Page 34 of His Highness's Hidden Heir

“Not really. Surprises me sometimes.”

“All I’ve been thinking about is the ways I have to adjust my life, not fully realizing... All we did was have sex, Lexi. Now you’re growing aperson.”

“Did you still believe they were found in a cabbage patch? Oh, Muffin. I’m sorry to be the one to disillusion you.”

“I don’t know what I believed,” he admitted, smirking at himself as he continued exploring the taut shape of her belly. “That babies were objects? A goal? Not...” The realization was creeping over him that he would have to shape this person the way he’d been shaped. There would be arguments and resistance and weariness. His own resentment at his responsibilities would be mirrored back to him and it would sting.

Even so, there was anticipation in him, too. He wanted to know what this new human would be like. Would they have Lexi’s eyes and smile and guarded heart?

Her resistance to trusting him had been bothering him since she’d admitted to it. It told him exactly how much she’d been hurt in the past. And really, was it any wonder she didn’t trust him to look after her? They were together one night and he had gotten her pregnant. Now he was crashing her life.

“I keep thinking I should apologize to you. Probably to the baby, too.” He drew a slow circle with his palm, searching for another nudge.

“Oh, Gawd, I feel so selfish for making this baby have me as a mother.” Her voice held laughter, but also distress. “Now there’s this mountain of royal duties on top of it. Do you think they’ll ever forgive us?”

“Maybe not. But I keep trying to regret that night and I can’t.” He hadn’t been interested in anyone else since her. The search for a “suitable” wife had only fed his sullenness. Now, however, a different fire was flickering to life within him.

It was passion. Obviously. He wanted this woman in ways that were very base and sexual. But there was another aspect he hesitated to examine. The darkness within him had become less dark the minute he’d had an excuse to fly across an ocean and confront her. Toseeher.

Now she was here in his bed, in his life. They had made a tiny being who would bind her to him forever. That pushed the darkness even further out, but at what cost?

He didn’t let himself think of it, only slid closer and gathered her in, allowing his hand to run up her back beneath her shirt so he could mold her new shape to his front.

She stiffened in surprise, then gave a small shudder and relaxed. When he dipped his head to kiss her, she tucked her mouth into his chest.

“I haven’t brushed my teeth.”

“I don’t care. Kiss me,” he demanded.

He was in this strange headspace of tenderness and possessiveness and wanting to consume her. It took great effort to gentle his kiss when she let her head tip back. He reminded himself that her trust was tentative, that she was wary.

When she ran her hand into his loose hair, however, and pressed the back of his head while opening her mouth wider beneath his in hungry receptiveness, he abandoned restraint.

He crushed her mouth the way he’d been wanting to since he had glanced across a party in Monte Carlo and saw these pillowy lips part in shock. He slid his knee between hers and grabbed a handful of her lush ass and plundered her mouth with his tongue, trying to slake a thirst that had been driving him mad for months.

She moaned and ran her foot against his calf and slid her hand to the back of his neck, tongue sweeping out to find his.

The ample swell of her breast filled his hand, the silk and lace of her bra an erotic texture. He wanted what was beneath it—soft skin and the pebbled nipple. He swept his mouth down to gently bite through the layers of fabric, liking the way she gasped in pleasure.

“I was afraid you wouldn’t find me sexy like this.” Her hands were running over his shoulders and back, shifting his shirt against his skin as though she wanted to tear it off his body.

“What does this say about how sexy I think you are?” He moved so she could feel his erection against her thigh, then lifted his hips and opened his trousers, inviting her to caress him.

“This is just you waking up, isn’t it?” She slid her hand into his loosened trousers and cupped his erection through his boxer briefs, dimming his ability to think.

“What about you? Are you waking up?” He worked his hands beneath the panel that was bunched beneath the roundness of her belly, finding the lace of her underwear.

She drew in a sharp breath, but she didn’t stop him, not even when he slid his hand around to her backside, pushing the trousers off her ass, down to her thighs so he could come back and trace the vee of silk that covered her mound.

“We, um...”

He liked how she’d lost her ability to speak. He slid a finger inside her panties and traced folds that were slippery and hot.Soinviting.

Her mouth opened, but no sound came out, only the hiss of her breath. Her nails curled against shoulders and her breasts quivered.

“You said—” She bit her lip. Her eyelids fluttered. “Our seats?”

“We can circle the airport...” He let his fingertip roll around and around the engorged knot at the apex of her folds. “As long as you need.”

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