It was hard to believe only a few days ago I had been in this seat staring at the landscape of Spain pass under the wing. Now I was watching Galona fade behind us as the jet soared toward the United States.

Elena had been on the phone all morning. I was irritated she hadn’t been freed up yet by another manager. I knew she was comfortable taking the reins, but it wasn’t what I wanted. I wanted her next to me, not working security logistics with the airport.

We had brought a palace detail along with Kurtis and two aides. It was a small entourage, but after careful consideration Elena and I decided the smaller our footprint, the better. There were plans to hire a full staff once we arrived on site.

She sighed, sitting next to me. “Ok. I think I have managed to explain to the head of security that we don’t need a full police escort through the city. They wanted flashing lights and a full parade.”

“Holy fuck, why?”

She shook her head. “Americans love it when you’re there. I politely declined the parade, insisting you didn’t want to disrupt the lives of the citizens of South Carolina.”

I chuckled. “No. I don’t want to disrupt.”

“But if you change your mind, they can’t wait to show off their new sirens. They will throw in one of their fire engines as well.”

I squeezed her knee. “Thank you.”

She leaned her head on my shoulder for a brief second. “You’re welcome.”

Liddy delivered tea and pastries. The china rattled as she set the brake on the gold and glass tea cart. Elena immediately straightened her spine and slid my hand from her leg.

“I brewed this for you, Your Majesty.” The flight attendant smiled widely. Her blouse was tight and her vest cupped her tits, forcing them upward.

“Thank you, Liddy.”

“I’ll have a cup as well.” Elena waited for a response.

Liddy poured a second cup and placed sugar cubes on the side of the saucer.

“Thank you.” Elena tilted her head. “I prefer more lemon.”

Liddy’s eyes widened. “I’ll bring some from the galley.” She sashayed out of view.

“And I thought you were uncomfortable in this role.” I eyed her.

She shrugged. “I am. But Liddy doesn’t have to know that. And I want that lemon.” I thought I saw a smirk on the corner of her lips.

We were far over the Atlantic now. In eight hours, we’d be on the ground and I’d be only miles from my daughter. The file Johannes had given me this morning was on the coffee table. I hadn’t let it out of my sight.

I unbuckled my seatbelt.

“What is it?” Elena asked.

“Come with me. I want to show you something.” I took her hand, leading her to the bedroom at the rear of the jet. I closed the door and locked it. I placed the file on the bed.

“Is something wrong?”

“No. But I wanted to show this to you in private.” I flipped open the cover and reached for the photo on top.

“This is her?” Elena pinched the corner of the picture, studying my daughter’s face.

“It is.”

“She’s beautiful.” She bit her lip. “I don’t know whether to laugh or cry, Cor.”

“I guess you could do both.”

I’d had the same reaction when I saw her. It was the first and only glimpse I’d had of her. Sophia had been cautious not to end up on social media. Johannes didn’t tell me how he obtained the photo, only that he vouched for it.

She took my breath away. Her tiny button nose and angelic dark curls. Her eyelashes were long and black. There was no mistaking her for a Marquis.

I’d never paid attention to babies before. I didn’t live in a world of parenthood. There weren’t children in the palace other than the annual Christmas party or when Alaric opened the grounds for the children of Freychon at the spring picnic.

My friends didn’t have kids, and if I ever saw myself as a father one day it was way down the road. But now with this snapshot of a life I had created, that had changed. I was certain this was the most beautiful baby in the world. My baby.

“How are you feeling about meeting her?” Elena returned the picture to the file.

“Nervous. Exited.” I sat on the bed. “Like I don’t know what the fuck I’m doing.”

“I can’t imagine what you’re going through. What it would be like to discover you had a child.” She shook her head.

I pulled her waist toward me and kissed her stomach through her shirt. I held her there, inhaling her.

“Sophia is going to regret cutting me out of my daughter’s life.”

Elena ran her fingers through my hair. “She shouldn’t have done it. There is no excuse for keeping you two apart, but listen to what she has to say, Cor.”

I unfastened a button, pressing my lips to her navel.

“Why should I? She stole my baby.”

I reached for the next button. I flicked it out of my way.

Elena’s hands moved to my jaw. I looked in her eyes.

“Maybe she didn’t feel safe after the problems with the press. She was shoved. It would scare any woman who was pregnant.”

I pulled the silk away from her skin and shrugged the shirt from her arms. I kissed her stomach. For an instant I wondered what it would be like if Elena was the woman carrying my child. I smoothed my palms around her waist, exploring her skin. What if my baby was inside her?

My cock grew hard. What if it could be? What if our first night together, she got pregnant? Had I ever fucked so hard in my life?

