Page 36 of Her Royal Daddy
“Daddy’s going to bust your ass,” I whispered, locking lips with her hungrily all over again. “And again and again,” I threatened for her ears only. “Get your cool washcloth ready, because I’ve been worried sick all day and your little booty-hole is going to pay the price.”
She shook her head as best she could with her face still caught between my hands. “You can’t...”
I nodded. “You left me without a word. You had me going all day long. Baby girl, Daddy’s cock is going to punish your little bottom until you cry. And quite frankly, in the mood I’m in right now, I don’t think I’m even going to let you come.”
Grabbing my arm, she pulled me away from the both the audience and the dais, sandwiching us into the nearest corner. Desperately, she whispered, “No, Daddy, you can’t!”
This time I listened. “Why not?”
“Because I just spent four hours at the dressmaker’s standing in front of their calendar!”
If she thought sore feet were going to save her ass, she could think again. “So?”
“So, we’ve been here five weeks!” She stared at me with huge eyes, but whatever she was trying to say, she was not saying it in English I could understand.
“I’m sorry I missed our one-month anniversary?” I said, taking a wild stab at the problem. It sounded a little high school to me, but she wasn’t just any little girl, she was my little girl and I’d just spent eleven hours thinking I’d lost her. Whatever was important to her, I was more than ready to make my priority.
“No!” She shook her hands, flustered.
“Honey,” I said with exaggerated patience. It had been a hard day for everybody, herself included. “Daddies are guys, and guys are idiots. I’m going to need you to be a little more blunt than this if you want me to know what’s going on.”
“I’m sixteen days late!” She winced almost as fast as she said it. “Are you mad? Please don’t be mad.”
I wasn’t mad. I was floored.
I was also immediately cautious. “Is that why you came back?”
Teary-eyed, she shook her head. “No, I was already back when I figured it out. We’ve been so busy—”
“Does my father know?” I interrupted, not at all sure if I ought to be upset yet.
She blinked twice. “N-no, why would you ask me that? Do you really think I would tell him before I told you?”
“You didn’t tell him?”
“No!”
“And that’s not the reason you came back?”
“I came back because the pilot turned the plane around and brought me back. Then your father and Jax met me at the airport and he asked me if I loved you...” She faltered and her eyes teared again.
“Do you?” I softly pressed.
She nodded. “With all my heart. I’m just really scared that I might become the reason why everything falls apart later on.”
“Nothing is going to fall apart,” I assured her. “Do you know why?”
She shook her head, not looking particularly comforted, at least not until I sank to one knee in front of her. Sometime during our hushed conversation, Jax had tried to get the music started and our guests interested in other things. To some extent, his distraction had worked, but even so I could feel people watching us from all over the room. I suppose I ought to get used to it now. I was royalty. If I had my way, Norah was going to marry into it. Privacy for both of us was about to become a thing of the past.
“You’ve told me time and time again that you weren’t cut out to be a princess, and yet from the moment you came into my life, everything has changed. And I do mean everything. I am a better man because of you, honey, and that alone will make me a better king. I know for a fact that you make me a better daddy. Could I be these things without you? I don’t know, maybe. What I do know is that I don’t particularly care to try. I’d much rather have you by my side, in my life, and I sure as hell would rather have you in my bed.”
She covered her mouth with both hands when I lay my hand over the soft violet cloth that covered her still flat belly.
“I love you,” I told her. “You asked if I’m mad. The answer is no. If you’re pregnant, baby girl, then I’m going to do everything I can to be the daddy both of you need. If you’re not pregnant, I still won’t be mad. We’ve both been under a lot of stress these last few weeks. This whirlwind of a ride had to take its toll somewhere, and what kind of man would I be if I blamed you for that? I told you once already that we were meant to be and I still believe that. You say you stood for four hours in a dress shop. I’m pretty sure you didn’t do it not knowing at some point tonight you were going to see me getting down on one knee, but let’s go ahead and make it official. Will you marry me, Norah? Please say yes.”
Her yes came out in a breathy whisper meant for my ears only, but the room had gone quiet again despite all of Jax’s best efforts and when she helped me to my feet again everyone watching erupted in triumphant cheers.
For my part, I couldn’t have cared less what Osei tradition said about public displays of affection. I kissed my future bride, my baby girl, and the mother of our child.
