“Do you love him?”

  “I—” The words stuck in her mouth. “I’m not sure.”

  “What do you need to be sure? For him to ride up to your apartment on a white horse, wearing shining armor? Do you need him to be a knight or a king? Or is it love at first sight you’re looking for? What do you think love actually is?”

  “We had that,” she blurted out. “I mean—not love at first sight. It wasn’t love at first sight. It was an attraction—” It had felt magic, yes. It had been a kind of magic. “It was attraction, and the more time we spent together, the more time I wanted to spend with him. And the more I saw that he was dedicated and loyal and a prince—”

  “Ah,” her mother said with a laugh. “So you do love him.”

  “I do love him,” she admitted, and it felt good to do it, but also unbearably sad. Heartbreakingly sad. “I love him. I miss him every minute he’s not here. I hate sleeping anywhere that’s not his bed. But what he plans to do to his grandparents’ palace is a travesty. I can’t look past his disregard for love and history. I can’t condone it. I don’t want a man who doesn’t believe in love, too.”

  “Are you sure that’s what he believes?”

  The soft question wended its way through the internet, all the way across the ocean, and landed in Piper’s ears, in her heart. A part of her wanted to hope that Camil had changed, that he didn’t look at his grandparents’ story as a commercial opportunity. But a part of her thought it was extremely unlikely. When she was younger, she’d wanted her father to change, too. She’d wanted him to somehow set everything right and make life less complicated, less painful. But he never had. Why should she expect the same from Camil?

  “Yes,” she told her mother. “I’m sure.”

  13

  The moment Camil was back in the palace, he sent for Farah. He had dinner plans to make. His assistant appeared a few minutes later. She stepped into his office and closed the door behind her.

  “Good morning,” he told her. “I need your help. Faidh and Amare helped me come up with a plan for dinner, but it will take some coordination. How are you, by the way?”

  Her silence went on a beat too long, and Camil looked up from the notes he’d jotted down about the dinner to see Farah standing near the door, her hands clasped in front of her, her expression cold. A bolt of shock hit him. In all her time at the palace, she had always been professional and courteous. Warm, even. He hardly recognized this look on her face.

  Camil dropped the page of notes on his desk and straightened up. “Is there a problem, Farah?”

  “I would like to request permission to speak candidly.” Her tone was as stiff as he’d ever heard it.

  “Of course.” His heart picked up its pace. He’d probably regret giving her this permission, but it was done, and if one of his closest staff members felt compelled to speak with him in this way, he owed it to her to listen.

  Farah took a long, slow breath. “You have made the biggest mistake of your life.”

  He’d half-expected her to say something like that, but it hit him like a punch to the gut. And Farah wasn’t finished yet.

  “Piper is moments away from realizing she doesn’t need to stay in Al-Fahr to finish her book. She could go home to the United States, and if she does that, we will have lost her.” Farah’s voice trembled as she said it, and Camil realized all at once that he’d been self-centered and foolish to think that he was the only one who’d feel the effects of Piper’s absence. She and Farah had had a friendship, and people in the palace had grown to expect Piper. And then there was what his father had said, the thing that had shaken him to his core—she’d changed Camil. Piper had made him better for everyone in the palace, and a better man for himself.

  Farah had seen that, too.

  He put on his most confident smile. “Don’t worry. I have a plan.”

  She scoffed. His father’s assistant actually scoffed at him, breaking his gaze to look out the window, as if something out there could save her from his foolishness. “I hope you’ve planned something good. Piper doesn’t deserve lip service. She deserves only the best. It needs to be the real deal.”

  “Farah,” he said. “I love her.”

  It was another first—he’d never seen Farah looked so shocked. Sheikhs and princes didn’t throw around declarations of love. They didn’t boldly admit them to staff members as a matter of course. Their feelings might be visible, but they’d leave themselves room to deny or maneuver—that’s what it was to live in the public eye. A man who went around pronouncing his love would be open to manipulation.

