They exited the Rolls and hurried up the carpet as a group of reporters clamored from behind a line a couple hundred feet away. Nico sent her before him, catching her around the waist when she stumbled on the stairs and righting her.
“Careful, cara,” he said in her ear as her heart thudded from his nearness and the sizzling touch of his fingers through her clothes. She made it the rest of the way without incident, greeting the flight attendant at the door with a quick smile.
Two men sat at one of the polished mahogany tables, rising when she and Nico entered the plush black and gold interior. They both bowed and one motioned to a folder on the table.
“The documents are ready, Your Highness,” he said. “We can perform the ceremony as soon as you wish.”
Lily whirled to Nico. “Ceremony?”
Nico took her hand in his and squeezed, his eyes flashing a warning. “Why wait, cara mia?”
“Wait?” she repeated, her brain having trouble catching up to what, in her heart, she knew he was telling her.
“We are ready,” he told the men, anchoring her to his side with an arm wrapped around her. He looked straight into her eyes as he said the next part. “You may marry us now.”
Chapter Six
Nico watched a range of emotions cross Lily’s face. Shock, anger, fear—and resignation, grazie a Dio. She would not fight him this time.
“Why does it have to be now? Like this?” she asked.
He touched her cheek, wasn’t surprised when she flinched, and dropped his hand away. He’d expected her to be transformed this afternoon, but not quite like she had been. She was more beautiful than he’d thought possible. He couldn’t put his finger on it. Was it the smooth silkiness of her hair? The creamy velvet of her skin? Her wide, green eyes that were filled with mistrust?
He didn’t know, but he was having trouble remembering that he was supposed to be angry with her. He couldn’t forget what she’d done to him, but now was not the time to dwell on it or to allow it to color his actions. There was plenty of time yet to deal with her treachery. And he would most certainly do so.
“A variety of reasons, Liliana,” he said. “You must trust me.”
She blinked. “Trust you? How do you expect me to do that?”
He grasped her arm gently and tugged her away from the magistrate and his assistant. Nico turned her so her view of the two men was blocked. He put his hands on her shoulders, slid them up to her face, cupped her cheeks and stroked her skin. Her breath caught, sending a warm current of need through him. Dio, if nothing else, he would enjoy taking her to his bed.
He might be marrying her out of honor and duty, but there were parts of it he could enjoy. Would enjoy. He’d certainly done so before.
“We must do this for Daniele,” he said softly, knowing those words above all others would soothe her. He could tell her they had to marry now, in France, before returning to Montebianco, but he didn’t think it would persuade her.
He could also tell her that his father was furious, that Antonella’s father and brother were demanding retribution, and that unless they married right now, she would very probably be arrested on her return to Montebianco and thrown back into the fortress on charges of receiving stolen property and trafficking in antiquities.
He had no idea whether it was true or not—he was beginning to suspect it wasn’t, though it was still quite odd that priceless art would find its way to a street vendor to be sold for a pittance. And yet nothing in her background indicated she knew the first thing about antiquities. But until they located the vendor, or caught the mastermind behind the theft, Lily was vulnerable to charges.
That was why it was now or never. If she went to prison, he would have Daniele—but his son would not have a mother. Nico would not marry Princess Antonella and raise his child with her. He had enough experience as the illegitimate child to know how his son would be treated by a woman who hadn’t given birth to him. He would not take the chance that another woman would view his child as a threat the way Queen Tiziana had always viewed him.
Lily was the boy’s mother. No matter how Nico felt about her, his son deserved a mother who cherished him.
“I want to see my son first,” she said. “I want to know he’s safe and well.”
“He will be arriving in Montebianco very soon, cara mia. The plane carrying him left American airspace over five hours ago. There is no reason to wait.”
She looked both elated and crushed at this news—glad she would be reunited with her baby and sad that her friend had betrayed her. Poor Lily, she’d had no idea that everyone had a price. Those closest to you could always be bought.
“It is time, Liliana.”
She still looked hesitant, as if she would argue, so he dipped his head and touched his lips to hers—light, brief, the barest caress. Shock coursed through him at so simple a touch. He wanted her instantly, wanted to carry her to the back of the plane and the private bedroom there. He wanted to make her his before another hour passed.
He would not, of course. When she didn’t resist, he ran his tongue over the seam of her lips, testing. She opened to him and he invaded, tangling his tongue with hers. Their strokes were light at first, teasing. And then, lightning quick, more desperate. He wasn’t sure who was driving the kiss any longer, but he dug down deep and found his control, pulled back.
She looked dazed. Nico kissed her again, pressing his advantage as she leaned into him and clutched his lapels, moaning so softly that only he could hear.
When he lifted his head this time, they were both breathing a little harder. “Marry me now.”
“Yes,” she whispered.
Nico pulled her back to the two men before the effect of his kisses wore off and she dug in her heels again. He held her hand firmly in his, tried not to dwell on how small and cold it was. She’d not been cold when he’d known her in New Orleans. She’d been warm and innocent and vibrant. To see that gone from her now was oddly disquieting.
The magistrate said a few words, they answered questions when prompted, then signed a couple of documents—and it was done.
“You will file these immediately, si?” Nico said as Lily drifted away from his side and plopped into a seat as if she were on autopilot.
The magistrate handed the folder to his assistant. “Of course, Your Highness. Congratulations.”
“Grazie.”
The plane was airborne within minutes after the two men left the jet. Lily hadn’t moved from the black leather club chair. She absently held the stem of a champagne glass a flight attendant handed her. She hadn’t touched the alcohol. Nico waved off the attendant when she came to offer a refill. Lily turned, her expression troubled.
“How did you manage to do that? Aren’t there laws that must be followed when marrying? Didn’t we need blood tests or documents or something? We’re not even French.”
“Neither were they,” he said. At her quizzical look, he continued. “They were from the Montebiancan embassy, cara. This plane, while I am on it, is Montebiancan soil. Legally we were married in Montebianco, but a copy of our license will be filed in France.”
She shook her head. “I don’t understand.”
Nico sighed. “The marriage is recognized in France because of a reciprocity agreement we have with them. Even the king cannot dissolve our marriage now.”