Page 19 of His Bride

She rains little kisses all over my jaw as she nestles closer. “If everything goes well, our little person will be born nextspring.”

Our little person.Ours. Will they have her reddish gold waves? Her freckles, her serious mind, her quiet, but fierceloyalty?

Or will they have my fire? Will we clash the way I did with my parents growing up? Will I remember to be as gracious as they were, encouraging me to find my own footingpolitically?

“What are you thinking?” Ellie asks as she slowly spins around to straddlemyhips.

I take a deep, dragging breath and lean my head back as I look her through hooded eyes. “How I’ll handle it when we have a difference of opinion withourkid.”

She smiles. “Probably not a concern for the firstwhile.”

I give her a lopsided smile. I’m drunk on the news that she’s pregnant. Totally tipsy with joy. “Maybe.”

“This time next year, we’re going to be so sleepdeprived.”

“I can’t wait.” I tighten my grip on her. “I mean it. I’m going to do all the night wakings. All thediapers.”

“We can share that responsibility.” We share another smile, and she looks at the food. “Can Ieatnow?”

I hold her sandwich plate for her while she eats. I’m not growing a baby, I don’t need the sustenance in the same way. And I’m too excited to eatrightnow.

Iwant…

I want Ellie. I realize with a start that I’m hard as steel, my erection throbbing between us. The adrenaline rush of the moment has faded and in its place is a dizzying, druggingdesire.

She realizes I’m hard soon after I do. She slows her final few chews, then twists and picks up her tea cup. My delicate Sprite. Her body is going to change and bloom because of me. Because of what I’ve donetoher.

She takes a last sip of tea, then sets her cup down. She holds a silent pause there before turning back to me, heady awareness zingingbetweenus.

“How do you want to celebrate?” she asksquietly.

“Insideyou.”

She nods and slips off my lap. She stands in front of me, carefully stripping away the layers between us. I hold her naked every night that we’re together, but it’s been too long since we’ve done this. The day to day running of the prime minister’s house doesn’t allow for the absolute privacy I’d need to demand Ellie be naked for me allthetime.

But I want that. I crave it, actually. We’ll need to make more time for this as our lives get busierstill.

When she’s fully nude, I spread my legs wide and hold out my arms, inviting her back into my lap. I smooth my hands over her body, warming her up as I figure out what I want todonext.

Maybe I’ll do nothing. Just hold her like this and let the anticipation build, before I carry her upstairs and spread her out onourbed.

“May I ask you aquestion,Sir?”

I smile at her unnecessary, but arousing, deference. “Of course,Sprite.”

“Are you worried abouthurtingme?”

“No.” I kiss the side of her head. “I know you’restrong.”

“Okay.” She eases into my embrace and I stroke her back, her side, her hip and onto the flanks of her thighs. I squeeze her flesh and hold it, and as she starts to tremble—being so good, and holding so still for me—I reward her with light taps. Stinging, ouchy little slaps that make herskinpink.

I think back to my conversation with Max—and how this might change as our baby grows inside her. I imagine her belly curving between us now, and slap the outside of her thigh a bitharder.

Her leg shakes from the effort of staying put. I pat her skin. “You can put that one down ifyouwant.”

She whimpers as she drops her foot to the floor, spreading her thighs. “You just want to mark up the insides ofmylegs.”

I sweep my hand up to her slippery pussy and graze my thumb over her clit, making her jump. “You want me to dothat,too.”

---