Chapter 203: The Pregnant Queen

Claire Grace lounged lazily on the couch, her pink lips pouting high with indignation. The meticulously peeled grape being offered to her lips by a certain man was met with utter disdain.

"I don't want grapes; I want coffee," she demanded, her tone obstinate. "And it must be freshly brewed by hand." Yet her request was immediately dismissed, leaving no room for negotiation.

"Absolutely not. Coffee is unsuitable for pregnant women. Freshly squeezed juice or fruit would be much better for you."

"But I want coffee," she whined, feeling the restrictions of pregnancy encroach on her freedom. "Why can't I even have that?"

"You can have it after the baby is born," Lucas Zeller replied firmly, his tone brooking no argument.

Undeterred, Claire tried again. "Then how about we go to the night market tonight for some spicy food? My tastes have been so strange lately—everything feels bland. I really want something ultra-spicy."

"Spicy food isn't good for the baby's development," Lucas countered without missing a beat. "If you're really craving it, I can buy some and eat it in front of you to help curb your appetite."

Claire gaped at him in disbelief. "Watch you eat it? Are you trying to torture me to death?" She let out a huff. "Being pregnant is the worst! I can't eat anything I want. I don't want to be pregnant anymore."

"Don't say that," Lucas said soothingly, pulling her onto his lap with ease. "Pregnancy is tough, but that's what makes moms so amazing, right?"

Claire wasn't mollified. "But look at Roy Lin. The only thing he won't let Lauren Wells do is travel abroad. Otherwise, he lets her eat whatever she wants. Why is it so different for me?"

"That's because Lauren is a doctor. She talks Roy into it with long-winded explanations, but she's the one who ends up regretting it," Lucas said, tapping her nose playfully. "Remember the last time? Lauren convinced Roy to get her some spicy oyster pancakes from the night market, and she ended up with an upset stomach. Pure misery."

Claire frowned. "But my belly is still flat. You can't even tell I'm pregnant. It's probably because you don't let me eat anything good."

"I've been giving you plenty of nutritious foods," Lucas argued. "Lauren said those supplements are great for the baby and will help your body recover without any post-pregnancy issues."

"Wait a second," Claire said, narrowing her eyes. "Are you saying you're more worried about me getting out of shape than about my cravings?"

Lucas laughed softly, kissing the crown of her head. "How could I think that? I love you too much to ever let you go hungry. No matter what happens to your body, I'll love you all the same. As long as you're still you, I'll keep loving you forever."

"Hmph! Your sweet talk has only gotten worse since I got pregnant," Claire protested, though her heart warmed at his words.

"You're being unfair," Lucas said, feigning indignation. "I've been calling you my queen since day one. Remember? Even at the office, I couldn't help calling you 'my wife' in front of everyone. Totally ruined my image."

Claire rolled her eyes. "Queen? More like the unluckiest queen ever. I can't eat what I want or do what I want."

Lucas's eyes glinted mischievously. "Wait, when you said 'do what I want' earlier, you weren't talking about…" He trailed off, leaning in close, his hand tilting her chin upward.

"What are you thinking?" Claire demanded, alarmed. She felt a sudden chill as his hand slipped under her shirt. "Why are your hands there? Did you misunderstand me?"

"You said you wanted to do what you wanted," Lucas teased, his grin both devilish and maddeningly charming. "So here I am."

"You misunderstood!" Claire protested, trying to swat his hand away. "I meant cooking. I want to cook spicy food myself."

Lucas's face fell, then quickly shifted to a resigned smile. "You tricked me, didn't you? Fine, fine. Are you hungry, though?"

Claire frowned. "Obviously, I'm hungry. I've been telling you I want spicy food. But wait, why are you smiling like that?"

"You didn't answer my question. Are you hungry?" Lucas's dark eyes gleamed with a heat that sent a shiver down Claire's spine.

Claire glanced away, her heart racing. She knew exactly what he was about to do. "How am I supposed to answer that? If I say no, you'll claim you're hungry and need me to 'feed' you. If I say yes, you'll still say you need to 'feed' me. It's pointless!"

Lucas threw his head back and laughed, his deep, melodic voice filling the room. "God, Claire, you make me love you more every day." He kissed both her cheeks, then added, "Fine. For being so understanding, I'll get you a mildly spicy oyster pancake from the night market. Consider it a reward."

"Really?" Claire's face lit up with delight as she threw her arms around his neck, showering him with kisses. "You're the best! My hero!"

Lucas smirked. "But I'm hungry right now. So, you'll have to feed me first."

"What?" Claire blinked, only to find herself being scooped up in his arms as he carried her toward the bedroom.

"Hey! Lauren said it's best to avoid 'that' during the first trimester," she protested, her voice a mix of panic and indignation.

"She said 'avoid if possible,' not 'absolutely not.'" Lucas's tone was final.

"But I'm scared!" Claire whimpered, feeling utterly helpless.

"Don't worry," Lucas murmured, his voice soft and teasing. "I'll be careful."

And so, the pregnant queen found herself at the mercy of her devoted yet mischievous king.