The Sheikh's Pregnant Wife - Leslie North Page 0,21

hers. “You’re tired. This is all a bit much, isn’t it?”

“I’m fine.” She kicked her smile up a notch. “Feeling wonderful.”

A sly smile curved the corner of Yaseen’s mouth. “We’re leaving.” He waved off the next person who wanted to talk, then steered her toward the doors. Kara was too tired to fight any more.

Yaseen couldn’t believe he’d taken so long to notice Kara’s fatigue. He’d slipped right into his public-facing mode, and she’d been right alongside him the entire time. They went directly back to the house, the driver going as fast as he safely could. He had to pay better attention. Kara wasn’t the type to look so worn out after only a few minutes.

“Tell me the next time it’s too much,” he said as he whisked her into his suite. “I’ll be watching, but you can always tell me.”

She smiled and shook her head. “I’m not going to interrupt your work like that.”

He took her chin in his hand. “You will.” Yaseen leaned down and pressed a gentle kiss to her lips. “That’s an order.”

Kara breathed a laugh. “Oh, you’re ordering me, now? Very bold of you.”

He let her tease him while he drew her a bath and helped her out of her clothes. He stripped out of his own and climbed into the massive tub behind her, letting her lean her head back against his chest. Her blonde hair dipped into the water, and he smoothed wet palms over it and worked shampoo into her scalp. He could imagine no better feeling than her body relaxing against his. Beneath the heat of the water, he rinsed her hair and took a washcloth made of the smoothest cotton. Kara closed her eyes and let him massage soap against her skin. His breath caught in his throat. Every inch of her was perfect, including the swell of her baby bump.

“This looks good on you,” he said, his body stirring with desire.

Kara smoothed a hand over it. “Does it? It feels strange, sometimes, to know there’s another person in there. But other times, it feels just right.” He caught the hint of a frown on her lips. “I’m a little worried about after he or she is born.”

“You’ll both be perfectly safe and cared for,” he promised. Their divorce wouldn’t affect that.

“I know we’ll be safe. But will we be happy?” She looked at him, cheeks rising with a smile. “The royal family expects so much. I don’t want that to overshadow everything in our baby’s life.”

He brushed a strand of hair over her ear. “I won’t let that happen.” A fervent heat grew until it encompassed his entire core. “I know the pressures of growing up as a prince. Things will be different with our baby.” He’d never felt so raw in his entire life. The words that spilled from him were from the hidden parts of his mind—the parts he never showed anyone. But they came easily for her. Along with a twist of fear. Risk, his mind warned. It’s a risk to let her see you this way. One day, they’d be separated, and she’d have seen him at his most vulnerable.

Well, so what? Kara was the mother of his child. He let his worries dissolve into the bathwater and turned her carefully so that she straddled him.

Kara drew her fingers down the side of his cheek, leaving cool trails in their wake. Her eyes flickered down between his legs, and a pleased smile lit up her face. “What’s this?” She reached into the water and gripped his length in her hand. “Is there something you want?”

“You.” He pulled her down and kissed her again, pulling her closer. Kara rocked her hips forward, but he stopped her with one hand, teasing at her clit with his thumb. “I want you to come first,” he said, and watched as her face reddened and her eyelids fluttered shut. He stroked the silky center folds of her and pushed two fingers inside. “If you’re not too tired.” He pressed his lips to her collarbone. Kara shuddered and clenched around his fingers.

“I’m wide awake, Yaseen. Don’t stop.”

Yaseen did not stop. He made her ride his fingers until she came again, then drew her onto his lap so he could kiss her while she rode him. They moved together until his legs cramped up underneath him on the floor of the tub and he lifted her out in arms, taking her dripping to the bed. Yaseen threw down a towel, spread