The Prince's Pregnant Challenge (The Royals of Monaco, #2)

by Leslie North

“Relax, lady,” Jean Pierre laughed. Liane frowned at him. It was not a laughing matter. She finished her meal and stood up.

  “You pay for it,” she said to Jean Pierre and left the restaurant. Jean Pierre sat there speechless before reaching for his wallet. She was certainly a woman full of surprises. He paid for her meal and followed her to the car. He expected her to say thank you or explain herself but she ignored him. He shook his head, as the driver pulled away. He never knew what to expect from her.

  ***

  Prince Louis found Macee sitting outside in the courtyard. He wanted to see how she was handling everything with her sister. The past two weeks had not been easy for any one of them. He kissed Macee before they sat down for dinner. The maids immediately served their dinner and poured them wine.

  He asked Macee how Liane was coping with everything. “Presently, she is trying to avoid Bridgette,” she replied. After the recent turn of events, Bridgette had been allowed back into the palace to visit. Liane knew that if she were to run into her, there was going to be more name calling.

  “I don’t blame her,” Prince Louis replied. On more than one occasion, he had come across the two women in a heated argument.

  “The women is diabolical,” Macee declared. “Whatever she has against my family, I will never know,” she added. The prince took Macee's hand and kissed it. He hated how Bridgette treated her family. Macee smiled at him, “How are you?” she asked. She did not want to speak about that hateful woman any longer.

  “Under a little stress.” The prince had something he needed to tell Macee. He stopped eating and looked at her.

  “What is it?” she asked him. She could see that there was something on his mind.

  “Father wishes to abdicate early.”

  Macee gasped and dropped her fork on the plate. She knew that she was to be queen one day but she had thought it would not be for another ten years or more. “What? Why?” she asked. She was not ready. She had only just become the crown princess. Prince Louis smiled at her.

  “It is not like it will happen tomorrow, relax ma cherie,” he said to her. He could see the panic on her face.

  “How early?”

  “He has not stated a date but he is seriously considering it.”

  “Considering is good. It means his mind can still be changed.”

  Prince Louis laughed. “You will still be queen one day,” he told her.

  “Yes, but not now. When that time comes, then I will be more suitable for the part.” She still had classes with Charles on a regular basis, although he was more respectful to her now that she was the Crown Princess.

  After dinner, Macee and Prince Louis retired to their chambers. The prince pulled Macee into his arms and started kissing her, as Macee reached for the remote and switched off the lights. Prince Louis stopped kissing her and started laughing. “Are you still shy?” he asked her. Macee giggled as she wrapped her arms around his neck. She was still shy around her husband and did not feel comfortable when the lights were so bright. Reaching for the remote, he brought the lights up a little, casting the room in a soft glow.

  “How’s that?” he asked. “No brighter than candles.” At Macee’s shy nod, he scooped her up and carried her to the bed. As he laid her down, he quickly followed. In such a short time, he had grown to love his wife very much and it pleased him greatly that he was the only man to have ever touched her. He looked forward to spending time with her and making love every chance they had. And given how rocky their relationship started, he was determined to make up for lost time.

  Reaching for her ponytail, he tugged the band off as her hair cascaded around her shoulders. He loved how it curled wildly. As she reached to straighten it out, he stopped her. “Don’t,” he told her. “You’re lovely.” Macee wasn’t sure she would ever accept some of the things he told her as she blushed profusely, unsure what to say. Smiling, the prince reached for the buttons on her blouse. “I’ve always wondered how far your blush will go,” he told her as he slowly unbuttoned her blouse. Chuckling, he kissed her gently. “Perhaps, one day, I’ll make your entire body blush.”

  Too embarrassed to speak, Macee grabbed Louis’ head and pulled him toward her. Kissing him, she wrapped her legs around his waist as she pulled him against her. “Someone is happy to see me,” he said against her lips.

  “Shut up and make love to me, husband,” Macee replied as she kissed his face.

