Page 87 of Royal Deception
That night, I show up to Rory’s place, wondering what wonderful surprise he might have for me tonight.
But when I step through the door, I find myself puzzled when I see Rory standing there in his pajamas.
Confused, I glance at him from the doorway. “What’s going on?” I ask, my voice full of uncertainty. I was half-expecting something extravagant, but this… this is not what I had in mind.
Rory shifts his weight, then gives me a soft smile that makes my heart flutter in a way it hasn't in a while. “Well,” he starts, his tone warm but slightly playful, “since you’re pregnant, I thought we’d skip the fancy dinners and high-energy stuff for tonight. I want this to be cozy for you.”
My eyebrows shoot up. “Cozy?”
“Yep,” he says, his eyes glimmering with excitement. “We’re having a pajama night. Gangster movies, popcorn, the whole thing. Just us, in here.” He gestures to the living room, where the soft glow of dimmed lamps gives the place a warm, inviting feel.
I stand there for a moment, processing. The idea of a quiet evening with Rory, just the two of us, sounds incredible. It’s simple, but somehow, that makes it even more appealing. I letout a small laugh, shaking my head. “That sounds like exactly what I need.”
Rory grins. “Good. I’m glad you think so. Here. I got you something.”
He reaches behind him and pulls out a neatly wrapped box, handing it to me with a small smile. “I got you some pajamas. That is, if you don’t mind,” he adds.
I take the box from him, my heart warmed by the thoughtfulness. “Thank you!” I say, already feeling excitement for the night ahead.
With a grin, Rory steps back as I head into the bathroom to change. I slip into the cute, matching pastel pink pajama set, the soft fabric gliding against my skin. Pausing for a moment in front of the mirror, I admire the way the fabric stretches over my growing bump. I can’t believe how big the baby’s been getting lately.
As I’m lost in my reflection, Rory’s voice breaks through my thoughts. “You look stunning,” he says from the doorway, his tone low and full of admiration.
I turn, my breath catching when I see him standing there, looking like he’s just been struck by lightning. He steps toward me slowly, his eyes locked on mine. Before I can say anything, he slides his hands onto my belly, his fingers splayed across the soft fabric of my shirt. He presses his chest against my back, his warmth radiating through me as he rests his chin on my shoulder.
“You’re beautiful,” he whispers, his voice thick with emotion. “You’re everything.”
A blush creeps up my neck, and I can’t help but smile. “You’re not so bad yourself,” I tease softly.
Rory chuckles, and before I can say anything else, he turns me in his arms and captures my lips in a slow, tender kiss. It’s deep but sweet, the kind of kiss that makes everything aroundus fade. When we finally pull away, his forehead rests gently against mine.
“Come on,” he says, his voice softer now. “Let’s go watch some movies, yeah?”
I nod, feeling lighter than I have in days. As we head back to the living room, I feel my hand slip into his, the weight of his touch comforting and steady. I can’t remember the last time I felt so at ease.
The couch looks incredibly inviting, and I flop down, grateful for the comfort. Rory grabs the remote, dimming the lights even further before pulling me into his side. As the opening credits of the first movie begin to roll, I snuggle closer into him, already feeling the stress of the day slip away.
As we get into watching the movie, I glance over to see Rory’s face illuminated by the screen. He’s got his whole attention on the movie, but when he senses me looking at him, he turns to me and gives me a soft smile.
I lace our fingers together, laying my head on his shoulder. My stomach does a little roll when I realize that his phone is nowhere in sight.
Rory isconstantlyon his phone. He’s always getting calls, texting people information, emailing back and forth with clients… it’s a sight to see.
It’s so considerate and kind, and it makes something stir deep inside me. Maybe it’s the intimacy of it—the fact that for once, it’s just the two of us in our own little world. My body seems to hum with the energy of it, and before I realize it, I’m shifting ever so slightly toward him, my fingers grazing along the side of his thigh.
He doesn’t seem to notice right away, still focused on the movie, but I can feel the tension in the air, almost like he’s waiting for something. As if he can sense me leaning closer. Ishift again, this time letting my hand linger just a little too long on his leg before I pull back.
It doesn’t take long for him to notice. His head tilts toward me, and the glint in his eyes is unmistakable—dark, curious, with a hint of that playful edge I’ve come to love.
“You trying to start something?” he asks, his voice low and teasing, like he knows exactly what I’m doing.
I grin, heart racing a little faster as I bite my lip. “Maybe. What are you going to do about it?”
Before I can react, his hand shoots out and grabs mine, gently but firmly, pulling it to his mouth. His lips brush against my palm before he bites it lightly, not enough to hurt, but enough to send a jolt of heat straight through me.
I let out a surprised laugh, more breathless than I intend. “Rory!” I can’t stop the way my heart flutters at the unexpected shift in energy.
His grin widens, a gleam in his eyes that promises more. “You started this, Clary. You know that, right?”
