Royally Ever After (Royals of Valleria #7) (5 page)

One of her hands rose up, delving into his hair. The scratch of her nails against his scalp had his cock twitching.

“Alex,” she breathed.

“Tell me.” Two fingers slipped inside. “Tell me what you want.”

Her legs stretched, trying to shift his fingers to where she wanted them; he denied her.

“What do you want, Rebecca?”

They both watched their reflections in the mirror. Her breasts strained against her corset, plump and flushed. Her eyes hooded, and her mouth open, drawing short breaths.

His own body was hot against hers. His cock was close to throbbing, and his fingers itched to fuck her hard, bend her over, and then fuck her hard again with his body.

Only years of self-restraint helped him now.

She moaned, the glorious sound ricocheting around their cavernous bathroom, echoing against the image of themselves in front of them.

“Alex, please.”

“Tell me what you want.”

“You.”

“Any particular part of me?”

Her eyes shut, her face turning into his neck. “Alex.” His name was a tortured groan on her lips.

“Tell me,” he growled.

“Your cock,” she whispered. “I want it inside me. Please.”

Was there anything hotter than his love begging for his cock, begging for him to claim her, possess her in a way no other man had ever possessed her before? In a way no other man ever would?

He was her one and only. Now and forever.

“Come for me, darling. Come and you can have my cock inside you.”

One of her hands fisted his hair.

Her other hand covered his on her pussy, her fingers twining with his and her juices.

She shifted onto her tiptoes, aching, straining for the peak.

His other hand moved from her stomach to the top of her corset, releasing her breast.

As he toyed with her nipple, her body closed around his fingers and he groaned. She was so fucking tight.

She cried out as the orgasm washed over her, her hands clinging to him for purchase as she rode the wave.

When she sagged against him, he pushed her slightly forward and unhooked her corset, tossing it to the side.

Now they were both naked, a light sheen of sweat gleaming on their olive-toned skin.

“Ready for my cock, darling?”

She sighed and swung her head around, seeking his lips.

He readily complied, his tongue easily tangling with hers. Before her, a kiss had never aroused so much, a touch had never meant so much.

Before her, he’d had no one to share the load of being heir apparent. No one he could truly be himself with.

He’d be lost without her.

Now, he wanted to be lost in her.

He pulled his lips back, both of them breathing heavily. “Spread your legs,” he said gruffly. “Prop them up on the counter.”

He lifted her until her feet were resting on counter’s edge, her legs bent and spread wide, baring her pussy fully to him in the mirror.

“Eyes on the mirror, Becca. Don’t take your fucking eyes off of me while I claim you.”

Her arms wound back around his neck and she braced as he aligned his cock with her body.

He inched in slowly, one hand teasing her breast, while the other teased her clit.

“Do you see me, Becca?” he murmured low in her ear. “Do you see my cock possessing you?”

“Yes,” she hissed. “God, yes.”

He inched in further. “Do you see me taking you, claiming you?”

She groaned, her body arching against him.

He thrust in all the way. “You’re mine.”

“Yes,” she moaned. “Please, Alex, faster.”

He thrust slowly, tormenting them both. “Mine.”

Her legs started to close and he withdrew his cock, leaving only the tip inside her.

She mewed in protest. “Alex.”

“Legs spread, Becca. Spread them nice and wide for me to see. Spread them wide so you see my view every time I fuck you, every time I make love to you.” He thrust in hard and fast to the root.

They both groaned and his patience wore thin. “Hold on.”

“Yes.”

Another hard thrust. “Damn it, Becca, hold on.”

“Alex!” Her body bowed high as her orgasm crested, then she sagged against him while he thrust once, twice, three times and released his seed inside her in several long, heavenly spurts.

Heaven. That’s exactly what she was. His heaven on earth.

He buried his face in her neck and pressed a soft kiss to her sweat-dampened skin. His cock was still hard and pulsing inside her; it was never fully sated when it came to her. It always wanted more.

He always wanted more.

He withdrew slowly and leisurely, and led them to the tall, wide shower that was more than large enough to accommodate them both.

