Page 29 of Out of Office Nights (Royals of Cartana #2)

Sabeen felt as if she was outside of herself, hearing his words fall. Hitting her like vicious little darts. Some poisonous enough to weaken her legs, others striking her heart with… elation ?

He lunged forward and caught her before she even realised she’d sagged dangerously. Her arms flailed, then latched onto his strong arms…because of course they did. Quickly dropping them, she stepped back, bumped into the table and scrambled further.

‘Easy,’ he warned, his voice stiff with suppressed emotion.

A hysterical little snort escaped her before she could check it. ‘Easy?’ She swiped her hands over her eyes, in a vain effort to calm herself. ‘I feel like I’m in a damn wood chipper.’

Did he flinch? She shook her head, still rocked to her core that the slip hadn’t even occurred to her. She’d been so busy craving when she could slide into his arms next. When she could have him inside her once more.

His eyes narrowed. ‘You can’t use this as one of your conditions to leave if that’s what you’re contemplating. There can’t be any doubt that the child is mine. I’m sure you’ll work out why.’

His meaning fell into place instantly. Eden and Azar. ‘You think I’m going to somehow become an amnesiac and forget who impregnated me—if indeed that’s even remotely on the cards— and live obliviously in some metropolis with your child for two years?’

Cynical humour twisted his mouth. ‘Emulating my brother’s and Eden’s journey would be most unoriginal, and you and I are far from boring.

That said, I intend to mitigate any chance of misplacing you by not letting you out of my sight.

I haven’t forgotten that you fell off the radar recently. That’s not going to happen again.’

The sensation of walls closing in on her, where she’d only last night felt a rebirth, dredged disquiet through her heart.

The idea that he was merely covering his bases, ensuring he knew to the second what their recklessness had produced, squeezed a vice around her heart.

‘And if I say no?’ she threw out, desperately testing turbulent waters.

Maybe she knew what it would achieve. Maybe she even secretly craved that primal reaction. Because his face turned to beautiful, forbidding stone, quicksilver eyes zeroing in on her with feral intent that sent shivers dancing over her skin.

‘You’re welcome to do as you please, of course. But it won’t come as a surprise that the likelihood of you carrying my heir won’t be one I’m going to be blasé about until we know one way or the other,’ he finished with gritted teeth.

She dragged her gaze from his, recalling the steps he’d gone to find her in Morocco when it was merely his collection on the line. She wasn’t foolish enough to believe she could just swan off while the possibility of carrying Teo’s heir was up in the air.

The enormity of this new situation bore down on her.

How could this be another chapter of history truly repeating itself in three generations?

Except…just like her mother and grandmother before her, she couldn’t find it in herself to feel shame or regret.

Both women had proudly claimed the children they carried.

So would she. The image of her grandmother’s chair made her heart squeeze.

Because she knew that if she was alive, her jida would’ve stood by her, given unwavering support if she turned out to be carrying Teo’s child.

Teo’s child…

A helpless moan escaped. Hands closed over her arms. Opening her eyes, she was compelled to look into silver ones.

‘The fire isn’t done destroying the baggage weighing you down. It’s probably wise not to make hasty decisions.’

‘Are you saying without you, I won’t make it?’ she challenged.

Expecting a harsh yes , he surprised her by shaking his head.

‘Of course not. Your strength alone will see you through. But am I interested in waiting for that to happen in your own sweet time? When I’m not guaranteed you won’t reverse all the progress you’ve made?

’ He shrugged, an eloquent expression of dismissiveness that cut her deep.

But she knew he wasn’t as aloof about this as he was projecting.

Besides this new development, at the very least he had a vested interest in seeing her collection finished.

And damn it, so did she.

Besides, she wasn’t ready to let this go, even though the faint ticking of a countdown clock at the back of her mind warned her that end was coming. Possibly sooner than she was ready for. That, again like the women before her, she might have to do this alone.

Her face flamed when she saw where his attention had moved to the hand she’d dropped to her belly.

Where his child might be growing.

‘When will we know one way or another?’ he rasped, his deep voice rumbling through her with more force than a jet engine.

She scrambled to recall dates and a fresh consternation washed over her.

She couldn’t have been in a more opportune window if she’d planned this to the second.

Her teeth sank into her inner lip as a worrying thought struck.

Surely, he wouldn’t think she’d planned this?

Examining his face, all she saw was grating impatience as he waited for her response.

‘My period isn’t due for about ten to twelve days. ’

He stared hard at her, then his nostrils flared. ‘You’re in your most fertile window?’ Was his voice deeper? Thicker?

Her face flamed hotter. ‘Yes,’ she muttered. His eyes stayed fixed on her. Until she fisted her hand in a bid not to visibly squirm. ‘Teo.’ She couldn’t tell if she was warning or pleading.

