Royally Unexpected 2: An Accidental Pregnancy Collection (Surprise Baby Stories)

by Lilian Monroe

  “If we don’t spend any time together at all, our families will only put more pressure on us.” I take a step toward her, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. “Please, Cara. I need my father to believe this.”

  She sucks in a breath, finally nodding. “Okay.”

  “We leave the day after tomorrow. I’ll have the car pick you up.”

  I almost lean in to kiss Cara again, but hold back. She takes a step away from me, lifting her arm in goodbye.

  “See you then.”

  The royal sea plane is ready and waiting when Cara arrives at the pier. She’s dressed in a white sundress, with her long, brown hair trailing down to her mid-back. Against the crisp white of her dress, her skin almost glows. Her lips curl up into a smile and she raises her arm to wave at me. She looks ethereal and regal and completely perfect.

  Too perfect.

  My body responds instantly, and I have to do my best to keep the fire in my veins under control.

  “I couldn’t sleep last night,” she says, leaning in to kiss me on the cheek. A zip of heat travels down my spine.

  “No?”

  Cara shakes her head. “Too excited.”

  “About this trip?”

  “Don’t let it go to your head,” she laughs. “I’ve never seen most of the islands of Argyle. It’ll be my first time on a sea plane. Oh, and I guess you’re all right, too.”

  “I’m flattered.” I grin, loving the way her eyes sparkle when she stares at me. “Don’t make me feel too special.”

  “You have an army of people whose job it is to do that,” she quips. “I’m not going to be one of them.” She grins, squeezing my forearm with her hand before shaking her head. As her face grows more serious, she stares into my eyes. “Thanks for inviting me. I think I need some time away from my mother. She’s far too excited about this prospective engagement, but I think you were right to invite me on this tour. It would be tough to leave Argyle now, when all the attention is on me. At least now the attention is on our relationship instead.”

  I shouldn’t like hearing her talk about our relationship. It shouldn’t send a flow of heat through my chest. It shouldn’t make my heart thump at the thought of being near her.

  We’re not in a relationship. We’re only pretending…

  …but it feels a little too real already.

  The pilot steps out of the plane and bows before helping us inside. He points to two headsets hanging on the plane’s walls. “Wear these. It gets loud once I turn the engine on.”

  Attendants load our suitcases up into the plane, and Cara and I slip the headsets over our ears. The pilot climbs back into the tiny sea plane and starts the engine. It roars to life, and Cara moves a bit closer to me.

  I like having her at my side.

  Before the plane moves, the pilot speaks into our headsets to give us a short safety briefing while his co-pilot does the last few pre-flight checks. Cara slips her hand into mine, flashing a smile at me after clicking her seatbelt into place.

  Then, we take off. The plane skims the surface of the water as the engines roar loud in our ears, even with the big noise-cancelling headsets on. The plane dips from side to side ever so slightly, carving through the surface of the water as we pick up speed.

  Then, we take off.

  Over the deafening noise of the engines, I can’t hear any of the sounds Cara’s making, but I can feel her body next to mine. She tenses as we take off, relaxing as the sea plane leaves the surface of the water. We gain altitude and I watch Cara’s face turn rapt as she stares out the windows at the water below.

  Yachts dot the harbor, and speedboats leave long wakes carved out in the teal water. As we fly higher and higher, Cara laughs and points out islands, sandbars, and flocks of sea birds below us. At the low altitude of the plane, we can see everything.

  I mostly watch Cara, though.

  I’ve spent the last year worrying about my father, about my brothers, about my future as King of this nation. Everything has been focused on responsibilities. On duty. On my work in service to the Kingdom.

  Now, mostly alone in this sea plane with Cara, seeing the entranced expression on her face as she looks at the scene below, I feel happy. Calm. Free.

  I’m not the Crown Prince with the weight of the Kingdom on my shoulders. I’m not protecting my father’s reputation and news of his illness from the public. I’m not worried about whether or not my brother Luca will walk again. I’m not waiting for news on the legality of my ascension to the throne, or wondering if I’ll want to marry Cara for real.

