by Nikki Ash
“I’ve dreamed of this,” I murmur against her lips. “And now you’re here.” I grab a handful of her ass and grind her against my hard length.
“I’m here,” she moans, threading her fingers through my hair.
I reach up and remove her shirt, exposing her black, lacy bra. Her perky tits spill out and I kiss my way along her cleavage. “I missed these,” I tell her, pulling her cups down and revealing those perfect pink nipples I spent the weekend all those years ago kissing and sucking. I wrap my lips around one, swirling my tongue around the tip.
Natalie groans softly. “I need to feel you,” she begs, unbuttoning my dress shirt. We both scramble to undress each other, desperate for what’s to come. It’s been so fucking long, but it’s as if we’re right back in that hotel room.
When we’re both naked, she slides down my body and, without any preamble, takes my dick into her mouth, almost swallowing down the entire thing. It pushes against the back of her throat, causing her to gag, and I damn near come on the spot. It’s been too long, and her mouth feels too good.
Fisting her mane, I flip us over again, then spread her legs, needing to taste her. I push her thighs back, until they’re up against her chest and then, starting at her tight asshole—that I fully plan to one day claim—I lick up her center, savoring the taste and scent of her sweet musk.
When I get to her clit, sucking on it hard, her palms smack the sheets. Her face whips from side to side as I bring her closer and closer to her orgasm. When she falls over the edge, a cry of pleasure escapes her lips, and I climb over her, connecting our mouths to silence her cries, unsure how soundproof the walls are.
With her legs spread, the head of my dick pushes against her entrance, and before I can stop myself, I’m plunging into her. Her back arches and her legs wrap around my torso. I thrust into her over and over again, lost in the way her warm pussy strangles my dick. Her hands grip the back of my neck, holding me close to her, and my own cage her in. We’re as close as two people can be, yet it still doesn’t feel like we’re close enough.
As I damn near fuck her into the mattress, her moans get louder, and I swallow each one down, devouring her mouth with my own. I rise up slightly, hooking her thighs over my arms, so I can go deeper. The move sends her tumbling over the edge, her second orgasm racing through her. When her insides grip my dick, I let go, filling her up with my cum. In the back of my mind, I know I shouldn’t do that, but the primal, caveman part of me, the part that would give anything to see her carrying my baby, pushes the thought aside. She’s mine, and if I have it my way, I’m going to fill her with my babies over and over and over again.
“Oh my God,” she breathes, sounding completely sated. Her eyes are hooded and her body, which is tucked under me, is now loose and limp.
“I came in you,” I point out, planting a hard kiss to her lips.
Her eyes widen. “I’m not on birth control… I haven’t been, umm…” Her cheeks turn a beautiful shade of pink. “I haven’t been having sex.”
“Good.” I pull out of her and back up, keeping my palms against the insides of her knees. I watch as my cum leaks out of her pussy.
“Good?” she squeaks, trying to close her thighs.
“Yeah, good.” I hold on to her knee with one hand and, with the other, push two fingers into her cum-filled hole. “This time when I knock you up, I’ll get to see you carry my baby.”
I look up at her, expecting her to argue, but instead she frowns and her eyes go glassy. “I know it’s not the same, but I have pictures… I took them every week during my pregnancy. I also have thousands of Jasmine.”
I crawl back up her body and wipe the tears that are leaking out of her lids. “I can’t wait to see them.”
Refusing to let her clean up, because I love the idea of her sleeping with my cum inside her, I pull her into my arms and tuck her head under my chin. She wraps her arms around my waist and snuggles into my side. “Do you think we’re rushing things?” she whispers.
I tug her chin up, so she’s forced to look at me. “We missed six fucking years together. I missed your pregnancy, the first five years of our daughter’s life. We missed out on six years we could’ve been making memories. All because of miscommunication. I don’t want to waste another second. You and that little girl in the room next to us are mine.”
A slow smile spreads across Natalie’s face as she nods. “I like the sound of that…” She lays her head in the crook of my neck. “Of being yours.”
Chapter Twelve
Natalie
Before I open my eyes, I already know Liam is gone. It’s crazy how, even after all this time, and only knowing him for such a short time, I can feel him—or in this case, lack of him. My eyes land on a piece of paper on the pillow next to me and I lift it up to read it.
Natalie, I didn’t want our daughter to see me in your bed until we speak to her, so I slipped out. I have some work to do, so when she wakes up, I’ll have breakfast with her so I can spend some time with her. Sleep in, take a bath, and join us when you’re ready.
-Liam
A cheesy grin spreads across my face as I read the note for the second time. My phone buzzes from the bedside table, and I set the note down to see who it is. The caller ID shows it’s Aria calling, so I answer it.
“Hey!”
“Hey you,” she says back. “Are you getting on the plane soon?” Yesterday was supposed to be Jasmine’s and my last day of our trip.
“Actually,” I say, sitting up. “There’s been a change of plans.”
“Okay…”
“Are you sitting? Because what I have to tell you, you might want to be.”
Aria laughs. “I’m sitting.”
“I found Liam.”
