The Royal Romance - The Valtoria Diaries

I never said never

"Ooh, this is a good one..." He pulled the card all the way out of the box, and his blue eyes shot her a mischievous glint. "If you could move anywhere, where would it be?"

She pondered on that for a moment, as his fingers fidgeted about the corners of the Love Questions box. She stretched her nightie-clad body out on the bed, and let her head fall into his lap; he was sitting up straight against the headboard of the bed. "That's tricky."

"Tricky? It's impossible! So many amazing places out there I've never even been to! Australia, Africa, South America... ooh, Antarctica! Think of the penguins!"

"You've gotta live there though," she reminded him. "I obviously can't say here, because I couldn't move here.. although there's nowhere else I'd rather live." She mimed a kiss up to him, gazing up at his upside down face from where she lay in his lap.

"That is cheating. Where would you move to?"

She pondered some more. "I think I'd move back to New York you know. I think it just holds so many special memories for us. I liked living there, and I think you'd love it."

"Hey, just take the words right out of my mouth, Jen, why don't you?"

She giggled, reaching up to touch his mouth, which he opened playfully.

"Maybe one day we'll move there for a bit," he went on. "Then I can drink all the cw-affeeee."

"Here's your next one," she said, licking her lips and looking at the card she'd just picked out. "Oh." This was a question she really wanted to know the answer to, and she could feel her face light up with excitement. "When did you first know you were in love with me?"

He didn't say anything, just looked back at her, a little stunned.

She put the card back in the box. "Hey. Not like you to be speechless."

He laughed, running his fingers through his hair.

"Come on, babe, I've wanted to know this for aaages. You know when I knew? I'm pretty sure I told you.." It was in Paris, just after she and Drake had found Savannah. For a couple of long, excruciating minutes, Jen had been convinced that Maxwell and Savannah were together; and the crushing pain she'd felt as a result had confirmed something she'd been thinking was a possibility for some time.

"I'm pretty sure you did too, but you are very welcome to tell me again..."

She glared at him. "You are stalling for time, Maxwell Beaumont."

"Okay, okay." He sighed. "It was the night of the Coronation Ball."

Ohhh. That early. She'd not expected that. "Wow."

He nodded. "I'd obviously had strong feelings for you before that, but.. that was the night it hit me. I guess it was because I thought that was it. Everything was going to change. You and me, on that staircase, putting the world to rights.."

The memory was vivid, and she felt a shiver down her spine. "Oh god, I just wanted to give you a clue how I felt. There was no point in telling you outright at that point."

"Well, that didn't come across. I was still clueless."

She giggled. "The blatant 'am I ever gonna see you shirtless' comment didn't even give you a little hint?"