  “You do?” Farah had found her voice, and it was for this single question. Equally stunning, since he was her employer, and many royals in the past had not tolerated second-guessing from the staff. Under any circumstances.

  “I love her,” he repeated. “I love her, and I won’t let her down.”

  Farah’s lips curved into a smile. “That’s good,” she said. “Now. About this dinner. What do you need?”

  Sometimes, being pregnant was so exhausting she couldn’t stand it. Piper had retreated to bed with a book. A read and a nap. That was the ticket.

  She was a few chapters in when a knock sounded at the door. Piper groaned and turned over, maneuvering the book into a better position. Whoever it was could come back later.

  They knocked again.

  This time, she threw off the blankets and padded across the tiny apartment to the door. For god’s sake, yes, she had promised not to shut herself in the apartment, and she hadn’t. She’d gone out for walks and grocery shopping and even visited a bookstore. But that didn’t mean she wanted visitors. Right now, all she wanted was to drift to sleep mid-chapter.

  Piper pulled open the door. “Farah, I—”

  Farah wasn’t alone. She was accompanied by a palace security guard.

  “Wait here,” Farah told him, and bustled into Piper’s apartment without waiting for permission. She had a garment bag over one shoulder. “You need to get dressed,” she said to Piper. “I have a surprise for you.”

  “Could we do it another day? I’m not in the mood for—” Farah silenced her by pointing toward the bathroom with a steely expression on her face. “Fine, fine.”

  Piper went to the bathroom and stepped aside to let Farah hang up the garment bag on the shower rod. Her friend unzipped the bag and pulled out the dress.

  Her heart stuttered. Oh—oh. “Is this from Camil?” Piper’s pulse drummed its fingertips on the side of her neck. It was a creation in deep blue with gold embroidery that would look stunning on her. It was stunning all by itself.

  Farah only smiled. “Let’s fix your hair first.”

  They moved out to the living room, where there was room for Farah to fuss with Piper’s hair. Over the course of the next half hour, Piper peppered her with questions.

  “I’m under orders not to say a word,” Farah told her as she swiped on makeup. “Orders from Camil.” She pursed her lips. “It’s a romantic plan, and that’s all I’m going to say. Anything more and my job is at risk.” She winked at Piper, but she wouldn’t say anything else.

  The driver took them back to the palace in a blacked-out SUV, Piper in the blue gown and Farah sitting next to her, chatting about the beautiful weather. She wasn’t sure what she expected out of a romantic plan, but Piper felt almost dizzy with it as the SUV pulled up in front of the palace. They usually took her through the back. Farah waited as a guard helped her out of the car. The two women walked up the wide steps to the palace together. That same agent opened the door for them, and Piper stepped into the cool of the foyer. It seemed like a lifetime ago she’d been late for that meeting with the prince.

  Piper waved at the man behind the reception desk, who waved back, a smile on his face. “You’re not going to tell me now, are you?” she asked Farah.

  “Not a chance.” Farah walked at her side through the halls of the palace until she paused at a door leading out to one of the many garden courtyards. “This is it,” she said. “Enjoy yourself.” And Piper was left alone.

  She stepped through the doors and into the garden.

  Camil stood by a table, flowers bursting into bloom all around, candles flickering on the table. It was an elegant setting, with fine china and a spray of flowers across the white tablecloth, but nothing was as beautiful as he was in his tuxedo. His hazel eyes glinted in the fading light. Soon it would be night, and they’d have candlelight between them and the lights hanging in the garden trees.

  The prince held out his hand, and Piper felt herself move toward him as if she were in a dream. Only it wasn’t a dream, and she very much wanted to touch him. It would feel so good to have his skin on hers, even if this was the last time.

  Camil tucked her hand into his arm, the way he had done almost every day they’d known each other, and looked down into her eyes. “You look beautiful. Sit with me.”

