The Surgeon King's Secret Baby

by Amy Ruttan

  No.

  Pink bloomed in her cheeks. She cleared her throat. “How is your voice?”

  He spoke aloud. “My throat is tight...sore. I should go see Dr. Shaw. Can you keep an eye on Andreas?”

  She nodded, her gaze soft. “Yes.”

  Andreas opened his eyes. “Your Majesty?”

  Kainan stood up and squeezed Andreas’s shoulder. Rest, he signed.

  Kainan left Andreas to sleep. He made his way out of the emergency room and to Dr. Shaw’s office. Dr. Shaw had been the surgeon who’d looked at his throat when he’d first arrived in Toronto, and he had the information from the Ottawa surgeon about the surgical procedures that Kainan had endured in the field.

  Dr. Shaw was packing up for the evening when Kainan knocked on his door. Dr. Shaw also knew American Sign Language, because of all the hearing-impaired patients he worked with. Which was fortuitous.

  “Dr. Laskaris—or should I refer to you as Your Majesty?”

  Kainan smiled. Kainan will suffice.

  “It’s some crazy storm out there, eh? I think I’m going to leave my car in the employee garage and take the subway home—although the tracks at Rosehill are covered.”

  I’m worried about scar tissue. I’ve been using my voice, Kainan signed.

  Dr. Shaw’s eyebrows rose. “Have you? How much? I told you not to overdo it.”

  Kainan ignored that. This was his chance to be strong for his son, for Reagan. He needed his voice.

  Could you please check?

  “I can.” Dr. Shaw set his bag down and took a seat, firing up his computer as Kainan shut the door. “Hopefully you haven’t overtaxed yourself too much.”

  I hope not. I need my voice by the New Year.

  Dr. Shaw nodded and examined his throat, frowning. “The surgery may not work. Although during your last scan there were not as many adhesions. I would like to get another scan, but I can still do your surgery on December twenty-sixth.”

  Kainan nodded. Of course. When would you like the scan done?

  “Tomorrow morning, if that’s okay? I know your boy just had surgery...”

  Tomorrow is fine. My son is stable and I need to get this taken care of.

  Dr. Shaw nodded. “Dr. McNeil told me that when you asked for the surgery I was to make it happen as if you were a head of state.”

  I appreciate it, and I’m sorry for inconveniencing you, but I was told you were the best.

  “You’re not inconveniencing me, Kainan.” Dr. Shaw stood and Kainan did as well. “It’s my pleasure. Come by my office tomorrow at seven in the morning and we’ll get you down to the MRI and get it done. We’ll see what we’re working with. And stop using your voice!”

  I will.

  “I’m serious—no more talking. No more exercising it. I will see you tomorrow, Kainan.”

  Kainan shook Dr. Shaw’s hand before heading back to the emergency room. He texted Andreas’s second in command to see how the move was going and to let them know what had happened to Andreas.

  He had to step up and do what was right.

  He was terrified that he wouldn’t survive surgery, which meant he would lose Reagan forever, leaving her and Peter alone.

  Never know his son.

  Never have happiness.

  Chapter Ten

  REAGAN HAD BEEN separated from Kainan since just after he’d donated blood for Andreas. She’d got pulled into another surgery. An injured person had been brought in and could only communicate in Spanish.

  She’d planned to take Kainan into surgery with her, but then she had been informed that this man was a Hermosian refugee and, given Andreas’s reaction to Kainan donating blood, she’d thought it was best to keep the King out of the operating room.

  Her patient was sedated, so Reagan went about repairing the injuries that he had sustained when the roof had collapsed on top of him.

  Thankfully, no one had died in the accident.

  Not even her first patient, Mr. Lucas, with the multiple crush injuries and the head injury. Reagan had saved his life.

  When she came out of surgery the chaos in the emergency room had died down, as had the snow.

  It was after midnight, which meant that it was Christmas Eve now. Officially.

  She was exhausted, but she had to find Kainan.

  When she went down to the emergency room, where the staff were now cycling through the non-emergent cases that had come in, she saw that Andreas was being moved to a room for overnight observation.

  “Dr. Cote,” Andreas said, smiling.

  “How are you feeling?” she asked.

  “Better. I would like to leave, but they want to keep me.”

  “You just had a major laceration and a blood transfusion. You need to rest here. Have you seen Kainan? I’m afraid I had to go into surgery and I lost track of him.”

  “Yes, I saw him a few hours ago. He was going to speak to another doctor before he checked on Peter, and then I believe he was headed back to the hotel to pack up his things because his new residence will be ready soon.”

  “I heard about that,” Reagan said, crossing her arms.

  Andreas grinned. “He will have the key to your new place, and I know that my team has got everything in your old place moved out. Do you want me to put your old place on the market?”

  “I can handle that, Andreas. You need your rest.”

  “If you want to speak to Kainan you’ll need this,” Andreas reached in his pocket and pulled out a gold elevator keycard. “It’s my extra copy and it will allow you to access his room.”

  “Thanks. I think I will go see him after I check on Peter.”