There’s silence and then, “Oh my God! Liam, Liam? Jasmine’s father, Liam?”
“Yep.”
“Where?”
“This is the part you need to be sitting for,” I half-joke.
“You finding him wasn’t the crazy part?”
“Nope.”
“Well, tell me!” she demands.
“He’s the King of Lexenburg. It’s a small country in—”
“I know where Lexenburg is!” she squeals. “It’s where you guys were visiting the… Holy shit! The castle!”
“Yep, we stepped up to take a picture with the king, who made an unexpected appearance, and there he was.”
“Oh my God. So, he knows?”
I spend the next twenty minutes telling her everything that’s happened in the last… well, damn, it’s only been less than twenty-four hours, yet it feels like it’s been days, maybe even weeks. Being with Liam does that to me—forces me to lose all track of time. When we’re together, it’s like the entire world disappears and time means nothing.
When I get done telling her everything, she asks, “Does this mean you guys are going to move there?” Her question is tinged with a hint of sadness and I know how she feels. As happy as I am to have found Liam, being with him will mean leaving Florence and the small family we’ve created there.
“We haven’t discussed it yet, but I don’t think the king can move.”
“No,” she agrees. “Well, damn.”
“We’ll be back in a few weeks. Even if it’s just to get our stuff… And we can visit, and you can visit us.”
“Yeah, of course,” she says. “It’s just, I’m going to miss you…”
“Me too.” We’ve spent the last six years practically joined at the hip. Our kids think they’re cousins instead of merely friends. I’m going to miss living down the street from them, but this is Liam—Jasmine’s father and the man I fell in love with all those years ago and never fell out. It’s all happening so fast, but he was right about what he said last night. We missed out on a lot and have a lot of making up to do.
We talk for a few more minutes, and once we hang up, I jump in the shower. After blow-drying my hair and getting dressed, I head out to find Liam and Jasmine. The part of the esta
te he lives in is huge and has what feels like a million halls, so when I turn the corner, one I could’ve sworn I already turned, I realize I’m lost.
As I’m pulling out my phone to call him, I run into someone. “I’m so sorry…” I say, glancing up to see… What was her name?
“Stephanie,” she finishes. “I’m glad I ran into you. I was looking for you. We need to talk.”
Her cold tone doesn’t sit well with me, but she’s Liam’s assistant. “Sure.”
She leads me to an office and closes the door behind us. She steps behind a large oak desk and gestures for me to have a seat. When I do, she sits as well, steepling her fingers together.
“Did you know that for the last several decades Lexenburg was the fourth wealthiest country in the world?”
“Actually, it’s the third.” I did my research when planning our trip. I love teaching Jasmine about each place we visit.
“That’s correct. It’s wealthy because of how it’s run. After William took over for his father, making the changes he saw fit, he jumped it up from the fourth to the third wealthiest country. Our unemployment rate is the lowest in the world. Our country is thriving and it’s because of William.”
“That’s amazing,” I tell her slowly, my stomach knotting. I’m not completely sure, but I have a sinking feeling about where she’s going with her factoids.
“The people trust William because he’s honest. He puts them first…”
I nod because I can’t speak with the huge lump forming in my throat.
“Have you ever heard of Gaitos?” she asks. Before I can answer, she continues. “It was the third wealthiest country in the world. Until a scandal with the royal family hit and the country crumbled. Which is exactly what will happen here if you stay.” Her gaze sears into mine. “I know all about you. How you met William…”
I swallow thickly. “That was a long time ago…”
“Doesn’t matter. Did you see Britain’s reaction to Meghan? And she’s not even married to the king.”
She pulls something out and sets it on the desk. A checkbook.
“Really?” I roll my eyes. “Kind of cliché, don’t you think?” This is like a scene from every royal movie on the Lifetime channel.
“Call it whatever you want,” she says. “But I’m merely trying to protect William and this country from you. He isn’t thinking clearly because of his alleged daughter.”
“There’s nothing alleged about her,” I snap. “She’s his.”
Stephanie shrugs. “If you stay and the people find out the mother of his child is a whore, you will taint this family. They will lose their trust in him. It will be the beginning of the end.”
I stand, refusing to listen to another minute of this. “If Liam feels that way, he can tell me himself.”
Stephanie stands as well. “He won’t tell you because he doesn’t want to lose his daughter. You don’t belong here, and you will only disgrace his name and this family. You will ruin everything he’s worked for, everything his family has worked for.”
She steps around the desk and over to me. “If you care about him, you will leave before you destroy this country.”
She extends her hand, which is holding a single check. “It’s blank and signed. You can fill in the amount.”
I back away from her and that check. “I’m not going away until Liam tells me to do so.”
I turn on my heel and exit the room. It takes me several minutes, and a few wrong turns, but I finally find Liam and Jasmine in the kitchen. They’re both eating a stack of pancakes and talking to each other like they’ve known each other forever. I stop in my place before they can see me and watch them for a couple minutes. Liam is telling Jasmine all about the country and the people. I can hear the pride in his voice, see it on his face. I try to push everything Stephanie said from my head, but one thing she mentioned bounces around like a ping pong ball. “He won’t tell you because he doesn’t want to lose his daughter.”