  He led her to the chair and pulled it out, and she sat. The evening breeze rippled over her hair, warm and reassuring, and Camil took his seat across from her. Oh, he took her breath away, with the sharp line of his jaw and the dark fall of his hair and even the way he moved, strong and confident. He met her eyes.

  “Hi,” Piper said.

  “Hi.” He put his napkin into his lap, and she unfolded hers. “I’ve been doing a lot of thinking.”

  Piper braced herself. Whatever he was going to say, he planned to say it before the staff came with food. She had no idea what that meant. Before she could ask, before she could formulate the question, Camil pulled a roll of paper out from behind his seat.

  He unrolled it and handed it to her across the table. “Plans?” she said. “For—”

  The puzzle assembled itself as Camil spoke. “For the desert palace.” His voice sent a shiver of pleasure along her nerves. How had she gone without hearing it? “I’m going to have the palace renovated so that it’s restored to its original elegance. The utilities will be modernized, but otherwise it will be as it was when my great-grandparents built it. We will keep as much of its historic appeal as possible.”

  Tears burned in her eyes. “You’re not going to tear it apart?”

  “No,” he said with a laugh. “No. I thought it might be our getaway for when we need a break from the world. An oasis for us to enjoy together. When we’re not in residence, it will be open to the public as a historic site so that the world can learn about Al-Fahr’s history, including my great-grandparents’ love story. The real story.” Piper looked up in time to catch his wink. “They built something so special that it echoed through time. It was not perfect, not right away. But it was made better and stronger because they woke up and chose each other every day.”

  “Camil...”

  “Every day,” he said softly, and it was difficult to be sure in the candlelight, but Piper thought his hands might be trembling. “That’s what I envision for us.” He took a deep breath. “I love you, Piper. I choose you, and I would choose you over anything. I didn’t believe love could be anything but trouble and heartache, and—” A grin spread across his face. “I’ll admit. It does hurt. It hurts to love you so much. There is that heartache. But I want it every day of my life. I never want to spend another moment without you. I love you so much.”

  A tear spilled down her cheek. Was it possible to die of happiness? Maybe. “I love you too,” she told him. “I missed you so much.”

  He came to her then, raising her out of her seat with a hand, and kissed her so deeply it took Piper’s breath away.

  14

  She never wanted this kiss to stop.

  I missed you, Camil’s kiss said, in its sweet softness.

  I need you, it said, as it turned to harder passion.

  Please, it said, as he coaxed her lips apart with his tongue and tasted her.

  She knew. She felt it all. Piper needed him as much as he needed her, and she had never felt such relief in her life. Both hands pressed against the front of his tux, she relished the sensation of him—tall and strong and hers. He was hers. He had chosen her, and it filled a void inside of her that she hadn’t allowed herself to feel. It would have followed her home, she knew now. It would have followed her for the rest of her life. She would have missed him this much every day, every moment—

  Piper pulled back, catching her breath, laughing. She leaned forward to kiss the skin above his collar, and Camil’s arms tightened around her waist.

  “Wait, wait.” With the gentlest pressure on his chest, she stopped him from kissing her again. If she didn’t tell him now, he’d keep kissing her forever, and she’d never have a chance to tell him the news. “I wanted you to know. I found out—the tech at the doctor’s office said—” She shook her head. “We’re having a son.”

  Camil’s eyes went wide, and then there was no stopping him. He swept her fully into his arms for another kiss that tasted like crackling excitement and hope.

  And desire.

  Desire for Camil—for his touch, for his body—but desire for the future, too. The hairs on the backs of her arms pulled up at the thought of him cradling their infant son, beaming down at him in the delivery room. At the thought of him in a recliner with their baby on his chest. The thought of him waking her up in the morning with a kiss to the curve of her neck, quiet, so they wouldn’t wake the baby. All the tiny moments she had been ready to walk away from.

  It would have been such a terrible mistake.

