As their kiss broke Lucas gently nuzzled his nose against hers, noticing how her heart raced as he mentioned their children.
Grace was smiling as she looked up at him.
"Our children", she whispered, a short breath escaping her.
He smiled back at her only to have Grace kiss him once again, her fingers on his chest.
"I love you", he heard her whisper as she slowly moved her lips against his.
Lucas' heart warmed up to a feverish point at hearing her voice laced with emotions.
He pulled her closer to him, kissing her slowly, pouring his heart out to hers.
As their lips parted, he put a stray curl behind her ear, his eyes never leaving hers.
"I love you too, my angel", he murmured gently.
Their fingers intertwined as they walked between the shelves toward the exit.
Grace looked down at her feet as they walked when she heard Lucas' voice.
"I know what you mean about libraries", as she glanced at him with curiosity he gave her a small smile "I was always surrounded by books. My parents were very busy and weren't able to spend much time with me. Many times I would go to bed and would be expected to keep myself busy until the morning. So I read. It was much less lonely with all the interesting characters and stories than in my empty house."
As he spoke they left the library and moved down the corridor.
Grace gently squeezed his fingers before she moved closer to his side and wrapped her arms around his waist as they walked further through the mansion.
"Well, I promise you that we won't live like that", as he looked down at her, she stopped and gently continued "You were also a lonely child, despite having your parents there. I know that our circumstances were different, but we both felt alone. I am sorry that you had such a childhood, my love. But, I can guarantee that we won't live like that. Even if we had to work 20 hours per day, we will still find time to cuddle with our family. Because at the end of the day that's what's most important."
Moved beyond words with Grace's warmth, Lucas hugged her and buried his face into her soft hair, breathing her in.
"I am so happy that I've found you, Grace. So grateful for your love. So blessed that you want to become my wife", he whispered, his voice slightly shaking from love that overwhelmed him.
Grace wrapped her arms around Lucas' waist and placed her cheek on the left side of his chest, his heartbeat lulling her senses into complete relaxation.
A grand clock in the corridor chimed full hour, causing them to slowly pull away from each other. Their gazes met and both of them softly smiled at each other.
Grace noticed how quiet their surroundings were and she slowly looked around.
She never saw this part of the mansion.
"What is this? Where are we?", she asked as she looked back at Lucas.
He gently smiled at her.
"These are the private quarters", he murmured silently as he took her hand in his and slowly continued their tour "Over here are the guest bedrooms, staff bedrooms…", as they reached the end of the corridor, he stopped and looking at her, he whispered "And the main bedroom", his eyes never left hers "My bedroom."
Grace's gaze slowly drifted from his eyes to the doors in front of them and, without even being aware of it, she slightly bit on her lower lip.
Lucas noticed how she held her breath and bit on her lower lip, her fingers never leaving his palms.
His bedroom…
In two months, it will be our bedroom.
Grace took a deep breath in before she looked back at him.
The proximity of his most private space sent her senses into flames. She watched as his eyes caressed her face with warmth and love and she couldn't resist not to step on her tiptoes and kiss him.
Lucas kissed her back, his hands roaming slowly across her back. Grace sneaked her fingers in his glorious hair and tugged at it gently, making him groan in pleasure. The next moment, their kiss deepened and Grace could swear she saw the stars as Lucas' lips sent her straight to Heaven.
Gasping for breath, they pulled away from each other. As he saw her looking up at him, his heart warmed with the love he felt for this amazing woman who loved him so much.
"Come on", he whispered with a soft smile "I want to show you something."
Grace followed him as they turned around and left the private quarters, her heart melting at his love and patience.
They went into a smaller corridor and turned around the corner. Suddenly, the narrowed staircase showed up in front of her eyes and she smiled as she turned to look at him with curiosity.
"Where does this lead to?", she asked.
But, Lucas didn't reply, only tugged slightly at her hand with a boyish smile.
"Come on", he whispered as he started to climb upstairs.
Grace smiled at his secrecy and followed him up.
As they reached the top of the stairs, she realized that they were at the last floor of the mansion.
Lucas led her toward the double doors and as he opened them, Grace gasped in delight at the sight in front of her.
She slowly passed the threshold and entered the room that could best be described as something between balcony and gazebo. Huge arches gifted the spectator with the most magnificent view of Capitol City snuggled in small hills with the glorious mountains in the distance.
The sun started to set, painting the sky in the most beautiful shades of purple, orange and blue. Last ones of the today's suntracks slowly shone through the arches and danced on the floor.
Grace slowly spun around, noticing ivy going up the magnificent columns and she smiled as she heard a few birds chirping somewhere close by.
"Lucas", she breathed out as she tried to take all this beauty in "It's beautiful."
She felt his arms wrapping around her waist as he stood behind her.
Grace sighed and leaned into him, closing her eyes.
"We could plant some roses in here if you want", she heard his husky voice close to her ear and felt a delicious tremor run through her entire body.
Grace leaned her head on his shoulder.
"I'd like that", she whispered.
She felt his lips gently touching her neck and Grace let out a shaky breath, her palms tightening their hold on his forearms.
Her breathing accelerated as she felt his lips kissing her skin passionately, his hands pulling her closer into him. Her heart felt like it will burst out from her chest.
