5: A Bit Romantic

Jarren

 

“Prince Jarren, we must measure you for tomorrow’s event.”

           I looked up from the book I’d been reading to stare at Howard. He was delusional if he thought I was about to go to a fitting.

“I’ll find something,” I replied before turning my attention back to the book.

“But, Your Highness, the Queen has requested that-”

“I said I’d find something.”

He let out a deep breath before mumbling, “Her Majesty will kill me.”

           I held in a laugh as he exited the room. He was over-exaggerating. I never let him pick anything I wore to an event. He and my mother both knew that. I don’t understand why they thought it would change. I got back to my book and waited for Jillie to come back. She and Nunny were somewhere, probably in the garden. What they were doing was beyond me.

           I’d finished an entire book and was halfway through another one when I got tired of waiting. I closed the book and tossed it on the table. Walking out of the library, I walked through the many hallways. Where were they? I clenched my jaw, becoming slightly pissed off. When I found them, she was in so much trouble for being away from me for…I shook my head—damn testosterone increase.

           I did an about-face and headed to the medical room. I pushed the door open to find Reid as usual. He spent most of his time here.

“Prince Jarren.” He said with a bow.

“Reid. I need my shot.”

           I sat in one of the chairs while he prepared the correct dosage. I moved my head to the side as he positioned the needle at the base of my neck. He injected the medicine into my system.

“All done.”

My fangs extended and then retracted quickly. “Thanks.”

“I know that this may not be the best way to deal with this situation, and I know that the sensation of the medicine and sometimes the after effect isn’t all that pleasant, but I believe what you’re doing is very…romantic.”

           He was right. The sensation of the medicine wasn’t the best. At least for about an hour, but there was no way I could drink from Jillie with her being pregnant. I wasn’t about to put either of them at risk. As much as I hated this solution and missed her blood’s taste, I wouldn’t be selfish.

“Thank you, Reid. I try. See you later.”

“Bye, Prince Jarren.”

           I walked out of the room and almost ran into Xander. I didn’t even know he was here.

“Aren’t you early?” I asked.

“Eh, maybe just a little.”

“When did you get here?” I asked, heading down the hall.

“About an hour or so ago. I’ve been spending time with my cousin-in-law. Well, you know what I mean.”

“And where was she?”

“In the garden with Nunny.”

“What the hell are they doing out there?”

“They were just talking when I got here.” I rolled my eyes. “So…a baby, huh?”

I stopped and looked at Xander. “Yeah, a baby.”

“You couldn’t have waited until after you got married to knock her up?” He asked with a laugh.

“Shut up,” I responded, continuing to walk.

“I wonder if it happened the night we killed Leonard. She was pretty loud.” I let a low growl rip its way past my lips. “I get it. I’m just messing with you, but she was pretty loud.”

I rolled my eyes. “Don’t you have something else you could be doing?”

“Well yeah, but this is way more fun.”

           I ignored him and continued to head towards the garden. Sure enough, Nunny and Jillie were still out there. I walked over and sat on one of the benches. They were seated on a picnic blanket.

“What have you two been doing?” I asked.

“Just talking,” Jillie stated.

“Are you ready to go?” I asked her.

“Why do we have to go?”

“Because we have to get up in the morning and find you something to wear, and it’s already ten.”

“Fine.”

I grabbed her hand as she stood up. “Bye, Nunny.”

“Bye, Jilliannah.”

I leaned down and kissed her cheek. “Bye, Nunny.”

“Bye, dear. I will see you both tomorrow, correct?”

“Yes, ma’am. We’ll be there.”

           I led the way through the house and to the front door. Once outside, I opened the passenger door for Jillie before getting in on the driver’s side. I started the engine and drove the two minutes it took to get to my house.

“I’m going to go get in the shower,” Jillie stated once we were in the house and in the bedroom.

“Okay,” I stated, sitting on the bed.

She stopped. “You’re not going to join me?”

“Not tonight, Piccolo.”

“Yeah, okay.” She walked into the bathroom and closed the door behind her.

           I slipped my feet from my shoes and propped myself against the headboard. I closed my eyes. A month from now, we’d be married. We’d have a baby and maybe a new house several months from now. A few years from now, we’ll be ruling a world. Well, that sounded diabolical. So much was happening in such a short period. I made a mental note to ask Reid what he knew about cross-mix pregnancy and exactly how long they lasted.

           I was so deep in thought that I hadn’t heard the bathroom door open. Jillie came out with a towel wrapped around her body. I watched her as she walked over to the dresser, grabbed the things she needed, and headed back toward the bathroom.

“Where are you going?”

“To get dressed.” She stated simply.

           She closed the door behind her. I sat up as I caught on to the ridiculousness of her thoughts. Getting off the bed, I opened the bathroom door just as she was about to pull her shirt over her head. I took it and threw it on the floor.

“What are you doing?” She asked, putting her hands on her hips.

           I crashed my lips down on hers moving her hands from her waist and replacing them with my own. I picked her up and sat her on the bathroom counter. My lips moved from hers to her neck. I trailed kisses down her chest and between her breasts to her stomach before dipping my tongue in her navel.

“You are absolutely beautiful. Don’t ever think I think differently.”

“Then why didn’t you-”

“I needed to think about some things,” I stated, cutting her off. “I couldn’t do that in the shower with you. I would have been…” I trailed my gaze over her body. “Preoccupied.”

She smiled, wrapping her arms around my neck. “Allow me to preoccupy you now.”

“You really should get some sleep.” She pouted. “Let’s make a deal. Tonight you sleep so we can find you a dress in the morning and go to the charity event tomorrow evening, and tomorrow night, I’ll let you preoccupy me as much as you want.”

“Make it twenty-four hours, and you have a deal.”

“Deal,” I stated, molding my lips to hers.

           I picked her up off the counter and carried her into the room. I lay her on the bed before stripping out of my pants and shirt.

“Jarren, my shirt.”

“I’d rather you not sleep in it,” I stated, staring at her almond-colored breasts. “Actually,” I started leaning over her on the bed. “I’d rather you not sleep in these either,” I told her, motioning to her shorts before I ripped them. She let out a slight shriek. “That’s much better.”

           I climbed into bed beside her and pulled her to me. Her back was against my chest. I rubbed small circles on her stomach and spoke to her in Italian. After about ten minutes, her breathing evened out. I reached over her and turned off the lamp. Closing my eyes, I drifted into sleep.