by Ella Brooke
It didn’t matter now whether she could fit herself into his world. She couldn’t be with him if she couldn’t trust him. He’d broken her heart years ago, with no warning or explanation, and despite his promises to regain her trust, he’d just done it again.
Wiping her eyes and trying to catch her breath, Caitlyn called for the driver.
***
Emrys arrived at his hotel room a bit irritated. He’d expected to see Caitlyn this morning but had been disappointed. She’d texted him for lunch plans, but when he’d texted her back, she had never responded. After they had lost the light for the day, the director decided to call it quits; these scenes needed a particular time of day, and they weren’t ready yet for another set of inside scenes.
Thus, Emrys entered the elevator still dressed in the tattered jeans and band T-shirt his character preferred. His shoulders were tight with annoyance and stress, but his heart was hopeful for the moment he would see Caitlyn again. It was a testament to how deeply imbedded she was in his heart that he couldn’t be away from her for a few weeks without feeling as though a part of him had gone missing.
But when he opened the door to his suite, there was no Caitlyn. No suitcase. Nothing to show that she had ever been here, aside from a stray tube of lip gloss on the dresser and something lying on the bed. Emrys drew nearer to investigate, but then drew back again when he saw himself there on the cover of a tabloid with Nina. It had been the moment earlier that week when they had been talking about their characters. Had Caitlyn seen this? Was this why she had come and gone?
Underneath the magazine lay a letter stuffed into an unsealed envelope. Emrys opened it and read.
Emrys,
I have loved you since I was 19 years old. I have loved you with all my heart and to the best of my ability. Now that you’ve seen the magazine, you know that I know. I know that you’ve been with this woman, and I know that you’ve been working with her without telling me. I also happen to know that you sent me back to be “trained” by your mother and sister, deliberately and without telling me. I don’t know what you think would have happened if you had just let me in on the plan, since I obviously could have played the part you wanted me to better if you had simply told me. But like our engagement, you saw fit to keep me in the dark, trapping me into either following along or hurting you. Which I would never do, if I could help it.
I love you, but you are a liar. You manipulate me instead of letting me in, and whatever happened between you and that woman, things have come up that make it completely unacceptable for me to keep letting you do this to me. I might be able to play along in this love game of yours, for which the prize is a truly obscene amount of money, and maybe also the satisfaction of defying your father. If it were just me, maybe I would continue to let you hijack my life and trick me into your schemes, but it isn’t, and I can’t let this keep happening.
I hope you have a long and scandal-filled career. Fame and success suit you. I’m taking my life in a different direction.
Love,
Cait
Chapter Twelve
The letter fell from Emrys’s hands, and he cast a glance around the room, trying to think of some way to find Caitlyn before she disappeared. Where would she even go? Home, maybe? New York?
Emrys called the driver and quickly ascertained that she had gone to the airport, so he had the man bring the car around to take him. He had to find her.
Despite his orders to drive ever faster, it still took nearly thirty minutes to arrive at the airport. Not knowing where she intended to go, Emrys could only search the departing flights and wonder which she might be taking. Some had left since the time the driver had said he’d dropped her off. Emrys had yelled at him for not alerting him, but he had left no instructions for the man to alert Emrys for any reason, so Emrys could only blame himself.
Which airline would she have taken? How could he get to her?
Obviously, he was going to have to buy a ticket. After politely flashing a picture of Caitlyn on his phone to any person in a uniform who would look, the girl at the Starbucks counter told him that she had sold Caitlyn some peppermint tea, a sandwich, and a couple of cookies. While of course she didn’t know where Caitlyn was going, she pointed him to the right airline.
It cost him a few hundred to bribe his way through the ticketing line. One older woman asked him what his hurry was, and he told her that he was about to lose his fiancée, so she gave him his twenty back and shooed him on his way.
