voice sounded small and overcome with emotion, but it couldn’t be helped. “I love you, Finn. You say that you don’t deserve me, but I think it’s me that doesn’t deserve you. You’ve shown me every day, in every way, how much you love me and care for me and our child. I promise to be the best wife and mother I can, and I promise to be the best princess for Brazenbourg, too. I love you so much, Finn.”

This time she didn’t, couldn’t hold back. She jumped into his arms and they fiercely held each other.

“Princess,” Finn said gruffly, pulling back until their foreheads touched. Her lips yearned to kiss him.

Ethan cleared his throat. “We’re not quite to that part of the ceremony yet, you two.”

Everyone chuckled, even Arianna and Finn as they separated. “Sorry, Ethan,” Arianna said.

Ethan smiled. “I suppose I can forgive you, just this once.”

The rest of the ceremony went by so fast, Arianna felt as though if she had blinked, she would have missed it. Before she knew it, Finn was cupping her face and bringing their lips together for a long, sweet kiss.

As her family cheered, she and Finn walked down the aisle and he carried her out of the small church. A photographer took pictures while security kept the small crowd of onlookers at bay; apparently, word of the wedding had spread to the people.

Soon, they were whisked back to the palace, where the other ceremony, which was longer and mired in more tradition, took place. As they exited that ceremony, now officially husband and wife in both countries, Finn carried her into a side room to sign the official marriage decree. Finn signed it easily, but Arianna’s pen halted against the paper.

“Everything all right, Princess?”

Arianna nodded, her lips in a frown. “It just hit me. After I sign this, I won’t be Vallerian anymore, since I have to renounce my title to become your wife and a citizen of Brazenbourg.”

Finn pursed his lips. “You don’t have to sign it, if you’re not ready, baby. But you should know that you’ll always be Vallerian.” He pressed a hand over her stomach. “So will our children. They’ll always have Vallerian blood in them.”

“You’re right. Of course, you’re right. I’m being silly. It’s probably just my hormones making everything seem bigger than it is.”

“Don’t talk about yourself like that. This is a big deal, but it’s just a piece of paper. Being my wife doesn’t mean you won’t see your family again, or that you can’t visit Valleria. You’ll always be their Princess, no matter what this piece of paper says.”

After that, Arianna had no trouble signing her name.

“Are you sure, Princess?”

“Oh, yes. Thank you, Finn.”

“For what?”

“Understanding me. I understand you, too, you know.”

“Is that right?”

She nodded. “Are you really happy with how everything went today? It was your wedding day, too.”

He wrapped an arm around her waist. “Hard to forget that part. I’m happier than I’d ever thought I’d be.”

“You seemed a little sad at times, though.”

“You know me too well, Princess. I was just missing my parents, that’s all. Maybe even Henry a little. He almost killed us, but I still miss him. How messed up is that?”

She pressed a hand to his cheek. “There’s nothing wrong with that. You miss your family and that’s completely understandable, no matter what they did in the past. You loved them.”

“You’re right. You do understand me.” Finn smiled and glanced down at the papers. His fingers reverently touched their signatures and he took a shuddering breath. Pulling her against him, he whispered, “Now, you’re officially mine.”

She smiled. “And you’re officially mine.”

“Come on then, baby. Let’s show the world.”

She and Finn held hands as he walked her to the palace balcony, where they would make their first debut as husband and wife, and where she would make her debut as the official Crown Princess of Brazenbourg. She could hear the crowd milling about outside and was getting a little nervous.

“I can’t believe everyone came out to see us on Christmas Day.”

“They love you, baby.”

“They also love you.”

Finn gave a bashful smile; she knew he had a hard time believing that sometimes. “Maybe. I’m sure they’re glad to have a happy royal occasion to celebrate, in any case.”

She took his hand and rested it over her womb. “Two happy occasions.”

He gave her a sly smile. “Yes, there is that.”

“Stop giving me that look.”

“What look?”

“The one that says you’d rather take me back to our rooms.”

“Baby, you’re lucky I didn’t pull you aside at the church. Did you forget that my forefathers built a separate room in the back where past princes could consummate their marriages as soon as they were officially wed?”

Arianna laughed. “I had forgotten.”

He leaned in to whisper in her ear. “You’ll probably forget your own name by the time I’m through with you tonight, Princess.”

“Finn!”

He laughed. “Just wanted to get a little colour in your cheeks.”

“I’ll bet,” she murmured.

“Ready, Your Highnesses?” a guard asked by the door, and Finn nodded.

Raucous applause and cheering burst through as they stepped outside, holding hands and waving. Arianna couldn’t help smiling; the whole day had been a dream. It had been light and happy and bright, with only a few moments to dim the pleasure of the day.

“Time to give the public what they want, Princess,” he said as he wrapped an arm around her.

“Oh? And what’s that?”

“This.” His lips coated hers in a chaste kiss that was laced with too much heat for such a public occasion. His tongue licked her lips and they parted, eager for the passion she’d felt so little of the last two months.

As the cheers below grew louder, she finally emerged from the kiss with a dazed look on her face. At his broad grin, she couldn’t help but laugh.

That was the image the world saw. As headlines bloomed around the world at the surprise royal wedding, the articles were accompanied by an image of Arianna and Finn on the balcony: his face lit with a sexy smile, Arianna’s bright with joy and laughter.

Her family came out onto the balcony as well, though they took turns as the balcony wasn’t long enough or wide enough to hold them all. It was a picture-perfect scene.

***

Several hours later, after the luncheon reception and after Arianna’s family had left for Valleria, Finn carried Arianna back to their suite.

“Are you tired, baby?”

Arianna shook her head against Finn’s chest. “I can walk, you know. You don’t have to carry me.”

“But I have to carry you over the threshold.”

She chuckled. “I think you already did that when you carried me from the church. And then carried me into the palace for the second ceremony. And carried me out of the second ceremony.”

“All right, all right. So, I like carrying you. I can’t help it if I like having my hands on your delicious body.”

“My body’s changing.”

Finn gave her a quizzical look. “And your point is?”

“Well, it’s already starting to look different, because of the baby. And my breasts are already swelling up.”

Finn snorted as he opened the door to their suite of rooms. “You’re crazy if you think any change to your body could make me want you less. Even bigger breasts.”

Arianna slapped him playfully against his chest. “Let me down.”

“In a minute.” He carried her into their bedroom and then let her down slowly. The room was aglow with the lit Christmas tree in the corner, and by nothing else. There wasn’t even a fire, yet, to him, the room was blazing hot.

They stared at each other across the room. God, she was beautiful. Her veil had long since been removed, but the gorgeous, simple dress remained. “Need some help with your dress?” he asked, his voice low and slightly rough.

With a sly smile, she turned her back to him and shifted her hair away. She peeked at him over her shoulder. “If you don’t mind.”

“Never.” He walked over to her, and let his hand lightly graze the long line of her back. The only downside to the dress was the row of many, many small buttons. He began at the top, undoing each one slowly. By the time he reached the bottom, his cock was rock hard.

“Step out of the dress, Princess.”

She slid her arms from the dress and wiggled her hips as it pooled at her feet. She stepped out and Finn picked it up and laid it over a chaise in the room. When he turned back, his eyes smoldered as he took in the sight of her.

“See something you like?” she asked shyly.