She’d called her cousin Amara, who was one of LaQuan Smith’s favorite clients. The famed designer from Brooklyn had talked to her for a few minutes and within a week had sent her sketches of dress ideas. She’d picked a bodice from one, a silhouette from another, and before she knew it, she’d had the final product hand-delivered by the designer himself.
As she stared at herself in the large antique mirror in her walk-in closet, she was amazed by that man’s talents. He had managed to create an off-the-shoulder, sweetheart-bodice, short-sleeved gown that hugged her curves and made her look like one of the Greek muses, with a chiffon cape to boot. He’d also managed to make it out of some sort of magical material that was stretchy, but elegant, so it would still fit in the eventher growing baby decided to add more inches to her already protruding waist.
The design was magnificent, but the bloodred color was very much giving sexy goddess. And she knew from experience that as soon as Aléx got her alone, he’d peel it off her like a second skin.
That thought warmed her until she thought about what was likely to happen the moment she’d undoubtedly fall into postcoital sleep. He’d sneak out of bed and walk down the hall and spend hours in that room.
Before, those visits were infrequent. They occurred enough that she was still concerned after she’d tried to sneak into the room herself without success. Now, it seemed the closer she got to delivery, the more his visits had increased. At this rate, with four weeks to go before her anticipated delivery, he’d probably move into that room instead of sleeping with her.
It was all so confusing. Aléx was the most attentive person she’d ever had in her life. He anticipated her needs before she even realized she wanted something.
Like the time he noticed her rubbing her back when she woke up in the morning. She’d hardly had time to realize the weight of the baby was starting to pull the muscles in her back. The next thing she knew, he was bringing her a C pillow and a belly brace.
Though she hadn’t worked in her lab since they’d discovered she was pregnant, she did still go to her office to further develop her formulas and meet up with her marketing team. When she returned to the palace tired with aching feet, he’d be waiting on the sofa with a pillow at one end, patting his leg until she placed her feet in his lap.
For a man who hadn’t done much manual labor in his life, he sure as hell knew how to rub a foot. Within minutes, the aching in her soles melted away, and she was relaxed enough to fall into a dead sleep.
Then there was the time her sister told him he had to fulfill her food cravings or it would mark the baby. In response, he’d had a mini-fridge and freezer moved into their bedroom so he could satisfy her butter pecan cravings more readily. She’d tried to tell him that was a Black wives’ tale, all superstition and no fact. It hadn’t mattered. He’d done it anyway, because she was giving him the greatest gift. The least he could do is make sure she had the ice cream the baby seemed to have an addiction to.
Goodness, he was so damn caring, and yet he still kept her at arm’s length when it came to whatever was going on in his head. One moment, she’d think they were crossing that imaginary line he’d drawn between companionship, care and love. The next, he’d firmly shut the door on her, letting her know she would never truly be part of his inner circle.
Talk about emotional whiplash. Add to that her pregnancy hormones, and she was on an emotional roller coaster the likes of which even Vivian Green couldn’t fathom.
“Your Majesty, it is time to don your crown.”
Regina turned around to find Janice, a tall young woman with auburn hair that she kept pulled into a tight bun. She was one of the personal staff members Aléx had assigned her. She found Janice to be pleasant, courteous, and above all, punctual. So if she said it was time for her to get the diamond-encrusted headband secured to her head, Regina needed to sit at her vanity and have it placed now.
Aléx chose that moment to enter their bedchamber. He was dressed in what she’d come to know as his king’s uniform: a black tuxedo with a cape attached at his shoulders. The breast pocket of his jacket was adorned with military and royal insignias, and his red sash tied his regal look all together, making one breathtaking picture.
He carried a velvet pillow in his hands that held a full diamond crown with what looked like the largest, clearest rubiesshe’d ever seen in her life. When he stood beside her, she had to fight the instinct to run her fingers across it. Yes, she wanted to touch it, but it was so beautiful she couldn’t bring herself to dull its brilliance with even a partial fingerprint.
She looked up at Aléx, trying to recognize the look on his face. His features were straight, but beneath the polished look, she could see his jaw ripple and his eyes brighten with hope.
Hope for what? She couldn’t discern.
“This isn’t the same crown you presented to me when you introduced me to your court.”
“No.” His voice was thick as if he were trying to fight the emotions simmering just beneath the surface from breaking through. “This is the crown made specifically for my mother’s coronation. It would thrill me to no end if you’d agree to wear it tonight.”
She was about to speak when she saw Janice’s reflection in her mirror. What Regina had to say was for his ears only.
“Janice, would you please excuse the king and me?”
Janice gave a quick bow of her head before she disappeared, leaving no trace that her presence was ever in the room.
When Regina looked at the crown again, a lump formed in her throat. Forgotten was its physical beauty; she was too overwhelmed by its sentimental value to be concerned with that.
“You want me to wear this?”
“I do.” He gifted her with his million-dollar kingly smile, and she wanted so desperately to get lost in it.
It would be so easy if she could just accept that Aléx couldn’t love her. He’d told her that from the very beginning. But every time he did something thoughtful and caring for her, her stupid heart just wanted to dive headfirst in love with him.
“Shouldn’t your sister wear it? She’s Queen Carisse’s daughter.”
He placed the crown down on top of her vanity, then stood behind her, placing his hand firmly on her shoulders as he looked at her through the mirror.
“Do you not want to wear it?”
