Because now she knew therewassome hidden Achilles’ heel to him. Was it her? Was it anger? She didn’t know. The only thing she knew for certain was that for a year she’d held back. And when she finally hadn’t, she’d gotten what she wanted. Because she wanted this baby with all she was—regardlessof him.
But he was still a factor, because she wanted to touch him. And she was done pretending she didn’t. Done holding herself back.
Like Jonet had said back at the cabin, now it was about whatshewanted.
So she stepped across the space between them, moved to her toes and pressed her mouth to his. Just because she could. Just because she wanted to.
She’d come back with no promises. Which meant this return was like…a fresh start. Not the clinical agreement they’d made when they’d married. No, she was someone else now.
So this time around, she was going to take what she wanted.
And for one sweet, blissful moment, he kissed her back with suchdesperationshe could almost believe he’d missed her as she’d missed him. That there was something between them—an emotional connection they could work through, they could grow and tend to. Believe in.
A moment, aflashof that hope and joy, but he locked it down and away quickly this time.
His hands curled around her upper arms, and then she was being pulled away. Put back. His gaze was hard, even if she could see the unsteady rise and fall of his chest.
“You will behave yourself now that you are home, Ines.”
It made her angry, but there was something more than anger now. She looked up at him, feeling like crying. Why would he kiss her like that and then push her away? Why was it all push then pull? Why did none of it make sense?
“I don’t understand you.”
For a moment, so clear and intent, she saw exactly why in his eyes.
For a strange, disorienting moment—likely for both of them—she saw clearly that he didn’t understand himself.
But that was quickly swept away, into ice and distance and control.
“Get your rest, Ines. Your food will be up shortly. Try not to run away again. It will not be tolerated a second time, particularly while you carry my child.”
Mychild. How did he pull her in two totally different directions? Love and affection andcarethat he didn’t know himself, that he tried so hard to be good. And a cold, cutting fury that he could say things like that to her.
Mychild. When he hadn’t even wanted a child. He’d wanted anheir, until he hadn’t needed one. And then he’d…cut her off. Cut himself off. And she could believe that it was this simple. He didn’t want her.
But hedid. He kissed her like a man starving. The way they’d come together, angry and wild, those months ago was not an uninterested man.
It was a tortured one.
The way he strode away now, quick and purposeful, was a bit like a man chased bysomething.
So maybe it was that… It wasn’t the child, the pregnancy. It was her. Hewantedher but didn’t want to. Hefeltthis thing between them but wanted to control it.
Because it was uncontrollable. Because it was unpredictable. Because it did not fit into the neat little order of his life he’d created trying to be the antithesis of his father, the savior of his country and his people.
But he was Alexandre, so he didn’t understandmiddle ground. He had been raised by a monster, and while he had somehow turned out good in spite of it, he didn’t understand his own humanity.
Which meant Ines knew what she needed to do now.
Chapter Seven
ALEXANDRE IMMEDIATELY WENTback to work once he’d ordered Ines a tray of her preferred morning snack.
He hadwantedto track down the doctor who’d checked out Ines and demand to know every detail. It seemed a better action item than standing there cataloging all the ways her body had slightly changed in all these months.
Better than wondering how he’d lost control of all this and wanting to beg her forgiveness for wrongs hehadn’tcommitted.
Because he was a king, and he was right.Shewas in the wrong. No matter how at ease she seemed witheverything, down to growing a child.
