“Part of me hates you for what you did.” Luc’s eyes darted down to her lips. “I wish I still didn’t want you so damn much.”
Breath caught in Kate’s throat as Luc pushed away and stalked back to his desk. He kept his back to her, as if that revelation had cost him dearly. She had no doubt he hadn’t meant to let that slip, and as much as she wanted to revel in his obvious discomfort over the fact that he wanted her, Kate had to put this baby first, above all else.
Even the fact that her own heart was still beating for only one man.
Fourteen
He hadn’t planned on taking Kate to Greece for his best friend’s wedding, but once she had opened her heart to him and bared her soul, Luc wasn’t able to deny the fact that he still wanted her.
Plans were taking root in his mind and he was going to have to take action. Perhaps he could have Kate, the crown and his child without ever putting his heart on the line where she was concerned. Surely she’d stay for the sake of their child. Why not make it official, so he could keep the title that was rightfully his?
But if he wanted to sway her into marriage, he needed to start convincing her, or she’d never say yes.
No, he hadn’t forgiven her for lying, but she was pregnant, confirmed by Dr. Couchot, and Luc knew the child was his. The plan forming in his mind was anything but nice, but he couldn’t back down. Too much was at stake.
Luc glanced across the aisle to where Kate had reclined her seat and was curled onto her side, with her hand beneath her cheek. She’d been exhausted when they’d left that morning, and he’d nearly told her to stay behind, but he knew she was just as stubborn as him and wouldn’t listen. Either the baby was making her more tired than usual or she wasn’t sleeping because of the stress. Knowing her, it was probably both.
He’d cursed himself every which way after she’d left his office a few days ago. He’d hated how his heart had flipped when she’d whispered her fears. Damn it, he didn’t want his heart to be affected by this woman. There was no space in his life for such things. He had a title to secure, and now he had an heir to think about. Kate couldn’t fall under the category of things he cared about, because if he allowed that, then she would have the upper hand. Wanting her physically was difficult enough to have to deal with each time she was near.
His mind kept wandering back to how right it had felt when they’d been playing house. He’d gladly dismissed his family’s rule about fraternizing with staff. He would have done anything for her. He’d never felt so connected to a woman in all his life.
Kate embodied sex appeal, that was a given. It had been what had drawn him to her when she’d first come to work for him. He vaguely recalled the little girl, and later on the teen, who used to hang around the palace with her parents.
Then when the time came that he’d needed an assistant and Kate had been recommended, he’d jumped at the chance, because her family knew his so well and he knew she’d be a trustworthy candidate. Plus her references and academics had been superb.
Yet somehow, over the course of a professional relationship that had started out with an attraction, and involved his messy engagement to another woman, Luc’s life had spiraled spectacularly out of control.
The irony that he’d gone from a fiancée with a fake pregnancy to a poser fiancée with a real pregnancy was not lost on him. He was a walking tabloid and fodder for the press. Thankfully, Kate was in charge of press releases, and no doubt she’d come up with something amazingly brilliant once they were ready to go public.
Kate stirred in her sleep, letting out a soft moan. The simple sound hit his gut with a swift punch of lust he couldn’t ignore. He’d heard those moans in his ear as she’d wrapped her body around his. He’d felt the whisper of breath on his skin that accompanied her sighs.
But no matter how compatible they were in the bedroom, no matter how much he still ached for her on a level he’d never admit aloud, Luc wouldn’t, couldn’t, allow himself to be pulled into whatever spell Kate had over him.
Even if he would let his guard down and shove the royal rule aside and see a staff member personally, Kate had killed any chance of him ever trusting her fully. So she could sit across from him and make all the noises she wanted; he was ignoring them.
Too bad his body hadn’t received that memo, because certain parts of him couldn’t forget the intimacy they’d shared.
Luc needed to focus on the brilliant plot he’d started forming. Would she be angry when he approached her with the solution? Yes. Did he care? No. He was plenty angry still, but he wanted her, wanted the crown and refused to allow his heart to become vulnerable again.
