Reluctantly Royal(11)

I looked around my room like someone would spontaneously appear. An idea began to form in my mind and I looked down at the jeans I was wearing and shook my head.

There was one person that I could ask. He had told me to tell him if I needed anything. Well, I needed something all right, but it wasn’t the kind of thing you could ask over the phone. I needed to go to him and present my case.

I undid the button on my jeans and kicked them off before walking to my closet. If I was going to ask for such a big favor, I needed to reevaluate my wardrobe decision. The right clothes could go a long way to getting me the answer I needed.





FOUR

I SWEAR TO GOD, I’m moving all of my stuff to the palace. I can’t take one more night of your loud, tub-thumping sex.” I pointed my finger at my brother and sister-in-law.

Sam laughed loudly as she heaped more bacon on to her plate. “Good. Our plan is working.”

“That’s not funny.” I slathered butter on my croissant.

“Sure it is.” She shoved a piece of bacon in her mouth and smiled at me. “We’ve been trying to get you out of D’Lynsal Manor for months.”

“It’s not my fault that my bathroom is right next to your room. And besides, the bathtub is the only place Samantha is comfortable—”

“Enough!” I cut Alex off with a horrified look. “I don’t want to know where you two have sex, much less pregnant sex.”

“Well, how do you think I got this way?” Sam gestured to her baby bump.

“Knowing and hearing are two different things.” I rolled my eyes. I’d never admit it to her, because it would go to her head, but she made an adorable pregnant woman. It looked like she had a basketball hidden under her shirt.

“Then go back to the palace.” Alex pointed at me with his fork.

“I came here for the same reason you did.” I shoveled some eggs in my mouth before continuing. “The place is covered in visiting dignitaries. I ran into the Duke of Edinburgh in our family kitchen. He was drinking out of the milk carton.”

Sam laughed. “Was he naked?”

“Thank you very much for that horrible visual.” Alex set his fork down.

“No. He was wearing sleep pants.” I grabbed the coffeepot and refilled my cup. Sam’s love of coffee had infected the entire family.

“I hate you.” Her eyes were full of lust as she eyed the coffeepot.

“You’re hating on the wrong brother.” I made a big show of sipping from my cup. “I didn’t knock you up.”

“Let me smell it.” She held her hand out. “I just want to remember what it tastes like.”

“Don’t torture yourself.” I laughed while Alex playfully slapped her hand.

“I don’t miss the wine, or being able to stay awake past eight o’clock in the evening, but I do miss my coffee.” Her sigh was so sad it almost made me feel bad for her. Almost.

“You could always drink decaf,” I said.

“Blech. That’s like Oreos without cream in the center. Just a mean tease.” She made a face.

“What is it you keep saying?” Every time she came across something she couldn’t or shouldn’t do while pregnant she would mumble under her breath with gritted teeth.

“It’ll be worth it.” She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. I wasn’t sure if she was trying to calm herself or catch a sniff of the coffee. “It’ll be worth it.”

“What’s your mantra going to be when the baby is up at two in the morning?”

She didn’t answer, just flung a piece of apple in my direction.

“Leave her alone,” Alex said. “She didn’t get any sleep last night.”

“Yeah, I heard, remember?”

“I mean it, smart ass. The baby kept her up all night.” Alex looked at Sam with a disgustingly sappy look. It normally made me sick, but we were all protective of Sam, especially now. Her morning sickness was more like all-the-time sickness. Not to mention it had lasted way past the first three months.

“Sick again?” I tried to keep the concern out of my voice.

“A little.” She shrugged and rubbed her belly. “The little bean was grumpy.”

“Might have been all that bouncing around.” I bit into my croissant and hoped they didn’t notice that I was worried. Sam was usually active and lively, but lately she seemed to be dragging.

“Oh, shut it.” Sam glared at me. “You’re just jealous that you’re not getting any.”

“I don’t have time for the drama.” Setting the croissant down, I took a big slurp of coffee. That would teach her for picking on me.