The Prince’s Pregnant Bride

by Jennifer Lewis

  It wasn’t until he’d gone and left her alone again that she’d realized she loved him.

  He reached for her hand and she let him take it. He must have noticed it was trembling slightly.

  She didn’t know what to say. She wanted to say, “I love you, too,” but it seemed too much, too soon, when she didn’t even know what his intentions were.

  And despite all her exhortations to get real, she was afraid to ask.

  Words failing her, she stepped forward and kissed him hard on the mouth. Too much emotion. She couldn’t process all the strange feelings roiling in her mind and body.

  AJ’s arms around her waist sent heat flooding to her core. She clutched him closer, winding her fingers into the fabric of his shirt, then plucking and tugging at it until she pulled it loose from his pants.

  Their kisses grew more frantic as she struggled with his buttons and clawed the fabric away from his chest. She yanked at his belt buckle, hating that she had to pull back even a few inches to get her hands on it. She just wanted to bury herself in AJ’s large body, to lose herself in him and revel in the sheer fact that he was right here, right now.

  Her nipples stung and tingled with intense arousal as they brushed against his bare chest through the thin fabric of her dress. AJ’s hands roamed over her as she kissed his face and his neck and pushed his shirt off over his muscled arms and back.

  His eyes gleamed with passion as he undid the fastening on her dress and let it fall to the floor.

  Impatient with his stiff jeans, Lani pushed and shoved at them until they fell past his powerful thighs and he stepped out of them and stood, clothed only in the pale light drifting through the skylight above.

  Lani shivered in anticipation at the sight of his arousal. AJ pulled her to him, his chest heaving. He lowered his mouth over hers and took her in a kiss that sucked the breath from her lungs. Lani kissed him back with all the emotion she’d locked away deep inside her after he left. All the pain and hurt mingled with affection and passion and exploded over them both, locking them together in a powerful embrace that shut out the world.

  Lani felt AJ lifting her off the floor, carrying her in his strong arms. She didn’t open her eyes, just let him take her wherever he wanted. It felt good to stop planning and worrying and scheming and simply go with him.

  He set her down in a sitting position on a smooth, stone surface that contrasted intriguingly with the hot, yielding strength of his body. The sensation made her wriggle against him, as he stood in front of her, his erection level with her very aroused sex.

  “Now,” she pleaded, gripping him gently with her fingers. She needed to feel him inside her. She wanted him to fill the gap he’d left when he went away.

  AJ entered her slowly, pulling her to the edge of the stone and wrapping her legs around his waist. She groaned as he sank deep inside her and a sensation of relief and joy filled her from the inside out. She pressed her body against his and hugged him tight as he moved slowly inside her.

  I love him.

  The words filled her brain as the notion filled her heart. Again. Was that enough? It should be. Love—and whatever those other sensations were called—filled her to overflowing and made her gasp as AJ moved over her.

  He kissed her gently, then firmer, and lifted her up so she was in his arms, still moving with him. She felt light as a feather, supported by his powerful frame. Her arms and legs still wrapped around him, AJ eased himself into position on the stone surface so she was sitting on top of him, her feet resting on the throne.

  AJ sucked her neck and she arched her back, taking him deeper still. She found she was able to move over him easily, keeping a tight hold around his neck and back, and moving up and down with her feet. Moving faster, and then slower, she let emotions and sensations cascade over her.

  Pure pleasure trickled through her body and she wanted to enjoy it to the fullest. She’d known so little pleasure in the last few years that it was like a precious jewel she wanted to hold and admire for as long as she could.

  Judging from the sounds he was making—earthy groans and whispered endearments—AJ was enjoying it, too. His hands moved tirelessly over her skin, stroking and supporting at the same time.

  She kissed him, thrusting her tongue into his mouth in time with her movements. The sensation was cheeky and delicious. With AJ she could take risks and do silly, fun things without worrying about being judged or scolded.