Finally, after a security line that he couldn’t bribe his way through—this was why he took the jet everywhere—Emrys went about searching every gate being used by Caitlyn’s airline. Every damn one. Seven gates later, and he spotted her hair. Caitlyn had woven it into a spunky pair of short braids on either side of her head. It was long enough for that now, since Emrys had insisted during her time at the palace that she not cut it.
He hesitated to approach her now. After everything he’d done to get here, he could still lose it all. He couldn’t force her to forgive him or to understand why he did things so backwardly and underhandedly. Could he make himself be the open, honest lover that she needed? He hoped so, but after his past failures, he couldn’t expect her to just trust that he would. And now there was no way for him to get her to come to him.
Emrys raked a hand through his hair, realizing that it still had the stiff hairspray and temporary dye that made it look grayer for his character. He could’ve cleaned up on the set but had been in a rush to get back to the hotel. He was at a disadvantage here. He could approach her now or track her down later and find a more opportune moment to win back her affections.
Caitlyn would be right to leave him, if he did that. He would be manipulating her, and she would only leave again the next time she noticed. Emrys brushed his hands over his scruffy outfit and went over to her.
When Caitlyn spotted him, her eyes widened, her brow furrowed, and then her eyes began to well up with tears. Just as she began to rise to get away from him, he dropped to his knees in front of her.
“Emrys, stop it,” she hissed.
“I have to explain. Please let me explain.”
“What is wrong with your hair? Is that co—”
“I haven’t changed from the set.” Emrys gestured to his hair, his clothes. “I rushed to get to you only to find you gone. The fault is mine, Cait, but please…”
Caitlyn flushed and looked away. She curled a hand around her waist. “If you talk, I’m just going to forgive you. That’s not right. It’s not okay, what you’ve been doing. Why don’t you just tell me what you want from me!”
They had the attention of everyone within earshot now. For once, Emrys had an audience he didn’t want at all.
“I want you to be with me,” Emrys said. “I want you to marry me, but you said no before.” He held up a hand when she started to protest. “I know you said that because you thought I didn’t mean it. I know you think that I cheated on you, but I didn’t. Nina’s an actress. She was talking to me about our characters, that’s all. And no, I didn’t tell you about her when I got the part, but that was only because she hadn’t even been cast then! I found out about her when I got to the set.”
“I want to believe you,” Caitlyn said in a shaky voice. “But you’ve lied to me so much. Why didn’t you tell me once you knew?”
“I suppose I don’t really think of Nina that way. But it was more that I was preoccupied with my work by that time. I truly regret that you had to see that picture, and even more that it caused you so much stress.” Emrys sat back on his heels. Caitlyn twisted her fingers in her lap and straightened her back, and it became apparent that she’d put on a little bit of weight since he’d seen her last. That was fine. He had preferred her with a few more curves, anyway. “As for the issue with my mother, I wanted to ease your transition into our family. They can be so picky about small details. The sooner Mother accepts you, the sooner Father will give in and finally grant us permission to marry.”
Emrys took one of her fidgeting hands. “And I want that, Caitlyn. It’s not just about the trust fund. The trust is an irritation, a reminder of the power my father holds over me, but I don’t need it! If I have my career and I have you, I don’t need it at all.”
Caitlyn covered her lips and valiantly fought to hold back her tears.
“As soon as you are ready, Cait, I want you to be my wife. I understand that you might want more time, but I’ve never stopped loving you, either. Though…I haven’t loved you to the best of my ability. I will do better—I swear it. If you’ll let me.”
“I-I, um…” Caitlyn stammered.
She let out a soft sob and tears trickled down her cheeks. Emrys reached up to wipe them away. Suddenly, she grabbed his face in both hands and kissed him fiercely. Applause from the other waiting passengers surrounded them.
“I hate it. I love you so much. I just…” She huffed and shook her head. “I haven’t been honest with you, either. I needed to find the right time, and there never was one!” Her hand took his and squeezed it. “I-I’m pregnant, Emrys.”