Everything he’s said to me since we reconnected tells me he wants me too—it’s not just about Jasmine. But as a parent, I know I would do anything for my daughter. Even if it meant destroying everyone around me. Can I let him risk that?
“Are you going to stand there and watch us eat or join us for breakfast?” Liam asks, meeting my eyes.
“Good morning.” I step fully into the kitchen.
“Morning.” He looks like he’s dying to come over and kiss me, but he refrains since our daughter is here and we haven’t spoken to her about us yet.
“Morning, Mommy,” Jasmine says around a mouthful of pancakes.
“Here.” He hands me a plate of food. “For you.”
“Thank you.” I smother butter and syrup on them before cutting them up. I take a bite and they’re delicious. Fluffy and flavorful. “So good.”
“Daddy and I made them.” Jasmine beams.
“You did a great job.” I lean over and kiss her temple. “Did you sleep well?”
“Yes, and this morning Mrs. Evelyn and I picked out everything for my room. It’s going to have a princess bed and a princess couch and a princess rug!”
“That sounds like a whole lot of princess,” I joke. She nods in agreement.
“When we’re done eating, we’re going to head to the church,” Liam mentions. “We have a private tour scheduled.”
“Sounds good.” I stab a piece of my pancake and pop it into my mouth. While we eat, Jasmine jabbers away. I stay quiet, my conversation with Stephanie running through my head. At some point, I need to tell Liam what she said. I don’t want to keep it from him, and I need to know his thoughts. I can’t change my past. I can’t change that from the time I turned sixteen and became homeless, I sold my body to make ends meet, or that the only job I’ve ever had was in a bordello. I’ve changed my entire life around, but if anyone finds out what I did, that’ll be the only thing they focus on.
When we’re done eating, Liam shows us to the tunnel. It’s a massive garage and driveway that’s completely covered. It’s how he and his family come and go without being seen. There’s a town car waiting for us, and he introduces us to Marcus, his driver, and then I see Harold. It’s been six years, so he’s older, a few more grays, but his smile when he sees me approaching is as sweet as it was all those years ago.
“Miss Natalie,” he says, taking my hand and kissing the top. “It’s so good to see you again.”
“You too.”
“Mommy,” Jasmine says. “Who’s that?”
“This is my bodyguard and friend,” Liam tells her, bending to her level. “And now he’s yours.”
My eyes bounce over to Herold, who nods in agreement.
“There’s nobody I trust more with you and our daughter,” Liam says. “Nobody knows who Jasmine is, but once they do, they will be relentless to take her picture and get close to her, especially the American reporters,” he says with disgust. “You can never leave without Harold. Okay?” His eyes meet mine. “It’s for your safety.”
“Okay.”
He smiles softly then looks at Jasmine. “You’re a princess now. And every princess needs a bodyguard to keep her safe.”
Jasmine, who doesn’t quite get it, nods. “Okay, Daddy.”
We get into the vehicle and Harold sits in the front with the driver. Liam explains there will be a car following in front of and another one behind us. It has to be this way every time he leaves.
“You didn’t have all of this in Vegas,” I mention once we’re in the car.
“I had a few guards…” He looks at me sheepishly.
“What?” I ask, confused.
“They were around, but you didn’t notice them. That’s their job. To remain in the background.”
I try to think back, but aside from the one who drove us around, I don’t remember anyone else.
“I also wasn’t the king back then,” he adds. “We’re a small country, but because we’re one of the most prosperous, we have a lot of dealings with other countries, a
nd sometimes they aren’t happy with the outcome.” His eyes go to Jasmine. “I will make sure you’re both always protected and safe.”
The morning is spent touring the church. Since Liam knows all of the history, he insists on telling us about them, keeping it just the three of us without a tour guide. We laugh and talk and take what feels like a million pictures. I’ve never been in a relationship before. It’s always been just Jasmine and me. I was worried how we would all come together, but as the day progresses, it’s as if we all just slide into place, clicking with one another.
“This is the church the royal family gets married in,” he mentions. “Eighteen weddings have taken place here since it was constructed in 1415…” His gaze meets mine. “Including my parents’.”
“That’s amazing,” I breathe. “Was your brother married here too?”
“He was.” He grips the curves of my hips and pulls me close to him. “And it’s also where I plan to one day marry you.”
I suck in a shocked gasp. “Liam…”
“I’m not proposing… yet. When I do, it will be way more romantic than this.” He hits me with a sexy, crooked grin. “But it will happen.” He kisses the corner of my mouth and a shiver runs through me. “I have no doubt you are the woman I want to spend my life with, and since I have every intention of filling you with another baby as soon as possible, we should probably get married sooner rather than later.” He winks and my insides turn to mush.
When we leave the church, we go straight to the gardens. Like the church, the place is empty, and Liam shows us around. It’s beautiful, filled with all types of flowers. Liam explains these gardens were built several decades ago because Queen Athena—a previous queen—loved flowers. Her husband built her the gardens as an anniversary present. It’s also why the castle is labeled with names of flowers.