Everything about Cor was different the minute he slid into the car. He greeted me with a long slow kiss, wrapping his hand around my neck. I moaned when his tongue flicked over mine. I had quickly learned shifter kisses were the best.

“It went well?” I asked.

“Let’s talk when we get to the house.” He nodded forward at the window. Kurtis had the shield cracked.

“Ok.” I didn’t want to wait that long.

It was another forty-five minutes before the luggage was unpacked and the house was running like a royal summer home. Cor and I sat on the deck. One of the aides brought us a pitcher of sweet tea, a local specialty.

The ocean roared in front of us. The staff was inside preparing dinner. We finally had a few minutes to ourselves.

“Ok, tell me,” I pleaded. “What happened with Sophia? Did you see your daughter?”

He grinned. “I did. She’s perfect. The perfect baby. She has these dark curls you won’t believe.” He looked at me. “You get to meet her tomorrow.”

“I do?”

He nodded. “Yes. Sophia agreed to another meeting. We’re going to iron everything out. Adaline can’t just be ripped away from her mother.”

“Adaline?”

“Yes. Sophia named her after her grandmother. Yet another thing I didn’t have a say in.”

I held his hand. “I’m sorry you’ve missed so much.”

“It almost didn’t matter when I held her. It wasn’t for long, but when I held her, the responsibility hit me. I have to do what’s best for her. Fighting Sophia every step of the way, isn’t what’s right for Adaline.”

“Did Sophia say anything else? Did you get any answers?” I asked.

“I think she was fucking scared as hell. That’s what it comes down to. She didn’t want her daughter to grow up as a princess.” He shrugged. “But she has royal blood. My blood, Elena. She’s mine. A Marquis cub.”

“I know she is. I can’t wait to meet her.” I twisted my lips together. “So…”

“Hmm?”

“So…does that mean you told Sophia about us?”

He laughed. “You should have seen her face. I didn’t get into any details.”

“That’s ok. It’s not important.”

He tugged my hand until I had no choice but rise from my chair and climb into his lap.

“You are important. And what we’re doing is important.” He kissed my neck and I sighed. If the staff looked out the floor to ceiling windows they would see us.

“Cor,” I protested. “What about the other part of your blood line?”

He shook his head. “Not yet. One thing at a time.”

His kisses moved lower.

“Did you have fun on the jet today, Miss DuBois?” he asked gruffly.

“Which part are you asking about?” I played coy.

He pinched my bottom lip between his fingers. “When we came at thirty-thousand feet. I think you came twice.”

I blushed. “Three times?”

He smacked me on the bottom. “Today has been incredible.” He kissed me slowly. “We’re going to have a baby, aren’t we?”

I nodded. My body was quivering for him. I wanted him inside me now. “Yes,” I whispered.

“How long until dinner is ready?” he asked.

I looked through the windows at the crew in the kitchen. There were plates on the wooden island.

“Maybe five minutes,” I answered.

He reached to his zipper. “Then fuck me fast.”

“Cor, you can’t—”

But he freed his cock and slid my panties to the side. An instant rush of heat swept through my legs.

“I said fuck me.”

His eyes glowered and I trembled. There was something commanding and devilish when he let his bear do the talking. I lowered myself as he pushed inside me with a sudden fullness. I was sore and swollen. Every thrust was filled with fire and pain. I rode the blinding white light until I knew I was going to come hard.

I started to pant when his fingers moved to my clit.

“Come hard on my cock, dirty princess,” he groaned. “Come with that sweet wet pussy of yours.”

God, his dirty words did something to me. I moaned through one last jerk of my hips as the climax unlocked the electricity in my core. I muffled a cry in his shoulder as my body convulsed around him.

“You’re so fucking hot, baby.” He grunted again and again. “And you’re going to have my baby. I love fucking you.” His release shot inside me as I ground my hips into him.

“Ohh,” I moaned. “Ohh, yes.”

Cor kissed me and smiled. “I love you.”

I took his face with my hands. “I love you too.”

“Let’s eat so we can get in bed. It’s been a long day.”

I wiggled backward, feeling the empty feeling when his cock slid from my body. I straightened my panties under my skirt and stood. I looked up. No one in the kitchen had even looked in our direction. I was tempted to try it again. My hormones were in overload with baby talk. It was like they were on their own adrenaline program. All I could think about was having sex and making a baby with Cor. It was wildly romantic and erotic at the same time. I never imagined we would be at this place together in our relationship.

We had our own language. Our own intimate secret. And it was making me wild with desire every time he looked at me. So wild I wanted to give him everything he wanted. I couldn’t think of ever denying him. He needed to know that.

I yanked on his arm before we walked in the beach house.

“What is it, princess?” he asked.

I looked in his eyes. “I’ve made a decision about something. I’ve thought a lot about it.”

“More decisions today? We must be setting a world record.”

I shook my head. Maybe my timing was wrong. I had just misread the intimacy of what we just did in the deck chair. “It’s ok. Later. We can talk about it later. Maybe after dinner? Or tomorrow night? You’ve had a long day. And it’s totally off-topic.”

“No.” He tipped my chin upward. “What is it? You can tell me anything. Always.”

I bit my lip. “I was thinking…maybe it would be the smart thing…you know since I don’t know a whole lot about it…but maybe before I’m pregnant…”

“What is it?”

I sighed. “I think it makes sense. It would be easier I think.”

“Elena.” His eyes warned me to spit it out.

“I don’t want to be a virgin anymore,” I whispered. “You know where.” I turned crimson.

“Holy fuck.” He grabbed my hand. “Forget what I said about being tired. We’re not eating, and we’re sure as hell not sleeping.”

He pulled me through the door, but we passed the kitchen and the curious faces without stopping.

“Leave us,” he called as we traipsed through the living room. “Everyone out. You may close down for the night.”

“Cor,” I pleaded. I was trying to catch up to him in the hall. I tried to hide my laughter.

He turned, pushing open the bedroom door. “If I don’t get you in this bed now, the whole house is going to know what we’re doing. Believe me, you’ll be glad I told them to leave.”

I giggled, throwing my arms around his neck. He locked the door behind us and carried me to the bed.