by Ally Summers
“I know that’s what you want, but she doesn’t want to leave the U.S. If you try to take Adaline, it’s going to turn into a huge legal battle. And any goodwill she does have, will be gone. It will be played out in the international press. And she will hate you for it.”
He hung his head. “I know. I know.”
“Cor?”
“Hmm?”
I wanted to choose my words carefully. I couldn’t believe what I was about to suggest. It went against everything I thought about myself. But I wasn’t the same person I was a month ago. Loving Cor had taught me so much.
“What if we stay?”
“Alaric said I have to be in Freychon before the weekend. We need a day to go over his briefings.”
I shook my head. I rose from my seat and walked around to him.
“What if we stay here permanently?”
His eyes widened. “You’re serious, aren’t you?”
I nodded. “I think we should.”
The tears welled in the corners of my eyes. I had pictured this moment a thousand times. I had played it over in my head. I had practiced the words. I had imagined the expression on his face, but nothing prepared me for it.
“Elena.” He swallowed hard. His hands roamed my hips, pushing my silk robe to the side. He gathered the corners of my gown until my stomach was exposed. His palms grazed over the flesh of my belly. He pressed a hot kiss on my skin.
“You’re pregnant, aren’t you?”
I ran my hands through his hair. I nodded, smiling. “I am.”
“Oh, baby.” He brought me into his lap, crushing me with a kiss.
My hands circled his neck, melting into him. Melting into this moment. His tongue twirled along mine and I whimpered when he cupped my breast.
“You’re having my baby?” His voice was deep.
“Yes. I’m pregnant, Cor.”
“And you were going to sit and drink tea and not tell me?” He laughed.
“I took the test this morning when you went for a run on the beach. I was going to plan a big dinner surprise and wrap a baby present for you, but I couldn’t wait,” I admitted. “I guess I ruined it this way.”
He shook his head. “No. It could never be ruined.” He kissed my neck and throat. “You’re having my baby.”
I sighed. “Yes.”
“And you want to have the baby here? You want to stay in the U.S.?”
“I know how crazy it sounds. I know this was never the plan, but I think while I’ve been falling in love with the idea of us being parents, I fell in love with this place. The beach. The city. Adaline’s here. I love this house and it’s available. And we already have a staff. We just have to make them official royal employees.” I listed all the reasons I thought of why we had to do this. “We can raise a family here. And no one cares you’re a prince. It’s wild and unexpected, but we can live here like normal people. Sophia was right about that. And Alaric needs a U.S. ambassador.” I knew I was speaking way too fast.
“You could fill that role and move the office to Charleston. It’s still on the east coast and accessible to the airport. You could still fly to Galona every other month. It’s not that bad. And your children will always have you.” I ran my hand along his jaw. “I’ll always have you.”
“Compelling arguments, Miss DuBois.” He pressed his lips together. I couldn’t read his mood.
“Will you at least say we can consider it? We can talk about it? Please, Cor.”
“I will consider it.” His arms scooped me close to his chest and he rose from the chair.
“You will?”
“Mmmhmm.” He took one long stride after another. “But I have something I want you to consider.”
“What’s that?” I asked.
He closed the bedroom door behind us and locked it.
“That we aren’t leaving this bed at least until lunchtime.”
I kissed him, loving him in a new way. He placed me in the center of the bed, kissing my shoulder and behind my ear. Forging fire under my skin until I was moaning for more.
I crawled on my knees, wanting him to take me like this. We had so much to celebrate.
His fingertip pressed to my rosebud and he groaned, passing over it as if he knew we’d have to wait for those pleasures for a while.
“Later,” he promised.
I nodded. I ached in a new way for him. If he didn’t fill me I’d burst into flames and burn to a pile of embers.
“Cor, I need you inside me.”
“So impatient, my dirty dirty, princess.”
