Poppy almost felt a rush of relief to be reminded of that and at the same time she felt a lurch of disappointment. She pulled her hand free. She was tempted to ask what would happen when it burned out but she didn’t have to because she knew. Caius would go back to his life and pick up where he left off and leave her to get on with the running of her country.
He’d pay lip service to the marriage for five years and then he would divorce her and she would be a single parent. History repeating itself, except she vowed not to put her child through a whirling door of stepfathers.
The thought that something different could exist, somethingreal, hovered in the air like a shimmering, delicate bubble for a moment and then the air was pierced by a sharp, strident sound, making Poppy jump.
Caius cursed and apologised, picking up his phone, which had been lying on the table. ‘Sorry about this, it’s Cass. I told her I needed to talk to her. I want to tell her about the baby before the press release goes out.’
Poppy waved a hand. ‘Go ahead. I should probably check in with Stephen.’
Caius stood up and went out into the garden to take the call, his voice deep and warm. She felt jealous for a moment, of his sister for making him sound so warm. She was pathetic.
Poppy ignored his instruction to leave the plates and cleared up, still a little stunned that Caius had put together a meal.
She went back up through the chateau and into her private office, a pretty bright room during the day and cosy in the evening. She messaged Stephen to check all was OK and got back a voice note.
All is well here, everyone is still buoyant after the wedding. How are marital relations? Have you succumbed to his wicked charms again? I know I would—
There was the sound of Stephen’s partner in the background. ‘I am here, you know, in the room.’
Poppy smiled. Stephen went on to say that they were ready to push the button on the press release announcing the pregnancy. They knew that there would be no disguising the timing but at least this way the gossip would be less lurid if they were already married. Poppy took a second to think and then sent back a text message.
Go for it, send out the release x P
She threw the phone down and sighed. This was it, no going back. She’d made her bed and she would have to lie in it. Her skin prickled hotly at the thought of lying in Caius’s bed again.
She longed to be the kind of woman who could feel confident enough to be waiting for Caius in his bed, but the thought of him returning to his room and seeing her there and looking at her as if she was not welcome had her making her way back to her own bedroom.
She washed and got changed and into her nightclothes, the silk vest top and shorts. She caught sight of herself in the mirror in the bedroom and turned sideways. The bump was definitely growing. Those little flutters kept coming and going. She put her hands on it, unable to stop a small smile.
‘That’s what you were doing last night.’
Poppy looked up into the mirror to see Caius reflected behind her, standing in the adjoining door between her room and his.
‘I did knock,’ he said. ‘But you’re engrossed.’
Poppy felt breathless. ‘It’s hard not to be, it’s such a strange sensation.’
‘May I?’
Poppy nodded and watched as Caius came in and stood behind her. She looked up at him in the mirror. He was so tall. He came right up behind her and he pulled back her hair, so it lay behind her shoulders.
‘You’re beautiful,’ he breathed. ‘I don’t know how I didn’t see it.’
His blue gaze tracked down over Poppy’s body. Her hands dropped away as he slid his hands around and put them on her belly. They were so big, they covered every inch of the burgeoning bump. Warm. Turning her blood molten.
‘Can you feel the butterflies now?’
Yes.But not from the baby. She shook her head. ‘It’s stopped now.’
Their eyes met in the mirror. Blue and green. She looked very pale next to him. His hands moved upwards, pushing the silk vest up, until he cupped her breasts. Between Poppy’s legs a pulse throbbed and she could feel the moist rush of desire.
‘Look at yourself.’
She tore her gaze away from him to look and her legs nearly buckled. Her breasts overflowed Caius’s palms. Fingers trapping her nipples. She looked so…bountiful, sensual.
He squeezed her flesh and she could feel his erection pressing against her. ‘You still want me…’
He smiled in the mirror. ‘Yes, Poppy, I still want you.’ The smile faded. ‘Right now, I can’t imagine not wanting you.’
