CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

“ K ate!” Vincent walked through the royal wing calling to his mate, his voice echoing in the vast space because of the high ceilings and marble floors.

Soon they’d have a little Moretti running through these historic halls. Would it be a male or female?

Vincent smiled to himself. He didn’t care, but he privately hoped it was a male. He was so protective of his queen, he couldn’t imagine how terrified he’d be about a little princess out in the world without his eyes on her twenty-four seven. Maybe those stories about princesses kept in a tower weren’t such a bad idea after all.

No male was going near his little girl.

Ever.

“Kat—!” he boomed, stopping once he reached the baby’s room and saw his queen standing over the large white bassinet. She was still staring down into the layers of luxurious linens.

Vincent stepped in and looked around the spacious room. It was filled with a bunch of white furniture, a large nursing chair, and piles of stuffed toys. It all just looked like baby stuff to him, but even he could see there was a theme going on here.

Bears.

On the white walls were framed images of bears in different poses. Cute, he guessed, not that he was an expert in these things. To his left was a bear cushion, next to it a pile of stuffed bears, and the mobile hanging over the bassinet was a mix of stars, moons, and—you guessed it—bears.

Great, the kid was going to grow up with either a fear of the animal or an obsession.

“Think we should throw in a giraffe, or at least a tortoise in here?” he asked, rubbing the back of his head.

Kate turned, one of her hands resting protectively over her stomach, and frowned.

Wrong thing to say, obviously.

“What’s wrong?” he asked, stepping toward her. “If you like the bears, that’s fine.”

Kate shook her head.

“Truly, bears whatever.” He shrugged.

“You are a frustrating male, Vincent Moretti,” Kate huffed and began to walk past him, out of the room.

“Is this about the black outfit? Because you cannot wear things like that to an ops meeting, Kate,” he said, wrapping an arm around her waist before she could get any further. His grip was gentle but possessive.

“And you cannot put your queen in prison,” she growled, then dug her nails into his arm.

He hissed. “They let you out an hour later.”

“They ignored their queen’s orders! That’s unacceptable.”

“King trumps queen. You know that.” He couldn’t help the smirk as he pulled her back into his arms. He knew Kate; they had been mates for a very long time. “I can’t have you wandering around the castle in outfits like that. Not with unmated males present.”

“As if anyone would dare look at me or act on their desire. I’m the damn queen, you fool.”

He sighed. “I don’t care. You are my mate. My pregnant mate.”

Kate let out a groan and thumped her head against his chest.

“Darling, soon we will have a baby in our arms, and you are going to be the most amazing mother,” he said, kissing her head. “I promise he, or she, will be worth all this frustration. It’s not forever.”

She nuzzled into his chest. “I know. You’re right. My pussy is just so wet all the time.”

His cock hardened, rock fucking hard, and shot up like a damn rocket. “Stop.”

“It flinches and aches to be filled by you,” Kate continued, need thick in her voice. “No matter what I try, nothing satisfies me.”

“Kate,” he warned.

“Maybe if you just put your mouth on me. You have such good control.”

She began to move out of his arms, and suddenly, she was naked. Vincent looked down and saw her robe floating to the floor.

Goddamn it. The sneaky witch!

“Or my breasts in your mouth,” she continued, purring. “Just take one nipple; that might be enough.”

Like fuck it would be.

Vincent gulped as Kate began rolling her dark pink nipple between her fingers. Her warm pussy rubbed against his thigh, and he could feel her heat through the thick denim of his jeans. He could scent her.

He clenched his eyes, and as he did, Kate reached between them and ran her hand over his hard cock. Then her fingers were on his lips. Desire roared through him as his tongue slipped out and tasted the sweetness that was his queen.

I shouldn’t...

His resolve snapped. Vincent picked her up and teleported them to their master bedroom. He placed her on the bed, spread her legs, and slammed his face to her soaking pink flesh.

“Yes! Fuck. Yes! ” Kate cried out.

“Goddamn you,” he mumbled as he lapped at her delicious juice.

Circling his tongue around his queen’s needy core, Vincent pressed two fingers into her. He held one side of her hips as she arched off the bed. It didn’t take long before she was crying out his name. And then a second time.

He knew with his mate, once wasn’t enough. Kate had more in her, much more.

“I swear to God, Vincent, if you do not get inside me right now, I will fly home to the United States and have the baby there.”

He glared at her. “You will not!”

“Yes, I will. And you will not stop me.”

The determined and dark look in her eyes told Vincent she had finally run out of patience. Never had she threatened to leave him. As king, he could ban her, but he wasn’t a stupid male.

Well, not that stupid.

Vincent knew if he took that stance with his mate, there would be irreparable damage to their relationship.

Sure, locking her in the prison had been risky and a bit dumb. Though he’d found it a bit funny, and over the years, they had played power games with each other, so it wasn’t too far from their private antics. Yeah, he knew she’d be pissed, and in the past, the make-up sex would have been totally worth it. He’d lost his mind over the baby, and he knew it. When Brayden had gotten in his face about it, he’d considered he might be overreacting.

Vincent saw the moment she recognized his hesitation. She reached down and undid his fly. His cock sprung free, hard as a rock.

Oh God, yes.

She wasn’t the only one who had been suffering. Self-induced, for sure, but painful, nevertheless.

“Lie down,” he ordered, and she grinned, leaning back.

It had been hell for both of them.

He had stroked himself daily, but it was never enough. And goddamn those females for dressing his mate in all those ridiculously sexy outfits. He’d nearly come just watching her prance around their rooms some days, bending over with crotchless panties. And yeah, he’d heard her servicing herself with those vibrators.

Oh, and the porno movie one morning had also been a nice touch.

How he’d survived it, he didn’t know.

Vincent ran his hand up and down his cock, swiping his finger over the tip to catch the precum. He leaned over and wiped it across her bottom lip. When her tongue came out and lapped at it, he groaned along with her.

He took one nervous glance at her swollen belly.

“The baby is fine.”

“Then open for me, my queen,” he growled, fisting his cock, and pressed into her, inch by inch. When he was balls deep, he cupped her face. “I fucking love you,” he growled as he plunged his tongue into her mouth.

Then brought them both the pleasure and release they needed.

And fuck, it was good.