Page 29 of Endangering the King

Right now, Carlo wanted my birth control gone. And from the look on his face and the tone of his voice—and pretty much everything about him—he wasn’t going to stop until he got his way.

One quick thought popped into my head. I wasn’t sure if it would work, but it was worth a try.

“Yes, I’m ready.” Then I looked up at Carlo and said, “Go out and wait for me.” I tried to push out of his hold.

“No, I’m here by your side.”

Crap.

“Carlo, that’s sweet. But this is—women’s stuff. I don’t want you in here while they’re,” I shrugged and shook my head, “you know.”

He smiled at me. “None of that bothers me, Giselle.”

Of course, it didn’t.

Crap.

Well, one thing was perfectly clear. I would be getting my birth control removed.

Now.

He helped me up onto the exam table. The doctor said I wouldn't even have to get undressed. She asked me a few questions, and then the nurse gave me a needle. She’d said, “Don’t worry. It’s just something to calm your nerves.” Apparently, it would wear off by the time I got to the event.

I agreed because let’s face it—I could use something to deal with my nerves.

The huge lumberjack held my hand the entire time. He out and out refused to leave my side. He spoke to me in quiet whispers. Telling me about the horses and how he was going to take me on an overnight camping adventure with them.

Just us.

Wandering around free.

It sounded wonderful.

So wonderful, in fact, that I drifted off to sleep before the procedure even started. I dreamed of riding Carlo’s horse, Carmen. Galloping out in the open air.

Free.

No one around.

Except Carlo on his horse.

It was magical.

I didn’t wake up until we were outside. The cool night air on my face. “What—where—” I mumbled, my mouth refusing to work properly.

I was in Carlo’s arms. He was carrying me to the limo. The driver stood at the backdoor.

Carlo ordered him in Italian to get out of the way—in not such polite terms. The driver immediately headed to his own door and slipped in.

“You’re all done,” Carlo said as he assisted in getting me inside. It took a minute to arrange my dress, but then he sat down beside me.

The limo started moving and Carlo reached his arm around me and held my body close to him. He kissed my forehead. “Go back to sleep. It’ll take us a while longer to get there with traffic.”

So, that’s what I did.

I floated right back to my sweet dreams.

6

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