I dug my face into his chest. “I may or may not have snuck out and went to a bar last week.”
He took my chin in his hand and made me look into his dark eyes. “Why did you do that? I need to make sure you’re safe at all times.”
“I took security with me, but you know it’s something that I do from time to time. I’m pretty good at picking out safe places that have amazing regulars. Back home, there was a pub that I frequented because it kept me in touch with reality. I don’t want my life to only be fancy balls and charity events. Sometimes I need to talk to the people, and see what they want for the future.”
He kissed my forehead and pulled me in closer. “You never cease to amaze me, Scarlett.”
I blushed and rested my head on his shoulder as we leaned back into the headboard. The feeling of the crushed velvet on my exposed back made goose bumps rise on my skin.
“Carrick, we’re going to be happy, right?”
He angled his head down towards mine. “I really think so.”
I dug my fingers into his back as his mouth dominated mine. His tongue explored me and left me breathless as we kissed. Normally, I wasn’t complacent to sit back and let a man lead, but with Carrick, I craved that. I wanted him to take from me until I couldn’t give him any more.
I whimpered into his mouth as he pinched at my nipples through my silk nightgown. My head fell back and I cursed as his mouth sucked down on a sensitive part of my neck.
“How do you want this, baby?”
When I made myself open my eyes and look at Carrick, the wicked grin on his face made me excited for his next move.
“Whatever you want.”
I didn’t even recognize my own voice.
His eyes flashed and in seconds, he had me flipped over on all fours. I glanced over my shoulder as he stripped off his boxers and positioned himself behind me. A load moan filled the room as he ran his cock up and down my entrance. He gripped my hips tighter as I fought to push back on him. The sharp slap on my ass made me gasp.
“Are you in charge here?”
I bit down on my lip and faced forward, trying hard not to arch my back. “No, sir.”
The feeling of his scruff against my back was too much. He grinned and bit down gently on one of my shoulder blades.
“Carrick,” I breathed.
He finally slid inside me, kissing my neck gently as he did. “Say it again.”
“What?”
“Say my name again. I like hearing it on your lips while I’m inside you.”
My entire body tightened and this time, I moaned his name while gripping the sheets. It didn’t take long before we were both sweaty. He tugged me up, my back against his front, and loosely gripped my neck. His kisses were powerful, making me so weak he had to hold me up as he drove into me from behind. My fingers dug into the headboard and I felt the beginning of my orgasm coming on quickly. Carrick’s hand slammed down over mine, interlocking our fingers as we broke our mouths apart to breathe.
I came so hard little white dots danced in front of my vision. Carrick’s arm wrapped around me tighter and we bent down over the bed, then slowly sank onto the mattress, Carrick spooning me from behind. He reached down and tugged the sheet up over us. I felt sleep pulling at me, but I heard him whisper in my ear before drifting off.
“We’re definitely going to be happy.”
I smiled at my husband as he looked out over the crowds of well-wishers on his coronation day. We stood side by side, as the priest that had married us performed the special ceremony, officially making us the King and Queen of Warington. All the emotions of the day were mind-boggling, and I couldn’t tell if I wanted to laugh or cry anymore. Carrick looked overwhelmed and I wanted nothing more than to go calm him and rub the little “v” between his eyebrows to make him laugh. The day was only getting started.
We thought we were prepared, but the amount of people who had shown up to support us was more than either of us had expected. The people loved Carrick, but apparently the idea of both of us together was something they were absolutely obsessed with.
William stood next to me and leaned over to whisper in my ear. “I’ve never seen him happier than he has been over these past few weeks.”
I looked over at him in surprise. The ex-soldier was normally quiet, but I’d occasionally caught him laughing when I did something ridiculous or Carrick was acting like a lovesick fool. His eyes were shining brightly, and I could see how genuine his words were.
“I’m happy too. Thank you for pushing him.”
He winked and turned his gaze back out to the crowds; keeping a watchful eye out, like always. The more I got to know him, the more I liked him. He was a tough one to crack, but each day, I got a little closer to figuring out what made William tick.
As I glanced out over the crowd, I noticed my sister and step-brother standing next to Karen and Roger. Surprise, surprise. My own father couldn’t even be bothered to come while his daughter was being crowned queen of her own country. Nothing I did would ever be good enough for that man, and I was through trying to impress him. It made me sad I would never have the relationship that I wanted with him, but I knew I would be better off without him and his toxic influence.