  Andreas nodded and the orderly wheeled him away.

  Reagan turned the keycard over in her hand. She really needed to talk to Kainan, especially since they were planning on discharging Peter soon. They had to talk about the arrangements and what would happen when Kainan returned to Isla Hermosa.

  How much longer could he stay here? He had duties to do.

  Reagan pocketed the card and went to the staff change room. She got out of her scrubs and put them in the laundry hamper, changing back into her street clothes.

  She went to check on Peter and found he was still asleep, but he stirred when she touched him gently. Things were looking up. Even though Peter relied on a machine to keep him alive, he was here and responding. He was no longer in a medicated coma.

  Even if Kainan left she would have Peter.

  Except Peter wouldn’t have Kainan.

  That made her sad, but the timing was off. Kainan was King and his country needed him, and Peter needed a new heart. He had to stay in Toronto while he waited.

  Reagan kissed her son’s head and then left the hotel. She needed to have something to eat and a nap, and Kainan was the one who had the key to her new place where supposedly her bed and all her belongings were.

  She didn’t even know the address!

  Reagan slipped down through the abandoned PATH walkway, which was devoid of commuters now, with the underground shops closed for the night. Then she went up the spiral staircase that connected The Royal York to the underground.

  She was heading toward the gold elevators when she saw that Kainan was hanging out in a deserted piano lounge. He was playing the grand piano. The music was sad and haunting.

  She headed toward him. Such strong hands, but gentle in the way he handled patients...and her. He was an imposing king, but he was so kind and sweet with their son.

  It had completely knocked down her barriers to see him with Peter.

  All her fears about Kainan being distant and not caring about Peter had evaporated away.

  Kainan cared.

  And she was lost to him. She was weak when it came to him and in this moment she didn’t care.

  Kainan glanced up as she appr
oached him and smiled halfheartedly, scooting over so she could sit next to him.

  “I didn’t know you played,” she said.

  He didn’t respond, but finished his piece and then turned to her.

  I don’t play often, but it helps clear my head. Where were you?

  “I got pulled into surgery on another injured patient. He was a Hermosian refugee.”

  Kainan grimaced. “A Hermosian refugee?”

  “Yes,” she said carefully.

  “Did he live?”

  “Yes.”

  “That’s good.” Kainan rubbed his eyes. “I feel responsible for him—for all my people. As King, I feel it was my duty to keep my country together. My people shouldn’t be here as refugees.”

  “It wasn’t your fault that war broke out in your country. You weren’t King then.”

  “I know, but I’m King now and it’s my responsibility.”

  “He’s safe here in Canada. As are you.”

  Kainan nodded, but didn’t smile. He was sad, and it was apparent that the burden of his people weighed heavily on him.

  That’s good.

  “I came to ask you where I live now,” she said with a small smile.

  Yes, I suppose that’s important. Kainan reached into his pocket and pulled out a key. He handed it to her. Your new condo is Golden Centre condos on Queens Quay. Your apartment twenty-nine B.

  “Thanks.” Reagan pocketed the key. “They’re going to send Peter home later today, and it’s Christmas Eve.”

  Kainan nodded. I know. It will be good. What should we do?

  “I need to go to my new place and make sure that Peter’s room is ready.” She was puzzled. “What do you mean, what should we do?”

  To celebrate?

  “I don’t know.” She laughed. “I never thought that I’d have anything to celebrate. I think I just need to ready Peter’s room and make a home for him. I think that’s all I can handle now.”

  Would you like to go there now? We can take a cab. Most of my security detail is over at my new place anyway.

  “They left you alone here?”

  They don’t know that I’m here, actually. They think that I’m still at the hospital.

  “I suspect that they wouldn’t be too happy to learn that you were here.”

  Kainan shrugged. Do you want to go?

  “Yes. I wouldn’t mind having a short nap in my own bed for a change.”

  Kainan nodded. That can be arranged. Let’s go, then, it’s late.

  They walked out of the empty piano lounge and headed out onto Front Street. The snow had stopped falling and the streets had been freshly plowed. Even though it was long after midnight there were still taxis waiting outside the prestigious hotel.

  Kainan opened the door and Reagan slid in, telling the cabdriver the address. It didn’t take the cabdriver long, on the deserted streets of Toronto, to get to the new condo building.

  Reagan’s mouth hung open when she saw it. She knew exactly how much these suites were. When she’d first moved back to Toronto, just pregnant, this building had been half-complete. She’d looked at purchasing a suite, but hadn’t been able to swing it.

  It was the perfect location. Even better than her apartment on Richmond Street West.

  Do you like it? Kainan signed.

  “It’s too much,” she whispered.

  She paid the cabdriver and they got out of the cab. Kainan opened up the main door with his key and waved to the doorman. Reagan decided she would introduce herself later.

  They rode the elevator, almost to the top, and down at the end of the hallway were two apartments. One was his and the other was hers.

  She opened the door and saw the contents of her apartment were now in her new place. Her apartment on Richmond Street had been sparsely furnished, but because her old place had been smaller it had looked all right. Now she could see how sparse her belongings really were in this large new condo.

