To Steal a Groom (Royal Billionaire Romance) (23 page)

I give him my wickedest grin. “If we have everything we need, then why wait?”

“I don’t want to rush you.” His face is solemn. “I can wait as long as you need. We can get married whenever you’re ready.”

“How about now?”

He takes a step back. “Are you serious?”

“Of course I am.”

“You want to get married today. Now.”

I nod.

“Do you want to wait until we get to the island? Go back to the city?”

I clasp my arms around his waist. “Why not here? Wouldn’t that be fastest? I don’t want to wait any longer. There have been too many distractions, too many complications lately. I just want to be yours.”

He gazes at me for a long moment, then kisses my forehead. “I’ll radio Rashad. He can fly a priest out here.” Damon goes to fetch the radio.

“Wait!”

He turns at my call.

“Shouldn’t we at least call your father? I think he’d like to be here.”

“Really?” Damon’s face lights up.

“What do you mean, ‘really’? The man gave us an island. I think we might have won him over.”

The prince lays a hand on the small of my back. “Are you sure you’re okay with that?”

“At least one of our parents should be present. He’s probably the best candidate.”

“All right. Let me call him.” Damon pulls out his phone and dials. It can’t have rung more than once when the king picks up.

“Hello, Father.” The prince puts the phone on speaker. “We have some news.”

“Is it time?” Darius asks. There’s a long pause. “Don’t do anything you’ll regret.”

Damon bristles, his finger hovering over the speaker button. “Like what?”

“Like not invite me.”

“Of course you’re invited,” I blurt out.

Damon smiles at me.

“Where are you?” Darius asks. “Give me thirty minutes, I’ll be there.”

We venture to the bridge to inform Nic of the change of plans. He doesn’t seem too surprised. Damon drops the anchor, and we wait for the king to arrive.

It’s not long before we hear the drone of a helicopter. It lands on the top deck, which Damon informs me is equipped with a helipad. I should have guessed.

I can hear voices on the upper level, though they’re slightly muffled by the slowing helicopter blades. There’s a clatter as the group moves down the stairs. How many priests did Rashad bring?

The landing party turns a corner. Darius is in the lead, carrying two vases both overflowing with roses. He’s followed by Eris, who’s toting a huge garment bag. Gabe and Rashad bring up the rear. The latter is holding Reggie’s leash, and trying to convince the lion that the yacht is nothing to be scared of.

The big cat isn’t having it. His head is low, his golden eyes narrowed. When he sees me, he breaks away from Rashad. He comes at a sprint, only to cower behind my legs.

“Poor Reggie.” I stroke his mane. “Do you not like boats?”

Gabe makes a face. “He doesn’t like helicopters, that’s for sure. At least he was too scared to maul me.”

“It’s okay, Reg,” I tell the lion. “We’ll get you home some other way.”

He licks my cheek with his raspy tongue.

“Wait.” Damon frowns. “You didn’t bring a priest?”

The king folds his arms. “You don’t need a priest. There’s no higher law than me. I’ll marry you.”

“You will?” Damon asks.

“Naturally.” The king clears his throat. “Sarina and Marc send their regrets. But I thought you might appreciate these.” He gestures to the vases, set on the deck.

“Are those Mother’s?” Damon’s voice cracks.

“At least part of her can be here today,” the king says gruffly. “She would have wanted that.”

I look around at the faces of my gathered friends, and my heart swells. Everyone I need is here.

Darius turns to me. “May I borrow your ring?”

I slip it off and hand it to him. The king takes it, and another he produces, and secures them to Reggie’s collar.

“Grace.” Eris beckons me. “You need to get changed.”

“Into what?”

She hoists the garment bag. “Into your dress, of course! Thank goodness Rashad grabbed me. You can’t get married without your wedding dress.”

I look back as she drags me away. “What about Damon?”

“We brought a suit and tie for him.” Eris shoves me into a cabin. “Gabe has the prince’s clothes. He’ll be taken care of. But I need to make sure this fits. It has to be perfect.”

Whipping off the garment bag, Eris hangs the dress on the back of the door. “I cannibalized your ball gown—hope you don’t mind.” She turns to me, biting her lip. “What do you think?”

The dress is pure white, except for a streak of bronze that starts at the neckline and flares out. It’s simple. Stunning. Elegant.

I grin at Eris. “I wouldn’t wear any other dress.”

She practically sags with relief.

“Can I try it on?”

“I guess so, seeing as you’re stuck with it.” Back to her brisk self, Eris helps me into the dress. “I didn’t want to ask your permission to destroy your ball gown and ruin the surprise, but I was so afraid you’d hate me for ruining two perfectly good dresses.”

“How could I hate you?”

Eris laces up my back, which has the same bronze flare. “Seems easy enough for some people. Luckily, none of them are here.” She stands back, admiring her handiwork. “That should do.”

Understated, as always. I look in a mirror, and am startled to see a bride staring back at me.

“Oh.” Eris digs into her pockets. “I brought eyeliner. And eye shadow. Nothing too bold, but I think a little will look nice.”

I sit still as she applies the eyeliner, then brushes bronze shadow over my lids.

