I felt the floor disappear under me as I heard Amber’s words.

A baby? My baby? After what I had just witnessed at the orphanage, I needed a stiff drink. But now I needed the whole bottle.

A kid? She was pregnant? I hadn’t seen or heard from Amber in over two months, our relationship having been volatile to say the least. I had gotten tired of her constant hinting about marriage and becoming a princess, kicking her to the curb with her raging at me the entire way. But now she was here, claiming to be pregnant. Shit.

“You’re pregnant?” Rose asked, her eyes wide with surprise as she looked at me. I wanted to deny it, to scrub away that look in her eyes that said I’d fucking failed her and had proved to her that I wasn’t anything but a screw-up. But I couldn’t. I had slept with Amber more times than I could count, and not all of them sober enough to prevent pregnancy. She had always said she was on the pill, and I had taken her word for it.

“About twelve weeks,” Amber replied, her hand caressing my chest. I wanted to remove it, but I was rooted to the spot, not able to even form words on my thick tongue. Instead I watched as a range of emotions scrolled across Rose’s face, feeling every bit the asshole I was touted to be.

Instead of running screaming for the hills, Rose shifted her attention to Amber, her eyes narrowing. I half expected her to grab the Amber’s hair and swing her about the room, the thought bringing a small grin to my lips. Hell, I wanted her to do it. For once in my damn life, I wanted someone to fight for me. Just me. Not because I was a prince, but because I was me.

“So,” she started, crossing her arms over her chest. It made her magnificent breasts shift upward and I felt the stirring of my cock in response. I didn’t understand this effect she had on me, especially at a time like this, but I couldn’t say I didn’t like it. In fact, it felt pretty fucking fantastic. “Twelve weeks? That’s pretty interesting considering Edward was gone for a whole month around that time.”

“Well, you know they aren’t always entirely accurate,” Amber shot back, her hand tightening around my waist. “Besides, Edward and I were just taking a break anyway. We are destined to be together.”

I covered my laughter with a cough, taking the opportunity to step out of her grip. God, Amber was deluded. If she was pregnant with my kid, I was going to take care of it. I wasn’t, however, going to be with her… my father would truly disown me then.

“Regardless of what your intentions are,” Rose continued, looking amused now, “there is no immaculate conception that I know of since Mary. You were gone on holiday during that time, weren’t you, Edward? I seem to remember something about St. Tropez and you getting in trouble for exposing yourself on a certain beach?”

I cleared my throat, giving her a grin. I was going to owe her dinner and an extra grand or two for this. “I believe I was. Remember, Amber? You didn’t want to go to the seaside because of that fashion show.”

“That wasn’t the same time,” she said tightly, her anger barely simmering under the surface. I had seen that look many times. “Remember, Edward?”

Rose smiled then, clasping her hands in front of her. “Well, if you insist that the dates aren’t completely accurate, we will have to ensure that every precaution is taken to prove that this is the prince’s baby after all.”

“What are you talking about?” Amber asked, some of the earlier bravado no longer in her voice.

“DNA testing,” Rose said. God she was awesome. “You know there are ways to test while the child is still inside the womb. I’m sure the royal family would want to know if you are carrying a potential heir.”

“I-I don’t know why that needs to happen,” Amber stammered, looking at me with pleading eyes. “We were in love, me and Edward. This baby was a product of that love.”

“Honey, even my sperm isn’t that good,” I remarked, seeing the fury reflect in her eyes. “Go pawn your child off on someone else.”

The resounding slap that followed didn’t even sting as much as I thought it would as she brushed angrily past me and out the door.

“Ouch,” Rose responded as she watched her go. “That’s going to leave a mark.”

I started toward her, a grin on my face. She took two steps back until her back hit the wall as I raised both my hands and blocked her in between my arms. “God, you are bloody brilliant.”

“I try,” she said with a shrug. “I did my due diligence when I decided to accept this job. I had to know what I was letting myself in for. You were all over the front pages about your exploits at the beach.”

“Shit, I thought I’d fucked up big-time,” I said softly, leaning down until our noses were mere inches apart. “I was ready to start buying bloody diapers. I owe you Rose, really.”

“I-it was nothing,” she replied. I looked down at her lips, the lower one beckoning me to capture it between my teeth. I could smell the vanilla scent of her hair, see the unusual colour of her eyes as they watched me with some concern. I didn’t know what she was thinking about; maybe she had the same idea running through her mind, but there was only way to tell for damn sure. I wanted to kiss her, I had to.

I dropped my head and brushed my lips against hers, feeling her shock. Internally I was struggling to keep my control as I brushed them again, tasting her cherry lip gloss.

She made a little sound in the back of her throat, and I took full advantage, capturing her lips with a moan. It took her all of two seconds to respond to my kiss, her lips moving sweetly and hesitantly under mine. Her hands gripped my shirt and held me there as I lazily kissed her, keeping my hands on the wall though I wanted to grip her, as well.

One touch and I would not be able to let go. No, I was going to stay in control. I was going to kiss her and nothing more. I nipped at her lower lip and she gasped, giving me full access to her mouth. My tongue swept in and I was lost in the warmth of her mouth, the way her tongue cautiously stroked mine as if she was just as lost as I was. I reluctantly forced myself to pull back, a streak of need shooting through my body as I took in her dazed expression, the reddening of her lips from my kiss.

For a long second we just stared at each other, as I wondered what was going through her mind now. Was she feeling the same rush of need, of heat through her body as I was, or was she going to bolt, and run for the hills because I had shown my true colours once again? Finally she cleared her throat and directed her attention away from my intense gaze.

“I said I wouldn’t sleep with you,” she breathed.

“Yes… I said nothing about kissing you.” I dropped my hands, stepping back with an unsteady need to pull her against me. “I’m sorry,” I said softly, not sure what to do or even what to say. Shit, I’d gone and ruined it, hadn’t I? Like I always did.

“No, it’s okay,” she said automatically, pushing away from the wall. She looked rattled, as she’d just been in a car crash, and I felt like I had molten lava burning through my veins. I was ready to do it all over again.

There was a subtle cough behind me. “Maybe the privacy of your residence would be more suited to this conversation, sir?”

I turned around to find Jim staring at us with an amused expression on his face. “I, yes. Of course.”

“Oh god,” Rose breathed, but instead of going towards the lift she headed for the exit. I swore and grabbed her arm, turning her around to face me. Panic was in her eyes, and I felt like the asshole all over again. “I’m sorry,” I said again, my hand flexing on her arm. “I didn’t plan on that to happen. Let’s go upstairs and talk about it. Or we can forget it even happened?”

“Just let me go,” she said, pleading with me. “Please.”

“Rose?”

“Edward, let me go,” she said firmly.

I released her arm and she escaped through the door, leaving me standing there watching her.

“Bravo, sir. You truly blew that one.”

I turned to look at Jim and scowled. “Fine timing you have there.”

Jim shrugged and pressed the button on the lift, motioning with his hand. “Just looking out for you, sir. There are cameras everywhere these days.”

Didn’t I fucking know it.