The Irresistible Royal Read online

  ‘Forgive me, tesoro. I want you so badly to become my wife, I can’t stop trying to pressure you into consenting to our marriage because I promise you’d never regret it.’ He wanted her to want him in her life as much as he wanted her, but he couldn’t make it happen.

  ‘I’m sorry, Marco. I know you’re frustrated with me and I’m not deliberately setting out to cause you grief.’

  He smoothed the palm of his right hand over her silky hair while he held her close against him with the other and soothed his other hand over her back.

  ‘I just can’t make such a huge level of commitment to you at this stage.’ She shifted against him. ‘Excuse me for a bit. I think our child is pressing on my bladder.’ Getting up off the bed, she grabbed a shirt from his cupboard and slipped her arms into the overly long sleeves. As she made her way through to the ensuite bathroom, she pressed one hand into the small of her back.

  ‘Back ache?’

  ‘Yes,’ she said with a grimace. ‘The joys of pregnancy.’

  ‘I’ll rub it for you when you come back.’

  ‘Thanks.’

  He closed his eyes and leant back against the headboard of the bed as she disappeared into the bathroom. He willed himself to be patient with her as he tried to win her as his wife.

  A short time later, she walked slowly back into the room and to the side of the bed, looking extremely sexy wearing nothing but his white shirt buttoned up, the long sleeves rolled up to her elbows. He liked the look.

  Leaning forward a little, she pressed her lips against the skin at the base of his throat. ‘I realise the thing I lack most of all is faith in the commitment of other people to relationships. You’ve suggested my reticence relates back to my mother and the trauma I suffered when she walked out on Dad and me. I think you’re right. I hope you can help me over my insecurity, Marco.’

  ‘I aim to do that.’ He smiled at her and was rewarded when some of the shadows of regret left her eyes. ‘Just give me the chance.’

  Dimples appeared in her cheeks. ‘I want to,’ she said. ‘Last night had distinct bonuses for me.’ She pulled her body away from him a fraction, to leave room for one of her hands to trail from his shoulder, down his chest and down to the waist of his boxer shorts.

  Reading the saucy intent in her eyes, Marco felt his instant arousal.

  ‘I think it’s past time you received a bonus.’ Her fingertips grazed along his hardening length through the fabric of his boxers.

  Stifling back a groan of longing, he caught her hand in his. ‘The idea is incredibly appealing, tesoro, but I’m intent on sticking to my terms. You can have all of me when you accept my ring.’

  Fire flashed through her eyes. A heavy thump landed on his chest as she pushed him back against the bed head in a huff. ‘You, Marco Esposito, are the most infuriating individual I’ve ever—Aaah.’

  ‘What is it? What’s wrong?’ Concern consumed him as he watched pain pinch Chloe’s features before she doubled over, her hand over her abdomen.

  ‘Oh—my—God,’ she gasped.

  Marco jumped from the bed and grabbed her shoulders to support her. ‘I’m getting you straight to the doctor.’

  ‘Yes.’

  Chapter Eighteen

  The severe pain had only been transitory—an excruciating muscle cramp. Chloe felt like a fraud now and was highly embarrassed because she wondered if it might’ve occurred because those muscles were fatigued after all her sexual climaxes during the night.

  Regardless of the cause, she was now at the obstetrician’s and having her eighteen-week ultrasound appointment a few hours earlier than scheduled. The doctor had given her a basic check-over before he’d sent her in for the scan, and he’d assured her all was going well.

  Excited anticipation bubbled through her as she lay with her abdomen exposed and the radiographer dobbing on great lumps of gel for the 4D ultrasound. She’d seen her baby in an ultrasound at seven weeks when she’d checked in to the specialist the day after she’d arrived home. She’d marvelled at the sight of its heart beating strongly. This time, however, she got to share the experience with Marco. They’d get to hear the heartbeat and Chloe had decided she wanted to find out the gender of their baby. Thankfully Marco had no objections, so she didn’t have to keep the information from him.

