Page 90 of Royally Drawn

“No. Your career is on the move. You’re brilliant, Ingrid. No matter what happens, you won’t return permanently and marry some Neandian noble. What would that be like for you? You’d be bored out of your bloody gourd, my love.”

“That’s probably true. But… it would be easier.”

“I have a prediction,” Keir said.

“Yes?”

“You will move abroad and make the Olympics. You will have a big career, and a man will spoil you mercilessly with horses and all manner of things. Odette will marry a Neandian and have kids. She will help Alexandra until the kids are big enough to work. By the time Linnea is of age, all bets are off.”

I snickered. “That’s probably true on the last bit. I hope Odette finds love. She deserves it most of all. As for me, I don’t know.”

“You don’t want to be married and spoiled within an inch of your life?”

“The last bit appeals. Being a wife can wait,” I said. “I’d rather delay domestic life until I’ve at least ridden inoneOlympics. I’m not giving everything up for that.”

He smiled. “Do I not spoil you mercilessly, Ingrid?”

Keir’s tone was lusty, not loving. I wanted to play coy.

“Well, you dosometimesspoil me. But is itmercilessly?”

Keir took my sketch pad and pastels, tossing them aside. He pulled me towards him forcefully and pinned me against the bed.

“I’ll show you merciless spoiling then,” he chuckled.

“You better. I deserve as much.”

“For what?”

“Three words… shower blow job,” I giggled, pushing back against him.

“It would have been hot to have a tack room blow job, but you fobbed me off.”

“As hot as itsounds, even our horse palace has mice. Thecats aren’t perfect. I’d much rather leave everything attached to your body rather than be frightened to death of a damn mouse.”

“You’re probably right. That’s something that sounds hot in the movies but isn’t.”

“Exactly,” I said.

He kissed my neck slowly, then pulled back, staring at me in the morning light. I loved this version of him—a bit of a beard, love in his eyes for me, and the excellent way his hair was a disaster. I knew it was because I’d grabbed it when he was going down on me the night before. All of it only heightened his two cowlicks. This was what I wished I hadeverymorning.

“You have nothing pithy to say?” I asked.

“No,” Keir answered. “I’m too in love with you right now to think of a single snarky comment. I’m mostly just… I don’t know how I managed this or why you bother with me.”

“Because you’re lovely—even if you could bemoredoting. But you’re wonderful. And I love you so much.”

He kissed me once more, giving me butterflies. Then, our happiness was interrupted by Rick, who did not so much as knock. Thankfully, Keir was ontopof me, ensuring the angle hid me from view. He ignored Keir’s completely bare backside and rattled off what he had to say.

“Lex is in labour! We’re having a goddamn baby! Right now!”

“Go take her to the damn hospital!” I said.

“Going right now!” He left the door open, storming back into the hall, ignoring us.

We heard him shout out, “We’re having a baby! It’s happening! Alert all the troops!”

“Sorry,” I sighed. “He does thiseverytime. He goes mad with excitement over birth.”

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