As hot streams of steady water pulsed over them from five different directions – what was the point of being royal if you didn’t at least have the most amazing shower? – they took turns washing each other, and pressing easy kisses to patches of skin.

They didn’t make love again; exhaustion was wearing on both of them too much for that. After drying off – Rebecca taking a little more time to dry to her hair – they slid into their bed and curled into each other.

Alex could already see the first slices of dawn ready to break across the black summer night. If he was lucky, he’d get an hour of sleep with his love wrapped around him.

Thirty minutes later, the phone rang. Despite the temptation to ignore it, he glanced at the screen.

Luck wasn’t going to be with him that night.

P
rincess Arianna loved Brazenbourg
. She’d had to renounce her ties to Valleria in some respects when she’d married Finn de Bara, the crown prince and ruler of Brazenbourg, a small landlocked country several hundred miles north of Valleria. Now, however, being away from her family – when her father was lying in a hospital bed, and being unable to attend Alex’s wedding – she was having mixed feelings about the place.

She loved Brazenbourg’s people – and, it must be said, they loved her – she loved its food, its culture, and, most of all, she loved its prince, who was currently curled up next to her in their bed, sound asleep. Finn hadn’t gotten much sleep lately, which was mostly her fault.

Or rather, their child’s, who was still tucked away waiting to be born.

Becoming pregnant with their child, who could be the next ruler of Brazenbourg, meant Arianna couldn’t travel and risk the child being born in another country.

Which meant she’d miss the wedding.

Their little boy or girl – they wanted it to be a surprise – was always active when she laid down to sleep. Too active. As if being one hundred months pregnant wasn’t uncomfortable enough, their child decided to turn and kick and play at bedtime. She had a feeling their baby would be just the same after it was finally born.

Of course, tonight, worry over her father also kept her awake.

Arianna turned again, trying to find a better position. She swept her caramel-colored locks away from her face and sighed. She caught sight of her hand, and lamented the loss of her wedding and emerald engagement rings. Her fingers had swollen too much to keep wearing them.

She winced as a sharp pain stabbed her side. She’d had many aches and pains through pregnancy because of the weight she’d gained – she had not been a pretty pregnant princess, no matter how much she had tried to keep her weight under control and her face free of pimples – but none of the pains had been like this.

She shifted in the bed again, casting a furtive glance at Finn. When he remained asleep, she took a deep breath.

Another pain, this time worse than the first.

Could these be contractions? Actual contractions? Or were these fake ones? How was she supposed to know?

Deciding to time them, she shifted to lay on her side. She watched the clock on the side table and rubbed a slow circle on her extremely large belly.

It was ten minutes before the next pain came.

But was it a contraction?

Needing to use the bathroom, Arianna got up as quietly as possible. She waddled to their bathroom, the path well-worn in the carpet since she made the same journey so many times these days.

Another pain hit her on her way back out, and she clutched the doorjamb with one hand, and her belly with the other.

She breathed through it, then waddled back to bed. As she pulled back the covers, she saw a dark spot on the bedsheets.

A dark spot that hadn’t been there when she’d gone to sleep.

Maybe her water broke while she was asleep. Though, wouldn’t she have woken up, if it had?

She ran her fingers over the spot. It was wet, but thicker than water.

Oh God.

It was then she realized their child hadn’t moved, not for the last several minutes.

Oh God.

She flipped on the light, sending the room into glaring technicolor.

The dark spot was blood.

Finn ran a hand through his close cropped dark hair, then lifted up on his elbows. His beautiful green eyes blinked open. “What’s going on, baby? You need something? Having trouble sleeping again?”

She couldn’t hide the anguish in her voice. “Finn.”

He was up in a flash, the haze of sleep gone and his hands on her arms. “What is it? What’s wrong?”

Tears were falling down her face and she couldn’t speak. She could only point at the spot.

Finn’s hands tightened, then released her arms as he scrambled off the bed towards the phone. “I’m going to call the doctor, baby.”

She looked down, her hands protectively covering her large bump.
Oh, baby. Please be okay
.

