was already opened. I glanced inside to the fantasy land before me. It looked every bit like a scene out of one of his gothic heavy metal videos, which, of course, it was. There was black iron throne with purple velvet cushions. In the corner was a black piano, ancient by the looks of it, covered in half-melted purple taper candles in an ornate iron candelabra that looked like a dragon. Incense filled the room, an exotic spicy blend that tickled my nose. Guitars of all kinds lined the walls. Scarves in purple and black covered the lamps, creating a colorful glow on the room. On the other side of the room was sound mixing equipment, which showed that he was, indeed, working on his music. He motioned for me to follow him over to the piano, where he sat on the cushioned bench. He stared up at me until I joined him.
I watched his long, strong fingers caress the piano keys as he began to play. He watched me as he urged music from the instrument. “Night is the best time to create,” he murmured. “You can get rid of all the noise.”
I nodded as if I understood.
“Let me see your hand,” he said.
I hoped he couldn’t see how I shook as I held up my hand. He covered my fingers with his as he placed them on the keyboard. Sound emitted from my fingertips, echoing around the room.
“Wow,” I breathed.
“Wow,” he agreed as he consumed me with the intensity of his gaze. He guided me to play as he studied my face. “You hear that?” he murmured softly. “It’s a heartbeat.” He changed the note, using my fingers to play. “It’s a living thing, already there. You just have to uncover it.”
I gulped. His fingers were causing my nerve endings to catch fire. We sat so closely I could feel the heat rising from his body, his bare chest close enough to touch. And yet, he was as far away as the moon. He played for a moment, reaching around with his other arm, until he guided both hands to play. He was so close I could feel his breath against my neck. It was all I could do not to bolt from the room.
Is this what he thought? That I had shown up at near midnight for a booty call?
Where was he in February? I bet he knew how to operate a condom.
I was a mess by the time he ended the song. “And you said you couldn’t play,” he smirked, which was my undoing.
“I think you’ve got the wrong idea,” I said, scooting back a little.
“Oh? And what idea is that?”
“I didn’t come here for this,” I said, gesturing to the piano.
“Good,” he said. “Because I only did that, so that I could do this.” Before I knew what was happening, his hand was cupping my face, pulling me in even closer. Suddenly his mouth was on mine, warm and commanding, nudging my lips apart so that he could take complete possession.
For a second, I couldn’t think straight. What the hell was happening? I had come here to tell the Duke I was pregnant, and now this … this prince was kissing me? At what point had I fallen into a fairy tale?
And maybe it was because it was a fairy tale that I kissed him back, if only for a moment. But then I pushed away and escaped from the piano bench. I kept my back to him because if I turned around, I might have flown right into his arms. I heard him rise from the bench, so I hugged myself tightly to keep control.
“I’m sorry,” I said, then cursed myself. “I mean…,” I started again, but then I felt him turn me around to face him.
“No, Peaches. I am sorry.”
My eyes widened as I stared up at him. He was apologizing to me? What was happening??
“That was not how I wanted our first kiss to go,” he said, pulling me closer.
I held my hands up against his chest. His amazing, hard, satiny, muscle-y, yummy chest. I had to jam on the brakes but quick. “I’m pregnant,” I found myself saying.
He stepped back, clearly grappling with this strange new development. “I’m afraid you have me at a bit of a disadvantage,” he finally said. “I never imagined hearing those words from a woman before I’ve slept with her.”
Before. What a word. I took a deep breath. “I just found out myself. It was…,” I