  She peppered kisses all over his face and ran her hands through his thick, silky hair, drinking in the masculine scent of his warm, sweaty skin. She loved the rough feel of his cheek against hers, the firm pressure of his fingers on her skin.

  Although her climax hovered so close she could almost feel the convulsions, she delayed it. She slowed the pace, pulled back just as she was about to burst. Part of her wanted to forge ahead and taste the sweetness of their joint explosion, but the rest of her wanted to prolong this blissful experience as long as she could.

  She still didn’t know why AJ had come back, or for how long. He’d said he loved her, but she knew love wasn’t always enough. Right now that didn’t matter. What she shared with AJ was already so much more wonderful than anything she’d experienced in her years of marriage, and if it was all she got, she could live with that.

  She kissed him, drinking in his scent and tasting the sweetness of his kiss as if this was the last time she’d touch him. Savored each precious millisecond of his hands on her skin and his hard belly pressed to her soft one. She moved so slowly, as if she could alter the passage of time and prolong the present moment infinitely.

  “You’re torturing me.” AJ’s whispered words tickled her ear.

  “Maybe you deserve it.” She trailed a light fingernail along his spine.

  “I do.” He nipped at her ear. “But you could encourage me to be a bad boy more often with this kind of punishment.”

  Lani pressed her breasts into his chest, enjoying the sting of pleasure in her nipples. “Maybe I will. It seems I enjoy inflicting torment.” She shifted her weight slightly, and felt him move inside her.

  “I should have known there was more to you than meets the eye.”

  She opened her eyes and met his dark gaze. “I warned you when we first met.”

  “You did.” He narrowed his eyes and raked them down her body, causing her skin to tingle. “Maybe that’s what intrigued me. Then the way you kissed me…”

  “You could tell I had a dark side.”

  “Or a delicious side. Either one worked for me.” AJ licked her mouth and she shuddered in response.

  She pressed her mouth to his ear. “Do you think it’s possible we bring out the worst in each other?”

  “Absolutely.” He lifted her chin with his thumb so he was looking into her eyes again. “Why else would we be making love on our nation’s ancient throne?”

  Lani gasped and looked down. “Oh, no.”

  “Oh, yes. What did you think we were sitting on?”

  “I don’t know.” She frowned. “I didn’t think.”

  AJ’s mischievous chuckle rocked them both. “I never would have imagined it could be so…comfortable. I can’t help wondering if anyone’s done this before.”

  Lani let a wry smile lift her mouth. “We really don’t know that much about the customs and culture of the Old Ones. Maybe this is exactly what they did on it.”

  “Very wise of them, in my opinion. Perhaps we could revive the custom.”

  “Apparently we already have.”

  AJ shifted his weight and moved deeper inside her. Lani arched her back and shuddered, again dancing just microseconds from release. Could this really be a new beginning? If AJ stayed and became king, almost anything was possible, for Rahiri as well as for her.

  Are you staying?

  The words hovered just behind her lips, but she swallowed them back, afraid to spoil everything. He’d come back, and that was enough.

  She leaned into him and started to move again, letting the delicious
sensations pulse through her until she started to lose control. This time she didn’t stop, but pushed them both over the edge of pleasure into the strange, dark, powerful, empty space beyond, where thoughts and feelings collapsed and their bodies became one.

  When she finally opened her eyes again, they were both lying back on the polished basalt. She’d never realized how big the great stone was. Side by side, holding hands, they lay under the skylight, the surface oddly soft beneath their totally relaxed limbs.

  Lani turned to look at AJ. “What if we’ve just broken an ancient taboo?”

  AJ’s mouth swept into a naughty grin. “I’d say ancient taboos are pretty much made to be broken.”

  A volley of sharp knocks on the carved wooden door jerked her into a sitting position. “Someone’s coming.”

  AJ didn’t move. “Not surprising. We did kind of disappear on them.”

  She jumped off the stone and scrambled back into her dress. “Come on! We don’t want them to know what we were doing.”