  I’m just sitting in a sea plane beside a beautiful woman, smiling as we watch the islands pass below us. Cara’s hand stays curled around mine, and she moves closer to me. Her body molds against me as she leans over to point something out.

  I nod, pretending to look where she’s gesturing. My eyes always slide back to her, though. Her eyes, rich and brown and expressive. Her neck, long and graceful. Her lips, full and kissable.

  Everything about her is perfect.

  In that moment, flying above the Kingdom that will soon be mine, I know that I don’t want to pretend at all.

  10

  Cara

  When the sea plane lands, I squeeze Theo’s hand so hard I think I might break his fingers. Wouldn’t that be a great start to a fake engagement? Injuring both his arms in less than a week?

  I can’t help it. This plane is tiny, and even though the pilot and his co-pilot are professionals, I feel every wave as we land, every gust of wind, every bump and shake.

  But we do land, and the pilot cuts the engines to a dull hum as we taxi to the docks. I feel flushed. I know my cheeks are red and my eyes are shining. My hair is probably a mess from the headset and my hand is more than a little sweaty.

  I don’t care, though.

  Riding in this sea plane next to Theo is the biggest thrill I’ve had in a long time. It makes me wonder if maybe I don’t need to run away to explore the world. Maybe there’s lots of adventure to be had right here in Argyle.

  Maybe I could see the world with Theo by my side.

  I shake my head to dispel the thought. This is fake. We’re pretending. I’m doing it as a favor to Theo, and he’s doing his best to protect me from the pressure of a potential engagement. He’s buying himself time and helping me have a smooth exit from Argyle when this is all over.

  That doesn’t mean I can’t enjoy these three weeks, though, does it?

  As the workers on the dock help the pilot with ropes and staircases to secure the plane to the dock, I let out a breath.

  “Wow,” I sigh, pulling my headset off and smiling at Theo.

  “Yeah.” His eyes are shining, and a soft smile tugs at his lips.

  We disembark the plane and walk down the dock as our suitcases are unloaded. An army of staff is waiting to help us off the plane, down the docks, and into the royal vehicle. I’m handed a warm towel to wipe my hands and face, and offered fresh fruit and champagne as we arrive next to a limousine.

  I arch my eyebrows, glancing at Theo. “Is this what your life is like?”

  He grins, shrugging. “More or less.”

  “You’ve been hiding this side of royal life from me.”

  “I’ve been showing you the real me instead.”

  A lump forms in my throat. I turn my attention to the champagne to hide the effect his words have on me. A flush creeps over my cheeks and my body thrums as I stand beside the Prince.

  We’re driven down a winding road to one of the royal villas. Even though I spent lots of time with the Princes of Argyle growing up, I didn’t even know this property existed.

  There’s probably a lot of things I don’t know about them.

  As we pass through tall, ornate gates, I stare up at the tall palm trees that line the drive. Lush greenery surrounds us on all sides, with the clear blue sky arching high above us. A smile stretches over my lips and I lean against Theo’s good shoulder.

  “This is so beautiful,” I sigh. “Than
k you for having me. Feels like a holiday.”

  Theo doesn’t answer. He only moves his arm to slide it over my shoulders, holding me close to his chest. We watch the trees part as a one-story villa appears in the distance. When the driver stops outside, the front door opens and a woman in a maid’s uniform appears to help us into the villa.

  As soon as I step inside, my jaw drops.

  Marble, glass, and stainless steel everywhere. Every surface is gleaming. As I walk across the small, lush home, I spot floor-to-ceiling windows on the other side. My toes sink into a plush rug, and I run my fingers over a handmade basket full of shells. I smile. Outside, an infinity pool flows into the ocean beyond. The maid appears by my side, handing me another tall glass of champagne.

  I could get used to this.

  I accept the drink with a nod, my eyes widening as I turn to Theo.

  “I thought you were here on official business.”

