Page 67 of Royally Benevolent

The child climbed into Rick’s lap and immediately went to pick another video from the sidebar. He knew too much about the Internet already.

“Moles are cute, Lex.”

“Only your people think that,” Alexandra said. “I am going to catch up with Auntie. Be good for Pappa, okay?”

Christophe was already bee-lining for a video. He didn’t have a care in the world.

Alexandra and I went to the drawing room near her office for tea. She and Rick usually hosted people here. Upon arrival, I felt special, getting genuinely royal treatment, but the rigid furniture didn’t help my back and neck.

“I’m in so much pain, honestly,” I said. “That’s all I can think about.”

“I’ll ring the palace doctor.”

Within five minutes, the man was there, fussing over me. He handed me a muscle relaxer, and I waited to feel like jelly after he left. All the while, Alexandra asked me questions.

“So, you two are… a couple?”

“I wouldn’t call us acouple.”

“How did it start?”

“I got jealous of his friend who is… a lesbian. I’m an idiot.”

“Who is the friend? Was she pretty?”

“Yes. The Vice President.”

“Oh, you live such an exciting life!”

“You went to the opera this weekend!” I declared.

“Fine, the opera is yours. Next, I need to know more. Is he a good kisser? What all did you get up to?”

I rolled my eyes. “Lex, I don’t kiss and tell.”

She was bursting. “Yes, yes, you do! I need to know. I am dying to! He’s cute and sweet, and obviously, you fancy him.”

“Just because you are sex-starved in pregnancy doesn’t mean the rest of us can make up for your lost time,” I sighed.

“First of all, I am unhinged while pregnant. Why do you think Rick is in such a good mood? Second, ouch. You’re being mean.”

“Really?” I pulled a face.

“Yes. It’s fun. You’ll understand when you get pregnant someday. Oh, this is exciting. So… did you two?”

“No,” I said. “Things were done. People were satisfied. I don’t wantto say more.”

Talking about my sex life gave me hives. I wanted Wyatt to pin me to the bed and fuck me as soon as I was physically in shape for it. At the same time, I didn’t want to give Alex a play-by-play.

“Oh, boo.”

“I’m not Astrid,” I sighed. “Wait until Ingy gets a boyfriend, and it will get interesting again.”

“But he likes you? And you like him?”

“I adore him,” I said. “He’s gorgeous. And so incredibly sweet. Thoughtful, even. Grieg loves him, too.”

I looked over at my boy as he slept beside me.

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