After he had made love to her gently, but arousing her spiritually and physically to new sensations that she had not known existed, she had gone to sleep in his arms.
Yet, even as she slept, she held onto him for fear that in the morning she would wake and find that he had vanished.
But he was there beside her and there was the song of the gondoliers and the golden sunshine percolating through the curtains, which she knew hid one of the most beautiful views in the world.
‘I am in Venice – I am married and Ivan – loves me!’ Alana’s heart was singing. ‘Thank You, God – oh, thank You!’
As if the very intensity of her prayer communicated itself to the Prince, he opened his eyes and in the dim light saw her face near to his.
Then there was sudden warmth in his expression as he smiled.
He
