Vienna clutched the box against her chest. "That is very kind of you. Thank you." She was not ready to be married, but if she were, Damien was whom she would choose thousand times over, to infinity and beyond. He was so thoughtful and loyal. If the necklace meant something to him, she would honor that, even if she felt a bit like a pretender wearing something so luxuriant.
He kissed her forehead. "Thank you."
With a wide grin at him, she said, "Now, I want you to stay. In fact, I want you to excuse me from fitting duty and take me back to my room so we can..."
He suddenly bent down and put his lips on hers. She leaned into the kiss, into him, and the rest of the world fell away. Damien ran his hands down her back, cradling her closer, enveloping her in his strong embrace.
He held her f
