Page 60 of Pregnant With His Majesty's Heir

Aurélie regarded him seriously but Lucien wasn’t sure she was convinced.

‘If you want to wear your hair loose, do it. If you want to wear one of those cute ponytails—’ her eyebrows shot up and he smiled ‘—then do it.’ He shook his head. ‘There are some things we can’t change—the constitution and the laws of inheritance—but if anything, and I meananythingabout the way we live our lives as royals bothers you, then tell me and we’ll search for a compromise.’

Finally she nodded. ‘Thank you. I like the idea of compromise and hearing some of the rules might be elastic. Maybe that way when I make a mistake it won’t be a disaster.’

Lucien stroked his hands up to her shoulders, enjoying her sensual shiver. Deliberately he massaged her shoulders, feeling tense muscles loosen.

‘We all make mistakes. Ask my staff. I’ve kept them busy since taking the throne. I still have a lot to learn.’

Her eyebrows rose and to his delight she slanted him a sultry smile. ‘In some things. In others you’re very proficient, Your Majesty.’

That was when he noticed her nipples thrusting against the silk of her dress. ‘Proficient, eh? At what?’

He skimmed his hands down her bodice to cup her breasts. Her breath sighed out and her back arched as she pushed into his touch. Lucien had no idea if her responsiveness was due to pregnancy hormones or a naturally sensuous nature, but he loved Aurélie’s eagerness for sex.

Anotherthing he loved about her.

He might tell himself marriage was the right thing to protect Aurélie and his baby, but he couldn’t fool himself that he was motivated purely by duty. His feelings for her were far more complex.

‘You know exactly what I mean,’ she murmured, licking her lips.

And just like that she turned the tables on him. That pink tongue against those soft lips. The glorious bounty of her silk-clad breasts in his hands. The perfume of her skin—flowers and female arousal.

His groin hardened, heavy with blood rushing south.

‘But practice makes perfect, don’t you agree?’ He bent to fit his mouth over one pert nipple and sucked hard. Hands clawed at his skull and her pelvis thrust into him.

‘I think...’ she gasped ‘...it’s time to stop teasing and put your money where your mouth is.’

Lucien swallowed a chuckle of delight and proceeded to strip his lover bare. Then he took them both to a pinnacle of ecstasy that couldn’t be, but seemed, even higher and more perfect than the ones they’d reached last night.

Each time with Aurélie seemed better than before.

And it wasn’t just sex. Tonight, being in her company, enjoying her enjoyment, had been a delight.

Finally, well past midnight, they slumped together, sated and content. Blissfully unaware of the firestorm about to hit them.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

LUCIENSTAREDATthe headlines in the media report his office had sent through.

He’d known this was going to happen. He’d been prepared. Or he’d thought he was. Yet he felt nauseous.

Was this how Aurélie felt when morning sickness hit?

Aurélie. His mouth firmed and his gut clenched.

For most of his life the press had published positive stories about the Vallort royal family. True, there’d been speculation and shock about his broken engagement. But, if today’s press reports were any indication, things had changed. Not so much for him, but for Aurélie.

A cold, hard sensation settled low inside. It was okay for him to talk about standing up to public opinion. Poor Aurélie hadn’t asked for this and didn’t deserve it.

He’d expected to bear the brunt of any negativity. He’d assumed she’d be painted as an innocent and he a serial seducer.

Which showed he’d never make a journalist.

A surge of rage pummelled him. He wanted to ring the editors and shout at them. Except that would be exactly the wrong thing to do. Instead he’d have to bury his ire and decide how to deal with this. His team had been developing a PR strategy but it needed work.

‘You’re still here! I thought you’d left.’ Aurélie stood in the doorway wearing a new wrap of soft green. She looked like a woodland sprite with her wide eyes, pale skin and glowing hair cascading around her shoulders.

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