Ava grinned at me as she tugged on Roman’s arm to get his attention. We were both smiling at Ava’s enthusiasm, but something seemed off with her. She had a look in her eye that seemed haunted. Roman had a smile on his face when he looked at me, but when he looked at Ava, I saw the same concern I felt mirrored on his face. It was possible that I’d judged him too harshly, on the fact that I hated my father and his mother. He was here to support me, after all, and he seemed to genuinely be happy for me. Plus, he was worried about Ava. That made him a good guy in my book. Maybe it was time to extend an olive branch to him.
Carrick reached out to take my hand in his. I stepped closer, beaming up at him. He deserved this day and I was thrilled to be up here next to him. As he leaned down to kiss me, cheers rang out. I blushed and tucked my face into his neck after he thoroughly ravaged my mouth.
“You’re ridiculous,” I muttered into his ear.
“I’m just a man in love with his princess.”
I yanked my head back and stared at him, incredulously. “Of all the times to say that, you choose now?”
He laughed. “I was overtaken by the excitement of the day. I love you so much, Scarlett.”
I couldn’t help but throw my head back in laugher. The grin on his face was contagious, and I found myself smirking back at him. “I love you too, Carrick Trudeau. You’re insane, but I can’t wait to spend the next forty years running a country together.”
“Just forty?” he teased.
I scrunched up my face. “Fifty?”
“Fifty sounds amazing, my love.”
I couldn’t believe that I had actually talked Carrick into a honeymoon in Antigua. We were here for at least another week, possibly two, if I could bribe him well enough. He’d been so dead set against leaving for a honeymoon so quickly after being crowned King. Somehow, I’d been able to get him to agree to a week of sandy beaches and little tropical drinks with umbrellas.
My sunglasses slipped down my nose as I stared at my husband paddle boarding on the gorgeous blue water in front of me. His chiseled abs and defined arms were working overtime as he gracefully pushed through the water. If I kept looking at him like that, I might have to wipe the drool off my chin before he made it back to me.
It took me a second to register that my phone was ringing. I was slightly annoyed at the distraction as I dug through my beach bag to pull it out. I frowned when Ava’s name flashed across the screen. Why would she be calling during my honeymoon? She had been the one to push for us to get some time alone together.
“Ava?”
“Scarlett. Oh, thank goodness.”
“Is everything okay?” The breathy nervous sound of her voice was worrying me.
“Um…not really. When are you getting back? There’s something I need
to talk to you about.”
“We planned to stay another week, but if we need to come home sooner, we can be there by tonight.”
Even through the phone, I knew she was biting down on her bottom lip. “No, don’t do that. I want you to enjoy your time together. How’s the beach?”
I raised an eyebrow. Now she was too cheerful. “It’s fine. What’s going on with you Ava?”
“Nothing. Seriously it can wait. Forget I even called, and I’ll see you in a week. Or two. Maybe you guys should stay two weeks.”
“I don’t think—”
“Listen I’ve got to go. Sorry I bothered you. Tell Carrick I say hi. Love you,” she stammered.
“Ava—”
I frowned at the black screen of my phone. She’d hung up on me.
What the hell was that about?
“I thought we said no phones,” Carrick said as he slumped down into the chair next to me. The water clung to his skin and I wanted to taste every little drop with my tongue.
“We did,” I muttered. “It was Ava.”
He lowered his sunglasses. “Is everything okay?”
“I’m not sure,” I said slowly. “She was acting weird.”
“Do we need to go home early?”
I stared at my phone for a few seconds before answering. “I don’t think so. If I change my mind, would you be upset?”
He reached over and squeezed my hand. “Not at all, baby. You say the word, and I’ll get us there.”
“I’m not even sure where there is. Last I heard, she was still in Islefield with Alex. He’s not handling Julia’s death very well.”
Carrick gave me a sad smile. “No one ever takes death well.”
I climbed out of my chair and sat down in his lap, wrapping my arms around his shoulders. “That’s very true, but I know something very life-affirming that we can do to make sure we don’t take our lives for granted.”
He smirked. “I just bet you do.”
Epilogue
Carrick
Two months later
* * *
William perched himself on the edge of my desk and stared down at me, trying to get my attention. I glanced up from the paperwork in front of me.
“Can I help you?”
“Where’s your wife?” he asked, crossing his arms over his chest and giving me a pointed look.