  “Why not? It’s not a crime.”

  “It might be if the throne is involved.”

  “If I become king I can grant us absolution.” He eased his pants over his powerful thighs. “Same if you become queen. Though we’d have to decide if we deserve the pardon.”

  Lani ran fingers through her tangled hair. Now he was just messing with her mind. Unless he didn’t entirely know what was on his own mind—which was more than likely. Everything had happened so fast. It was less than twenty-four hours ago that she’d phoned him with her revelation.

  More banging on the door made her jump.

  “Don’t worry, it’s locked.” AJ winked at her.

  She pulled her sandals on. “What shall we say we were doing in here?”

  “Hmm.” AJ buttoned up his shirt very slowly. “Maybe we could tell them that we couldn’t decide who should take the throne, so we both decided to try it out and see how it felt.”

  “You’re terrible!”

  “Trust me, I know that. It’s the truth, though, isn’t it?”

  “We haven’t discussed who should take the throne.” She peered at him.

  “Do you want to be queen?” He stopped buttoning and stared at her.

  Only if you’re king. “Not really. I’ve been rather railroaded into it.”

  “Well, that’s how it happens, isn’t it?” He smiled and went back to buttoning. “In some societies people are stabbing each other in the back trying to seize the throne. In others, we’re all keen to dodge the crown that’s being thrust upon us.” He tucked in his shirt, then stared straight ahead. “I admit I’ve felt bad about that, too.”

  “You regretted giving up the crown.”

  “The crown I could care less about. It’s Rahiri I regretted losing. This is a great little nation and it could be even better. Sure, the elders have the people’s best interests in their hearts, but they don’t have the energy and vision of a younger person who’s lived in another culture and been exposed to new ideas.”

  “I’d been thinking about that. We need more female doctors, and why can’t the elders be women, too?”

  “You are prepared to take on the role of queen.” AJ looked at her, a hint of surprise in his eyes.

  Had she said the wrong thing? Would he think she didn’t want him there because she’d been ready to rule the nation? She shrugged. “I had to prepare. I didn’t really have a choice.”

  He frowned. “You’re the one person who’s never really had a choice in any of this. What do you want, Lani?”

  You.

  Why couldn’t she say it? It was just one word, but it ducked and hid behind her tongue. What was she so afraid of? That she’d scare him away?

  “You don’t like giving away anything about yourself.” He cocked his head and surveyed her through narrowed eyes. “You figure your secrets are safer if you keep them locked away inside.”

  “I told you the truth about my marriage to Vanu.”

  “That was a good start, but I want to know about you. What you think, and what you really want.”

  Another thunderous knock on the door was accompanied by a shout. “Is anyone in there? We’re going to break the door down.”

  “Oh, no.” Lani scuttled behind the stone.

  “Don’t break it down.” AJ’s voice boomed off the high walls. “I’m in here with Lani and we’re both fine.”

  Are we? The warm glow of lust had dimmed, leaving Lani anxious and apprehensive. All this talking seemed to be tying them up in knots. She’d never been good with words. She certainly couldn’t talk easily about herself.

  “You didn’t answer my question, Lani.” AJ ignored the commotion outside, looking only at her. “What do you want?”

  What if she told him she wanted him to stay, and he did but was unhappy? Would it be her fault?

  “Stop hiding your thoughts from me.” AJ stepped toward her. “You’re just complicating everything further.”

  “I want you to stay and become king.” She pushed the words out with great effort. Relief mingled with terror formed a fog in her brain.

  AJ’s expression didn’t soften. “That’s about me. What about you?”

  I want to be your wife.

  No. There was absolutely no way on this ocean-covered earth she could say that. It would amount to asking him to marry her. She’d never do that.

  “Why can’t you say it?” AJ put his hand on her shoulder. His dark gaze seemed to pierce her skin, making her even more uncomfortable.

