Page 93 of Kings & Queen

“I mean, we have the house to ourselves.”

She shrugged, handing me my shirt. Grinning, I had to acknowledge she was right. With a wicked grin, I threw it on my bed and reached for my pants.

“I can’t wait until you are home with us again. You have no idea the plans I have for you. So many plans.”

“And what, you can’t do them here?” she teased.

“There’s no playroom here, malyshka, and I’ll most definitely want to acquaint you with all of my wicked desires.” I nibbled her neck as we made our way to the dining room.

Renee’s eyes held a twinkle. “I’ll let Chef Bonfils know you are ready for dinner, Master Nik,” she said with a quiet laugh.

“Did you commandeer my mother’s maid to help you seduce her son?”

“I may have.” Kinsley winked.

“Shameful. My mother would clutch her pearls in shock at the very thought.”

“Umm, yes, well, we should talk about that. I mean, it is her house, and she has the right to lay down rules, you know.”

“Quiet that pretty little mouth of yours.”

“What is the difference between your bed, your rules, and her house, her rules?”

“You’re pushing it, aren’t you? I suggest you keep that opinion closed up inside that devious little mind of yours. Tell me, how is wrapping my father around your finger going?”

She glared, seemingly offended. “I’m not at all attempting to wrap your father around my finger. He happens to be a very intelligent and thoughtful man.”

I followed her into the dining room. The usual clatter and hum of a full house were absent. Just quiet, save for the muted shuffle of our footsteps and the faint clink of cutlery already set in place.

“Uh-huh. I know. He’s also a sucker for a bookworm. Side note, my mother wants grandchildren. Perhaps if you struck up a conversation about your deep love of children and your desire to birth her some grandbabies, she will—”

She took the seat I held out, her eyes lingering on me. I moved to sit beside her. “Who said I have a deep love of children? And trust me, she’d put me on the first flight out to Paris. That’s what she’d do.”

Suddenly, the spark of mischief in her eyes dimmed, replaced by a studious expression. Her lips pressed into a thin line, and she drifted mentally. She was so easy to read—one of the things I loved most about her.

“What is that look for?” I asked.

“We should all talk about this whole coming inside of me thing. We’re probably safe. Typically, I ovulate around…” She looked like she was doing some mental math before adding, “But it will be tricky next week.”

Her ramblings clearly weren’t meant for me, but once I caught on, I frowned. In every scenario I imagined with her, it included children. Mine and theirs.

“Are you telling me you don’t want children? Perhaps we should table this conversation until all of your Kings are present and accounted for,” I said, growing serious.

“We can’t table it for much longer. I’m afraid this week was your and Alek’s last deposits.” She grinned as her cheeks flushed crimson.

Her comment made me laugh hard, and the huge smile that graced her lips faded. She put her hands on her hips as she grew solemn. Her brows, which had been relaxed and carefree a second ago, furrowed.

“I’m serious. You laugh all you want, but when these legs are closed next week, you’ll know exactly how serious I am.”

Reaching across the way, I grabbed her hand and pulled her from her chair and into my lap. “These legs will never be closed to me nor my brothers,” I growled. I caressed her bare thighs to soothe the rough way I spoke. “You belong to us completely, unequivocally, and if it was nonnegotiable, you should have put it on the list.”

She grew even more serious than before. A warmth spread through my chest. Those deep feelings I’d tried to pass off for too long clutched me in their grasp.

“Nik,” she breathed my name, laying her head against my shoulder. “I can’t get pregnant. I’m leaving. I’ll barely be treading water emotionally once I have to leave you all.”

Tears gathered in her eyes, and I pulled her close and rubbed her back.

After a few minutes passed, I changed the subject. “I hear you and my father discussed Dante’sInferno. Care to share your thoughts?”