The Prince’s Pregnant Challenge(25)

“It's a little funny,” she said.

He changed Simone into a new diaper before putting her pyjamas on her. Liane clapped for him. He laughed and gloated over his new skill. He rocked Simone until she fell asleep before placing her in her bassinette. They left the room and went to the kitchen to have some wine. Jean Pierre poured red wine for both of them as they sat down at the table. “You like wine?” he asked her.

“It's alright, I can do with or without it. Makes no difference,” she said.

“Is it okay to drink when you are breastfeeding?”

“Very small amounts.” Jean Pierre raised his eyebrow at her. Liane started laughing. “The last glass I had before this one was weeks ago when Macee and the prince came over,” she said.

“I did not say anything.”

“Oh, but your face did.”

Jean Pierre put his glass down and took Liane's hands in his. She raised her eyebrows in question as her heart immediately started racing. It was strange how something so small could affect her so much.

“I love Simone,” he said.

“So do I, where is this going?”

“If you keep quiet, I'll tell you,” Jean Pierre said. Liane's mouth hung open. “Thank you for giving her to me.” Simone was the best thing that had ever happened to him. He needed one thing to be good in his life. She changed him so much and it was for the good. Liane did not know what to say to him, so she remained silent.

He caressed her face with the back of his hand. “I do not dislike you as much as I did,” he said to her. Liane frowned.

“Is that a thing to say to a woman?” she asked. Jean Pierre smiled. Of course, she was going to snap at him about it.

“There is a reason I make you so angry so quickly,” he told her.

“It’s because you are so annoying.”

“I did not even get to the point and you are already arguing with me.”

“You are not getting to the point.”

Jean Pierre kissed her. It was the only way she was going to stop talking. He broke the kiss and looked into her eyes. “I am saying, let us make our marriage work,” he said. Liane's eyes flew open. He was very good at shocking her.

“What?” she asked.

“For the sake of Simone.”

Liane had no idea what she was expecting him to say but she pulled away from him. “Just for her?” she asked. He reached out and caressed her cheek.

“And for your sake,” he said.

“My sake?”

“I see the way you look at me.” Liane narrowed her gaze at him and shook her head. He was impossible to deal with. He laughed and pulled her chair closer to his. “It's a joke,” he said.

“It's not funny,” she replied. She tried to stand up but he pulled her back down.

“I have never really liked any woman I was with nor have I ever fallen in love.”

“There's a surprise,” Liane said sarcastically.

“So, it was not easy for me to recognise my feelings.”

“What are you saying?”

“I think that I am in love with you!” he shouted. Liane was not getting it nor was she allowing him to express himself properly. He had not planned to tell her that he was in love with her but after he said the words, he knew it was true. He had fallen for her. Liane stared at him wide-eyed. “So, I am saying that I want to make this work. Be my wife,” he said calmly, now that he had her attention.

“I am your wife.”

“No, properly. Can you make room for me in your heart?”

“I think you're already there.”

Jean Pierre kissed her. “You are a difficult woman,” he said to her. “I still remember the first time I kissed you.”

“You were not drunk?”

“No, did you think I was?”

“Well I thought you were a bit tipsy. I mean you had to be if you were that bold to sleep with the Crown Prince's betrothed.”

“I was very sober and I knew what I was doing,” he said as he pulled Liane towards him. She sat on his lap and wrapped her arms around his neck.

“I was sober too,” she said and kissed him. As much as she tried to fight her feelings, she knew that it was futile. This man made her heart race and her body sing. And what was worse, she couldn’t imagine being with anyone else.

Chuckling, he hugged her. “I remember how you looked at me when I took your horse.”

Growling at him, “I wanted to kill you for that. You had no idea what kind of a week I had. I had been looking forward to riding all day and when I get out there, you have my mare.”

Jean Pierre laughed. “You are the only woman to ever treat me with such disdain,” he said.

“Good, because I will keep you in check.”