by Tia Louise
His chest is hot at my back, and his other large hand holds my neck, my chin, bracing my head against him. “I want to be inside you,” he growls against my skin before biting it. “I want to fill you with my come.”
A thick finger sinks into my dripping core, and I moan, “Yes…”
“Ava.” He kisses the back of my shoulders, his beard scuffing my skin. Heat races through my legs as he fingers me, plunging in and out as his thumb circles my clit.
My fingers curl against the wall, and my body starts to tremble. “Fuck me… please,” I beg.
He releases my neck, but I strain frantically, searching for his mouth. He catches me and kisses me once more, his tongue diving deep, finding mine and curling together. Salt is on my tongue, my skirt is over my hips, and warm sea air slithers with the waves of pleasure around my thighs as I wait for him to unfasten his pants.
I can’t breathe. Anticipation is like a tingling fist in my lower stomach. I want his cock so badly. My voice escapes on a burning breath. “Rowan…”
As I’m speaking he grasps my hipbone. The other hand is between my legs, holding his tip as he guides it home. My back arches, and in one swift thrust, he’s balls deep, moving hard and fast.
I moan so loud, gripping the wall. His hand returns to my clit, massaging fast, but it’s hardly necessary. Hot waves of orgasm shoot up my legs, centering in my core. With every thrust, I’m forced forward onto my toes.
The arches of my feet flutter. He’s fucking me so hard, and I’m coming hard, begging for more. My body collapses forward as the orgasm wracks me. Rowan’s strong arm is under my loose top, wrapping around my ribs and pulling me up against his chest. He’s still thrusting, again and again, harder, faster, until he stills, finishing with a loud groan.
I feel the throbbing pulses as he fills me. I’m overflowing, and he groans again, his large hand covering my flat stomach. Through the haze, I smile. I turn my head, searching for his mouth. Warm lips cover mine, and he thrusts once more, causing my pussy to clench. I release a little whimper at the flicker of pleasure it causes, and he groans softly.
“Ava… you are so perfect.”
His hand is inside my bra, cupping my breast. I’m tight in his arms, and he rolls my nipple between his fingers. It makes me sigh with love and satisfaction and happiness. I reach back to hold his neck, run my fingers through his hair. I love this man.
Our breathing has calmed, and he eases out. He takes a step back and turns me to face him. Leaning his elbows on the wall, he places both palms on the sides of my head before kissing me gently, slowly. My mouth opens readily, and our tongues are together. We kiss each other for several seconds before he lifts his head and meets my eyes.
“I guess I attacked you.” Our faces are so close the tip of his nose brushes mine.
I smile, lifting my chin. “I loved it.”
“I suppose I can’t do that when you’re pregnant.”
“That’s a sad thought.”
“Let me clean you up.” He steps back, reaching for my hand.
Glancing down, I laugh at my demolished outfit. “Hang on.” I catch the bottom of my blouse and whip it over my head. My bra is gone just as fast. Unfastening my skirt, I let it fall to the floor, where it lands beside the scrap of lace. “Another one bites the dust.”
“You should probably just dispense with those for the duration.”
Excitement unfurls in my stomach. “Should I prepare for regular attacks?”
He shrugs, a naughty gleam in his eyes. “It’s good to be prepared.”
“This is hands-down my favorite royal task.”
He laughs, and I take his hand, following him to the shower.
Chapter 5
Rowan
My mind is on Ava as I make my way through the palace to the war room. We’ve decided to keep our family planning a secret from everyone—not just my mother. It was partially her idea, but I didn’t hesitate to agree. We already have enough pressure to deal with. The last thing we need is everyone watching us like a bomb getting ready to explode.
Reggie stands at the window this time, and I exhale deeply. I know where his mind is. The focused, kingly side of my brain even agrees with him. Then there’s my heart. I know how much helping these children means to Ava.
“Have you decided what you’re going to do?” he says, as soon as I enter the room.
“I’m not taking the orphans away from Ava.” My tone is final, and my uncle throws up his hands.
“So you’re going to position us to be at odds with the needs of the citizens?”
“I have a plan in mind for the people, but I need to send someone to talk to the various heads of state, to explain what we’re doing and make our position clear.” The plan unfolds in my mind as I say it, and I have to confess, it’s brilliant and solves my Reggie problem in one neat sweep. “I’d like that person to be you.”
The grand duke turns to face me, placing both hands on the back of his heavy chair. “And what is our position?”
“With regard to the refugee children, the queen regent, with my permission, agreed to take a handful of the orphans arriving in Italy. Ava and the Italian prime minister’s wife have tender hearts when it comes to these little ones, and they made a one-time agreement.” Taking a seat at the head of the table, I train my eyes on my uncle. “It was the right thing to do.”
“That’s it?” His eyes clash with mine, and I restrain the anger I feel toward him. Reggie is constantly testing my power.
“No.” I give Freddie a nod. “Ava is using all the resources we have available to reunite them with their families. She’s searching the different camps, and we’d like the other countries to help us, to be open to her requests.”
He exhales dramatically. “Why do you need me to deliver this request?”
