Page 17 of Sheikh's Pregnant Fiancée

“Your mother will be an excellent example for you, but Silaah has also offered to spend some time with her,” Cyril continued. “If your child is a boy, he will be crown prince. It is important that he has the people’s support.”

That was his father. Already thinking twenty or thirty years in the future.

Still, the thought of his child made Jarah’s pride swell. He hadn’t thought of himself as a father before. Ruler, of course. That had been the expectation his whole life. And older brother, but father? Husband?

An eventuality that he’d never considered much. Even with his parents hinting that he should marry.

But that eventuality was here, and he would soon have a child.

“You’re smiling,” his father noted. “I felt the same way when your mother was pregnant with you. It will be nice to have children running about the palace again, and this time, I will not be the one responsible for them.”

At his father’s laughter, Jarah stood. “I will give Aubrey a week to adjust, and then mother can let her know her duties. If there is nothing else?”

“No. Good night, Jarah. And good luck.”

“Good luck?”

Cyril smiled. “If you really think I believed the two of you were secretly involved and in love, then you are not ready to be a ruler. But I suspect you understood your ruse was only for your mother.”

Jarah swallowed hard. There was nothing left to say. If his father wanted answers, he would ask questions. Those questions might still arise, but for now, Cyril seemed content to let the subject lie.

With a nod, Jarah left. He wanted to take a walk, clear his head, but he had duties, and tonight, those duties included his wife.

The palace was quiet as Jarah climbed the steps. Mikal and Jarah were the only two of the siblings who lived in suites at the palace. Zev and the twins had homes on the property. When Zev declared that he no longer wanted to live at the palace, their mother asked Cyril to build him a home close by. Cyril took it upon himself to build two more at the time, knowing that his daughters would also want to leave but not wanting them far away.

There was never any question about Jarah staying, and Mikal found it easier to live at the palace. Their suites were on the fourth floor. By the time he reached his door, he was bone tired. Over-the-top wedding celebrations always seemed frivolous to him, but they were necessary, and his especially so.

Opening the door, he walked in. When he’d first moved into the suite, he’d stripped it of most of the artworks and had his mother find new homes for them in the palace. He wanted this place to be his own. He wanted to be able to step away from his duties and not just be the crowned prince, but a man who could find some peace and solace. The suite was far too big for him, but small compared to many in the palace. He had three bedrooms, a personal library, office, kitchen, and dining room. The balcony, his favorite place to sit, looked over one of the gardens.

He found Aubrey waiting for him.

Well, not exactly waiting. She was asleep on the couch.

Gone were the jewels that had adorned her and the heavy makeup. Her hair, which had been pinned up elegantly in curls beneath a loose covering, was now in a messy bun on top of her head. And instead of her wedding dress, she was dressed from head-to-toe in sweats.

A telling sign considering it was hardly cold in the suite. She was not dressed for seduction.

Moving quietly, he changed out of his robes and into sweatpants of his own and came out to study her.

Pregnancy, he knew, made women tired. Perhaps he should have found a way to shorten her day, to make sure that she got plenty of rest.

It was too late now.

And this was their wedding night.

Jarah’s cock stirred at the thought. For months, he’d been plagued with memories of their night together, and he was eager to have her again. Eager to have her under his body, under his tongue, and between his teeth.

He had a feeling it wasn’t going to happen tonight.

“Aubrey,” he said in a low voice as he sat next to her. “Aubrey, you fell asleep on the couch.”

Stirring, she mumbled something unintelligible and then sat up so quickly she knocked him in the head. “Oh, sorry! I’m sorry. I didn’t realize you were so close.”

Wincing he pulled away. “It’s been a long day. You should not have waited up for me.”

“Isn’t that what I’m supposed to do? Wait up for you and make sure you get dinner when you get home?”

There was some bite in her voice, and he sighed. “No, Aubrey. Even if this were the 1950s, you are a princess now. We have servants for that kind of thing.”

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