by Moira Rogers
His gaze softened and grew warm. “You look beautiful, as always.” He held out his hand.
She slipped her fingers into his hand and tried not to feel nervous. Three months of courtship might have eased her worries about the dangers to her heart, but she had accepted Rais as a man and a king.
Today he would be king in fact as well as name. And Avani would be his queen.
She clutched at his hand and pretended she couldn’t hear the murmur of voices from the other side of the wide doors, where people waited for the official coronation. “I notice you didn’t promise me freedom from meddlesome maids.”
“You’ll never make it into some of your clothes unassisted,” he murmured, his eyes sparkling with mischief. “It will cause a scandal, but I’ll dismiss them and bathe and dress you myself if you like.”
A memory drifted up of the previous night, of joining Rais in his oversized tub and how quickly an innocent bath had turned into an experiment in how many times he could make her come. Her cheeks felt warm as she laughed. “I do enjoy sharing your bath.”
“Then consider it done, my queen.” He stopped just shy of the wide, ornate doors and rubbed his thumb over her cheek. “Are you ready?”
He’d wooed her over long months apart, calling her when he could and writing notes when he couldn’t. His actions had bemused her uncle and perplexed the rest of the court, who couldn’t fathom the king’s heir bestirring himself to such effort for a mate.
But he had. And it had worked. Her heart pounded as his soft touch stirred her body and warmed her heart. “I’m ready for anything. I love you.”
“And I love you.” Rais smiled, an intimate expression meant just for her, then laid his hand on the door. “Let’s go meet your people, Avani. Our people.”
There was no room for nerves when she could feel his love in the bond that grew between them with every passing day. Dressed in his royal finest, she still saw the man instead of the king, and it was the man she smiled for, even as she let the king lead her out to meet their people.
Moira Rogers
How do you make a Moira Rogers? Take a former forensic science and nursing student obsessed with paranormal romance and add a computer programmer with a passion for gritty urban fantasy. Toss in a dash of whimsy and a lot of caffeine, and enjoy with a side of chocolate by the light of the full moon.
By day, Bree and Donna are mild-mannered ladies who reside in the Deep South. At night, when their husbands and children are asleep, they combine forces to unleash the product of their fevered imaginations upon the page. To learn more about this romance writing, crime fighting duo, visit their webpage at www.moirarogers.com. (Disclaimer: crime fighting abilities may appear only in the aforementioned fevered imaginations.)