She sneaked one palm into his thick hair and tugged gently, earning herself a soft nibble and a delicious swipe of his tongue on her skin.
"Lucas.. ", she gasped at the sensation, her fingers roaming through his hair as he continued his loving attack on her neck.
His teeth softly dragged their way across her skin making her gasp for air. At the next moment, his tongue gently soothed the affected area, making her whimper in pure pleasure and unconsciously pressing her fingers into his hair, trying to bring him closer…only to have his warm lips sending her into complete fever as they passionately sucked on her skin.
Her entire body trembled from his loving ministrations and with the last atom of strength, Grace managed to pull back only to spin around in his embrace and kiss him passionately.
Lucas quickly wrapped his hands back around her body, pulling her closer to him, desperate to feel her here. Now.
They lost themselves in kissing for another few minutes and once they pulled apart, Lucas leaned his forehead on Grace's.
"Is it February yet?", he murmured silently, his lips curling up in a smile as he heard his love's sweet giggles. He gave her a short, sweet and gentle kiss before adding "I can't wait for you to become my wife, Grace. That means that you will never have to leave my side and I can't wait for that. It feels so lonely when you are not around."
Grace's eyes watered at hearing those words of love from the man she adored with everything she had.
"I will be back", she silently promised as her eyes gazed deeply in his "Do you hear me, my love? I will always come back to you."
Lucas gently smiled as he cupped her cheeks.
"You better. Otherwise I would organize a search party and come and get you", he teased her gently, making her giggle. He took her hand and gently kissed her knuckles "Come on, let's grab some dinner."
They slowly went downstairs, Lucas showing her bits of mansion on their way down as they walked hand in hand.
When they came near the kitchen, Grace sniffed the air and sighed.
"Oh, my, something smells delicious! What is Gustave making?", she asked as she focused on trying to define the mouthwatering scent…
… and completely missing Lucas' smug smile.
When she glanced back at him, Lucas put on a blank face and shrugged.
"We will see it soon. Come on", he winked at her and hugging her shoulders he pulled her closer into his side as they entered the dining room.
He let go of her hand to pull out a chair for her and she looked up at him, smiling.
"Please, don't tell me that you are going to sit on the other side", she showed with her head toward the end of the very long dining table.
Lucas glanced at the far end of the room where the table ended.
"You think I should?", he glanced down at Grace, his eyes sparkling.
Grace let out a huff and crossed her arms, pretending to be upset.
"Fine. If that's what you want…", she pouted, avoiding Lucas' gaze in order not to laugh.
But he bent down and placed a kiss on her pouting lips, making her lose the battle and giggle.
He chuckled as he hugged her tightly, pulling her closer to him.
"Not a chance", he whispered huskily, giving her a smouldering look.
They heard steps from the outside, which meant that dinner was going to be served and they pulled apart, sitting down next to each other.
The main dish was served under the lid and once they were left alone Grace glanced curiously at Lucas.
"Hmmmm… I wonder what's this secrecy all about? I find it difficult to believe that you don't know what will be for dinner", she said, her lips curling up.
Lucas put on an innocent facial expression.
"I don't know what are you talking about. I only know that Gustave was making something following his Mother's recipe", and with those words, he picked up a lid and his heart soared at Grace's yelp of surprise.
"Oh, my God! That's my French duck!", she exclaimed, only to giggle at how silly it sounded "You know what I mean! What's its name again? Help me, please!"
Lucas chuckled as he leaned toward Grace.
"Oui, mon amour, c'est Magret de canard" ("Yes, my love, that is Magret de canard"), he said with a small smile "I told Gustave to dig out Aunt Jacqueline's recipe."
Grace's mouth opened slightly as her eyes sparkled while she watched him.
"You remembered", she whispered.
Lucas took her palm in his.
"Of course I remembered", he gently kissed her knuckles "I remember everything about you."
Grace pressed her lips tightly together.
"You are going to spoil me", she murmured silently.
Lucas nodded as he started to fill her plate.
"Truer words were never spoken", he glanced at her with a soft smile and she smiled back, her cheeks turning rosy.
She took her silverware and cut into her duck. As she put a bite of it in her mouth, her eyes closed at the heavenly taste on her palate.
"Oh, I am in heaven!", she moaned, her smile wobbly as she opened her eyes and looked at Lucas "Thank you, my Lucas. Thank you for always surprising me", she whispered gently.
Lucas' heart warmed up at her words and he smiled gently at his love.
"You are welcome, my angel", he replied.
They ate in comfortable silence and only afterwards, when they left the dining room and walked down the corridor did Grace ask:
"Can you come to our place tomorrow?", as Lucas looked at her, she smiled "I want us both to tell the kids."
Lucas smiled warmly.
"I have an idea how can we tell them", his smile widened at her curious look "What do you think that we involve some magic dust in it, my enchanting sorceress?"
Grace smiled dreamily as she turned into him while they walked, stopping his steps.
"I think that I just fell in love with you a little bit more right now", she whispered as her hands hugged him around his neck.
Lucas' eyes softened, his heart skipping a beat.
"Good", he whispered as he inched closer, wrapping his arms around her waist "Looks like the magic is already working."
She smiled and at the next moment inhaled sharply as Lucas kissed her passionately. Grace kissed him right back, wishing that this day, their engagement day, would never end.