Page 53 of The King's Secret Baby

I still can’t quite believe it, that Hailey and I have created a life together. A perfect blend of the two of us. It’s overwhelming and humbling and terrifying in the best possible way.

For the first time, I really question what I’ve been doing. Is it right to keep Hailey at arm’s length? Perhaps thereisa way that I can fulfill my duty to the crown and have her take center stage in my life at the same time.

Reverently, I reach out to rest my palm against the still-flat plane of her stomach, imagining the tiny spark of life growing there. Hailey stirs at my touch, eyelids fluttering open, hazy with the remnants of sleep.

“Good morning,” I whisper.

“Good morning,” she murmurs.

“There is something I…” I swallow, suddenly nervous. “I wish to talk to you about.”

For a moment, she seems content, a small smile playing at the corners of her mouth as she meets my gaze. But then awareness seeps in and her expression shifts, becomes uncertain, almost pained.

“Luca, I…” She swallows hard, dropping her eyes. “About last night… I’m sorry; I shouldn’t have let things go so far. It was a mistake.”

I can’t believe what I’m hearing. Is she being serious? Here I am, about to tell her that I was wrong, that we should be together, and suddenly she feels different? What did I do wrong?

“Hailey…” I start, but she shakes her head, sitting up and pulling the sheet tightly around her chest like a shield. Like she needs to protect herself from me.

“No, just… let me finish, please.” She takes a shaky breath, finally meets my eyes again. Hers are shimmering with unshed tears. “I know we got caught up in the moment, and it was… it was amazing, being with you like that. But we can’t… I can’t do this, Luca.”

Her voice cracks on my name, and it’s all I can do not to pull her into my arms, to soothe away the hurt and uncertainty. I force myself to remain still, though, to hear her out.

“This pregnancy, it’s already complicated things so much.” She rests a protective hand over her stomach, just as I had done minutes before. “Sleeping together again… it’ll only make everything harder, messier. For both of us.”

I want to argue, to tell her that she’s wrong, that last night was the start of something real and lasting and worthwhile. That what we have goes beyond just physical attraction.

But I can’t seem to find the words — can only watch helplessly as she slips out of bed, out of my reach, tugging her discarded sundress over her head as she goes.

“I think… I think it’s best if we just focus on the baby right now,” she says softly, back to me as she moves towards the adjoining bathroom. “And try to keep our relationship strictly platonic from here on out.”

The door closes behind her with a quiet click, and I slump back against the pillows, scrubbing a hand over my face.

Fuck.

What the hell do I do now?

I swear I almost hear Simon’s voice in my head, my best friend telling me to get up and go after her. To make sure that she doesn’t get away this time.

So I take a deep breath, trying to gather my courage. I can’t let her walk away thinking last night was a mistake. That this — us — isn’t worth fighting for.

Sliding out of bed, I pad over to the bathroom door and rap my knuckles gently against the wood. “Hailey? Can we talk? Please?”

There’s a long pause, and for a moment I think she might refuse. But then the door cracks open and she peers out at me, eyes guarded. “Luca, I don’t think?—”

“I want to be with you,” I blurt out, cutting her off. Her eyes go wide with surprise. “Not just because of the baby. But because of how I feel about you. About us.”

I reach for her hand, relieved when she doesn’t pull away. “I know the timing is terrible, and that my position complicates things immensely. But I’m willing to figure it out, to find a way to make this work. If you are.”

She bites her lip, clearly torn. “What about your duties? The expectations? You’re going to be king, and…”

“And I still will be. But I want you by my side when Iam. You, me, and our child — a family.” I squeeze her fingers. “I’m not saying it will be easy. We’ll need to be discreet for now, keep things under wraps until the right moment. But I’m all in, Hailey. I just need to know if you are too.”

Her eyes search mine for a long moment. Then, slowly, she nods, a hesitant smile pulling at her lips. “Okay. I’m in. Let’s do this.”

Joy explodes in my chest and I tug her into my arms, sealing my mouth over hers in a heated kiss. She melts against me instantly, arms winding around my neck as she matches my passion with her own.

When we finally break apart, we’re both breathless, grinning like idiots. I press my forehead to hers, hands spanning her waist.

---