A Muse Her

Chapter 31

Mateo's heart was full as he gave Maia a tour of the grounds around his home. He'd never been with anyone who was genuinely curious about the many sitting areas by the brook that flowed through the meadows or wanting to sit in the vine covered gazebo by the gently rippling pond nestled in the forest, but he shouldn't be surprised.

Maia was an author and the look on her face as they strolled back to the house told him that her mind was full of ideas and fantastical adventures she was itching to stay up late to write.

And he loved that look of inspiration brimming in her smile and twinkling in her eyes. He chuckled, bringing her hand to his lips. "You look like you're about to get in the zone."

"You know me too well." Maia laughed. "I've got a few scenes rolling around in my head. Vijverwoud is beautiful," she said, looking up at him. "Is this the tour you give everyone to lure them into your bed?"

Mateo let out a bark of laughter and shook his head. "No. This is my sanctuary," he said, tucking her hand in the crook of his arm. "I have an apartment in the city I used for my affairs."

"Oh, right," she said as he opened the door that led into the conservatory full of hanging plants and potted flowers. "Did you bring Saskia here, then?"

"Yes, once." He sighed. "She didn't care for this place. She preferred my place in the city," he said, chuckling softly. "That should've been another red flag because how could I want to share my home with someone who didn't want to be here?"

Maia nodded as they walked inside and up spiral staircase. "Is that what you're looking for? Someone who wants to be here with you?"

"For a long time I didn't think I wanted that," he said, pushing open a set of french doors leading to a sunlit hallway. "Or that I deserved it."

"And why's that?" Maia said, stopping to look up at him. "What makes you think you don't deserve someone to share this with you?"

"Maybe deserve isn't the right word." Mateo pulled her close, pressing his forehead against hers. "I just never thought someone could ever love me for more than being a wealthy prince," he said, kissing her forehead. "Then Eline gave me one of your books to read and it changed my mind."

What?" Maia laughed, pulling away from him. "You're kidding, right?"

"No." He chuckled. "I'm not kidding," he said, taking her hand and leading her across the hall into his office. "Your books made me rethink love and what I deserved."

"Mateo." Maia gasped as she let go of his hand and slowly walked to the bookshelf beside his desk and grazed her fingers over the books. "These...these are all mine," she said, turning back to him. "You said you've only read a few."

A blush burned over his cheeks. "I lied," he said, dragging a hand through his hair. "I've read all your books and before my sister blurts that out at dinner tonight, I wanted to tell you the truth."

"That you're secretly my biggest fan," she said, plucking a heavily worn book from the shelf. "And you've read Prince Kane and Neema's book within an inch of its life?"

Mateo laughed, nodding. "Yes," he said, taking the book from her hand and placing a kiss on her palm. "And I fell in love with you and your words a long time ago. I just didn't know you were who I was looking for until I met you in Colorado."

"And were you lying about throwing a dagger at a map too?" she said, wrapping her arms around his shoulders. "Did your guards find me for you?"

"No, I didn't lie about that. I didn't know where you lived," he said, looking away from her to the map displayed on the wall on the other side of his desk. "The dagger is still there."