Page 40 of Pregnant With His Majesty's Heir

Was this some sort of cosmic justice that the only woman he’d ever proposed to didn’t want him?

The knowledge grated, harsh and raw, shredding his pride and bringing something close to hurt.

With Ilsa he’d inherited a fiancée. There’d been no proposal, no choice. This time he’d acted of his own volition, trying to do what was right by the baby, and by Aurélie, yet she looked as if he’d insulted her.

Lucien’s jaw clenched and his body stiffened.

Nothing in his experience with the opposite sex had prepared him for rejection.

He watched her shoot to her feet, step away then stop. As if she didn’t know what to do with herself.

Lucien knew the feeling. He was a jumble of emotions he preferred not to analyse. He forced a calm voice as he got up to stand before her.

‘Wearean item, Aurélie. There’s a bond between us nothing can erase. We’re lovers, and we’re having a baby.’

‘Ex-lovers.’ The word shot out.

Her instantaneous repudiation felt like a physical blow.

All this time he’d struggled to do his duty by his country and his family’s memory, and by Ilsa. He’d fought but been unable to banish his response to Aurélie.

He’d been through hell in the past day, bearing the brunt of Altbourg’s disapproval at the broken engagement, the threat of severed diplomatic and economic ties, and the outrage of his own councillors. Thankfully the worst was over and, with Ilsa’s help, relations with her country would be smoothed out.

Lucien had stood firm because finally he had the chance to do therightthing. He knew in his bones that marrying Aurélie and raising their child together was his future.

‘It’s not over between us, Aurélie. You know it.’ He moved closer, invading her space. He drew in her distinctive lilac scent and felt something unfurl inside him.

Yet the stubborn woman shook her head, her mouth a mutinous line. ‘It’s over, Lucien. That was two months ago.’

‘Two months and four days.’

He’d tried not to count them. He’d had plenty to fill his time, taking a crown and a fiancée. Maybe that was part of why he hadn’t been able to erase Aurélie from his thoughts. Remembering their night together had been a bright flame during the long, burdened days and nights.

She looked shocked that he knew the number of days. Even so her chin rose. ‘It’s finished and—’

‘Liar.’ He closed his hands around her upper arms.

Instead of wrenching free or demanding that he released her, after one swift inhale Aurélie’s muscles loosened. Lucien saw her bottom lip tremble and remembered the taste of her, rich and seductive.

Triumph burst through him in a rush of molten heat.

‘It’s not finished, is it, Aurélie?’

Oh, no. Not anywhere near it.

This time, the bond between them didn’t feel like weakness. Its potency resonated through him.

The long wait was over.

Lucien slid an arm around Aurélie’s waist and pulled her in. Heat to heat. Body to body. So close he saw the jittering pulse at her throat and felt her exhalation against his throat.

He waited, unmoving.

Giving her time to pull back?

Not likely! He felt a tremor rip through her and knew it for excitement. The same excitement he felt, holding her again.

No, he gave her time to admit she felt it too, the magnetic pull between them.

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