I lifted her up again, set her further on the bed, and managed to lie down with her. This wasn’t the most comfortable position, but I had to admit it was nice to have her in my arms.
Just a few minutes and then I would be able to maneuver my way back to my room.
“Don’t leave,” Royal whispered again.
She had to be talking in her sleep, though I had to wonder what she was dreaming about since she kept repeating don’t leave.
There was so much I didn’t know about Royal.
One thing I was learning right now was her body fit perfectly against mine. Even being nine months pregnant.
The fact she was pregnant should have made me run for the hills, but it didn’t. I not only wanted to protect her, I wanted to make sure the baby was safe.
They both needed someone to be there for them, and deep down, I wanted to be that man.
The problem was, Royal didn’t even want to be in the same room as me unless she was sleeping.
I needed to figure out how to change that, but I didn’t even know where to start.
She whimpered in her sleep and then sighed.
Maybe this was my in.
I was her punching bag before, and now, I was her pillow. She may be unconscious, but it was an upgrade.
Baby steps.
*
Chapter Nine
Royal
“He was in my bed, Bristol.”
Bristol turned from the stove. “What are you talking about?”
I held my coffee cup in both hands and sighed. “I woke up this morning and Marco was there.”
“In your bed?” she asked.
I nodded.
“Naked?”
“What?” I gasped. I looked around to make sure no one was around to hear us. “Of course, he wasn’t naked.”
Bristol turned back to the stove. “Well, you said he was in your bed. I guess I just jumped to him being naked with you.”
“I wasn’t naked either. I was still in my clothes from yesterday.”
“So how did he get into your bed?” she asked.
That, I didn’t know. The last thing I had remembered was watching Golden Girls and listening to Greer and Bristol giggle about Meg and Alice stories.
“I don’t know. How did you get to bed?” I asked.
Bristol shook her head. “I didn’t. I woke up in the recliner.”