  Chloe had to admit she was thrilled by Marco’s level of involvement in the pregnancy. After he’d brought her the pregnancy books, he’d brought her a book of baby names. They’d laughed over a few of the more ostentatious or unusual ones they’d come across as they’d gone through some of the names together. It’d been another bonding experience, and Chloe was appreciating Marco had as much interest in his developing child as she did. Yesterday they’d received confirmation of his paternity, but it was gratifying to know that he’d made the full commitment to her and their child before the results were available. Trust was vital in a relationship and she acknowledged the vulnerability he must’ve felt in placing his trust in her.

  ‘Last time, he or she was less than an inch long. Now our baby will be five times that long,’ she told him now.

  ‘You’ll see a lot more movement,’ the radiographer said as she turned on the screen. ‘Your baby will probably be busy flexing arms and legs and you might even see some kicking. Let’s take a look at your little sweetheart.’

  As soon as she pressed the ultrasound device down firmly on Chloe’s abdomen, the image appeared on the screen. ‘Oh my gosh,’ Chloe exclaimed as she pointed to the larger-than-life flat screen television. ‘Look.’

  ‘Is it yawning?’ Marco asked.

  The radiographer laughed, ‘Indeed it is. I’ll take a photo for you.’

  The image was so clear. The next minute, their baby raised one hand to its mouth and began sucking its thumb while the other hand reached for the umbilical cord. ‘I see a real little person now,’ Chloe said in wonderment. ‘Can you see whether it’s a boy or girl?’

  ‘Hang on. We’ll get there.’ The cool press of the ultrasound device moved a fraction and the baby’s head came into clearer view. ‘See the ears?’ the radiographer asked.

  ‘Yes,’ Chloe said, smiling broadly even though her eyes watered over with joy.

  ‘It can hear you now, so be careful what you say,’ the lady joked.

  ‘We’d like as many photos as possible please.’ Marco made the request but his gaze didn’t leave the screen.

  ‘Of course.’ The image changed again. ‘Well, there it is. No mistaking the gender of this one,’ the radiographer laughed. ‘You’ve got quite a well-endowed little son here.’

  Like his father, Chloe thought cheekily and winked at Marco.

  The levity changed suddenly as their baby changed position and showed them a very different view.

  ‘What’s that bulge?’ Marco asked as a large sac became apparent at the base of the baby’s back.

  Panic fizzed through Chloe. ‘That doesn’t look right.’

  ‘Mm. I’ll call the doctor to come take a look,’ the woman said as she turned the screen off and the image vanished.

  Chloe knew real fear. Something was definitely wrong with their baby—their little son. It was only fleeting, but what she saw in the radiographer’s face mirrored her own fears.

  ‘Could it be spina bifida?’ she asked as the woman got up to get the doctor. ‘I’ve been taking my folic acid tablets, but maybe when I was so sick initially the baby didn’t get enough?’

  ‘Don’t jump to conclusions,’ the lady warned. ‘Just relax and I’ll be back shortly with the doctor.’

  Marco took Chloe’s hands in his as the radiographer left them.

  ‘God, Marco. What could it be?’

  ‘Don’t get yourself worked up, cara. There could be a simple explanation.’ But even as his voice remained calm and his words were aimed to soothe her, Chloe saw the flash of concern in his eyes.

  Half an hour later, after the doctor had been in to see the images, Chloe and Marco were ushered into his office. She se
nsed it wasn’t good news. Feeling incredibly fragile, she was so grateful she wasn’t here alone, facing this horrible fear for their child’s health. Marco’s presence was so steadfast and she drew strength from him.

  ‘Your baby has what’s called a sacrococcygeal teratoma,’ the doctor informed them gravely. ‘It’s a tumour that develops at the base of the tailbone. Seventy-five per cent of these tumours are found to be benign, but there is the risk it could be malignant.’

  Chloe sucked in a huge breath and tried to process the word malignant.

  ‘What do we do?’ Marco asked.

  ‘The preferred first treatment is complete surgical removal, and this can be done—in fact, I’d recommend this be done in utero, but you’d have to go to Los Angeles for the surgery.’

  Oh God. How was this happening? Chloe was shell shocked—hardly able to process the doctor’s words.

  Breathe. Chloe. Breathe.

  Think, Chloe. Think.

  Forcing her brain to unfreeze she queried, ‘There are good surgeons in LA who do this sort of procedure?’