“Because you are also going to explain the referendum I’m presenting to our parliament and enacting over the next few days.”
His eyebrow quirks. “Please continue, your grace.”
I’m giving him a compromise to the actions he’s been seeking. “After a very short implementation period, drivers of all heavy trucks and lorries must obtain personal travel visas before they can be on our streets. We will no longer accept the blanket coverage of their employers.”
Reggie nods. “This is good.”
Logan sits to my right, and his eyes flicker up to mine. “There are plenty of ways to avoid driving through Monagasco. Suppose businesses choose to pull out?”
“If they are not willing to give us this small measure of security, we will have to carry on without them.”
“However…” Freddie carefully chooses his words. “The most recent attacks were by private citizens. How can we stop something like that?”
“Old-fashioned security and barricades. We’ll begin immediately to reinforce road blocks in heavy pedestrian areas.” I turn the shiny black pen in my fingers. “We’ll require background checks on individuals renting large vehicles and driving them through the streets.”
“It will cause delays at the border,” Logan says, leaning away from the table. “We have to make this information widely public before it goes into effect.”
“It is a smart decision that will help our citizens feel safe,” Reggie argues. “Our streets are heavily populated with foot traffic. As you said, there are many routes around Monagasco. Businesses are free to choose those.”
“It’s not a perfect solution.” I study the papers in front of me. “But I hope presenting these two pieces of information together, in person will head off any anger or confusion over where we stand.”
“I’ll prepare to leave at once,” Reggie says, starting for the door.
“Take Cassandra with you. I’ve found her to be extremely effective in maintaining a level of calm during difficult conversations.” I don’t say out loud that I trust my official translator and my wife’s best friend more than my uncle in conveying our message in the most diplomatic manner.
Logan’s eyes flash to me,
and I add, “You will also need a guard. Logan can accompany you.”
He rises and gives me a nod. “Thank you. We’ll prepare to leave at once.”
Chapter 6
Ava
I’m in front of the laptop scouring through the lists of refugee names. Somehow, when Freddie did it, he made it look so easy. It takes me almost an hour to finish the search on one child.
I start with Greece, where it appears they all washed ashore, then I search by last name through all the rolls Freddie showed me. It takes forever! Once I’ve narrowed it down to a possible three different camps in three different countries, I start collecting the names and numbers of the individuals in charge of the relief efforts there.
“I need to make a master list of these people,” I say to myself, jotting the names on the inside of the manila folder.
Times like this I wish I had worked as a secretary or some other sort of administrative job. Even if it was only for a little while, maybe I would have learned to use a spreadsheet or any kind of electronic data organizer.
Once I have the contacts and locations down, I save it in a document and start on the next child. I’ll forward three more to Clare when I finish, and she and Rashida can start making calls.
I haven’t heard from her about the first three children. I confess, Suad is sort of my favorite. I hope she might let me hold her one day, but more than that, I hope I can find her family.
Glancing up at the clock, I see another hour has passed. I stand and walk around the room, stretching my arms and tilting my head side to side. The entire time I’ve been searching, I’ve had the windows open for Emily, Grace, and Ramona.
I open a small window on the addresses for each girl, and as often as possible, I click over to see if I can catch a glimpse of one of them. I want to see them looking happy and healthy as adults.
Ramona’s street bothers me the most. I remember streets like hers in certain parts of Miami. Looking back, I realize as a child I’d seen drug deals going down or prostitution transactions, and I didn’t even know it. Zelda would steer us away from as much criminal activity as she recognized, but we weren’t always together during the day.
I look at those streets and think how I came from that. It’s an unexpectedly depressing thought. What made me better than Ramona or Grace or Emily? Why do I deserve to be in a palace and not one of them? Is this survivor’s guilt?
My mind drifts to my orphans, and I think of all the things they’ve likely seen at such a young age. All of it spirals together in my mind, and the impressive level of optimism I’d managed to conjure when I talked to Clare fails me.
Picking up my phone, I tap out a quick text to Rowan. Busy?
I put the phone down and stare at the window into Ramona’s life doing my best to focus on helping her, sending her the money… One at a time.
My phone vibrates on the table, and I pick it up.
Rowan texts back. Working on my compromise with Reggie. You?
Working on my orphan placement. I text back. Pausing a moment, I think about how troubled everything seems to be. Having second thoughts about the baby. Is this the right time?
Three little dots float on my screen, and I know he’s working on a reply. I lean back in my chair, holding my phone and waiting for his words. The dots disappear, and I wait longer.
My eyes drift up to the three windows, and I see a short woman in a grey coat walking a dog down the lane in Grace’s world. They move slowly. They stop at a tree, and I’m sure the dog must be peeing. It’s all so ordinary, my fears seem a little silly.
I’m just about to text Rowan back when the door opens, and he’s standing in the entrance. His face is unreadable. He doesn’t enter. He only waits, looking like the most gorgeous thing I’ve ever seen in a dark suit and tie. He’s still wearing the glasses he’ll occasionally put on when he’s reading, and I rise out of my chair, closing the laptop before I go to him.
“I’m sorry,” I say, reaching out for his hand.