  “Only because you called me, husband, will I comply, but I do intend to find out,” he told her as he kissed her eyelids. “Exactly.” He kissed her cheeks. “How far.” His hand swept up to grab her hair and tilt her head. “That blush will go,” he finished as he kissed her neck. Macee gasped as she tilted her head farther. Oh, how she loved this man, she thought.

  As the prince continued to tease and lightly kiss Macee, she began to grow impatient. While deep down, she knew that he was doing it on purpose to get her to be more responsive, she also knew that it was working. Pushing against his chest, he slid off her as he lay on his side watching her. Sitting up, Macee turned her back to him and started to get undressed. Suddenly, she had an idea. Turning her head, she looked at him over her shoulder. “Don’t go anywhere,” she told him before she ran to the bathroom.

  Now what was she up to now? He wondered. Sitting up, he removed his shirt and quickly undid his trousers, pulling them off. Lying back, he looked up as the door opened. Macee stood uncertainly in the doorway looking at him. Dressed in a sapphire blue baby doll nightie and matching short robe, she struck a pose, as she blushed. “Do you like?” she asked tentatively.

  Holding his hand out, he smiled as he waited for her to join him. Taking her hands, he turned them over as he kissed both palms. “You look beautiful, ma cherie,” he told her. Tugging on her hands, he pulled her onto the bed as she landed on top of him with a yelp. Her eyes widened as she felt his arousal against her stomach. Cupping her face, Louis wondered how he could be so lucky as he kissed his wife deeply. Sliding her robe off her shoulders, he tossed it aside.

  Rolling over, Macee found herself underneath him as he continued to kiss her. Oh, she could definitely get used to this, she thought, as he slid the straps of her gown down her shoulders. As he exposed the tops of her breasts, he kissed them both. Bringing one hand up to cup her breast, Macee sighed loudly as her breast seemed to grow against the palm of his hand. Her nipple felt painful as he rubbed lazy circles around it with his thumb. Sliding down her body, he loved the feel of the silk against his skin. If he had his way, he would dress her in silk all the time. Lifting the hem of her nightie, he was very pleased to see that she wasn’t wearing any panties. Looking up at her, Macee refused to look at him as he watched her blush creep down her chest. His wife was definitely full of surprises, he thought as he kissed the inside of her thigh.

  He could smell her arousal as he moved his head closer. Licking slowly up her slit, he found her clit as he sucked on it gently. Macee tossed her head from side to side, as she clutched at the sheets. She still wanted to kick herself at how long she waited before they finally made love for the first time. This man could do things to her insides that made her toes curl. As he continued to suck and lick at her clit, Macee felt that now familiar sensation start to grow deep inside her as pleasure pulsed throughout her body. As the pressure grew, her hand found its way to the back of his head as she lifted her hips. Sliding his hands under her, he cupped her hips as he pulled her tight against his mouth. With a cry, Macee arched against him, as her orgasm hit her. Holding her tight, he drank his fill as Macee continued to buck against his mouth. Sitting up, he wiped his mouth as Macee opened her eyes. They quickly darkened when she watched him stick his fingers in his mouth and lick the remainder of her orgasm off them.

  Lifting her legs, he put them against his shoulder as he entered her. Her muscles were still convulsing from her first orgasm and she was so wet. Groaning, he wasn’t sure how much he could take as he began to stroke in and out of her rapidly. Throwing her arms over her he
ad, Macee lifted her hips as she met him thrust for thrust. Her sudden look of surprise at her second orgasm sent him close to the edge as he shortened his thrusts. One, two, three more strokes and he held himself tight against her as her muscles clenched around him, milking him with each outward stroke.

  Collapsing next to her, he pulled her tightly against him as he nuzzled her neck. “I love you, ma cherie,” he told her as he kissed her.

  “And, I love you, Louis,” she told him as she yawned. Chuckling, he reached for the blanket to cover them both as Macee drifted off to sleep.