  ‘There are. The procedure will be extremely expensive.’ He looked at Marco. ‘I’m assuming cost won’t be an issue.’

  ‘No issue,’ Marco declared. ‘But will there be a risk to Chloe if we proceed with this surgery?’

  ‘Open foetal surgery has proven to be reasonably safe for the mother, and maternal safety is always the first priority.’ The doctor spoke expressively. He looked at Chloe as he said, ‘Having said that, you need to be aware that after this procedure there’s often pelvic scarring, which makes it highly likely any future pregnancies will require delivery by Caesarean section. The scarring may even make it difficult for you to conceive again.’

  That was the least of her worries.

  ‘You say it’s reasonably safe, but clearly there are still risks,’ Marco said.

  ‘Any surgery carries risks,’ the doctor cautioned. ‘If you opt for the surgery, the surgeon will outline the procedure and risks in more detail.’

  ‘Can you explain, roughly, what the surgical procedure involves?’ Marco asked.

  ‘The tumour your foetus has is entirely outside the body, attached only by a narrow stalk.’ He drew a diagram on a notepad as he spoke to them. ‘It’s the easiest form of tumour to remove in utero and carries the least risk to the foetus. The baby is removed from the womb, although still attached to the umbilical cord. The tumour would be removed and biopsied, the foetus is put back in the uterus and the uterus and abdominal wall are closed up, with the amniotic fluid replaced before the last stitch is made in the uterine wall. You’d stay in hospital for up to a week afterwards for monitoring, Chloe. Due to the increased incidence of babies who’ve been operated on in this manner being born prematurely, it would be totally essential for you take it very easy during the remainder of the pregnancy. I’d recommend you give up work and focus on rest.’

  The doctor put the pen down and leaned back in his chair.

  Chloe was stunned. Even though she’d heard of surgery having been performed on foetuses before, it was still incredible to imagine it happening.

  Marco asked a question she wasn’t certain she wanted to know the answer to. ‘What will happen if surgery isn’t performed?’

  ‘If it’s left untreated, the tumour may slip back inside the perineum and it can push between the other organs. The teratoma can sometimes also grow larger than the foetus. This type of tumour grows rapidly, requiring very high blood flow, which can result in foetal heart failure because the heart dilates and fluid collects in body tissue and cavities, including around the lungs and heart. Chloe could also suffer with similar symptoms of swelling, hypertension and shortness of breath due to fluid on the lungs.’

  ‘Then there’s really no option,’ Chloe said firmly. ‘I need to have the surgery. How soon do I have it?’

  ‘It’s possible now. But any time between now and thirty weeks is ideal.’ The doctor’s lips twisted and he sat forward, resting his forearms on the desk. ‘There are other options. For starters, there’s another technique where a needle is inserted into the tumour and radiofrequency energy is directed to destroy the blood flow to the tumour, but you must understand that this approach is considered highly experimental and all survivors have had damage to the genito-urinary system.’

  ‘Not an option then,’ Marco stated succinctly.

  She agreed with him. ‘What about the baby’s health after the surgery you recommended?’ she asked.

  ‘If the tumour is benign, your baby will develop as it should. Correction of these tumours prior to birth increase the odds of a healthy and normal baby, but a paediatrician will continue to monitor the baby for the first three years to make sure there’s no regrowth. If the tumour is malignant, you’ll be referred to an oncologist.’

  No. Chloe told herself. Our son is not going to need an oncologist. But even while she tried to remain calm, think logically and keep her emotion at bay, she couldn’t help asking, ‘Why has this happened? Is it because I’ve been so sick? Is it a result of stress?’ She thought of her unknown biological father. ‘Is it genetic?’

  Marco shifted his chair closer to hers and put his arm around her shoulders.

  ‘The cause is unknown, Chloe,’ the doctor said gently. ‘We know how it happens—that cells accidentally migrate to unusual locations during embryonic development and continue to divide and multiply—but we don’t know why it happens. It’s a rare occurrence.’

  ‘I’ll have the procedure,’ she said definitively. ‘As soon as it can be arranged.’