  “Because I don’t know what I want. I only know I don’t want you to go.” The words burst from her on a sob. “Maybe I really am too shallow, or too silly for you. You expect me to have all these grand thoughts about my destiny and lots of big dreams or something.” She shoved a tear aside. “But I don’t. Maybe I am just a simple village girl. I only want to raise my baby and be happy.”

  AJ stared at her. Tears ran down her cheeks and she didn’t try to stop them. That really was the truth about her and if he hoped for more he was doomed to disappointment.

  Maybe that’s what she’d been trying to hide all along. “I’m not educated or even particularly intelligent.” Lord knows Vanu had made a point of that often enough. “I just do my best to help the people around me and try to do the right thing. And sometimes the right thing doesn’t feel right at all…” A violent sob racked her body.

  “Don’t put yourself down, Lani. You’re brave and strong—look at all you’ve endured—and I firmly believe you’re capable of anything. Whatever you do, don’t let Vanu’s opinion of you shape your view of yourself. I’d be nowhere if I’d done that.”

  “And you’re an award-winning director.” Another tear dripped off her chin. “That’s a big accomplishment.” No wonder he didn’t want to abandon the career he’d worked so hard to build.

  “Being a director is a lot like being a king, really.” He thumbed a tear off her cheek. “You have to keep a lot of different people happy while guiding them all in the direction of your vision. I’m beginning to realize that my film career has been the perfect preparation for the job I’m truly intended to do.”

  “Wouldn’t you miss Hollywood and all the excitement of the industry?”

  “Not the way I missed you and Rahiri while I was back there.” His soft voice tugged at something deep inside her. There was something different in his eyes now, too. A reflective look she didn’t remember seeing before.

  “I truly think I was meant to live there for a while, and I did enjoy myself—almost as much as the media claimed—but now it’s my time to come home.”

  The last word hung in the air and reverberated off the stone floor.

  Then the powerful moment was interrupted by more fevered banging on the door. “AJ Rahia, come here right now!”

  “Your mom.” Lani couldn’t help laughing. “She’s probably run out of spin for the reporters.”

  “Is that any way to talk to the king?” AJ raised a brow. Humor twinkled in his eyes.
r />   Lani drew in a breath. “Are you really going to stay and become king?”

  “Only if you’ll be my queen.” He took her hands in his and held her gaze while he dropped to one knee. “Lani, will you marry me?”

  Ten

  AJ held his breath while two more fat crystal tears slid down Lani’s cheeks.

  “I missed you so much, AJ. I almost couldn’t stand it when you left. I wanted to be mad at you for abandoning me, but I couldn’t. You’re the most caring and tender man I’ve ever met and…” She drew in a shaky breath. “I love you.”

  His heart squeezed. She hadn’t answered his question, though. Did she still worry that he felt forced into marrying her?

  “I love you, too, Lani. And I want to marry you because I’d like to be your husband, not because a nation expects it of me. Your beauty seduced me from the first moment I met you, but your generous and giving spirit stole my heart. I want to spend the rest of my life with you.”

  AJ reached into his pocket and pulled out a wad of tissue paper. It wasn’t easy unwrapping it while keeping a tight hold on her with one hand. He was still half-afraid she’d run off, or just evaporate into the humid air. His good fortune at winning her back seemed too sweet to be real.

  At last he managed to free the sparkly gem he’d had to twist arms to obtain in the middle of the night.

  Lani gasped when she saw it. “Oh, my goodness, that’s beautiful.”

  “It had better be. It’s from L.A.’s finest jeweler.”

  “You had this planned?”

  He hesitated. Did he want her to think he’d been planning this proposal since the day he left and spent days agonizing over ring designs?

  No. The truth was what brought them together and what would hold them together into the future.

  “Only since 2:00 a.m. I had to drag my friend Niall out of bed. He’s a jewelry designer and I knew he’d have something fabulous enough to be fit for a queen.” The enormous cushion-cut rock had made even AJ’s jaded eyes pop. “Shall we see if it fits?”