Page 113 of Wanted

I gazed at the beach ahead of us. “I’m telling you that I’m more concerned about your well-being than fucking you. We might be Katantian, but we’re still human.”

“Then, there’s the fact that I can’t bear your children anymore.”

“Do I look like I want kids?” I asked her.

Taken aback, she cocked her head. “You can’t be serious.”

“Very much so.”

“But what about the throne?”

“I have two siblings in happy marriages that can produce heirs,” I reminded her. I couldn’t deny the love I felt for those kids even before I ever met them. We’d teach them like my mom taught Kamila. I’d never put them in harm’s way.

“Last year, you wanted to fill me up with your come, though. You wanted to see me carry your kids. What’s changed?” Her voice trembled, and I wanted to terminate the doubts that ate at her.

“Everything’s changed.” I ran a hand through my hair. “Sure, a pregnant you would’ve been splendid. Look at V. The baby’s making her bitchier than usual, and she’s actually fun now? Besides the fact that her husband’s in intensive care… What I mean to say is, I’d rather have you and no children over children and another wife. I never had any family plans. I fucked you, and it was an interesting concept to impregnate you. It’s not the end of the world that it won’t happen. You’ve got more shit to deal with than to worry about my inflated ego. If you’re with me, I don’t need anything else.”

“We’ll have this conversation again, you know,” she mumbled. The words barely left her mouth. “Until it all settles down, and I’ve started to cope with what has happened, I’ll drive you crazy with my outbursts.”

Mandy started shaking, and I handed her my jacket. The wind was cruel, urging us to step inside the house. I didn’t want to go in there. As much love as I felt when I was younger in this home, it was destroyed now. My family was a mess, and everything in those four walls reminded me of a time long lost.

“Touch me.”

She gasped. “Excuse me?”

“I’d never joke about you touching me. I want to prove a point. Touch me.”

“Where do you want me to touch you?”

“Where do you think?”

She shifted in her seat next to me, wincing. Fuck, I hated that I couldn’t do anything to help this pain she couldn’t escape. Every move she made reminded her of the surgery, of what she’d lost so suddenly. We were in constant communication with the doctors. There was almost daily physical therapy. I monitored it all, willing to spend every dime I had to make her feel better. But there were things that I couldn’t buy. I couldn’t buy her inner peace. “Are you trying to embarrass me? I’m not in the mood right now.”

I reached out, grabbing her hand. Carefully, I led it over my lap.

“What do you feel?”

“I told you. I’m not in the mood.”

I knew. Fuck, if I knew. I let our entwined fingers trail across my hard length. “Can you feel it?”

She gulped down her pride. “Yes.”

“I’m hard for you. I want to do things to you... If you had a peek into my brain right now, you’d be terrified. All I can think of is how once you heal, I’ll never fuck you with a barrier ever again.” Her hand froze. My thumb rubbed the back of her hand. “I don’t want you to fear me. I’m not touching you until you give me the okay. Your doctor needs to approve. And... If you want, I’ll never touch you again. I’ll live with it. Your happiness and safety are my priority.”

“I can’t make any promises, Weston. I don’t feel like myself right now. I might never go back to who I was.” It was my turn to flinch when she applied a small amount of pressure on my erection. “This is great. Thank you. But I don’t have any urges right now. I feel... I feel so empty.”

She jerked her head to the other side, hiding her blushing face from me.

Moving quickly, I knelt in front of her in a matter of seconds. I kept my hands entwined with hers, laying still on her lap now.

My eyes searched hers. “Look at me.”

After a moment of hesitation, she glanced my way.

I told her, “I want to be there for you. Let me help you. Don’t shut me out. I have zero expectations—”

A thud from inside forced me to rise from my kneeling position in front of Mandy. Spooked, she glanced at me. “What was that?”