Princess's Secret Baby(44)

                ‘What is it?’ Leila asked, and opened a box and stared at a small dark bottle.

                ‘Open it.’

                She unscrewed the small lid and bent her head and James watched as she closed her eyes and inhaled her scent.

                ‘It’s me,’ Leila said, and poured some oil on her fingers. ‘But how?’

                ‘I’m not telling you,’ James said, and watched as she ran her fingers through her hair and added a drop to her throat.

                She smelled now of that night and it was a dangerous place to recall. Especially when James later said goodnight and stretched out on the sofa. But the glitter of tears in her eyes when she’d opened it had made it worthwhile.

                Leila stared at the ceiling. ‘Thank you,’ she said, and this time he heard it.

                ‘You’re welcome.’

                ‘Why did you buy me a present?’

                ‘Why not?’ James asked.

                ‘But why?’ Leila persisted.

                ‘I hate that you’re homesick.’

                She wasn’t though. Leila stared into the dark and tried to recall a night when she had known such care of her heart, even if it came from a man who didn’t love her.

                When later she cried, James walked over and shook her shoulder, and when still she cried, instead of lying on top of the bed this time he got in. Leila rolled into him and he inhaled the delicious scent of her. He’d had his shirt, the one that held her fragrance from their one night together, analysed. Now a scent with a base of jasmine and a woody note of oud, frankincense and musk lingered in delicate combination, and James drew her closer in.

                Oh!

                Leila lay with his heartbeat in her ear and strong arms around her and lovely hairy legs beneath her smooth ones and a hand that caressed her arm. She awoke to it too, and lingered there just a moment, trying to pretend she was still asleep, just to revel in the feel of another. The crinkle of hair on his stomach had her fingers itching to explore but she denied them.

                ‘You got in,’ Leila said as she untangled herself and lay on her back on a sheet that felt too cool.

                ‘You didn’t complain when I did.’ James looked over and smiled. ‘You were purring like a cat.’

                Leila poked out her tongue to him and then got back to staring at the ceiling.

                ‘I don’t feel sick.’

                ‘Yay!’

                ‘Do you think that could be bad?’

                ‘Of course not, you’re a textbook pregnancy. Well, according to Dr Internet—morning sickness fades in the second trimester.’

                ‘You looked it up.’

                ‘Of course I did.’

                She liked that he did.

                ‘You can ask the physician all your questions this evening,’ James suggested. ‘I know what I want to ask her...’

                ‘You?’ Leila frowned. ‘I don’t want you there.’