This time when his gaze dropped to her middle, it stayed. Seared. ‘How do you feel?’

‘Not pregnant, if that’s what you’re asking,’ she forced out. Then grimaced. ‘Sorry. But this might turn out to be a non-event. Till then—’

‘You wish to put it to the back of your mind, pretend like it doesn’t exist until it becomes an issue?’ Before she could reply to his acid tone he ruthlessly continued. ‘I need an answer, Sabeen. Will you stay?’

The lack of the familiar barked command threw her for a moment, adding to her confusion. Then the Pavlovian response kicked in nevertheless, pushing her to give him what he wanted.

Which in turn disturbed her greatly, because it turned out that even after this bombshell revelation, what Teo Domene wanted also happened to be what she wanted.

It would be almost parasitic, except at every turn she’d also ended up…

fulfilled. Sated without trickery. Sated in a way she’d never been before. Professionally. Emotionally. Sexually .

In a mere handful of days, Teo Domene had turned her inside out in ways she could never have imagined she could be transformed.

And as he watched her with that almost sardonically smug expression, she wanted to go against the grain. Summon up a firm no . But who was she kidding? In this moment, besides her grandmother’s house, with Teo, there was nowhere else she wanted to be.

‘I’ll think about it,’ she hedged.

His nostrils flared with clear displeasure, but again he surprised her by nodding. ‘I must return to the palace. I’ll be back for dinner. As my guest you have free rein of the residence. If you need anything, Fernando will be around to provide it.’

Expecting him to leave immediately, she watched him hesitate at the door. Perplexity flashed on his face before he inhaled deeply and said, ‘Come with me.’ He held out an imperious hand.

‘Why?’ she asked warily.

‘There’s one more thing to show you before I go.’

Curious despite herself, she followed him up the grand staircase then down the long hallway to the opposite wing to the master suite.

Again he paused before the tall double doors then swept them open.

The room was easily twice as big as her grandmother’s entire house. Her feet propelled her to the centre, where she spun slowly in wonder.

A designer’s dream workshop, with a wealth of fabrics, six workbenches, mannequins and an entire wall dedicated to some of Teo’s most celebrated designs. She’d mistakenly believed that his treasured workshop was in Milan, but this felt…special.

‘I didn’t know this was here,’ she murmured then frowned. ‘You didn’t mention it when I was making Eden’s trousseau.’

‘Because very few people know this studio exists. And fewer are granted access. Or so I thought,’ he muttered darkly.

‘Why?’ she asked before she could stop herself. ‘And why are you showing it to me at all?’

That curious bewilderment flashed across his face once more. Then he shrugged. ‘You showed me your grandmother’s chair. This place is my equivalent,’ he said, his voice rough and raw.

Perhaps it was a sweetener to keep her exactly where he wanted her. Or Teo exposing another layer of himself. Either way, her heart lurched, her emotions frantically scrambling not to bubble over.

‘Use the space as you see fit.’ Striding to a workbench that turned out to be automated, a switch lit up the whole table.

‘Place your sketches here, and they’ll be converted into a 3-D version, and you can continue creating from here…

’ A flurry of instructions followed, most of which only half registered.

She’d remained old-school with her designs because it was a custom of her grandmother’s she’d wanted to honour. But this, Teo letting her into his inner sanctum, showing her a part of himself others rarely saw…

‘Thank you,’ she whispered, the near-terrifying sensation of brimming with too much emotion choking her again. ‘Teo—’ She stopped when, with a perfunctory knock, the doors swept open.

Valenti Domene filled the doorway. His gaze passed briefly over her and the studio before settling on his twin.

‘Everything okay?’

‘Why shouldn’t it be?’ Teo asked.

Valenti didn’t answer. The two men watched each other, peculiar expressions weaving across their faces. Twin-speak. After several moments, Valenti nodded gruffly at his brother, his dark silver gaze moving over her before he turned.

‘Thanks for checking in. But maybe next time use one of the many phones you’ve got next door?’ Teo teased a little tensely.

‘I would if I was sure you’d answer’ came the grouchy reply as Valenti left as abruptly as he’d arrived.

‘What was that all about?’

Teo shrugged. ‘It’s not every day I find out I might become a father. My emotions are somewhat…amplified.’ The edge had sharpened, shards of bitterness cutting through his voice.

‘And he felt that too? Does that happen often?’ she asked, stunned.

‘Very rarely. So it’s…meaningful when it does.’

Her heart did that dipping thing again, her eyes desperately searching for a sign that this wasn’t all a proprietorial claiming.

That she mattered in this too.

But his gaze was efficiently shuttered when it raked her face before he nodded. ‘I’ll see you later,’ he said crisply.

Then he was gone, taking the very air with him. Leaving her amongst his most treasured creations.