“And the world didn’t end,” she responded, wriggling closer and kissing him gently.
“No, the world didn’t end.” He returned her kiss. “In fact, it feels like it’s just beginning to spin for me.”
Her heart stammered. “That’s exactly what I was just thinking.”
“Oh?”
She nodded towards the open window. “It’s a new day.”
“A new day,” he echoed, nodding, drawing her to his chest and holding her there.
If it was possible to capture a moment and store the essence of it, then she wanted it to be this moment. Pleasure and euphoria surfed through her, so she wondered how it was possible she’d ever known such devastation. But there was no need to trap the happiness of this moment—she knew there’d be many, many more, just like it. Besides, neither of them was going anywhere.
They lay like that a long time, silent, unspeaking, until memories of plans began to pull at Millie, intruding on their restful silence.
“What time is it?”
“Nearly ten.”
She made a soft groan. “I have to get up.”
“No, you don’t. You’re the Emira of Abu Qara. You can do whatever you’d like.”
“What I’d like is to stay here all day,” she admitted, shifting her face so she could see him better. “But Farrah and I are meeting this morning.”
He groaned. “My sister.”
“Yes.” Emotions were rich in the words, because they both knew the truth of the relationship, and both understood that bloodlines didn’t mean a thing when there was proper, generous love.
“She’s flying out tonight—I don’t want to miss a chance to catch up.”
“Of course not,” he agreed, shifting a little so she could wriggle away. But she didn’t. Not just yet.
“She’ll understand if I’m a bit late,” Millie giggled, moving back and hugging him, so she felt the deep, rumbling laugh that came from his broad chest.
Heaven on earth wrapped around her and she smiled, surrendering to her contentment completely.
“So you see,we were both wrong,” Millie sighed, over a cup of herbal tea. “Your brother is very capable of love.”
“Oh, I always thought he was capable of it,” Farrah nodded sagely. “Just too stubborn to actually admit that.”
“Me too.”
“I’m glad we were wrong,” Farrah admitted.
“Me too,” Millie repeated, laughing. “What brings you here, anyway? You didn’t mention you were planning a trip.”
“Actually, that was all Zaf.”
Millie raised a brow. “Oh?”
“I take it you know about his mother?” Farrah hedged, scanning her best friend’s eyes, evidently worried she’d say something she wasn’t supposed to.
Millie nodded gently. “Yes, he’s told me.” She leaned closer. “And now, he’s told you?”
“And Aziz. He wanted to be sure there would be no challenges to this little one’s rightful place on the throne.”
Millie’s heart turned over. “I didn’t know he was worried about that.”