“And we’re done. Well, I could fix a few things.” Eris’s fingers fly as she makes minor adjustments. What would take me hours is the work of a few moments for her. She chatters as she gets every last piece in place.

“Let me straighten this. By the way, I’ll have you know that this is an off-the-shoulder neckline. It’ll show off your collarbones, drive Damon wild. Oh, and we can’t forget the veil. Or the crown.” She settles a tiara on my head, then secures the veil in my hair with a padded comb.

“Damon’s mother wore these on her wedding day,” she says, “so don’t be surprised if the prince leaks a tear or two.”

I think I might cry at the vision in the mirror. I touch the tiara, imagining what it would be like if its owner were here. What she’d say to me. I wish I could reassure her that I’ll do my best to take care of her son. “Thank you, Eris.”

“Don’t thank me. It was the king’s idea.” Opening the door, Eris peeks out. “I think they’re ready for you, if you’re ready for them.”

I take a breath, gathering myself. “Let’s go.”

Everyone has gathered on the bow. Damon is front and center, waiting for me. There’s no music, but there’s no need for any. The sound of lapping waves and far-off gulls is more than enough for me.

Damon is all I can see. The look in his eyes is tender. Blazing. Loving. I want to run to him and leap into his arms, but now might not be the best moment. For this short time, I’ll do my best to be dignified.

The king stands at the prow. I walk past my friends, pretending not to notice when Gabe wipes away a tear. At long last, I reach Damon. I’m quivering as he takes my hands, hardly daring to believe that this moment has finally arrived. My groom gazes at the tiara, recognition dawning. The look he gives me is one of such fierce pride that I almost lose it then and there.

“Dearly beloved,” Darius says, “we are gathered here today to join Grace and Damon heart to heart, hearth to hearth, in marriage. I’ve decided to shorten the vows, because if you’re impatient enough to fly us in by helicopter, I won’t subject you to a droning ceremony.”

I grip Damon’s hands as the king tells me the words to say.

“I, Grace Sparrow, promise to honor and uphold my husband, my crown, and my city, for as long as we both shall live.” I’m very proud that my voice doesn’t shake once.

“I, Damon Lion, promise to honor and uphold my wife, my crown, and my city, for as long as we both shall live.” Damon’s vows ring over the water.

“Grace,” the king says, “do you take Damon to be your husband, forsaking all others?”

I look deep into my prince’s eyes. “I do.”

“Damon, do you take Grace to be your wife, forsaking all others?”

“I do,” the prince says solemnly.

The king bends down. “Come, Regulus.”

The lion pads up the makeshift aisle, sitting by the king’s feet. Darius retrieves the rings from his collar. He gives my lion ring to Damon.

Taking my hand, the prince puts the ring around my finger. “Grace.” He has to pause, caught up in the emotion. “With this ring, I thee wed.”

Darius gives me the other ring. It’s more polished than mine, but looks very similar. Instead of a lion, it’s a lioness who chases her tail. The ring is thicker, clearly made for a man.

Damon looks up at his father, his eyes welling. “Is this—”

The king nods. “Alexander Lion’s ring. I thought you two should match.”

I slip it on my groom’s finger. “Damon, with this ring, I thee wed.”

“As King of the City of Lions, I now pronounce you husband and wife.”

Damon pulls back my veil and we kiss, surrounded by our family. It’s the best kiss of my life, and that’s saying something. I never want to let him go.

*

Wind whips my hair, which is already laden with sea spray. Damon keeps his hand on the tiller of our small boat, steering us ever closer to Turtle Island. I can see the white beaches from here, beckoning us to dig our toes into the hot sand.

“Wait until you see the lagoon,” Damon says. “It’s clear, and brilliant turquoise. The bungalow’s built on top of it, and part of the floor is glass so you can see the fish.”

The prince cuts the motor as we near the dock. He’s in the middle of tying up the boat when something glints.

Damon shades his eyes. “What’s that?”

“Let’s go take a look.” I try to sound as innocent as I can, but I’m not sure if I quite pull it off.

We head up the beach, feet sinking into the sand. On a grassy patch, far above the waterline, the Requiem glints bronze in the sun.

Damon looks at me, eyes narrowed. “Did you have anything to do with this?”

“A little. Okay, a lot. But I thought you deserved it, seeing as I totaled your last car.”

“You didn’t have to do that, Grace.” He circles the car, eyes alight. I can tell that he loves it. “How’d you pay for it?”

“I traded my diamond ring for it. I’d rather give you a car than keep a rock for myself. I think we’ll both enjoy this more.”

He rocks back on his heels. “I can’t believe you had it sent here.”

“Special delivery. They make certain concessions for princesses.”

“Silly.” He wraps me in a hug. “I already had everything I could want.” Damon traces the lion around my ring finger. “All I really needed was you.”

“Well, you have me now. Just what do you plan to do with me?”

Damon scoops me up. “I can’t tell you. I’ll have to show you.”

I laugh as he sets off at a run for the bungalow. I can’t wait to give him all I have. My body, my soul, my life. I’ve married a prince, and fame and wealth are mine if I want them. But they’re nothing compared to the man. He’s mine now, forever. My husband. My prince.

Copyright © 2014 by Cora Caraway

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