Ermys raised both brows high. He couldn’t breathe.
“I’m pregnant,” she repeated, moving his hand to a small bump at her middle, which was hidden by the large sweater she was wearing. “At first, I didn’t know what to think, and then you were out of the country, and I—”
Emrys shot up and kissed her. He took her in his arms and swung her around. His heart was beating so fast and so hard that he thought it might explode, and he never wanted to let her go.
Caitlyn felt a huge weight lifted from her in Emrys’s arms. He wanted the baby, clearly. He wanted her. Even after he set her down, they couldn’t stop kissing each other for some time, until finally, Emrys grabbed her hand and then her bag, and took off.
Within a few minutes, they’d changed their tickets. They were off to Vegas.
Caitlyn managed to clean him up a bit before they found their chapel, and he’d bought her a gauzy off-white dress. She had never imagined when she’d set out the day before that she would be married within 48 hours. And there wasn’t a damn thing Emrys’s meddling parents could do about it.
Emrys carried her into their penthouse suite and placed her on the bed before turning to tip their bellboy. She could barely keep up with everything that had happened. She was deliriously happy, completely uncertain, and at the same time, utterly determined that no matter what, they would make this work.
“There’s my wife,” Emrys declared as he locked the door behind him and looked over her with a smile.
“Mrs. Playboy Prince.”
“Playboy Prince Impregnates Princess and Pisses-off Patriarch,” Emrys said merrily. He kicked off his shoes and strolled over to the bed to take her hand. “We’ve got them now, babe. Not just with that ceremony just now. Mother will absolutely insist that we be officially married in Cabeau.”
“Will it be in that church you showed me?” Caitlyn laid back on her elbows and looked at the slight bulge betrayed by the thin fabric of her dress. “That’s probably where our kid got his or her start.”
Emrys laughed. “I’ll insist on it. A royal wedding. A royal ball.”
“Don’t make me dance,” Caitlyn pleaded.
“You’ll be far too pregnant for that sort of thing. The princess is ‘in a delicate way,’” he said, providing her with her excuse. He leaned over and kissed her belly. “You only dance for me.”
“I do feel a lot more comfortable when you’re my only audience. And if I’m taking my clothes off while I do it. Is that okay for a princess of Cabeau?”
“It’s perfect.”
Emrys moved his hand up her thigh and worked his thumb against her panties. Caitlyn gasped.
“You have to be careful with that! Now that I’m not getting sick anymore, it’s like I’m constantly starving.” Caitlyn smiled as Emrys raised a brow curiously. “You might get your hand bitten down there.”
“I’ll take my chances.”
He reached behind her to unfasten her dress, and she shimmied out of it and let him slip it the rest of the way down her hips. He took a moment, looking at her in her bra and panties, and let out a low whistle.
“I know,” she murmured.
Emrys cupped her breast in his hand and stroked it gently.
“Oh! Be careful.”
“Your body loves being pregnant. I don’t know if you do, but I hope you love it half as much as your body seems to.” Emrys kissed her breast and worked his way up to her neck.
“I could be persuaded. I like an excuse to try everything on a menu.” Caitlyn arched her back and started to rub herself against Emrys. The throbbing between her legs grew stronger, just from being so close to him, or maybe because he was talking about how much he enjoyed her body like this. She wanted to wrap her legs around him and devour him whole.
“Persuade me,” she begged.
Emrys didn’t need convincing. He unhooked her bra and removed it carefully, watching as her swollen breasts spilled out and sat up pert and waiting for his attention. He supplied it, teasing them with tender touches as his other hand slipped her panties down. His hands explored her as though getting reacquainted with a lost friend, and she moaned and wriggled in anticipation of more.
When he moved back to remove his clothes, she let out a cry of protest and reached for him.
“In a moment, my pregnant princess.” He rose, slipped out of his jeans and T-shirt, and stood before her naked, moving his hand over his taut abs. Caitlyn gave a whine and bounced a little in a feigned tantrum. His eyes refocused on her jiggling breasts.