“She’s in bed, sleeping. We were out late last night.”
I looked back down at my papers and he cleared his throat again.
“Damn it. What’s the point you’re trying to get at, William? Because I have a thousand things to do today, and I don’t have time—”
“Did she happen to drink anything last night?”
“No, she said she didn’t feel well.”
He gave me another look, like I should be able to read his mind.
“She didn’t feel well. Is she sick?” he asked slowly.
I had a nagging feeling that I was missing something big. “She threw up yesterday morning, but she felt better in the afternoon. We decided to go ahead to the event because it had been on the schedule for weeks.”
“So, she was throwing up in the morning, but she was better in the afternoon? Has she been sick any other day?”
“Two days…ago.” I stood up. “Is she...?” I said slowly.
He grinned. “I sure as hell don’t know. Maybe you should be the one to go ask her. I don’t think she’d like it if I asked her first.”
I dropped my pen down on my desk and took off for the door. I paused before going into the hallway. “How did you know before me?”
He laughed and stood up from my desk. “I just pay attention more than you do, apparently.”
I flipped him off and ran down the hall towards our bedroom. Scarlett better still be in bed, or I was going to tear apart the castle stone by stone to find her. I called out her name as I opened the door to the bedroom. She wasn’t in bed.
“Scarlett?” I called out again. “Baby, where are you?”
She came out of the bathroom, a towel in her hands, as she walked towards me with a confused look on her face. “What is it Carrick? What’s wrong?”
“Are you—Am I...” I stammered. I just had to get out one word. “Pregnant?”
A slow smile crossed her face and she nodded. I watched a single tear slide down her face.
“I was going to tell you tonight,” she whispered. “I took the test this morning after you left. You’re going to be a daddy.”
I walked over to her and brushed away her tears with my hands.
“Thank you,” I whispered.
She wrapped her arms around my neck and kissed me soundly. When she pulled back and grinned at me, I knew this girl was my entire world. I didn’t even realize I was crying until she reached up to wipe the tears from my cheeks.
“We’re having a baby,” she said.
I placed my hands over her still flat tummy. This was the best present she could ever give me. I started laughing. “William was right. The bastard’s a lot more perceptive than I am.”
She giggled. “I think you’re right about that.”
I hugged her tight to my chest. “We’re having a baby.”
“Yes, we are. A royal heir, so you better take care of me,” she teased. “If this kid wants ice cream at three in the morning, you better be the one getting it, not the staff downstairs. We’re going to be a normal couple, Carrick. I want all of this with you.”
“I’ll get you a whole damn ice cream factory, if that’s what you want.” I hugged her and tugged her over to the bed. She sat down on the edge and I kneeled in front of her. “I think we should celebrate.”
“Carrick,” she said in warning.
I grinned. “We’re just celebrating.”
“You’re going to be late for your next meeting,” she said breathily, as my tongue rolled over her clit. I gripped her hips in my hands.
“Then I guess I’m going to be late. We can blame the royal heir.”
She laughed. “You’re impossible.”
“Maybe you should be taming me instead of the other way around.”
Her smile widened. “Maybe you’re right, King Carrick. Maybe it’s time for me to tame my king.”
Also by Alyson Reynolds
The Relentless Series
Relentless
Restless
Selfless
Flawless
Breathless (Coming Soon)
Fearless (Coming Soon)
* * *
The Waiting Duet
Waiting to Breathe
Waiting to Fall
* * *
The Royals Series
Taming the Princess
Prince Charming (Coming Soon)
* * *
Standalones
Stolen Memories
The Right Kind of Wrong
Blue Christmas
Coming For You
(Hot & Sinful Night Boxed Set)
* * *
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About the Author
Romance writer. Wife. Mother of two. Avid reader. Queen of multitasking.
Originally from the south, Alyson likes to incorporate what she knows into her books. She's lived not only on the east coast, but the west coast and a few places in between. Alyson loves sharing stories about her crazy family to anyone who will listen. Her guilty pleasures consist of coffee, country music, brunch, breaking the rules, and pedicures. And she will always be a daddy's girl.
When Alyson isn't chasing around her two kiddos, she's normally writing. Or reading. Her Kindle library is out of control. Alyson writes mainly contemporary novels and novellas with a bit of new adult mixed in.
www.authoralysonreynolds.com
[email protected]
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