I reached around her, unclasping her bra. God. I loved her tits. They bobbed in front of me. I didn’t know which one to devour first. They were both so perfect.

I brought one to my mouth, sucking it, toying with it until she mewed.

“Ohh, Cor.” She feathered my hair and her nails dug into the back of my neck.

I sucked harder, lapping at her tit with my tongue.

I couldn’t shake it. The primal need to see my baby grow in her beautiful body. I knew we were getting ready to fuck, but I’d never wanted something so animalistic. It was the purest form of my bear—giving her my cubs. Claiming her. Here and now.

I brought her lips down to mine, kissing her urgently.

“Would you be scared, Elena?”

She wiggled out of her skirt, not taking her lips off mine. Within seconds her panties were in a heap on the floor too.

“Of what?” she asked.

“Of being pregnant.”

She stopped kissing me and stood still. “Pregnant?”

I nodded. I kissed her hipbone and nipped at her navel before making my way to the opposite hip.

She sighed. “You’re in the middle of baby fever. I get it.”

I shook my head. “No. I don’t think that’s it. Am I a baby fever kind of guy?”

She giggled. “I wouldn’t describe you that way.”

“We might have already done it.” I palmed her stomach.

“No. It was one night. And what are the chances a broken condom would lead to a pregnancy on our first night together?”

I growled. “I want my baby inside you.”

Her eyes flashed. “What?”

I circled her waist and lifted her to the bed, laying her on her back. I still had layers of clothes to shed. I was dressed in a full three-piece suit for the flight, but I never planned on wearing it for the entire nine-hour flight.

I spread her legs wide and kissed along her thigh.

“Can you imagine my baby inside you?” I asked, taking her delicate skin between my teeth. Her skin was so smooth and soft.

“This is crazy. We can’t. You can’t be serious.” She wriggled, rocking her hips lightly.

I crawled forward, shaking off my jacket. “Oh I’m serious. Tell me you haven’t thought about it.”

Her eyes traveled to a spot on the ceiling.

“Elena.”

“Ok. Fine. I’ve thought about it. But not right now. I packed my diaphragm and a backup. I’d never even think this was the right timing.”

I chuckled. “I appreciate your thoroughness, princess, but don’t you think we should do this?”

“Be parents? You haven’t even met your daughter.”

I sat on my knees and loosened my tie. I pulled it from neck.

“You used to fantasize about carrying my baby?”

She nodded slowly. “I did.” Her blue eyes sparkled. “I still do.”

“You might already be pregnant, princess. You’re not on birth control. I came five times that night. I think we have a good chance it has already happened.” My cock strained against my pants. Fuck. I had to get these off. Thinking of how wild we were the other night made me want to try everything a second time. “I’m asking if you want me to give you that fantasy. I’m asking if you want me to take every chance we have to make sure you’re pregnant. Do you want me to give you our baby?”

“Oh, Cor.” She breathed. Her tits tightened to pointy buds.

I lashed my tongue over them, kissing and sucking.

“Is that a yes?” I asked, finally getting my buckle unhitched and kicked my pants to the floor. I groaned when my cock hit the cold air inside the jet. It stood at full attention, hard and throbbing.

“Don’t you understand? I want to fuck you now. Tonight. In the shower. When we wake up. I want you pregnant. I want this, Elena. I want you. Forever.”

“What?” Her eyes fluttered.

“All you have to do is tell me you want. That you want all of me. I know you’ve accepted my demons. You did when no one else did. But can you accept the side of me that lives in the shadows? I think you can.”

“Of course I can, Cor. There is nothing you ever have to hide from me. Ever.”

I exhaled. I knew it was true, but I also knew this moment would be a complete shock to her.

“Princess, I have more secrets than you could possibly imagine. But there is one I can’t keep any longer because it’s about you and me. It’s about the babies I’m going to give you. It’s about the baby you might already be carrying that’s mine.” I stared in her eyes and let my fangs extend slowly. “I’m a shifter, love. A bear shifter from the royal line of Marquis. And for us to have a future I need to claim you.”

“Wh-what?” She wiggled backward.

“Tell me you want it. Tell me you accept my bear. Tell me to claim you. Don’t be scared. Open up to all the possibilities this gives our life.” I waited while she processed it. But she was exactly the woman I thought she was.

Her hand wrapped around my shaft.

She pointed the head to her opening. I seized at how wet and hot her pussy was.

“Fuck, baby,” I hissed. “Please tell me it’s a yes.”

“Yes,” she whispered. “I want your bear. I want to have your baby.”

I growled long and low.

And I knew I was going to fuck her like I never had. I would drink her honey and I would make her mine, sealing our union for eternity.