Page 57 of Unknown Royal Baby

Avril lost herself in the grey eyes of the man who’d stolen her heart.

It felt as if she glimpsed paradise.

‘We do have things to discuss, Avril.’

They were fully dressed again though she knew she must look rumpled. Shefeltrumpled, her dress creased, her body quivering with sensual after-shocks and her brain dazed with delight.

How she wished they’d moved straight to the bedroom after that exciting coupling. The last thing she wanted was to talk about the world beyond these rooms and all the daunting responsibilities she faced.

Sated as she was, Avril hadn’t been ready to end their sexual encounter. She wanted to lie naked in his arms with the freedom to explore his superb body. Perhaps tempt him into another erotic venture. He’d opened the doors to a world of sensual fulfilment and she had so much catching up to do.

In contrast Isam, sitting beside her on the sofa, looked as vibrantly handsome and centred as when he’d walked in. As if he’d strolled into her sitting room for a business discussion.

She resented that. He’d swept her away on a tide of passion and she wanted to linger there. In that blissed-out place she could pretend, for a little while, that she was precious to him, that what they sharedmeantsomething.

She suppressed a sigh. Itdidmean something. That he was still attracted to her physically.

Avril’s mouth tightened. Since they were going to marry that was a good thing. Even if he wasn’t emotionally engaged, they’d have a satisfying sex life.

She ignored the voice screaming silently that it wasn’t enough. Ithadto be enough, for her sake and Maryam’s. Avril would care for her daughter as her parents hadn’t cared for her. Even if it meant—

‘Did you hear what I said, Avril?’

‘Sorry. I wasn’t really concentrating.’

She looked across and met his surprised stare.

Obviously he was used to holding his audience’s attention. One of the prerogatives of being royal.

But as she remembered him this morning, grieving and vulnerable, her indignation disintegrated.

Avril wondered if his determination to accept and raise Maryam had roots in his feelings for Nur. He’d lost the people closest to him. Now he was determined not to lose the tiny girl who was his only family.

Her heart turned over, as she thought of the lengths he was going to for Maryam’s sake, courting scandal and bringing in an unsuitable wife.

It wasn’t Isam’s fault he didn’t love Avril. He was doing his best. And from what he’d told her about the situation with Hafiz and his own recovery, doing it under incredibly difficult circumstances.

Her voice softened. ‘What is it, Isam? What did you want to talk about? Is it my next public appearance?’ She repressed a shiver of trepidation.

‘That’s important, but for now we need to agree on something more urgent.’ He covered her hand with his. ‘More personal. I want us to live together, now. I see no point waiting to marry.’

‘Live together?’

The smile forming on his face faded. ‘Why not? After last night and tonight, I know you’re as eager for intimacy as I am.’ Before she could respond he went on. ‘I see the shadows under your eyes, Avril. If we spend the nights together I can help share the burden of looking after Maryam.’

‘You want to help look after the baby, hands on?’ She recalled that he’d helped care for his sister but despite his assistance last night he surprised her. ‘Surely you’re already carrying enough of a burden with your official responsibilities?’

His fingers firmed around hers and the hint of a frown carved his forehead. ‘I want a real relationship with my daughter, not just to see her for half an hour between meetings. My family is as important to me as my country.’

His family. He meant Maryam, not her. Avril forced down a sigh, refusing to wallow in self-pity. She was grateful he felt such a strong bond with their daughter.

‘I’m not arguing, Isam. I’m just surprised. I was thinking of potential scandal. I imagined people wouldn’t approve if we were—’

‘Sharing a bed?’ His chuckle ignited a flare of feminine arousal that made her shift on the seat. ‘I’m sure people assume that’s exactly what we’re already doing. They’d be surprised to know I haven’t been regularly bedding the beautiful mother of our child.’ His level stare told her he was serious. ‘As to scandal, we’ve already done that. An affair and a baby born outside marriage.’

It was as she’d suspected. ‘Will that play into Hafiz’s hands?’

Isam raised his eyebrows and she glimpsed hauteur in his proud, uncompromising features. An arrogance that startled her, reminding her he was the hereditary Sheikh, born to power. A man used to succeeding and winning what he wanted, no matter what the odds.

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