Dirty Thief

Propping on my elbows, I look down at her beautiful face. “How old were you?”

“Too old for silly dreams,” she sighs. “When it would rain, Zelda and I had to find places to escape. She would go to the pool halls and learn cards and hustling. I would go to the library and read every book I could find.”

“Because you have no poker face,” I tease, nipping the curve of her breast.

Her fingers curl into my hair, and she lets out a little yelp. “It’s true,” she laughs. “I have no poker face. You would’ve known everything I was dreaming.”

“I want to know everything you dream.”

She trails her finger from my cheeks over my lips, and I watch as her eyes follow their movements. “I’d be selfish to want more than this.”

“Even so…” Pushing out my lips, I kiss her digit. “I want to know if you do.”

“I do want to thank you.”

“What for?”

Her finger moves to my cheek again. “Freddie helped me so much. I have really great leads for placing four of the orphans. I’ll share them with my team, and… What’s wrong?” She touches my brow, which I feel is lowered.

“Reggie said something today…” My jaw clenches. I’m furious at the council members criticizing Ava for her soft heart, her generosity.

Her voice cuts through the storm in my mind. “You’re really mad,” she says softly.

Leaning down, I kiss her shoulder. “It’s nothing you need to worry about. I’ll handle it.”

“Rowan…” She squirms beneath me, and I move to the side, allowing her to sit up in the bed. She pulls the robe around her body. “Tell me. Please.”

I exhale deeply. How can I say no to that?

“At some point, behind my back, the council discussed your work with the refugee children.” I can’t hide my frustration. “Since you’re the queen regent… They think your involvement puts us at risk.”

“But they’re practically babies!”

I sit up in the bed beside her, reaching a hand toward her soft lips. “I know how important this is to you. I know why it’s important to you. Don’t stop what you’re doing.”

Pink fills her cheeks, and she drops her face. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to screw everything up or embarrass you. I thought it was my job as queen regent…”

“It is your job to be charitable.” Reaching over, I gather her in my arms and pull her onto my lap in a straddle facing me. “Keep doing what you’re doing, and let me handle Reggie and the council.”

“I can’t believe Reggie would criticize me helping children.” She’s angry and adorable, and my earlier thoughts come to mind.

“There’s another part of our job as king and queen we’ve been neglecting.”

Sapphire-green eyes capture mine, and her slim brows pull together. “What else could they possibly—”

“Heirs.” Her expression goes from adorably furious to surprised in a blink. I can’t help laughing. “It’s time I did my kingly duty and knocked you up.”

“Rowan!” She sits back and looks around the room. She looks down at her lap. “I…” Her voice trails off, and her cheeks flush deeper. Could I possibly love her more?

In a dive, her arms are around my neck. She kisses my lips, my cheek. She hugs me before sitting back again, smiling and blinking fast. “You want to have a baby?” A hiccupped breath. “With me?”

“Are you crying?”

“No!” She touches her eyes. “Maybe. Just a little… Only because I’m so happy. I can’t imagine… I guess I should stop taking my pills.”

“I’ll ask Dr. Klein to stop by tomorrow.”

She cups my cheeks and kisses me. Her lips are soft, and I push them apart to find her tongue. Heat flares between us again, and I kiss the side of her jaw. “This part will be fun.”