Page 31 of His Hidden Royal Heirs

So when their gazes met, she was smiling in spite of herself. His gaze was hot, fervent. But he did not press his mouth to her again. Carefully, gingerly almost, he released her and got up off the bed. “The doctor is waiting.” He said this as though he had some control, but she watched the way he struggled to catch his breath. She saw the wild need in his eyes that couldn’t quite leave hers.

But if he could find some kernel of control in all this, so could she. “Yes.” The doctor. Sonograms and babies and...all that entailed. She could be in control, too. She could...be just as strong as him. The doctor was waiting because she had more information to impart.

Zia steeled herself to meet his dark, intense gaze. “Would you like to know the sex?” she managed to ask, though her voice sounded a bit strangled.

He didn’t say anything at first. He kept staring at her with all thatfirethat had her curling her hands into fists so she did not reach for him.

“I would, yes, if that is acceptable to you.” His voice was a rasp, reminding her of too many pieces of that night she’d spentwith him. His mouth, his hands, the things he made her feel with just that dark, delicious voice of his.

But this was not that night. So she managed a tiny nod even though it wasn’t a question exactly. Still, she thought, maybe with someone by her side, shewasready. Or maybe it was just that time was running out, and she had to be ready whether she liked it or not.

He strode out of the bedroom, and within a few minutes was back with the doctor. Whose gaze moved from Cristhian to Zia in a way that had Zia blushing.

Profusely.

“Mr. Sterling has informed me you’d like to know the sex now.”

Zia nodded.

“A boy,” the doctor said. “And a girl. The girl is currently measuring a bit smaller than baby boy, but this is very common with twins, and so far, not a concern.”

A boy. A girl. Zia didn’t know why this came as such a shock. She supposed that because she had a twin sister, she’d just...always imagined them both as girls. Evenknowingthey could be one or two boys,she hadn’t been able to visualize that.

Now, with their father standing next to her, she could visualize far too many things. Children with darker features. One that looked like her, and one like him.

This made her want to cry all over again.

“Mr. Sterling? If you’ll excuse us? I’d like to have a private discussion with the expectant mother.”

Cristhian frowned at the doctor, but then he looked at Zia and some strange emotion she couldn’t parse passed over his face. He nodded. “Very well.” He gave Zia one last confusing look, and then turned and left the bedroom.

Zia had to force herself to tear her gaze from the door and smile politely at the doctor. “Thank you for braving the roads and such. It has put my mind at ease.”

“I’m glad. These last weeks of pregnancy can be stressful, but rest assured, you will be well taken care of. As a physician, I want it to be clear. While I will be staying here throughout the rest of your term, per Mr. Sterling’s request, and with his compensation, my duty is to you, ma’am. Your health, and your children’s health. You can come to me with any questions, voice any opinion you like. And I will always be honest with my recommendations.”

Zia blinked at the woman. While these were all nice things to hear, she supposed she hadn’t thought that far ahead. Hadn’t considered that Cristhian might hire a doctor whowouldn’tput her health first.

What a terrible thought. But the doctor kept talking.

“I have worked with many...well-known individuals. The rich and powerful. My record is above reproach. Never once have I been the source of gossip. Nor have I ever let a powerful man have sway over someone’s health.”

“This is all very comforting to hear, of course,” Zia said carefully. “But I... I guess I don’t know where it’s coming from.”

“Intercourse is not off the table,” the doctor said matter-of-factly.

Zia nearly choked on nothing but her own saliva. “I’m sorry?”

“You’ll want to monitor how you feel. If there’s any cramping, bleeding, discomfort after, you would want to avoid it from there on out.”

Zia could not stop the hot blush that worked up her cheeks. She had to clear her throat to speak as she wrapped her arms around her stomach. “I wouldn’t want to put them at risk.”

The doctor shrugged as if this was a very normal conversation, and she supposed it was. For parents who weremarried or in a relationship. Itwasstraightforward for those people, no doubt.

But nothing was straightforward for her and Cristhian. No matter what the doctor said about it.

“We always want a mother to come as close to term as possible, particularly with twins,” she said, as though delivering a well-practiced speech. “But you are very healthy, your babies are very healthy. The risks are minimal at this stage. That can always change, but it might not. You have your own wants and needs, ma’am. Those are valid, too. But not a requirement of you, either.”

It all made a weird kind of sense now. The doctor was making sure she understood the green light was not because Cristhian was paying her, but because it was a perfectly reasonable option. But she left the caveat in, because no doubt women had been in her position where they hadnotwanted to deal with the advances of the men who were overseeing their health.

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