Page 2 of Her Forbidden Prince
The dog’s ears twitched and he nuzzled Carys’s hand again, gently asking for more rubs.Carys obliged happily.Was there anything more wonderful than a dog?She loved animals.If she had her way, she’d live on a farm out in the middle of nowhere, with dogs and cats, chickens, goats, and those adorable baby cows that she’d seen on the internet lately.Yeah, she knew the baby cows grew into big cows—but that would be okay.
“Okay, boy,” she whispered, pressing her face against the dog’s fur.“Let’s go find your momma.What do you think?”
The dog whined slightly, twisting his head around to press his nose into Carys’s blond hair.
“Yeah, I know, sweetie,” Carys replied, responding to the tone, if not the words.German Shepherds were incredibly intelligent dogs.Briefly, she wistfully contemplated asking the owner of this beautiful boy to let her take him home.But she lived in a tiny studio apartment.This sweet boy needed a larger house with a huge backyard so he could stretch his legs properly.Plus, her apartment building had a strict weight limit, and this handsome fellow was definitely over that limit.
“Besides,” Carys whispered conspiratorially to the dog, “you wouldn’t like the neighbors.The guy next door thinks playing the tuba at midnight is a perfectly acceptable hobby.And let’s not even start on the lady downstairs who conducts tap-dancing classes for her cats.”
The dog tilted his head, almost as if he understood and sympathized.Carys laughed, rubbing him behind the ears.“You’re good, honey.Everything is good.But I doubt you’d like apartment living.You need space.Maybe even a doggy mansion.I can barely fit a houseplant in my place without it feeling crowded.”
As the dog leaned into her caresses, Carys added, “And trust me, boy, you donotwant to share space with Mr.Fluffy, my temperamental cactus.He’s prickly in more ways than one.”She sighed, giving the dog one last affectionate pat.“But if you ever want to visit and critique my tuba-playing neighbor, you’re more than welcome.”
That’s when she saw another beast—this one taller and broader—running down the path.This beast wasn’t a puppy.This beast was…magnificent.Her breath caught in her throat as she watched the man jogging toward them, his dark hair glinting in the sunshine.He was running in dress shoes and a suit, but there was no masking the incredible glory of his physique.The flat stomach and broad shoulders were…
Carys's heart pounded, a different kind of tension gripping her now.The man’s powerful strides ate up the distance, his eyes locked on the dog.She could see the intensity in his gaze—a mix of concern and determination that made her stomach flutter.The way his suit clung to his muscular frame, hinting at the strength beneath, sent a thrill through her.
As he closed in, the sun highlighted the chiseled lines of his face, and Carys felt a wave of awareness wash over her.His presence was as commanding as the dog’s had been exuberant.The air seemed to thrum with energy, the sounds around her fading into the background as he approached.
The dog nuzzled Carys’s hand.For a brief moment, she looked down.Was the beastlaughingat her?
Ridiculous.
Still, she looked back up, staring at the man who was slowing as he approached.He really was stunningly handsome—in a completely-out-of-Carys’s-league kind of way.She knew the type of men who were typically attracted to her.They were the geeky, accounting types with glasses sliding down their noses.The men with cheap suits and scuffed shoes.
Notthe shockingly handsome, muscle-bound leaders of industry like this one.
He came to a stop in front of her, heaving a sigh of relief.
As he reached them, Carys noted with mild annoyance that he wasn’t even out of breath—despite sprinting like a scene out of an action movie.
“Sorry about that,” he said, flashing a smile that could probably launch a thousand ad campaigns.“He’s still learning to stay by my side.”
Carys blinked, trying not to be too dazzled by his perfect teeth and those maddeningly expressive eyes.“It’s okay,” she managed, her voice a little breathless—though not from running.“He’s a sweetheart.”
Dark eyes.Tanned skin.And citrus aftershave.Her gaze roamed over his face, unable to tear itself away.She liked the way his lips curled slightly when he spoke.Noticed the barely visible scar beneath his lower lip.She wanted to ask him how he’d gotten it.Something reckless, no doubt.
He was beautiful.Ruggedly, achingly beautiful.
Her heart thudded harder and she felt a bit unsteady—until the dog leaned against her leg, anchoring her with warm, living weight.
Carys wanted to say something witty.Tease him.Make him laugh.
But her mind blanked.She had nothing.Not a single clever word.
A wet nose nudged her hand.
She looked down, and the sweet boy stared up at her, head tilted in that charming, German Shepherd way.
“He got away from us,” the man said.
Carys blinked, still not processing his words.This man had short-circuited her brain.Handsome men didn’t normally affect her like this.Buthewas different.He made her skin tingle.
“What’s his name?”she asked.
The man’s mouth twisted slightly.“Aida, ironically.”
They both looked down at the fluffy boy.Aidan—no,Aida—shifted slightly on his haunches, and Carys could have sworn he wassmiling.
