Page 75 of Breathtaking

Meatball barks outside the bedroom door, yanking me back to reality the second time I wake up today. My face is plastered against Maddox’s chest, andoh God, there’s drool. Fucking pregnancy.

“Knock, knock.”

I lift my head and look at my dark prince. His eyes are closed, but his face is tight with annoyance. He’s not sleeping. At least, not anymore. “Why is my sister here?”

“How should I know?” I ask, realizing we should probably put clothes on.

Damn it.

“I can smell the sex out here, people. I know you’re in there.”

Oh. My. God. Kill me now.

“Go away,” Maddox yells before he kisses my head and grabs his boxer shorts, then winks. “You know she’s not giving up.”

His words sound annoyed, but his smile is everything.

I hope our baby has his smile.

He crosses the room and cracks the door. “What are you doing here, Caitlin?”

“It’s your wedding day, big brother. Now get pants on and get out. You’re getting ready at Mom and Dad’s while we beautify your bride. Grace and Everly are downstairs with a glam squad, and the photographer should be here soon.”

I roll out of Maddox’s side of the bed, looking like what I’d imagine a small beached whale looks like, but manage to avoid being seen. “Just let me shower, and then I’ll be down.”

“Just shower. We’ll set up in here,” she yells back before I close the door.

I turn on the water and step into the shower before Maddox joins me with a grin. “I figured we could conserve water.”

“I like the way you think.” I hand him my shampoo with a genuine smile.

Something I never thought I’d have on my wedding day.

* * *

“Stop fidgeting, Lennon.” Grace lectures as the makeup artist applies my lip stain. “You don’t want pink teeth, do you?”

“I’m pregnant, and the baby is practicing his jetés on my bladder. What would you like me to do?” I grouse, having been stuck in this chair for what feels like hours. “I have to pee.”

“Have you no social graces?” a voice asks from the door, and I push away from the chair and throw it open. “Princesses do not pee. They relieve themselves of the royal piss.”

I throw my arms around my brother and cry as he lifts me from the floor. “Atticus... You’re here.”

He puts me back down and runs his hands over my bump. “We are. We just got in. We needed to make sure it was as close as possible to the wedding, so we didn’t blow it in time for Dad to cause a scene.”

“We?” I look behind him and absolutely destroy my makeup in one giant sob. “Rhys... You can’t be here.” I take both their hands and ignore everyone in the room as Grace and Caitlin shoo them out. “You?—”

“Would never miss your wedding day.” Rhys wraps an arm around me and rests the other on my belly. “You look beautiful.”

“Well, she doesn’t now. Stop crying, Lennon,” Caitlin laughs as she hands me a tissue. “Blot. Don’t wipe.”

“Guys, this is my Maddox’s sister, Caitlin. And you remember Grace.” I listen to Cait and blot while she blushes. I’m betting she had a poster of one of them on her wall at some point, based on the look on her face. This is hilarious.

“It’s nice to meet you, but now you have to calm her down. We’re leaving in less than an hour, and you need touching up,” she scolds. “Back in the chair.”

I do as I’m told but can’t stop staring at my brothers, unsure they’ll ever understand just what this means to me. Just what this will show the world. “Grandfather is going to be furious with you.”

“Let him be,” Rhys says, unbothered. “I’ve done everything he’s asked my entire life. I’ve dedicated myself to Mornea and him. But this is for you. If he has a problem with it, the crown can go to Atticus.”

---