Royal Elite: Leander (25 page)

Authors: Danielle Bourdon

Tags: #Control, #Exotic, #Cabal, #romantic suspense, #Spy, #Seduction, #Royal, #Contemporary, #Fiction, #Romance, #Passion, #action, #Intrigue

BOOK: Royal Elite: Leander

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“There's my big boy. Awake and hungry
again.
You've got an appetite like mine, son,” Sander said. He tucked the baby into the crook of his arm and sauntered back toward the others.

“You two will not start goading these babies into wrestling matches the second they can walk.” Wynn chided Leander and Sander with a smile in her eyes.

Leander chuckled, kissed his wife's brow, then straightened. Walking over to a side bar, he plucked a cold bottle of water from a mini-fridge and twisted off the cap. After a long swallow, he sat down in a chair adjacent to Wynn.

More than a year had passed since their wedding, a year of travel, wedded bliss and now a baby. Chey, having conceived right before Wynn (Leander swore the girls planned to try and get pregnant 'together'), gave birth to her third child mere weeks before Wynn. Looking ahead to the next year, he imagined Erick and Jeremiah growing up together and becoming as close as him and Sander. Maybe as close as him and Mattias. Life had been good, with missions tucked between travel that gave him the adrenaline rush he loved. Wynn hadn't complained like he thought she might, though he'd caught a few wistful, worried glances before he left or when he returned. He didn't begrudge her those feelings.

“What do you think, Leander? Should we retire and put him down for the night?” Wynn asked.

“We can. Are you ready to go?” Leander finished the water and set the bottle aside. They'd been visiting with the Ahtissari family for hours, spending quality time with the infants while the toddlers were fast asleep. Earlier in the week, Ahsan and Chayton had arrived for a two day stay with their significant others. As ever, Leander found it good to catch up with his brethren.

“I think so. I'd like to get some sleep tonight before tomorrow and all the chaos of gift exchanges,” Wynn said.

“We'll be here early, so feel free to come over whenever you get up,” Chey said, stroking Erick's arm while she leaned against Sander's side. She looked content, a lazy smile shared between Wynn and Leander.

“We will.” Wynn, with Leander's help, stood up from the chair.

Leander eased his son into his arms, cradling the baby with all due care. Sometimes he still couldn't believe he was a father. His protective instincts, strong to begin with over Wynn, had increased tenfold since the arrival of Jeremiah.

Goodbyes consisted of gentle hugs and cheek kisses. Leander heckled Mattias, Sander and even Natalia's beau—he didn't miss the sparkle of a ring on Natalia's finger, and decided he'd get the story tomorrow—before escorting Wynn out of the sitting room.

For the occasion, he and Wynn had taken up temporary residence in Kallaster castle. It was easier than combatting the vicious snow storms that had plagued the country for the last two weeks going back and forth between the castle and the cottage.

In short order, Leander opened the door to their suite, automatically extending his senses for signs of an intruder.

Some habits were hard to break.

He heard and saw nothing suspicious. Closing the door behind Wynn, he snapped the bolt over, then walked Jeremiah to the bassinet next to the bed. He nestled the baby into the confines, pausing with Wynn to stare down at the perfection of Jeremiah's tiny nose and chubby cheeks.

“We're very lucky,” Wynn whispered.

“I agree. He's a good baby.”

“I think he looks like you.”

“Really? He's got your darker hair though.” In all honesty, Leander couldn't make heads or tails of
who
the baby looked like with his wrinkled, pinched face.

“I think we should have another.”

Leander sent a startled look at his wife. “What?”

Wynn laughed. “Not right this second. But maybe in a year.”

“We'll see how we do with this one.” He pulled her against him, rocking her with tender care against his body. Then he plucked a kiss from her lips and went to turn the television on.

“Let's see how much snow we're supposed to get tomorrow.” Leander pulled his shirt up over his head as the news came on. Instead of the weather, which had dominated the news for weeks, there was an urgent report of an outbreak in the Congo. Three-thousand and fifty-two people dead. So far. According to the news anchor, it was the largest outbreak in recent years. Fears that it might spread worldwide had sent reporters into overdrive; every channel Leander tried was reporting on the crisis.

The first thing he thought of was his father. Of course. It was always who he thought of when he saw things like this. Could his father be the backbone of the virus or whatever had taken hold in the population? The one responsible for so many deaths, even if he hadn't physically released it into the open?

Leander turned the television off and glanced at Wynn. He could see the same thoughts reflected in her eyes. Maybe a little horror, too, as well as a new understanding of what he'd lived with most of his life.

Tossing the shirt aside, Leander flipped open the button on his pants, leaving the flaps hanging wide.

“Turn around. I'll get the zipper on your dress,” he said in a quiet voice.

Wynn glanced at the dark television screen, then his eyes. She turned around, giving him access to the back of the pretty, brocade dress. “If we can get a signal tomorrow, we should get your mom on the webcam and have another little session with Jeremiah. She enjoys getting to see him.”

In that moment, Leander couldn't have loved Wynn more. Rather than dive into discourse about what they'd seen on television, and what was clearly on both their minds, she deviated to save the mood from a certain downward spiral. He got his fingers on the zipper and buzzed it toward the low of her spine, exposing a wealth of silky skin. He put his mouth on her nape, eliciting a soft noise of pleasure.

“We'll do that. I've promised to fly her out, too, once the weather is somewhat cooperative. I hope you don't mind,” he said.

“I don't mind at all. My parents are coming again for two weeks as soon as the storms break.”

He laughed, breath brushing the side of her throat. The way she shivered tantalized him. “When were you going to tell me?”

“Soon-ish.”

“Soon-ish. You mean two seconds before they walked in the door.” He nipped the side of her neck, using his hands to glide the straps to the dress down her arms. Slow. He was in no hurry.

“Well. I've been distracted.”

“That's no excuse.”

“You're distracting me now, in fact.”

“Are you complaining?”

“Yes. You've missed a spot. Or two.” She touched the top of her exposed shoulder and a place just under her chin.

“I think I've missed a lot more than that. Let me fix it.” He spent the next several hours making good on his promise.

. . .

Born and raised in Corona California, Danielle now resides in Texas with her husband and two sons. She has been writing for as long as she can remember, penning works in a number of genres. To date, she has published twenty-one novels and nine short stories. Her interests vary wildly: reading, traveling, photography, graphic art and baking, among others.

There is a black cat named Sheba involved who thinks Danielle's laptop is her personal grooming station.

Check her website for trading card offers, giveaways and announcements!

www.daniellebourdon.com

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Other books by Danielle Bourdon:

AMAZON US:

The Latvala Royals Series:

Heir Untamed -
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King and Kingdom –
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Heir in Exile –
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The King Takes A Bride -
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