  Chapter 10

  Mrs LeBlanc came to the palace to meet with Liane and Jean Pierre. As they sat down for lunch, she handed them photos of the house she had purchased for them. It was close enough to the palace and to the LeBlanc home that Liane would have help if she needed it and Mrs LeBlanc could be close to her future grand baby. Despite everything that happened, she was overjoyed to become a grandparent and couldn’t wait until Macee and the prince made their announcement. Jean Pierre said nothing as he just sat there listening to her talk. Liane wondered if it was really necessary for them to live together.

  “Aren't you going to say anything?” Mrs LeBlanc finally asked. She had been speaking for a while and no one was responding to her. Liane shrugged her shoulders.

  “Do we really need to live with each other?” Liane asked.

  “Of course, you do,” her mother snapped. Liane looked back at her food and kept eating. Her mother had been snapping at her a lot lately. Jean Pierre picked up the pictures and looked at them. The house appeared to be spacious and there was plenty of room for them to have separate quarters.

  “Thank you,” he said even though he did not mean it. He was not sure what else to say. Mrs LeBlanc turned to face Jean Pierre. She had yet to speak with him about the pregnancy.

  “Just what were you two thinking?” she asked. Liane dropped her fork. She was tired of being asked that question.

  “We have been explaining ourselves since the start. Please stop asking,” Liane said through gritted teeth.

  “Excuse me? I should just shut my mouth and not ask?” her mother demanded.

  “That is exactly what I am saying, mother. We have already explained ourselves. Repeating it over and over until we are blue in the face will not help anything. What’s done is done.”

  Mrs LeBlanc sighed. She knew her daughter was right but it did not stop her from wondering exactly what was going on in their heads at the time.

  “You need to wear wedding bands,” Mrs LeBlanc said.

  “Excuse me?” Jean Pierre asked. It was bad enough that he was married to Liane, now wedding rings? This was preposterous.

  “Yes, you have to wear wedding rings. What, did you think you could carry on with your promiscuity?” Mrs LeBlanc demanded. She was very aware of Jean Pierre's activities and now that he was married to her daughter that would all end.

  “That was not what I was thinking at all,” Jean Pierre began.

  “Good, because you will be faithful to my daughter and you will treat her right. Do you understand me, young man?”

  Liane almost choked on her food. That was not the speech she expected from her mother. No one was supporting this union or anything about it. It was simply damage control. Up until now, no one had mentioned fidelity or feelings.

  “Yes, ma'am,” Jean Pierre replied with a sigh. Were all the LeBlanc women this difficult to get along with, he wondered.

  “Tomorrow, I will send someone over with rings for you to pick out,” she told them as she stood up to leave. Jean Pierre turned to face Liane.

  “That is your mother,” he said to her as if it were a bad thing.

  “She is better than yours,” Liane replied smugly. He made a face at her.

  “Are you still eating?” he asked as if she had eaten way too much.

  Liane picked up her water glass and threw it at him before storming out. He jumped from his seat, as the water splashed on his pants. He deserved that and more, she thought as she left the dining room. He was lucky she only stopped there. She went to fetch her sisters, as she had had enough of Jean Pierre and her mother. They were driving her crazy.

  Liane found her sisters in the palace garden. Francesca was sitting on the bench, as Macee lay on the grass looking at the sky. Liane sat down next to Francesca. “Your highness, should you not be sitting on the bench like a proper lady?” Liane asked Macee. Macee looked up and frowned at Liane for calling her, your highness. Liane smiled and rubbed her head.

  “Trust me, I said the same thing,” Francesca said.

  “Leave me alone,” Macee replied.

  “Mum came over,” Liane said.

  “Oh gosh.” It seemed every single time she came to the palace, it was never a pleasant visit. Liane told them everything that had just happened. Her sisters were not surprised with how their mother had behaved; however, they were surprised with what she said to Jean Pierre.

  “When I got married, it was me who was told not to mess it up with Louis,” Macee said.

  “Ooo, she calls him Louis,” Francesca said. Both her and Liane giggled and teased Macee about it. Even the queen still referred to the king as his majesty. She never called him by his name in public.

  “What else should I call him?”

  “No, it's good that you do,” Liane said. She was really happy for her sister. She seemed to be in a good marriage. Macee groaned in response.

