Page 29 of Promoted To His Princess

Calista stiffened as the guards came to a stop and Xerxes approached.

He was really too beautiful to be real, the epitome of the handsome prince in a tight-fitting black T-shirt and jeans, sunglasses held carelessly in one hand as he came towards them. Sunlight glossed his night-black hair and he was smiling his usual charming smile, but the look in his dark eyes missed nothing.

‘Good morning, Calista,’ he said, his deep voice winding around her like soft black velvet. ‘Are you ready for your flight today?’

One of the guards had moved to the helicopter with the bag he’d picked up from her room and was now stowing it.

‘Flight?’ Her heartbeat thumped even harder. ‘What flight?’

‘I thought a little trip was in order. A chance to work out our differences before the engagement announcement.’ He gave a minute nod to both guards and the two then turned and marched away, leaving her and Xerxes alone.

‘Engagement announcement? But I’m not—’

‘Time to board,’ he said calmly, moving over to the helicopter and pulling open the door, indicating she was to get inside. ‘I’ll answer your questions as we fly.’

Calista’s mouth had gone dry and she felt sick again. She’d eaten only fruit the night before and she’d had no breakfast this morning, and now she was being taken by helicopter God only knew where by this prince...

‘No,’ she said, trying to keep her voice level. ‘You need to answer them now.’

He lifted a brow in that infuriating way he had. ‘Issuing orders now, I see. That’s good. A princess needs to know how to lead.’

She ignored him. ‘I’m not going anywhere until you tell me where we’re going.’ Her hands had closed into fists yet again, her temper straining at the leash. She’d never felt so close to the edge, and that was a bad thing. She couldn’t look weak, not in front of him, not when she’d let her guard down with him once already. He was a warrior, a predator. He’d take shameless advantage of all those cracks in her armour and, since pregnancy played havoc with emotional regulation, she would have to be extra careful.

His gaze narrowed, roving over her, assessing her. ‘We’re going to my villa on the coast for a while—at least until the news of my broken engagement has been disseminated and the scandal has had a chance to die down.’

He’d broken it off. He’d really broken it off.

‘You can’t—’ she began.

‘I did,’ he finished, amusement flickering in his eyes. ‘You have to marry me now, soldier, or else I’m ruined.’ His hand came beneath her elbow, urging her gently towards the helicopter. ‘Come on, it’s not a long flight and you’ll have food waiting for you, I promise.’

And even though she wanted to stand her ground and protest, she found herself moving, drawn along by his irresistible strength and by the shameless need inside her for the warmth of his hand on her arm.

‘But who’s flying the helicopter?’ she asked as he helped her up into the machine.

He grinned, a hint of boyishness in it that she didn’t want to find charming. ‘I am.’

Before she could ask any more questions, he’d shut the door and moved around to the pilot’s side. Then he got in himself and five minutes later they were airborne, the palace and Itheus falling away beneath them as Xerxes headed north, towards the mountains and the coast.

He handled the machine expertly, as if he’d done nothing but fly helicopters all his life, which, given that he’d spent a good proportion of his exile touring the beds of socialites all over Europe, couldn’t possibly be true.

‘Where did you learn to fly?’ she asked, desperate to fill the tense silence with something, anything to distract herself from the riot of feelings inside her.

He flashed her a glance, his mouth turning up as if he was pleased with the question. ‘The army.’ Even over the headset mike, his voice sounded like melted honey, rich and warm. ‘I loved flying, so I kept my hand in even after I left the military.’

She knew she should keep quiet, that talking would only betray her own nervousness and uncertainty, but he was so confident and sure that she couldn’t help wanting to do something to put a dent in him.

‘Why did you leave the military again?’ she asked, knowing full well what the answer was.

He gave a low laugh. ‘My father banished me for cowardice, as I’m sure you’re well aware.’

He wasn’t looking at her, his attention on the controls, his profile seemingly untroubled. And yet she heard the slight edge in his voice.

So, she’d got to him, had she? Good.

‘Why?’ she asked bluntly, taking the opportunity to put the pressure on him for a change. ‘What did you do?’

He flashed her another glance, his expression enigmatic. ‘You really want to have this discussion now?’

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