  ‘I recommend you at least take today and tonight to think about this,’ the doctor said gravely. ‘Surgery is risky, and there’s the added risk the tumour could be malignant. Given this is a medical condition, and you’re only at eighteen weeks, I can also arrange for you to have prostaglandin. We can do that any time up to twenty-three weeks. It will result in uterine contractions and will terminate the pregnancy. You should consider the option.’

  ‘No.’ Her denial was firm and immediate as a huge, sob racked her body.

  ‘We both want this child, cara, but we have to think of the risks to your health as our first priority,’ Marco said as he rubbed her back soothingly.

  ‘Termination is not a consideration for me,’ she bit out shakily.

  ‘Doctor, you say there are surgeons in LA who can perform this surgery, but I want to know the name and location of the surgeon who is the best in the world for this procedure.’

  Through her angst, Chloe hung on the doctor’s response.

  ‘There’s a specialist in London who’s been a pioneer in this area. He’s known to be something of a miracle worker.’

  ‘But I get terribly airsick,’ Chloe said. ‘Couldn’t it cause problems for the baby if I travel?’

  ‘Medically, you can fly past twenty-eight weeks provided you have a letter from me,’ the obstetrician said. ‘You’re well within the safety range. As for the travel sickness, there are tablets I can prescribe that’ll be effective and won’t harm the baby.’

  Marco said, ‘If you’ll give me surgeon’s name, I’ll arrange for him to fly to LA to perform the surgery if necessary.’

  The doctor’s head jerked back and he looked at Marco as if he were irrational. ‘He’s in high demand, I doubt—’

  ‘Leave that to me.’

  If Marco said he’d get the top surgeon in the world to come and perform an operation for their child, Chloe had no doubt it’d happen. For the first time, she fully appreciated the benefits of having such a commanding man at her side. Multibillions and royal status—the things she’d said were a drawback in their relationship—were no doubt going to be a winning combination in this crisis they faced. The universe was surely throwing this entire situation at her to prove how unfair her prejudices had been. Now it was apparent that the very things she’d railed against were vital for the health of their child.

  Leaving the clinic, Marco’s arm was anchored firmly around Chloe’
s shoulders and she held him as tightly with her arm around his waist. Her vision blurred. The shattering news had hit hard and the tears simply streamed endlessly down her cheeks.

  ‘Marco, I don’t want to go back to the vineyard straight away. Can you take me back to your place?’

  ‘Of course, tesoro.’

  The trip to Marco’s was completed in silence and Chloe figured they were both trying to process the information of their baby’s tumour. When they were inside, he took her in his arms and let her pour out all her fears and have a good cry until his shirt was wet from her tears. All the while he murmured soothing encouragement and rubbed her back.

  ‘I don’t understand why this has happened,’ she said tearily.

  ‘The doctor couldn’t give us a reason,’ he said against her ear. ‘We just have to deal with it, and we’ll do that together.’

  She slipped out of his arms, and walked stiltedly over to the large glass sliding doors that afforded a beautiful view of the city and Napa River. ‘I don’t want a termination. I want to give our child every chance we can give it.’

  He came and stood behind her, his arms looping around her waist. ‘I want that too, but I won’t allow you to put your health at risk. Before you make a decision, we need to get a clearer picture of this procedure from the surgeon. I want to fully understand any risks to you.’

  Chloe looked at his reflection in the glass of the sliding doors. The care in his regard was unmistakable. Turning in the circle of his arms, she tilted her head at him. ‘But you’re only here because of the baby.’

  Lifting his hands from her waist, he placed his hands on either side of her head and looked intensely into her eyes. ‘Evidently not, because your wellbeing is my priority and if—God forbid—something happens to the little life we both love that’s growing inside you, I’ll still be here for you.’

  She stared at him. He wasn’t telling her he loved her, but he obviously cared. It’d only been a little over a week since he’d been back in her life. He couldn’t have grown to love her in such a short time. Hell. It was probably unrealistic to hope he’d ever love her, but they’d become close. He’d cared for her, laughed with her, had been solid and dependable and so downright sexy that he’d driven her crazy. The bond they’d formed over their baby had drawn them closer and she could see him in her future, but she couldn’t forget that if she wasn’t pregnant, she’d never have seen Marco again.