He takes mine and raises it to his lips before pulling me closer. “What’s troubling you, Ava?”
I look down at my shoes, awkwardness filling my stomach. “You didn’t have to come all the way over here.”
“Why are you having second thoughts about our baby?”
I take a deep breath and sigh, lifting my eyes to his. “It just seems like everything is in such chaos. What makes us want to bring a child into this mess?”
His dark eyes soften as they hold mine, but he doesn’t answer immediately. I love that he doesn’t pat me on the head and tell me to stop being ridiculous. He takes my fears seriously.
“It’s our royal duty,” he finally says.
Now I’m frowning. “That’s your only reason?”
“No…” He touches the side of my cheek with his thumb, and I wait. “I’d also like to see what happens when we take half of you and mix it with half of me.”
My frown softens a little. “I have dreamed of our babies.” I remember my chubby, dark-haired daydreams.
“I expect we’ll have an overly analytical, extremely controlled little leader,” he says, and I sigh and nod. “Or a thief who steals cars and races them away.”
“Rowan!” I push his arm, ready to storm across the room.
He catches me around the waist. “Come here.” I’m still angry and resisting, but his voice turns serious. “Ava,” he says in that deep tone I love.
He takes my hand and leads me to the small couch near the window. “I do think about our children, and it is our royal duty, but it’s more than that.”
We sit facing each other, fingers laced. I look into his eyes, which are now completely serious. “Why, then?” I ask.
“It’s because I have faith.” He traces my hair away from my cheek with his finger. “We’re facing hard times and difficult choices right now, but we have faith that things will get better. We hope our child will continue our work of making the world a better place.”
Reaching up, I slide my palm over his hand. I didn’t think it was possible to love him more.
“That’s just what I said,” I whisper.
“I believe in you,” he says, leaning closer and kissing me gently. His words make me laugh away the mist in my eyes.
Sitting straighter, he looks around my small office. “We have not christened this room.”
My heart beats faster, and I slide my finger into a wave at the top of his collar. “Lock the door?”
Dark eyes consume me, and my skin feels hot all over. He stands and crosses the room just as my phone starts to ring. Going to the desk, I pick it up to see it’s Zelda on Skype.
“Zelda.” I look over at him doing a little frown.
“Take it,” he says, opening the door instead. “I’m sure they’re wondering why I walked out of our referendum meeting.”
I’m warmed in an entirely different way as I touch the accept button on my phone. “You walked out of your meeting to talk to me?” I give him a little smile.
He touches his lips with two fingers and holds them out to me. I kiss the air back.
“Helloooo?” Zelda cries from my telephone screen.
Rowan laughs and slips out the door, and I look down at my sister. She’s holding a golden-haired angel, and I squeal.
“Belle! How is my baby niece today? Are you eating Goldfish?”
She touches the screen with an adorable little finger and makes a noise that sounds a lot like Ava.
I squeal again. “Did she just say my name?”
“I called you the minute it happened,” Zee says. “I had no idea you’d be catching a nooner with the king.”
“It’s four o’clock,” I say, with a laugh. “We were just talking.”
“Who is that, Bee?” My sister gives her daughter a boost. “Say Ava?”
She does it again, and I squeal again. “That’s right! Ava!”
We do it for another few minutes until my toddler niece starts squirming to get down. Zee releases her and pops up to
talk to me.
“What’s the latest around the palace? The queen mother driving you crazy?”
“She’s actually gone most of the time now.” I return to my seat in front of the laptop. With Zelda facing me, I can pull up the windows again.
“That hardly seems fair,” my sister complains. “She’s always there when we visit.”
“Speaking of, when are you coming for another visit? I haven’t seen you in forever.”
“You’re seeing me now.”
“It’s not the same.”
“Get Rowan to make up a reason, and we’ll fly up.”
Narrowing my eyes, I chew my lip. “I’ll have to think of something.”
We continue chatting a while longer. I tell her about my orphans. She complains it’s too dangerous on the continent, and it’s time we moved the whole operation to Tortola. She tells me the latest news on Belle and her latest project around the island. The sun is setting when we finally say our goodbyes and disconnect.
Miami is on the same time zone as my sister, so it’s midday in Ramona’s world. Ditto Emily, but the sun is setting on London. I pull up a knee and rest my chin on my hand as I wait. I’m sure I’ll catch a glimpse of her coming home this time.
The clock ticks, and I wait. My phone hums with a text, and I see my friend Kass is headed on some regional tour with Reggie to personally talk about Rowan’s referendum and my orphans.
I know you’ll win everyone over to our side, I text back.
He’s letting me bring Logan!!!
I grin at her excitement. The king is awesome like that.
Please tell him I said thanks so much.
I’m about to text her back when it happens. I almost drop my phone when a young woman appears on the screen jogging up the walk. I don’t know how I know it’s her—it could be anybody. Still, I put the target on her face and zoom in.
My chest clenches when I see her. It’s like the photograph has come to life. She’s dressed in a short, dark coat, and a hat is on her head. I can’t tell if it’s raining, but her legs are covered in dark tights and she’s wearing stylish booties.