How had she missed it? How had she not realized she was bleeding? Even in the bathroom, she hadn’t noticed. Though, since she couldn’t see anything, not even her feet, over her baby bump, missing the blood on her underwear would have been easy.

That fact, however, didn’t make her feel less guilty.

“Baby?”

She looked up to Finn standing there, now hastily dressed.

“Since the doctor’s staying in the palace until the birth, he’s coming over now to take a look as it’ll be quicker. He wants to examine you here and then decide whether or not to take you to the hospital. Why don’t you lay down in the guest room? He should be here soon.”

“I want to change.”

“Arianna–”

“I feel like I’m covered in blood.” She sobbed. “Covered in it.”

He pulled her into his arms. She rested her side against him, since her belly wouldn’t permit front-to-front hugging. “It’ll be okay.”

“Finn.”

“It’ll be okay,” he said firmly. “The baby was due in a few weeks anyway. It’ll still be healthy and whole if it’s born now.”

She nodded against him, then sniffled and pushed back. “Let me change.”

“I’ll help.” With Finn’s help, she changed quickly.

A few minutes later, the doctor arrived.

A few minutes after that, they were rushed to the hospital.

* * *

I
f Alex had felt overwhelmed before
, it was nothing to what he felt now.

All of the royal siblings were gathered in a large family common room in the Royal Wing of the palace. Everyone was dressed in pajamas and hastily tied robes, hair messy, with shadows of exhaustion and worry on their faces.

“Are they going to deliver the baby?” Grace asked from her perch next to Marcello, her refined English accent soft and concerned.

“They haven’t decided yet,” Alex said, Rebecca next to him and their hands linked. “Right now, they just want to get the bleeding and cramping under control.”

“Do Mama and Papa know yet?” Cat asked, her hand firm in Edward’s.

Alex shook his head. “I’m going to them after this. I don’t want to tell them over the phone, and I’ll want to check with his doctors before I tell him anyhow.”

His sister Sarah toyed nervously with a lock of her golden hair. “You don’t think the news could worsen Papa’s condition, do you?”

“I don’t know, but I don’t want to take that chance. We can’t hide it from him; the press have already gotten wind of it.” Alex locked eyes with Marcello. “Finn lent us some of his security team for the wedding, but he’ll need it back. The press descended on their hospital and he could use the help.”

Marcello nodded and pulled out his phone. “We can manage without them. I’ll send some people out there and give Finn a call once it’s all set up.”

“I’m happy to help, anywhere I’m needed,” Edward, Cat’s fiancé and former bodyguard, said.

Marcello shook his head. “Thanks, but we’ll need you and your team here, especially if we move forward with the wedding. Ethan make it in yet?”

“His ship’s set to dock in a couple hours in Masillia,” their brother Lorenzo said. “There was someone quite injured on board he had to monitor, otherwise he would’ve taken a helicopter straight from the ship to the hospital. He’ll want to know if we want him here in Valentia, or with Arianna in Brazenbourg.”

Everyone glanced at each other, before all eyes eventually fell to Alex. His father’s words echoed in his head.
There’s a heavy burden on your shoulders now, my son. Not only the country, but our family as well.

What would his father do? Probably send Ethan to oversee Arianna, to protect his daughter first and himself second.

How was Alex supposed to choose between his father and his sister?

“When Ethan arrives, he’ll speak with Papa’s doctors again, as well as Arianna’s, if he hasn’t already. I’d prefer he go to Arianna, as that’s what Papa would want and he’ll likely order Ethan to do that anyway. However, I’ll leave the final decision up to him. He’s the doctor and he’ll know who needs the greater care.”

Rebecca squeezed his hand, a gentle show of support. “I’ll work with Mara, Tavin, and Corrado to draft some statements, just in case Ethan goes to Arianna and he gets any backlash.”

Alex nodded and turned to Lorenzo. “Let him know what’s going on, and that he can stop in Valentia first, but it may only be for a few hours.”

“He won’t like being bossed around.”