  He throws open the sliding glass door with one arm, wincing at the effort. His good hand goes to his shoulder, and I move to help him with the other door.

  “This is official business. We’ll be here on Arlian Island for three days, and then we’re off to Zander for the fishing festival. It’s my pre-coronation tour of the Kingdom, but it doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy ourselves.”

  I smile. Of the hundreds of islands that compose Argyle, I’ve only been to two or three. Arlian and Zander are two of the bigger ones, but I’ve never seen either of them.

  Theo steps outside and a soft breeze flutters through the open door. As I walk out onto the pool deck, I peek at the white, sandy beach below. A hot tub steams over to the left, and the pool gurgles at my feet.

  I shake my head. “I knew you were a prince, but I didn’t realize this is what your life was like.”

  “You’re not exactly from the other side of the tracks,” Theo shoots back, grinning. “If I remember correctly, your father might be more popular than mine.”

  I shrug, laughing. “That doesn’t mean we have the resources of the Crown behind us. This is next level. My father mostly gives our money away to fund his swimming school.”

  “Hence the need for you to make your own way.” Theo sits down on one of the cushioned pool chairs, wincing at the pain in his shoulder again. I come to sit next to him on the same lounge chair, touching his sling with the tips of my fingers.

  “Sore?”

  He grunts in response. “This sling keeps rubbing against my skin.”

  I move his shirt collar to reveal red, raw skin at the base of his neck. I wince. “Theo, this looks painful.”

  “It is.”

  “Hold on.”

  I walk back inside, finding the maid to ask her for a first aid kit. She retrieves one from the cupboard and hands it to me.

  “Need my help?” she asks, motioning to follow me.

  I shake my head. “It’s fine.”

  I’m used to doing things on my own. We have staff at my house, but nothing like this. Not waiting on us hand and foot. When I was younger we had more people around, but as we grew up and my father’s work started to slow down, our household shrank.

  Royalty is different. The staff that waits on Theo shows real deference to him—and by extension, to me. It’s strange, but not unpleasant.

  The maid follows me outside. Theo is leaning against the back of the chair. He’s taken his sling off and is cradling his arm against his stomach. I lift the first aid kit up and smile.

  “Let me help you,” I say.

  The Prince nods, and then shifts his gaze to the maid. “We’ll be fine, Desiree. Take the rest of the day off.”

  “But, Your Highness—”

  “Take the day, Desiree. I can see that you’ve prepped the villa perfectly. Come back in the morning.”

  She curtsies, and right as she turns around, I see a smile split over her face. I guess even if you’re working for royalty, it’s still a job. Everyone appreciates a day off. I glance at the Prince, appreciating that he knows the names of almost all his staff. He treats them like real people, even though he’s the future King.

  I make my way over to Theo and take a seat next to him on the pool lounge chair again. Gently, I push his shirt off his shoulder. The area where his sling rubbed against his neck is raw and painful-looking. I get some ointment from the kit and gently dab it on. Theo jumps at the coolness of the salve and then sinks further into the chair.

  “That feels so good,” he groans.

  The Prince closes his eyes as I dab the ointment on, my eyes wandering over his chest and shoulder. I undo another button in his shirt to reveal more of his skin, drifting my hand over the injured area.

  I know I did it to save Theo from going overboard, but I hate that I’m the one to have caused him pain. I’m the one who dislocated his shoulder. I can’t stand the thought of hurting him.

  When my fingers slide over his skin, the Prince groans.

  “Your touch feels so good,” he says in a low growl. When his eyes open again, his gaze sends an arrow of heat through the pit of my stomach.

  We said we’d pretend. We said that this wouldn’t be real, and that we’d just be helping each other out. Him, to buy some time with his father and the coronation. Me, to make it easier to leave and protect me from unnecessary pressure.

  We said that our kiss shouldn’t happen again. It was a mistake.

  But was it?

  What if that kiss was the one real thing about this? What if being with Theo is as right as it feels?