  “So you and Jean Pierre will be living together?”

  “Yes.” Liane barked.

  “Oh, someone is not happy,” Francesca said.

  “Of course, I am not happy. I cannot stand him.”

  Macee heaved herself up and rested on her elbow. She had a burning question for Liane. “What was sex like with him?” she asked. Both her sisters whipped their heads in her direction.

  “Macee!” they both said.

  “What? I am curious. Was it good?”

  “Oh my God, I cannot believe you,” Liane said. She was suddenly feeling shy as she remembered that night. It had taken a lot for her to try to forget about it and she was unsuccessful. As much as she hated to admit it to herself, she really enjoyed it.

  “You cannot put anything past Macee,” Francesca said. “But was it?” she asked.

  “See, even Fanny agrees.”

  “Maceey, don't call me that.”

  Macee started laughing. She enjoyed annoying her sister. She really hated being called Frannie or fanny, and especially Frannie fanny.

  “It was fine,” Liane lied. She turned bright red. Her sisters pointed it out and started laughing at her. She was not able to conceal the truth from her sisters especially Macee. She was like a dog with a bone. She would never let it go until she got a proper answer. Fortunately for Liane, she saw Prince Louis walk into the garden with a slightly older gentleman.

  “Is that not your husband?” Liane said to Macee as she pointed at the prince. Macee scrambled to her feet and sat on the bench with her sisters.

  “Who is that guy?” Francesca asked. He appeared to be in his late thirties. He had a day or two’s growth of beard and stood at the same height as the prince. His body was slightly bigger than the prince’s was and from this distance, Francesca could see that he was all muscle. He wore a suit with no tie. They were walking towards the sisters.

  “I have no idea,” Macee said. She had never seen him before. “But he is attractive,” she added.

  “You’re married,” Francesca responded.

  “No, I agree, that man is sexy,” Liane added. Francesca and Macee turned to look at Liane who never spoke up about such things. “What? He is.”

  “Ladies,” Prince Louis said as he offered Macee his hand. She placed her hand in his and rose from the bench. Her sisters stood up also and curtsied to him. The prince kissed Macee's hand and then her lips as she smiled at him. “This is my wife, the princess Macee,” he said to the man he was with who bowed his head.

  “Pleased to meet you, y
our highness,” he said. Macee raised her eyebrows. His voice was very deep and refined. And he had the most beautiful green eyes under a thick head of dark hair.

  “This is Lord Jacques. It has been a long time since he’s paid a visit to the palace and I’m pleased to say that he will be coming here more often now.”

  “Pleased to meet you, Lord Jacques. These are my sisters, Liane and Francesca.”

  “Ladies.” He bowed his head.

  Liane and Francesca smiled at him. “Hello,” they said at the same time. Whilst Macee was speaking to her husband, from the corner of her eye, she noticed Lord Jacques looking at Francesca. Macee carried on speaking to the prince. He kissed her when they were done before departing with his friend.

  “That man could not keep his eyes off you,” Macee said to Francesca as soon as he left.

  “Nonsense,” Francesca dismissed the subject. He seemed a bit too old for her taste even though he was quite attractive.

  “I did not even know they still had lords,” Macee said. Her sisters looked at her and shook their heads. As the future queen, she was quite clueless.

  Chapter 11

  9 months later

  Liane had barely survived three months of living in the palace and was dreaming of running away from all the drama, but she was not allowed. She was still a subject of the media. Part of her was glad that she was staying at the palace because she was around her sisters. She could not have gotten through all of it by herself.

  She was standing in the corner pouting over a ball that was being held at the palace that evening. She did not want to go but her sisters insisted. They said it was good for her to get out. She chose a black dress hoping it would be slimming, but her baby bump had blossomed considerably and she felt like she had a giant pumpkin for a stomach. Jean Pierre emerged out of thin air as he always did.

  “You are always pouting at parties,” he said as he stood next to her.

  “As always, you are popping out of thin air,” Liane took a sip from her glass.

  “What are you drinking?” He tried to take the drink away from her. She moved her glass from his reach.