“He like it less if I boss him around in public. When he sees how Papa’s doing for himself, I think he’ll come to the same conclusion.”

Carolina brushed a hand over her short mop of brown hair. “If Ethan goes to Arianna – and even if he doesn’t – should some of us go to Brazenbourg anyway? Arianna might want at least one of her sisters with her, since it’s unlikely Mama will be able to go.”

Again, all eyes turned to Alex. “Cat should stay, as she’s Rebecca’s maid of honor, but the rest of you can decide who stays and goes.”

The others exchanged confused glances.

“Isn’t the wedding postponed?” Nate asked.

Alex shook his head, and tightened his hand around Rebecca’s. “That hasn’t been decided, but it will be today.” Though, with his sister now in the hospital as well, it wasn’t looking good.

“Yes, we’ll make that decision sometime today,” Rebecca said, taking his cue. “I don’t think we could get away with waiting any longer than that, what with so many people flying in for it.”

“Do you need any help?” Cat asked.

Rebecca nodded. “Potentially. I’m handling all the wedding logistics with Mara. If we go forward with the wedding as planned, I’ll go over any changes to the ceremony with all of you individually. Let me know as soon as possible who’s planning to visit Arianna, so I can plan the adjustments as needed. If we end up postponing things, it’ll be all hands on deck to take care of everything.”

Everyone nodded, agreeing to help however Rebecca and Alex needed.

Alex stood up, Rebecca rising with him. “Look, try to get some sleep. Even a few minutes. I’m going to get dressed and go to the hospital.”

Nate rose from the chair he shared with Charlie. “I’ll go with you.”

“Me, too,” Marcello said.

Alex realized that, perhaps, his family needed some way to keep busy, to keep their own heavy thoughts from weighing them down.

Alex forced himself to stay strong. “No, thank you. I’ll go to the hospital on my own, at least this time. We should plan as though we’re moving forward with the wedding, just in case.

“Marcello, after you take care of Finn’s needs, please review final security details for the wedding and see if we need can divert a few more agents to Papa’s hospital. The press doubled by the time I left a few hours ago, and I don’t want the situation to get out of control.

“Charlie, please help Rebecca finalize the menus for the wedding. We’ll also want a steady delivery of food to the hospital, not just for Mama, but for the staff.

“Sarah and Carolina, please also assist Rebecca with any arrangements that need seeing to. It would also be helpful if you’d remind our cousins and extended family that they shouldn’t go and see Arianna after the wedding. No one but us should bother her until the baby’s born. I don’t want her stressed any more than she already is.

“Cat and Grace, with all of the additional extended family descending upon us tonight, we’ll need help. Would you mind working with Rebecca and the palace staff to ensure we’re covered? I believe Rebecca’s already done the brunt of the work, but I have a feeling the family will want to stay past the wedding since Papa’s in the hospital.

“We also set up an emergency meeting of the Royal Council. Nate, Marcello – you’ll both need to be in attendance for that. Lorenzo, I’d appreciate your help there, too.

“Any questions?” A series of head shakes swept the room. “Good. Let’s reconvene tonight for an early dinner before the family gets in. There are some things I won’t discuss in front of them, but will need to discuss with all of you.”

With a quick farewell, Alex and Rebecca left the room and headed for one of the secret passageways that snaked through the entire palace. They were secured by thumb or fingerprint scanners, so that only approved family and security staff could use them.

Within a few minutes, the secret door that led to Alex and Rebecca’s royal apartments in the Royal Wing clicked open. Alex strode down the hall to their bedroom and his closet, Rebecca pausing in their small kitchen to start some coffee before joining him. The palace had extensive kitchens, but each royal apartment and most of the guest rooms had their own small kitchen as well.

Alex had just shrugged on a shirt when Rebecca paused in his closet doorway. She leaned against the doorjamb, her hands stuffed into the pockets of her plush robe. “You should eat something before you go, Alex.”

“There isn’t time. I want to be sure my parents hear about Arianna from me and not the press or hospital staff.”

She walked over and helped him button up his shirt. “Please, Alex? Won’t you take just a few minutes?”