And so was her sister.
Maggie had checked in a few times during the past couple of days. She and Ava had chatted over the phone, and Ava was anxious to see her mom. Apparently, the weather emergency in Barcelona had been dealt with, and Maggie was able to get back to Sovalon where she awaited their return at the hotel.
As much as Kyra wished she could ignore the calls of both reality and her sister, she knew she had to get back into the swing of her daily life. The question was how would Marcus fit into that life? Was there a space for him? If not, was she willing to make one?
It was a question she wouldn’t have entertained a few days ago, but these last two days, Marcus had proven himself in ways she never would have expected. Last night, he’d shared so much of his own life struggles. She appreciated his honesty and his efforts, not to mention his attentiveness in the bedroom.
That man could certainly shake her down and make her toes curl. A wave of desire swelled inside of her as memories of last night’s lovemaking played out in her mind. Marcus’s voice pulled her from her thoughts.
“All set?” he asked and placed a hand on her shoulder. She stood and slid closer to him.
“Not really,” she said and pulled a face. “Wish we had another day or two.”
“Me too.” His grin broadened, and he reached out to tuck a stray curl behind her ear. “I’m glad you feel that way,” he said, and she shrugged.
“It’s been like a dream here, Marcus,” she whispered. “Highly unexpected, but really wonderful. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t enjoy spending time with you here.”
“Well, there’s no reason we can’t continue to spend time together back in the city.”
She nodded, but she knew the magic of this place couldn’t possibly follow them back.
“Where are yours and Ava’s bags?” he asked. “I’ll take them out to your car for you.”
“Hi, Prince Marcus!” Ava called out and hopped down from her stool onto her good foot.
“Well, good morning, Ava!” Marcus beamed at Ava, and Kyra noted that his affection for her niece was truly genuine. Marcus really connected with Ava.
“How was your breakfast, my dear?” he asked.
“I love pancakes, and I love strawberries, and I love chocolate milk…”
Kyra laughed as Ava once again proclaimed her adoration of all breakfast foods. She watched as Marcus grabbed a napkin and wiped Ava’s mouth and cheeks, impressed by his fatherly instinct.
Maybe he could fit into her life… Kyra brushed the thought aside. It really was too soon to know.
“Looks like you were saving a little chocolate milk for later,” he said and patted her on the head. She threw her arms around his legs.
“I like you, Prince Marcus,” Ava said, staring up at him. “You’re a nice prince.”
Kyra had to bite her fist to stop herself from giggling out loud.
Marcus got down to eye level with Ava and looked her straight in the eye. “Well, you know what, Ava?”
“What?” Ava placed a hand on each hip and stuck her sassy chin out.
“I like you too,” he said. “In fact, I like you so much, I’d like to crown you honorary Princess of Sovalon.”
He really was too much. But again, Kyra thought, he seemed sincere.
Ava’s eyes stretched wide and her mouth formed into a big O. “Really?”
“Yep,” he said and scooped her into his arms. “We don’t have any princesses here in Sovalon, just me and my two brothers,” he said and winked at Kyra. “I think we could use one. What do you think?”
Ava tapped on her chin for a few seconds, seeming to ponder Marcus’s proposition.
“Do I have to live in your castle?” she asked. “Because I have an apartment at home, and my best friend Serena lives downstairs, and she has this puppy named Jojo—”
“Nope, nope,” he said, interrupting her. “That’s why you’re an honorary princess, Ava. You can live anywhere you like.”
Ava shrugged. “Okay then,” she said. “You got yourself a princess!”
“Oh, my Lord,” Kyra said and shook her head at Ava. “Girl, you are a princess now. Wait until we tell your mama.”
Ava grinned.
“Now head out to the car.” Kyra handed her her crutches and pointed her toward the front door. “Prince Charming here is gonna grab our bags, and I’ll be right there.”
“Okay, Auntie Kyra,” Ava said, then formed her lips into a fake pout. “But don’t keep me waiting. Princesses don’t like to wait too long.”
Kyra shook her head, and she and Marcus shared a laugh. They marveled as Ava used her crutches like a pro to make her way to the limo. Marcus grabbed Ava’s overnight bag and Kyra’s small suitcase and they left the house together.
Once outside, Kyra couldn’t fight the insatiable urge to kiss Marcus. She tapped him on the shoulder, and when he turned around to face her, she planted a sweet kiss onto his lips.
As a smile lit up his face, she heard a clicking noise coming from the bushes beside the porch. Before she could investigate the sound, Ava popped her head out of the limo.
“Are you coming?”
“Yes, Princess Ava, we are,” Marcus said and laughed. He hopped down the steps toward the limo. “Get your seatbelt on. We like our princesses to be safe.” He pushed Ava’s passenger door shut.
Kyra stood on the porch and watched Marcus hand the luggage to the driver. She inhaled the fresh country air and took the steps slowly down to the driveway. As sad as she was to leave, Ava’s antics had cheered her, and Marcus’s interactions with her niece gave her hope that they really might have some sort of future together.
Marcus met her in the driveway and looked her straight in the eyes, a wistful but satisfied look on his face. “You’re all set,” he said. He stood there, looking so sexy with his thumbs tucked into the front pockets of his jeans, his crew neck shirt hugging his chest and abs. Without planning to, Kyra edged closer and planted her lips onto his again. He responded immediately, folding her into his arms and kissing her back sweetly.
Suddenly Kyra heard another series of clicks, and a flash assaulted her eyes.
“What the hell?” she asked, then realized it was a photographer. He must have been hiding in the bushes.
Marcus stepped into action immediately. “This is private property,” he told the man. “I could have you arrested for trespassing.”
“Easy, bro,” the young man said and snapped another picture. Marcus stepped forward to try to grab the camera, but the man sprinted off down the lane.
“Does this happen to you often?” Kyra asked, feeling both annoyed and a little stunned.
“Unfortunately, yes,” Marcus admitted. “No matter where I try to hide, the press finds me.”
“Jesus.” Kyra shook her head. “What happened to respect of privacy?”
Marcus shrugged and made a guilty face. “It flew further out the window every time I gave them another juicy story to run, I guess,” he said. “My social life has always been more interesting than anything else that goes down in the royal family.”
With those words, Marcus leaned in and kissed her goodbye, his lips leaving her both wanting more and worried about the wanting. She slid into the limo and made sure Kyra was, in fact, buckled in.