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Her shrug didn’t quite hit the mark. ‘I don’t know,’ she floundered, ‘maybe because you said you preferred me to be a blank slate?’
His face closed, and then he nodded. ‘I don’t want any surprises, but I also don’t want you to distress yourself over the question of your past.’ His eyes dropped to where she was rubbing her birthmark. ‘It’s a matter that needs to be resolved one way or the other. I wish it to be sooner.’
Because of the baby.
Her heart thudded dully inside her. Everything needed to be smooth so nothing disturbed any pregnancy, now or in the future. She wasn’t sure why the offer bruised her. She should be glad he was putting his considerable resources and authority behind the quest to find her past.
Still she shook her head. ‘There’s nothing to find,’ she said flatly, unable to rouse any enthusiasm for the task. ‘I asked the matrons at the orphanage for years and they had no clue what happened to me before I was found near that ravine. I was miles away from civilisation and no one came forwards then or afterwards. It’s a waste of time.’
His lips compressed. ‘With respect, I have a little more clout than your matrons.’
She nodded. ‘I know, but I still don’t want you to waste your time.’
‘Because you are afraid of further disappointment?’
A burst of anger propelled her to her feet. ‘What’s that supposed to mean?’
‘Calm yourself, Niesha,’ he warned silkily.
‘You’re doing it again,’ she snapped.
His eyes narrowed. ‘And you’re getting agitated. It’s not good for your condition.’
She laughed. ‘What condition? We haven’t even verified that I’m pregnant yet,’ she exclaimed wildly.
‘But you know. Don’t you, Niesha?’ His voice was like the softest, most potent magic, weaving its wa
y through her as he caught her by the shoulders. ‘You know you’re carrying my child.’
Helplessly, she swayed against him. ‘Our child. It’s ours.’ She had no past to claim, but this...this she would claim.
He captured her chin, propelled her gaze to his. The stark possessiveness that gleamed in his eyes stopped her breath. A heartbeat later, his hand dropped to splay over her flat belly, and his chest expanded in a long inhalation. ‘Indeed, it is ours. And we will both make its well-being our priority.’
There was something so final in those words that she shifted on her feet.
‘Enough fretting,’ he commanded thickly without raising his voice. ‘Stay.’
Perhaps it was the electrifying effect of this touch, or the deep timbre of his voice. But she stilled, unable to look away from the gold depths as he gazed down at her.
His eyes raked her face a moment before he swung her up in his arms. With quick, sure strides he went down the wide hallway into the master suite. She thought he would leave her there, and her pulse rocketed wildly as he drew back the sheets and joined her in bed.
But all Zufar did was press a kiss to her forehead before drawing her into his arms. ‘I’ve cancelled our appointments for the day. You will rest until Dr Basim returns.’
A part of her wanted to protest at his high-handedness. But really what was the use? He was the King. And she...she was cocooned in warm, powerful arms, her thoughts already beginning to drift away, as if reacting to his directive. With a sigh, she snuck her arm around his waist, rested her head on his shoulder and let her senses succumb to nothingness.
She would need her strength for when Dr Basim returned with further disappointment and heartache. Until then...
* * *
She was pregnant. Of course she was.
Zufar’s seed had most likely taken root on their wedding night. Her heart sang wildly with a mixture of joy and apprehension as she listened to the doctors’ instructions on how to take care of the royal baby in her womb.
She glanced at Zufar as the doctors rattled on about vitamins and healthy eating. Besides the initial gleam that lit his eyes, his face was an inscrutable mask. As for her, she couldn’t stop her gaze from darting to the briefcase Dr Basim had brought with him.
It stood beside his chair, offering dangerous hope she couldn’t stem.
A noise echoed through the room. When Zufar’s eyes narrowed on her, she realised it’d come from her.