  The Prince’s gaze is intoxicating. Touching his bare skin sends a shiver straight to my gut, igniting fire in my veins. Embers swirl in his eyes as he stares at me, his tongue sliding out to lick his lips.

  We’re balancing on the edge of a precipice. I know we are.

  Either we fall head-first into disaster, or this is the start of something beautiful. Pretending to get engaged to him could be the best or worst thing I’ve ever done.

  Which will it be?

  Right now, the only thing on my mind is how much I want him. We’re alone here, in this villa tucked away on the edge of the world. The luxury and solitude around us heighten the feeling that everything about this is right.

  Who cares about the rest of the world? Who cares about our past, and our future? Who cares about our families and our obligations?

  The only thing that matters is Prince Theo and me, the fact that his lips look irresistibly kissable, and that his body was carved from something divine.

  I can’t resist my desires anymore.

  Leaning forward, I kiss the Prince. As soon as our lips touch, fire roars to life in my core. I’m sick of fighting this feeling in my heart, when this feeling is the only thing that’s ever been good.

  I’m tired of torturing myself about Luca, when he’s only brought pain into my life. I’m sick of pretending that I don’t want Theo. That I still want to leave as desperately as I did a week ago. That he doesn’t make me feel more alive than anyone else ever has.

  So, I let go.

  I give in.

  I surrender to my feelings and let the desire take over. I kiss the Crown Prince of Argyle with all the force of my feelings, showing him what I really feel for him. Tangling my fingers into his hair, I crush my lips against his and moan into his mouth.

  Swinging my leg over to straddle Theo, I try my best to avoid his bad shoulder while simultaneously pressing my body against his.

  His good hand grips me tight, his fingers sinking into the flesh at my hip.

  “Cara,” he groans. “Are you sure?”

  I pull away slightly, staring deep into his ocean-blue eyes. “Surer than I’ve ever been about anything, ever.”

  11

  Theo

  I wish I hadn’t dislocated my shoulder. The things I want to do to Cara require the use of both my arms. The pleasure I want to give her needs my full health and attention.

  As it is, I can barely move. I wrap my uninjured arm around her and pull her close, wincing as she nudges aga
inst my bad shoulder.

  “Sorry,” she says, drawing away from me. I hate the distance. She frowns. “I can stop, if you want.”

  “The last thing I want you to do is stop.”

  Cara rolls her hips against me. I groan. I can feel the fire radiating from her core, her dress riding up to her hips. My fingers trail along her thighs, feeling the slight peach fuzz on her skin. I let my fingers drift over the waistband of her panties, moving to touch the heat between her legs.

  Yesterday, we said we’d pretend. I knew we were lying to ourselves.

  Today, this feels very, very real.

  Whatever is happening between Cara and me is unstoppable. We’re a runaway train, roaring down the tracks toward certain destruction.

  Nothing good can come of this.

  But do I care? Not in the slightest.

  My good hand reaches down between her legs, and I groan when I feel the wetness soaking her panties. Cara lets out a soft sigh, kissing my lips as she furiously unbuttons my shirt. She pushes it open, being gentle around my injured shoulder. Rocking her panties against my hand, she groans as her hands splay over my chest.

  I don’t even care that my shoulder hurts. What is pain? The only thing that matters is my rock-hard cock doing its best to break free from my pants.

  That, and the wetness soaking through Cara’s underwear.

  Pushing the ruined strip of fabric to the side, I drag my fingers through her honey. She moans again, and I swear it’s the sweetest sound I’ve ever heard. I can’t keep my eyes off her. She rocks herself against my hand as her lips drop open. Her nails dig into my chest and another wave of agony passes through my shoulder.

  I still don’t care about it.

  When I slip a finger inside her, keeping my palm pressed against her clit, Cara lets out the sexiest noise I’ve ever heard. She looks down at me, eyes dark and full of sin.

  The pool lounge chair creaks beneath us, but I can’t bring myself to care. If it breaks, it breaks. It’ll break while I’m experiencing the closest thing to heaven on earth.