The phone near Luc’s seat rang and the pilot informed him they’d be landing within a half hour. Once Luc hung up, he crossed the space and sank down in the plush white leather chair next to Kate. He hated waking her up. Not that he was worried about disturbing her sleep; he was more concerned with the fact he’d have to touch her, have to see her blinking back to reality as she sat there, looking all rumpled and sexy.
As if she was ever not appealing. But he couldn’t be blinded by lust and sexual chemistry. He didn’t need a bed partner, no matter what his body told him. Making love with her was how he’d gotten entangled in this web to begin with.
“Kate.”
He purposely said her name loudly, so she’d wake without him having to lay a hand on her. She let out a soft snore and Luc gritted his teeth and called her name again.
Still nothing.
Who was he kidding? It didn’t matter if he touched her or not. He wanted her, his body responded to her as it had to no other woman and she was carrying his child. As if he needed another reason to be physically pulled toward her. Knowing she was carrying his child was beyond sexy. There was something so primal about knowing Kate sat there with their baby safely inside her body.
Even when Alana had said she was expecting, Luc hadn’t felt this much of a tug on his heart. He’d had an instant protective instinct toward the child, but he’d never felt a bond with Alana.
Damn it, he couldn’t afford a tug on his heart or some invisible bond. Kate wasn’t trustworthy. Regardless, he didn’t need her trust for his plan to work. He didn’t need anything from her, because he wouldn’t take no for an answer.
Marrying Kate was the only solution. As much as he hated to give in to his country’s archaic rule, it was the only way to come out of this situation on top. Some marriages were based on far less than sexual chemistry and they worked just fine.
The fact remained that he still wanted her something fierce. He wanted her with an intensity that scared him, but he had to risk his heart, his sanity, in order to get what he wanted.
Luc reached around, pulled on her seat belt and fastened it with a click. Just as he was about to move away and fasten his own, Kate jerked awake. Sleepy eyes locked onto his and he realized his mistake. He’d leaned in too close, so close he was only inches from her face, and his hand hovered over her abdomen.
“What are you doing?” she asked, her voice husky from sleep.
“Preparing you for landing.”
Why hadn’t he eased back, and why was he staring at her lips?
“You can’t look at me like that, Luc,” she whispered. “You don’t even like me.”
Something clenched in his gut. Something harsher, more intense than lust.
He was a damn tolo. Fool. That was the only explanation for having these reactions after what she’d done to him. He needed to focus on the plan, the throne, the baby. Everything else—including his lustful feelings—would have to be put aside.
“I don’t trust you,” he countered. “There’s a difference.”
Those heavy lids shielded her dark eyes for a moment as she stared down to where his hands lay on her stomach.
“I didn’t trap you,” she whispered as her eyes drifted back up to his. “No matter what you think of me, I’d never do that to you or an innocent child.”
Luc swallowed as her hand settled over his. There was so much emotion in her eyes, so much he was too afraid to identify, because if he did, he’d start feeling more for her, and he refused to be played like a fantouche, a puppet, for a third time.
Pride and ego fueled his decisions. Power and control ran a close second. And all those things combined would get him everything he’d ever wanted...everything he was entitled to.
Luc shifted to sit up, but didn’t remove his hand, and for some asinine reason he didn’t break eye contact, either. Obviously, he was a glutton for punishment.
“I want you to move into the palace.”
Of course, he had bigger plans, but he had to ease her into this. She wasn’t the only one skilled at manipulation.
“I’m not sure that’s a good idea.”
She removed her hand from his, a silent plea for him to move, so he pulled back. The first slight dip in the plane’s decent reminded Luc he hadn’t fastened his seat belt because he’d been worried for her. He quickly buckled it, then turned his attention back to Kate.
“Why not?” he asked. “Moving into the palace is the ideal solution. We’ll be sharing responsibilities. I know we’ll hire a nanny, but I plan on being a hands-on dad.”