Maisey Yates - Six Of The Best Of Desire 2016

“I want to be with you, even if it’s on the phone in a Skype session.” His jaw flexed in a way she was beginning to recognize—a surefire sign of determination. He slid his arms around her and said, “I want to reassure them I plan to marry their daughter.”

Seven

“You have forgotten we have no plans to get married. I have plans—other plans. Our plans are in flux.”

Erika pulled out of Gervais’s arms so fast he damn near fell off the bed. He wasn’t sure why he’d raised the issue again, other than not wanting to be like his father, and certainly the timing of his proposal hadn’t been the smoothest. But the least she could do was consider it, since they hadn’t taken time to seriously discuss it that first night.

Time to change that now. He shifted on the bed so they were face-to-face. And promptly remembered how little she must be wearing under that blanket. A bare shoulder peeked above the fabric, calling his hands to rake the barrier down and away.

To slide between those covers with her.

“Why not even consider?” he ground out between clenched teeth, determined to stay on track with this talk. “We have babies on the way. Even if we have a civil ceremony and stay together for the children’s first year.” From the scowl on her beautiful face he could see he was only making this worse. “Erika?”

“I came here to tell you about being pregnant, see if you want to be an active father, and then make plans from there. I didn’t come for a yearlong repeat of our impulsive weekend together.”

He swallowed. Had his carnal thoughts been that obvious? No sense denying that he wanted her.

“And what would be so wrong with that?”

“I have a life in another country.”

“You’re out of the military now. So work here. You have more job flexibility than I do.”

Red flushed into her cheeks, making her look more like a shield maiden and less like a delicate princess in need of saving. “You are serious?”

The more he thought about it, the more it felt right. A marriage of convenience for a couple of years. He stroked her hair back and tucked it behind her ear, the silky strands gliding along his fingers. “We have amazing chemistry. We have children on the way. You’re already staying in my home—”

“For two weeks,” she said, finality edging her voice.

“Why not longer? Things have changed now with the twins. Two babies at once would be a lot for anyone to care for.”

He needed to be involved. A part of his children’s lives.

“I have plans for this fall. A commitment to my career. You are thinking too far into the future.” She shook her head, a toss of silvery-blond hair in the moonlight. “Please slow down.”

She angled an elbow against a bolster pillow, reclining even as she remained seated. And damn, but he wanted to be the one she leaned against, the one who supported her incredible body through the upcoming months while she carried this burden for them.

“We don’t have that option for long. And you yourself said you were concerned about the babies being boys and being caught up in the family monarchy as next in line. If they’re born here and we’re married here in the States...” He wasn’t exactly sure what that would mean for the monarchy, but it certainly would slow things down. Give them time to become a family. And to figure out how everything would work together.

She clapped a hand over his mouth. “Stop. Please. I cannot make this kind of decision now.”

The magnolia scent of her lotion caught him off guard. He breathed in the scent, enjoying the cool press of her skin on his lips. Would have said as much if he hadn’t noticed the glimmer of tears in her eyes.

A raggedy breath before speaking. “Can we please think about our future rationally? When I am rested and more prepared?” Though she did her best to look past him, every inch a regal monarch in that moment, he could see the strain in her cheeks.

She’d had a helluva long day. Fainted. Found out she was pregnant with twins. And she still had not gotten her damn chili dog.

There was a lot going on.

He could cut her some slack, give her space to collect herself. It was no use pushing so hard while she was emotional. And she had every right to be. Hell, he’d been upset tonight, too, uncharacteristically irritated with his father.

So he would revise his approach until cooler heads prevailed. This tactic to get her to stay was not the right one. She’d dismissed it out of hand.

Who could blame her, though? He’d given her no real reason to stay. And, as much as he hated to admit it, Erika Mitras was a woman who did not need him for anything. She could afford the best care and doctors for her pregnancy the same as he could. She would have highly qualified help with day-to-day care in her homeland.

But what she hadn’t realized yet was that they were so damn good together. There was something between them, a small spark that could be more. And they had the children to consider.

Rather than insist she stay, he’d convince her. Which meant she was in for some grade A romancing. That was something he could give her that she couldn’t just find in a store.

He would win her the old-fashioned way. Because like hell if he was losing his children. Missing out on the lives of his offspring simply wasn’t an option. He’d make sure of that.

* * *

The next evening Erika still could not make sense of what had happened the night before. But no matter which way she spun Gervais’s actions in her bed last night, nothing made sense. She’d been so sure that he wanted her. That he felt that same sharp tug of attraction between them, but his decision to simply walk away and let her go to bed alone had left her surprised. Confused. Aching. Wanting.

He hadn’t mentioned the baby issue at all the whole day, then he surprised her with this dinner date, a night out in the city they called the Big Easy.

Draping an arm along the white-painted wrought-iron railing of the patio, her hand kept time to the peppy jazz music playing. She hadn’t realized her head nodded along to the trumpet until Gervais flashed her a smile.

Heat flushed her cheeks as she turned her attention away from the very attractive man in front of her. She pushed around the last bite of her shrimp and andouille sausage, a spicy blend of flavors she’d quizzed their waiter about at length. Every course of her meal had been delicious.

Attention snapping to the present, she caught a whiff of something that smelled a lot like baked chocolate and some kind of fruit. Maybe cherries, but she couldn’t be sure. All she knew was that her senses were heightened lately.

As were her emotions.

What was Gervais up to with this perfect evening? Was he trying to charm her into changing her mind without discussing the logistical fact that he still moved too fast?

Setting her fork down, she inclined her head to the meal. “Dinner was lovely. Thank you.”

His dark eyes slid over her. One forearm lay on the crisp white linen tablecloth, his tanned hand close to where hers rested. He made her breath catch, and she felt sure she was not the only woman in the vicinity who was affected. She liked that he didn’t notice. That his gaze was only for her.

“I’m glad you enjoyed yourself. But the evening doesn’t have to end now.” His hand slid closer to hers on the table.

Her tummy flipped. Did he mean—

Standing, he folded her palm in his. “Let’s dance.”

She was relieved, right?

Oh, heavens, she was a mess.

She took his hand, the warmth of his touch steadying her as he guided her over to the small teak dance floor. Briefly they were waylaid by an older couple who congratulated Gervais on the Hurricanes’ win the day before. But while he was gracious and polite, he didn’t linger, keeping his attention on her.