He separated my slit and I whimpered, knowing I was dripping wet for him. But he loved it. My body turned him on. I reveled in the power of my body. He had taught me to embrace my strength and sensuality. I didn’t shy away from touching myself. I wasn’t embarrassed that my clit throbbed for him. I opened my body to him to love and to worship. In Cor, I knew I could be a siren or a sex goddess. Sex could bring us together. It could take us to new places. And I could let my hair down and he’d love me no matter what carnal desires I wanted. As long as it felt good he wanted to give it to me.
He pushed the head of his cock to my pussy, stretching it with his thick head.
“Mmm.”
“I want to fuck you hard and wild.”
He rubbed his shaft between my folds, reveling in how slick I was.
“Please,” I cooed. “I need it.”
I hissed when his cock pushed into me. I loved when he possessed me. I felt his love wrap around me and hold me tight.
“Oh sweet fuck,” he growled. I rose up on my knees sliding up and down on his shaft.
His hands were everywhere, exploring my new body. They groped my breasts, splayed between my legs, tangled in my hair. He kissed my neck while I bounced wildly.
“Touch yourself, princess,” he commanded.
I reached between my legs, sliding my fingers over my clit. “Oh God,” I moaned.
Everything was heightened and sensual.
“I love fucking you, knowing my cub is inside you. We made a shifter together.”
“Yes, I love it.” I wrapped my free hand against the back of his neck. “Harder,” I begged. “Please fuck me harder, Cor.”
I knew he was being gentler than usual. He was scared to hurt the baby, but it wasn’t just any baby. This baby was a shifter. And he was strong. I already knew it.
“I don’t want to be too rough,” he groaned. “But I want to fucking own you right now.”
“You do,” I coaxed. “Show me,” I whispered. “Show me how much you own me.”
“Fuck, Elena. What are you doing to me?”
He pushed me on my stomach, rearing my hips in the air.
I cried out as he plunged into my heat with possessive thrusts.
“Oh yes,” I moaned. “I’m yours. Oh, I’m yours.”
He fucked me harder this time, sinking into me with ravishing rhythm. I threw my head from side to side, matching his thrusts with jolts of my own, sucking his cock deep inside me.
We clawed and clung to each other. Devouring each other’s bodies as we climbed and fused our souls together. I’d never loved anyone like this. I’d never bared my soul. Exposed myself. But he had everything I had to give. I wanted to share the ultimate gift with him. My body was growing his baby.
“I love you, so much.” He grunted, flipping me on my back. He pinned my wrists over my head as he rooted himself in me. His cock was thick and pulsing. It stretched me and filled me with vibrating strokes.
Just when I thought I didn’t have the energy to take anymore, my body would surge with a new kind of adrenaline. The fire lit through my veins, craving more from him. I was in a frenzied haze.
“Oh, Cor. I love you. Fuck me,” I whimpered. “Don’t stop. It feels so good like this.”
He grinned. “You like being pregnant?”
I nodded. “With your baby.”
He growled, slamming into me. “I can’t stop. You’re so sexy. So damn beautiful, Elena. I�
�ve never been turned on like this,” he moaned.
We had landed on a new plane. One where reason didn’t exist. The only thing we saw was halos of light circling us, blinding us with color and sensation. We were in our own carnal world. Where the only thing that mattered was our love and our baby.
It was two more hours before we pulled the sheets over us for sleep. My eyes were heavy and my body sore and happy. I’d show him the positive test when we awakened.
His arms circled me and we fell asleep.
37
Corbin
The staff was downstairs making lunch when I walked into the kitchen.
“Sir.” They nodded. The Americans hadn’t gotten used to addressing me with royal titles. I wondered what it would be like to like to live in a world where I wasn’t His Royal Highness.
I was riding a high I didn’t know existed. It was better than any binder I had been on. Why had I lived like that when this natural euphoria existed? Why hadn’t I had happiness in my life before?
Elena was pregnant with my cub. I wanted to shout it from the rooftops. I wanted to tell the chef. I wanted to run outside and tell Kurtis while he waxed the car.
