The Royal Collection. Rebecca Winters

of his lashes, their brilliant blue color stole her breath. Antonio raised himself up on one elbow. “Well, what do we have here? Could it be the nymph from the fountain holding the seashell?”

      She loved the imagery. He’d noticed the fountain sculpture in the courtyard in front of the palazzo. “Yes, sire.” His eyes darkened with emotion. “I’m here with your breakfast. Your wife told me you would awaken with a huge appetite.”

      “My wife told you that? Her exact words?”

      “I never lie.”

      “Then will you tell her that spending the day with her yesterday was more than wonderful? But I’ll tell her just how wonderful when we’re alone again today. Those will be words for her ears only.”

      Christina couldn’t prevent the blush that rose into her cheeks. “I’ll be happy to do that after I’ve served you your breakfast.” She got up and put the tray in front of him. “Do you wish me to leave? You have only to command me.”

      “Then I command you to bring that chair over to the side of the bed and we’ll enjoy this food together.”

      She smiled secretly and moved it next to the bed. “Your wife won’t mind?”

      He flicked her an all-encompassing gaze. “She might. A woman serving me breakfast who looks as gorgeous as you might worry, so I think we’ll keep this moment to ourselves. How does that sound to you?”

      She reached for a roll and bit into it. “You flatter me, sire.”

      “I haven’t even started. That’s quite an outfit you’re wearing.”

      Christina drank some orange juice and reached for a strip of bacon. “You like it?”

      “I can’t keep my eyes off you. Do you serve all the men like that?”

      “What men? You’re the only one on this whole island.”

      He ate his food in record time. “That’s good because if I found out otherwise, I’d have to confine you to a room in the palace where I have the only key.”

      Their conversation was getting sillier and sillier, but she loved it. She loved him.

      “What are your plans for today, sire?”

      “This and that.”

      “Does your wife know about that?”

      His eyes narrowed on her mouth. “She’ll find out.”

      “I see.” Her heart jumped. “Well, if you’ve finished your breakfast, I’ll take the tray back to the kitchen.”

      “Grazie. When you see her, tell her I want her to come to me. Now. I don’t like to be kept waiting.”

      She trembled as she reached for the tray. “Si, Your Highness.”

      * * *

      The second his wife left the bedroom on those long, shapely legs, Antonio headed for the shower and freshened up. Since she’d already put on her bikini, he pulled on a fresh pair of white bathing trunks. When he’d told her last night he could eat her alive, he hadn’t been kidding.

      “Ciao, Antonio.” She was looking at one of the brochures while waiting for him.

      “I understood you wanted to see me?” Her smile curved so seductively he wanted to throw her on the bed and stay there all day, but he resisted the urge. She was a fetching siren. Who would have guessed?

      “How would you like to go to the nearby island with the waterfall? Manu says it’s a short hike, but worth it if you’re wearing tennis shoes.”

      “I love hikes. I did it all over Switzerland and Kenya.”

      She was amazing. “Manu told me it’s off-limits to everyone else while we’re here on our honeymoon.”

      Her eyes lit up. “A whole island to ourselves? Let’s do it! I’ll pack us some food so we don’t have to come back for dinner.”

      “Why not pack enough food in case we want to stay there overnight?”

      “You mean sleep by the waterfall?”

      He smiled at her. It was all he could think about. “Why not? Haven’t you ever wondered what it would be like to be Tarzan and Jane?”

      She chuckled in response. “Yes. Many times.”

      “We’ll take the speedboat.”

      With their day decided, they packed things in the backpacks supplied by the resort, including light blankets, food and water. Antonio rang Manu to let him know where they were going. Then they left their retreat and took off for one of the dark green islands they could see in the distance that was taller than the others.

      “The lagoon never changes, Antonio. It’s like eternal beauty all the time. I’ve never been this excited to do anything.”

      She was reading his mind. They skimmed across the gorgeous blue water before reaching the white beach. Once they’d drunk some bottled water, they headed for the trail Manu said would be visible. Sure enough, they found it and started up the incline.

      “The vegetation is so lush!” she exclaimed.

      “Our own rain forest.” Their gazes clung before they got going on their trek. It took them less time to reach their destination than to have kayaked over there. Flowers grew in abundance. They spotted terns and swallows. The water came down in a stream, small at first, then widening before they reached the waterfall itself.

      “Oh, Antonio—it reminds me of a waterfall scene in an old movie I once saw, but I think it was filmed in Hawaii.”

      “This is as primitive as it gets.” He helped her off with her pack and gave her a long kiss. Then he removed his.

      “Isn’t that spray marvelous? Look up there. If we can get on those rocks, we can ride the water down to the pool,” she said.

      “Let me test the depth of it first.” He walked over to the edge and waded in the swirling water. He discovered that after a few steps there was a drop-off, but when he swam underwater he found it was only about twenty feet deep. When he emerged, he waved to her. “Come on in. It’s safe but a little cooler than the lagoon. Keep your tennis shoes on.”

      For several hours they played in the water like children. Eventually they climbed up the side to reach the spot where the water from the mountain poured over the top of the rocks. He turned to his wife. “Shall we do it?”

      “Yes.”

      “Scared?”

      “Terrified.”

      “Take my hand.”

      Together they moved onto the slippery rocks and before long the strength of the waterfall washed over them, plunging them down into the pool. Christina came up laughing. “Oh, Antonio—talk about a rush! This just couldn’t be real.”

      He swam to her and kissed her over and over again while keeping them afloat. “We’ve found paradise, innamorata. How about one more jump, and then we’ll make camp for the night?”

      Once again they hiked up the side to the top. Before they went out on the rocks, he plucked a white flower with a gardenia scent, growing on a nearby vine. He tucked it behind her ear. “Now you’re my Polynesian princess.”

      Her eyes wandered over him. “I don’t ever want to go home.”

      “Then we won’t.” He grabbed her hand and they inched their way onto the rocks until the force of the water took them over the edge. It was like free-falling into space until the water caught them and brought them to the surface.

      Together they swam to the edge of the pool where they’d left their packs. He helped her out of the water and they proceeded to set up camp. After they’d made their bed, they put out the food. The exertion had made them hungry. They sat across from each