“You’d better get back over here!” she warned.
Emrys chuckled and climbed back on the bed, the thickness between his legs having grown thicker at the sight of her. Her arm reached around his back and pulled him down. She bit and licked at his neck as he squeezed her sides and moved his hands down to cup her ass.
“I love everything about you,” he murmured. “You have always been the perfect woman for me.”
With that, he spread her thighs with one hand and began teasing along her slit with a finger. She was already getting slick, but this touch made her squirm and keen with need for him.
“Please…”
“Since you asked so nicely…”
His erection pushed into her waiting sheath, stretching and filling her as she gasped and clung to him. When he began to move, thrusting into her in slow, deliberate strokes, she dug her fingers into his back and let out a low moan of relief. It had been too long. Too long since he’d touched her, wanted her, needed her. Her body craved him like fine chocolate, and as he fed her, she tightened around him, her lips twitching with hints of the enjoyment to come.
Reaching between them, Emrys massaged the top of her mound, causing her moaning to grow louder and louder until she was shrieking, coming, her entire body quivering with gorgeous pleasure.
She sagged a little in his arms, and he kissed her sweating forehead before he grew ridged, bellowing triumphantly as he jerked his hips and spilled his seed into her.
They lay together quietly for a few moments before Emrys slipped out of her and curled by her side. His fingers lazily touched her breasts, her stomach, and then trailed down to the rise of her belly.
“Never leave me again,” Emrys said quietly. “Please.”
“We’ll always be yours,” Caitlyn promised, placing her hand over his own.
Epilogue
The pictures of Emrys and Caitlyn in the airport went viral. Their story changed immediately in the eyes of the public. From Playboy Prince to Star-Crossed Lovers, and those lovers had immediately eloped and were expecting to boot.
Eliana had scolded Emrys loudly on the phone while Caitlyn enjoyed room service and smirked at him. But he had been right that in the end, his mother had told him that they absolutely had to have an official wedding in Cabeau and that she would be having words with the king until he agreed that it was absolutely unacceptable to have a potential heir t
o the Sébire line wandering about and his or her mother not accepted into the family.
“I knew it. I just knew it, Caitlyn,” Eliana had scolded. “Don’t speak, child. I can’t stand your verbal fumbling right now. Emrys, you have to be the man that the mother of your children deserves!”
“Children?” Caitlyn had mouthed. Emrys had pinched her side and grinned.
Eliana had called again the next day while Caitlyn was out to demand that Emrys send his fiancée back to be prepped for the wedding, but he insisted on conferring with Caitlyn first. In the end, they informed his mother that she would have to send her assistant out to them, as they didn’t want to be separated again before the wedding.
They were married again in style in Cabeau after Emrys’s film had finished, and another set of pictures flooded public consciousness. Pictures of Emrys and his expecting princess at Christmas with their parents at the palace followed. And finally, pictures of their son.
Caitlyn Sébire and baby Sam were a permanent fixture at Emrys’s side. Where he went, they went, and it was more than Caitlyn had ever dreamed of—a family, adventures, and her prince.
Of course, there were rocky spots with the paparazzi, but Emrys arranged with his manager to alert him and Caitlyn before any pictures or big stories hit, and it helped her nerves to have the advance warning.
Caitlyn sold her company, knowing that she wouldn’t have the time to run it as well as be a wife and new mother. The job had mostly funded her travel, anyway, and she would be doing that plenty with Emrys and her sweet baby boy. And frankly, Sam would need a little brother or sister at some point, so she had motivation to revise her plans for the next few years. After speaking with her doctor, she knew it would be a few years before they had to look into other options, so she wanted to take advantage of their youth and biology early on. She might just keep traveling and enjoying her life. She might set out to get another degree or just study as many languages as her brain was willing to soak up.
