“On our honeymoon,” I answer, kissing her lips and then buckling her in.
The crew finish doing all the checks and offer us beverages as we get ready for takeoff. My plane is loaded and I’ve got a three-month vacation planned with my queen to celebrate our joining.
“Yes, but where?” She sips her champagne and smiles so brightly I can’t deny her anything.
“My gift to you, my queen.” I pull the map out of my suit and hand it over to her.
She takes a second to look at it and then look at me before she opens it up.
“What are all these red dots?” she asks, studying the countries.
I lean in close and press my lips to her ear. “All the places I’m going to fuck my wife.”
“Karim,” she says, blushing and looking around to see if anyone heard him.
We are very much alone, as the crew is minimal and getting ready for takeoff.
“Do you not like your present?” I ask, rubbing my nose against the shell of her ear.
I breathe her in, and she smells like cotton candy and all the things I crave. I want to lick every inch of her and then make love to her all night. I don’t know if I can wait for the plane to take flight before I pull her into the bedroom in the back.
“I love it,” she murmurs, her cheeks deepening with color.
Our wedding was perfect and was everything Giselle dreamed of. And that was the most important part. I wanted her to be happy, and the smile I saw on her face was enough for me to know I succeeded.
The ceremony was short, and so was the welcoming of guests. The reception was just what she asked for, and I danced with her for as long as she wanted. But when she said she was ready to be alone with me, I scooped her up in my arms and nearly ran out of the ballroom.
“You told me how you wanted to see the world, and I wanted to make that happen. So you’ll see a lot of beds in a lot of countries for the next few weeks.”
“Karim,” she chastises, rolling her eyes. But the smile there tells me she likes the idea just as much as I do.
“You know, it’s a good thing I stole you and made you marry me,” I say, kissing her hand.
“I don’t think you actually stole me. I went along willingly.” Her smile is teasing, but she leans up and kisses my cheek. “I’d gladly go along willingly again.”
“I’d gladly hunt you again.” My smile turns predatory, and she licks her lips. “Maybe I should show you the rest of the plane.”
“Maybe you should,” she says, her words filled with need.
“You wish is my command, my queen,” I reply, and carry her to the back.
Epilogue
Giselle
Five years later…
I lick the remaining cream cheese off my finger, moaning at the delicious taste. I’m remaking a pastry that the boys and Karim and I made while taking family cooking class in Paris two weeks ago while on vacation. Since that night I can’t stop eating cream cheese. I practically put it on everything now.
“You two are just as addicted as me.” I smile down at my growing baby belly before going back to plating the pastries.
We spent two weeks in Paris before coming home, knowing it would be our last trip for over a year. I wouldn’t be allowed to travel anymore, and I wouldn’t want to be far from home once the twins arrive.
When Karim and I first married we traveled a ton until our first son, Evan, came. Then when he started crawling around we took a few trips, but I only ended up pregnant again. I didn’t mind. I once thought I could spend my life traveling and seeing the world, having been holed up in my father’s estate for so long, but being here with Karim and my boys, I see that wasn’t the case. I was lonely and I thought traveling would fill that void. While I still like to go places and see different cultures, I love home most of all. Where my family is. Everything I could ever want or need is within these walls.
I pick up the plate and head for my king’s office to have my afternoon snack with him and maybe take a little nap on his sofa—something I do pretty often. But I stop when I see a man around my age waiting outside his door. He looks a little out of place. Most people coming to Karim’s office are in some kind of suit, but he’s in jeans and a polo shirt. I glance at the guard standing outside the door, and he gives me a small nod, letting me know it’s okay to talk to the man.
“Hi,” I greet him, offering a friendly smile.
“My queen.” He bows his head a little. Being called that still feels weird even after all these years.
“Please call me Giselle,” I tell him, like I do most people. “Are you waiting for my husband?” I ask, hoping he isn’t. I wanted to lie down in his office for a little bit and eat my snack while the boys slept. We don’t get alone time much, and we like to enjoy it. I always come at the same time every day if he’s working, and he never schedules anything during that time, so I’m a little surprised.
“I just needed to drop something off,” he tells me, and I nod.
“Would you like a pastry?” I hold the plate out to him, but before I even see him, my husband is taking the plate from my hand and out of the other man’s reach.
“Steven,” Karim half-growls, and I roll my eyes, reaching for my plate again.
“Don’t take my food,” I snap at him, drawing his eyes back to me as a smile pulls at his lips. I narrow my eyes at him, but this only makes him smile more. He leans down, pressing his lips against mine in a soft kiss, and I go weak like I always do for him.