I was swelling with pride. Something that shouldn’t have been a surprise was somehow an amazing shock. What did I expect? I fucked her day and night. We made love in the shower. On the deck. In the middle of the night. I couldn’t get enough of her. I loved every inch of her body. I loved every thought in her mind and emotion from her heart. Of course we had made a baby. There was another royal shifter on the way.
And now that she was pregnant I wanted to keep showing her how much I loved all of her. Our little pregnancy celebration this morning was only the beginning. I was going to worship her body for the next nine months. She would have everything she wanted. I swore to that.
I grabbed a few grapes and tossed one in my mouth.
“What’s for lunch?” I asked the chef.
“Chicken salad,” she answered. “Would you like something else? I can change the menu, sir,” she offered.
“No. That sounds good. Elena likes chicken salad.”
I walked to the deck. There was a family on the beach a few houses down, making sand castles. The kids chased each other, while the parents kept trying to take pictures with their phones. I thought about the hundreds of pictures I already had of Adaline on my phone. In no time, it would have pictures of our new baby. I shook my head. Life was unbelievable.
Elena appeared on the balcony. “You know when I was in Freychon I wondered what it would be like to be one of those people.” She pointed to the parents on the beach. “I thought I could never have a life like that.” Her eyes turned to mine. “But I think we can. I think we can have that life here, Cor.” Her fingers threaded through mine.
I nodded. “I think you’re right.”
Her eyes widened. “What?”
“I said I think you’re right. Let’s do it. Let’s buy the house. Let’s have the baby here. I’ll move the D.C. office. Adaline can have her own room. Let’s do it.”
I picked her up and she squealed. “This is crazy.”
“It’s fucking nuts. And my brother is going to kill me.”
I put her feet on the deck. “Should I call in a favor?” she asked.
My brow knitted together. “Let me guess. Eden?”
She shrugged. “If I tell her about the baby, I don’t see how they can say no.”
I palmed her belly. Nothing made me happier than knowing she was pregnant. Her hands clasped mine.
“You’re willing to give up the palace?” I prodded. “The grounds? The maids? The meetings? Awkward dinners with my mother?”
She laughed. “I’m afraid there will always be awkward dinners with your mother.”
“And what about the rest?”
“Adaline changed everything.” Her arms circled me. “And Sophia.”
“Did I hear that right?”
“Yes. I’m never going to agree with what she did, but we wouldn’t be here if she didn’t upend her life and move to South Carolina. She somehow found a way to tear you away from the crown. It’s ironic, really.”
“I don’t think there’s anything more ironic.” I smirked. I didn’t want to give Sophia that kind of credit. But here we were.
We had somehow managed to untangle ourselves from the palace and because the ambassador was willing to resign, I had a strong strategy to make a play for the U.S.
“If this is what you really want, I’ll make it happen. There’s nothing the king can do to stop me from giving you what you want.”
“Is there any other way?” she whispered. “Truly? Can you think of a better plan?”
I exhaled. “No, not if I’m going to have any chance to raise Adaline. We aren’t leaving the Marquis clan. We’re starting our own on this side of the pond.”
“Do you think you’ll miss it?”
I huffed. “No. I think we’re going to be ok here.”
I kissed her on the forehead.
The door opened and the server stepped on the deck. “Lunch is served,” she announced.
“Thank you.” Elena smiled. “Let’s eat. I’m starving.”
I took her hand in mine and held her back for a second.
“What is it?” She searched my face for answers.
“I think I was like you. I had something planned for dinner. And maybe I’m ruining it.” I dropped to one knee.
She gasped. “Oh, Cor.”
I reached into my pocket. “I bought it here in the city.” I held the diamond in the sun and it sparkled, throwing rainbows all around us. “It seemed fitting. Like this was our place. Our fresh start. Nothing royal about it. Just you and me.” My throat tightened. “And when I was picking out the diamond all I could think about was a future with you. A life that was ours. I think all along I knew we were going to stay here, Elena. You, me, our baby, and Adaline. I knew we weren’t going back to Freychon.”
