Page 4

Pace snorts. “So dumb.”

Lex clears his throat. “As I was saying, novaginalsex. Not yet. She needs a few more weeks of healing.”

Wicker tosses the magazine aside and perches on the edge of the sofa, a relieved gleam in his blue eyes. “So licking the Princess’ pussy is back on the table.”

I look hopefully to Lex. “It is?”

Wicker answers thoughtlessly, “Of course, and obviously handjobs and blowjobs.” This perks him right up, eyes darting to my chest and then back to Lex. “Where do we land on titty-fucking?”

Lex gives a clipped, long-suffering sigh. “Sure, Wick,ifVerity feels up to it.”

Wicker nods, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. “Cool, but what’s the status on anal?” He doesn’t even flinch when my throw pillow slams into his face.

“I am right here, you know!”

“You’re alwaysright here,” he stresses, batting the pillow away. “It’s driving me fucking insane!”

I wrestle down the instinct to feel stung. Wicker has been forbidden to touch me since I came back from the hospital. Since Lex can’t sleep in my bed and Pace is too busy on guard duty to evencometo bed, Wicker and I are alone all night, every night.

Not touching.

Not kissing.

Just sleeping.

I can see it wearing on him just as tangibly as the lack of sleep is wearing on Pace, both of my Princes turning brittle in the mornings.

Lex runs his hand over his face. “Listen, nothing enters the Princess’ body for at least two more weeks.” He glares at Pace, who has been quiet through Wicker’s interrogation. “Nothing. That includes plugs, toys,andyour cock.”

Pace nods solemnly. “I heard you, brother.”

“And you’re okay with that?” Wicker’s tone is shrill with disbelief.

I’m nearly as curious because I know he misses sleeping with his cock buried in me. If I’m being honest, I miss it too, and at this point, it might be the only way to even get him to sleep.

“What is wrong with the three of you today?” Lex bursts, brows snapping together in frustration. “We all agreed long ago that the most important thing is keeping the baby safe. We need to put our dicks—” he pointedly glares at me, “—and ourclitsaside, and do what’s right for the pregnancy.”

Feeling annoyingly cowed, Wicker and I both keep our mouths shut. But it’s Pace who stands, walking over to press a kiss to my forehead. “I miss falling asleep inside of you.” He smells like he’s just taken a shower, clean and masculine, and when he grabs the hem of my shirt to push it up, revealing the swell of my belly, I’m not even surprised when he kneels to greet it. “I miss waking up and fucking you. I even miss doing it beside these two fucking headcases.” He looks up to meet my gaze as he brushes his lips against the curve of my stomach. “But it’s worth the sacrifice.”

Behind him, Wicker scoffs, muttering under his breath, “Baby-whipped freaks.”

“I miss it, too.” I run my hand through his silky twists before cupping his chin. “But you’re right.”

“Well, Princess,” he asks, looking up at me with his hands still cupping our baby, “what do you want to do with your new-found freedom?”

And there’s really only one answer.

“I want to see him.”

The corridor downto the dungeon seems darker than I remember. I clutch onto Wicker’s sleeve as he leads the way, haltingly, as if he’s reminding himself to go slow for my sake. A shiver wracks me as we meet the turn that leads to the cell I know all too well.

Instead, we turn left.

I can feel Lex’s presence right behind me, the ghost of his touch lingering warm against my shoulder. I can’t hear Pace, but I can sense him trailing us, his movements no more than a vague disturbance in the dusty air.

Wicker stops suddenly and I flinch to a halt, ears pricking at the sound of metal. A door swings open. The light beyond it is dim, but it may as well be the sun itself given the way my eyes burn to adjust.

“Careful,” Lex says, his breath caressing my ear. “There’s a step.”