  Kainan gestured and she followed him into a smaller room. He flicked on the lights and there was the crib, the chair and everything. All made up. Emotion overwhelmed her, and she covered her mouth to keep herself from crying.

  It was too much. All of it. No one had ever shown her this kind of kindness or generosity before—not even her parents. Michael was like a father figure, but he had his own family. The only time she’d felt somewhat complete was when she was in Isla Hermosa with Kainan.

  And then she’d thought he’d died.

  Now this.

  It was too much, and she wondered why she was fighting him. They could be a family.

  She shook her head, because how could they be a family. How could she fall in love with a man who was King?

  Are you okay? Kainan signed.

  She nodded, overcome by his generosity. “It’s wonderful. Thank you.”

  Kainan touched her face and then took her hand and placed it on his chest. Those dark eyes that had always been her downfall were tender and she couldn’t help it.

  She wanted to be with him.

  Even if it was just one more time. She wanted to feel safe in his arms, to forget the world around them for just one moment. To forget all the horrors of this life and know that they had this. They shared so much.

  She stepped closer and touched his face, running her fingers over the scars on his face and neck. He closed his eyes and under her other hand she could feel his heart beat faster. He wrapped his arms around her, pulling her against him.

  Reagan closed her eyes and kissed him, melting into him as she had done so long ago. As she’d done a couple of days ago when he’d taken her to that room to calm down when she’d been so terrified of Peter having the surgery to attach the ventricular assist device.

  Even without words he knew what she was thinking. He knew what she needed. Who needed words when all that was needed was action? And in this moment, that was all she wanted.

  She wanted to feel his arms around her again. Even if it was only one more time. She wanted him.

  She didn’t want to think. All she wanted to be was lost—in his arms, in his kisses. All she wanted to do was feel. She’d been numb for so long.

  Kainan’s kiss deepened and he pressed her against the door, their bodies flush together.

  The kiss ended and those dark eyes glittered with desire.

  “Yes,” she whispered.

  And that was all he needed.

  He picked her up and carried her to the bedroom, where her bed was made up in the center of the very large room. There were no window coverings, and all she could see was the darkness of the lake outside her window. There were no other buildings, no one to look in and see them, just the darkness of the frigid water and the sound of another squall blowing in off the lake.

  * * *

  Kainan couldn’t believe this was happening. It was what he wanted. All he’d ever wanted. There had been no other woman who’d made him feel this way.

  He cupped her face as she undid his belt, watching her eyes, those beautiful brown eyes which made him weak in the knees, and those full pink lips he loved to kiss.

  “All I want is you, Kainan. Right here. Right now.”

  And that was all he needed to hear. Like the snow squall that was raging outside the windows, there was a storm in his soul. He needed to possess her again and never let her go. There was no turning back for them.

  Even though he wasn’t supposed to use his voice, because of the scar tissue forming in his throat, he whispered against her lips. “No protection.”

  This seduction, making love to her, was a part of him that he’d thought long gone. He’d thought the Kainan he’d been before his brother had died and he’d became King was long gone. He’d been so focused on duty versus desire he had never prepared for this moment when desire would win over. She made him forget his duty.

>   “It’s okay,” she said, kneeling in front of him and unbuttoning his shirt. “I’m on the pill. I won’t get pregnant.”

  And what about last time? he signed, teasing her.

  “I wasn’t on the pill then. That was an entirely different situation.”

  He chuckled and leaned his head against hers. “You’re...sure?”

  “Yes. Very sure. I want you, Kainan.”

  She opened his shirt and ran her hands over his chest. Her simple touch made him burn with need for her. He wanted to possess her again and again. He’d lost all sense of reason.

  There was no way he could turn back. She made him feel—made him feel as if he could breathe and love. Things that he’d thought he would never feel again.

  And although he wasn’t sure what was going to happen in his future, he knew one thing to be true—and that was he never wanted to let her go in this moment.

  He kissed her again, running his hand down her back, cupping her bottom to pull her tight against him. He didn’t want any space between them and he didn’t want to let her go.

  All these thoughts ran through his mind. The things he wanted to tell her. How he’d thought only of her since they’d parted. How the memory of her had got him through so much.

  How there was only her.

  “I’ve missed you,” she whispered, and then she let out a little moan of pleasure as he kissed her throat down to her collarbone, feeling her pulse quicken under his lips.

  Kainan had nearly lost his mind with his want for her. This was what he’d been dreaming about for so long.

  If he wasn’t careful he would just take her—right here and now, half dressed—and he didn’t want that. Not in this moment.

  Kainan wanted to take his time with her.

  He wanted to do right by her.

  He’d been waiting so long for a chance. A chance to be with her again.

  “Kainan...” she whispered, running her hands down his back, her touch leaving goose bumps across his skin.

  He couldn’t wait, and they made quick work of the rest of their clothes. He undid her rich mahogany brown hair from its confining bun and ran his fingers through the silken softness. Nothing was between them now. It was just the two of them...bared to each other and vulnerable.