She held her finger forward as I threaded the band over her knuckle.
“I want what we have every day. Every night. Will you marry me? Will you become my princess in every way?”
“Yes,” she whispered.
I stood and pulled her into my arms.
She giggled.
“What’s so funny?”
She scrunched her nose. “At the library you read one of those sappy fairytales.”
“Yes. I remember. I think the knight had to slay a dragon that guarded the tower of Freychon.”
“Right. And I thought it was complete bullshit.” She held the ring in the sun.
“And now?”
She blushed. “I might have changed my mind a little bit.”
“Because of the ring?”
She laughed. “No. Because you have to tell Wallace we’re moving to the U.S. If that doesn’t qualify as dragon-slaying I don’t know what does.”
Epilogue
What did six months of wedded bliss look like? I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror. This. It looked like this.
I ran my hands over my growing belly. Cor was supposed to be home any minute. He texted from the airport as soon as the jet landed.
My hair was glossy and thick. I layered it over my shoulders. I wore a low-cut shirt. I couldn’t believe how full my breasts were now. Cor loved them like this. In fact, he loved everything about my pregnant body.
I heard the front door close and smiled, knowing he was here. I walked from the living room to greet him.
“I missed you.” He pulled me into his arms.
“We missed you too.”
His hands rubbed over my belly. “My son missed my singing, didn’t he?”
I laughed. “You call it singing, but the rest of us have names for it.”
He frowned.
I tugged on his hand, coaxing him into the living room. The fireplace was roaring. I loved the beach in the winter. It had a sense of mystery that intrigued me. I could still take walks and find shells. It was still peaceful and
quiet. And the beauty of the ocean changed every day. I loved it here.
“I want to hear about Juliette. How is she? What’s going on at the palace? You had to hear something juicy.”
He shook his head. “I haven’t seen my wife in a week.” He bent to kiss my neck. “You can hear about my sister later.”
I giggled. “Did you bring me the orange treats? You know I’ve been craving them and I can’t find them anywhere in the States.”
He sighed. “Wait a second.” He walked to the foyer. Kurtis was hauling suitcases in the house. Cor rummaged through one and withdrew a paper bag with a purple ribbon the top.
“You got them.”
He nodded. “It took a royal decree, but here you go.”
“It did not.” I put the bag on the table. It was hard to decide what I wanted more: my husband or the special orangey chocolates I had craved.
I took one look at the man in front of me and the choice was clear. I did my best to wrap my arms around him. I bit my lip. The baby bump kept me at a slight distance.
“You are sexier every time I see you,” he growled, kissing my throat. “I missed your body, baby.”
The front door closed and I heard Kurtis set the alarm for the night.
“The house is ours,” I whispered.
He brushed a kiss over my lips. “Is it?”
I nodded. “The staff is gone for the night and Adaline is at Sophia’s. I might have a surprise for you.”
His eyebrows arched. “Really?”
I lead him to the fireplace. His eyes widened.
“What do you think?”
He smiled. “I think I’m about to have the best homecoming I’ve ever had.”
We lowered to the pallet of pillows and blankets I had made on the floor. Our wedding picture hung in a canvas over the fireplace. Right over the spot where Cor and I were going to make our own kind of fire.
I glanced at the people in that canvas. By definition we had a royal wedding because my husband was royal, but by anyone else’s standards it was simple. It was the day I became a princess. I wore a diamond tiara and carried the royal staff, but we left out all the other protocols. I wanted to be his wife. I was the mother of his son. I was going to raise a prince, who would one day be a magnificent shifter. If the world wanted pictures and videos, they could hunt for them all they wanted. The press wasn’t invited. Invitations weren’t sent. It was as private as a wedding could be. It was perfect.