  She locked her arms tight around his neck and kissed him back harder. He tasted so clean, so wonderful, and it lit her up. Her veins seemed to glow like the lights in the trees, round, white lanterns that reminded her of the sun, of the moon, of everything.

  “Take me to bed,” she said into his mouth.

  Camil kissed her back one more time with a laugh. “I will take you directly to bed after we enjoy our meal.” Piper groaned as he set her back on her feet, his hand brushing over her belly. It had popped in the last few days, a visible bump where there had only been the suggestion of one before, and a hush came over her. “I want to properly celebrate.”

  She was touched. Piper wanted Camil in bed, but this? A candlelit dinner in the garden? He’d obviously set it up himself, planned for it, and sent Farah to help her get ready so they could both exist in the magic of it together. So much of their relationship had been centered on the bedroom.

  Piper took Camil’s arm. “Take me to dinner first, then. Celebrate with me.”

  When they were seated, the staff appeared on cue, and the whole future unfurled on the table between them. Over the soup course, Camil said, “Amir.”

  At first, she had no idea what he was talking about—and then she understood. “I’ve always liked Sean.”

  “Sean, prince of Al-Fahr,” Camil mused. “He would be unique, that’s for certain.”

  “He’ll be unique no matter what we name him. He’s your son.”

  Camil’s eyes shone in the candlelight. “Private school?”

  “I never went to private school,” Piper pointed out. “Maybe we send him to the local nursery.”

  “That means we’d have to visit the local nursery,” Camil said as the main course was served. “It would mean warning the local nursery that royalty was about to descend. They might not like it.”

  “They might be honored. We’d have to ask. What about home?”

  Camil cocked his head to the side. “The US?”

  “Yes.” Piper swallowed a lump in her throat. “I want him to meet my mother. I want him to know my mother, and even my dad, if he—if he would be able to handle that. If I would be able to handle it. I don’t know how they would do that if we’re always—”

  He reached across the table and took her hand. “We’ll spend time in the US, too. Enough time so that our son can get to know his grandparents and have a relationship. That’s where your home is, and he’ll know it, too.”

  “You’re where my home is,” Piper said. A smile played over Camil’s lips. “But I do miss my family. So I’m glad to hear you say that.”

  “I want to take him all over the world,” Camil said quietly. “I want to show him everything, with you by my side.”

  Piper stayed by his side for the rest of the evening. When dinner was over, he offered her his arm and they walked slowly through the palace, the staff keeping out of their way. She felt so warm. So secure. They were finally on equal footing.

  Camil closed the door behind them and looked into her eyes. “I would love nothing more than to take you to bed.”

  Piper bent down and pulled the hem of her dress up and up and up until it came over her head, leaving her in a filmy slip that showed off her bump and hid very little from Camil. She hadn’t worn anything else underneath. “I want to be on top,” she said.

  His face darkened with want, and she thrilled at this proof that she’d unlocked something in him. “Only after I taste you,” he said.

  Some wall had come down, and Camil was on her the next moment, kissing down her neck as he took her to the bed. He stripped off her slip and kissed all the way down her body, lingering over her bump. He skimmed his hands over the soft skin there, tracing that curve, and then he pressed one final kiss to her belly button.

  He stretched her out on the bed and spread her legs, climbing between them and bending low.

  Camil licked her with complete abandon, as if she were the best thing he’d ever tasted, as if he had been waiting all night for this and the decadent chocolate mousse they’d been served at dessert had been as exciting as a spoonful of Hershey’s syrup. She lost herself in his tongue and his teeth, and Piper, gripping the comforter, let pleasure expand outward until it was too big to contain in one body.

  Her orgasm melted over her in shuddering waves, and she barely caught her breath enough to get her fingers into Camil’s hair. “On top,” she managed. “On top, please.”

  His clothes were off in a heartbeat. Camil wrapped her up in his arms and turned them over.