His hand left my belly and came to my face, his thumb sweeping my cheekbone when he remarked, “This I find surprising.”
I tilted my head to the side on the pillow, “You do?”
“Yes, for my princess doesn’t act like a princess.”
I let out a small giggle then informed him, “I’m the new and improved kind of princess.”
“Right,” he muttered, his mouth twitching.
God, he looked hot when his mouth twitched like that. Then again, he always looked hot.
I wondered if I’d ever think differently and decided I would not.
Not ever.
Not ever.
I sighed happily and when I did, I realized I was exhausted.
So I asked, “Are you going to let your princess sleep? I had a long day, danced all night and this kid is beginning to take it all out of me. Yesterday, I fell asleep right in the middle of reading to Clarabelle. Aggie had to peck my hand to wake me up.”
“No, I’ll not be letting my princess sleep,” he answered and I blinked at him.
“You’ll not?”
“No, love, you’re a princess. You can sleep all day.” His head dipped, his face disappearing in my neck. “Your prince gets your nights.”
“Tor –”
He nipped my earlobe and commanded, “Quiet.”
“Tor!” I snapped.
His lips moved to mine, he kissed me hard, deep and sweet and I was quiet.
Oh well, whatever. He was right, I was a princess. I could sleep all day.
So I rolled him to his back and then I kissed him.
My prince’s strong arms got tight around me and he kissed me right back.
Epilogue
Commotion
Nine months later…
I heard the commotion outside, my head came up from the book I was reading and I saw Clarabelle holding my sleeping, dark-headed three month old son, Hayden Noctorno Hawthorne of the House of Hawthorne, heir to the Kingdom of Hawkvale and the city-state of Bellebryn.
I totally dug my son’s title as any proud mother of a future king was wont to do.
I saw Clarabelle’s head tipped to the side and her sightless eyes were aimed at the window facing the sea. My eyes went there too but I could see nothing but emerald green waters and large galleons floating.
The commotion was coming from the street which was on the opposite side of the house, a location we could not see.
Aggie hopped excitedly on my knee and I looked down at him.
“Chirpity, chirp, chirp,” he said which meant, “Something’s happening, Cora.”