Page 22 of Impossible Heir for the King

‘But right here is the one place where I am free to be as naked as I like,’ he said quietly, amused. ‘My time is wholly my own and Aron understands that.’

She glanced back up at him and he was shocked to see her expression had turned haunted and suddenly he lost himself in those midnight eyes.

‘Why aren’t you married already?’ she asked softly, almost pleadingly. ‘What would you have done with me now if you were married?’

He honestly didn’t know. ‘Fortunately thatisn’tthe case.’ And he guessed that was one thing to be grateful for. ‘We’re both single so the solution is simple for us.’

‘But marriage isn’t simple for anyone. You shouldn’t be forced into something you don’t want either.’

‘I do want this.’

‘No youdon’t.’ She shrugged. ‘Why has it been so complicated, Niko? What’s not “safe” about a serious relationship? Why has it been so impossible to consider settling down?’

‘I am trying to settle down now, am I not?You’rethe one being obstructive in that plan.’

‘Only because you think you have to. Not because youwantto. Why don’t you ever want to?’

She saw that truth and he realised he’d told her too much. Now he was going to have to tell her more.

‘I don’t think it’s fair to burden someone else with this lifestyle,’ he said.

Maia glanced around. ‘Yes, so terrible to ask someone to share a Pacific paradise with you. All these awful palm trees and coral reefs and the space to swim and dive, run or climb...’ she echoed with a little laugh. ‘Naked even. It really is just wicked of you.’

‘Thisisn’t the daily reality of my life.’ He chuckled. ‘This is the holiday that I get only occasionally. There are limits on what I can do and I know you’re not going to believe me but many choices that other people take for granted get taken away.’

‘But you also have many choices that other people may never get. Everyone faces sacrifices and limitations in their lives.’

‘It’s not the same.’ He shook his head. ‘Your life isn’t your own. You have a duty not just to your family, but to all the citizens of the country, and to the country itself. People want to know you. You’re expected to uphold the values. To bring prosperity, to maintain peace, to keep the country progressing at the same time.’

But it sounded weak to him. This was a woman who’d intensely experienced not having a life of her own—just in a wholly different way.

‘I get that it’s a big job but why do you think someone wouldn’t want to share it?’ she asked. ‘Or support you in it? Do you think no one but you could handle it?’

She thought he was arrogant. That he was making more of it than what there was. She was wrong.

‘Because the reality is more exhausting and frankly more mundane. It’s not all glamour. There are a lot of meetings. Many decisions. Seven days a week. It’s relentless.’ He sat back.

He’d seen people’s health suffer. More than once.

His mother had struggled, the strain of her emotions weakening her as she strived to please everyone. While his grandmother had suppressed every emotion she ever had and become an automaton—barely a human in the end. And his father? He’d lost the love of his life and then totally self-destructed.

‘So you have little flings when you’re overseas because there’s no threat of someone taking them seriously?’ Maia asked.

‘If I seduced some local society beauty she would offer to sacrifice everything in her life. Her family would expect it of her and they would expect me to ask it of her. I’m never asking anyone to do that.’

‘But isn’t that what you’re asking of me?’ She paused. ‘Because of the baby?’

But she didn’t have much in her life to sacrifice—he could offer her far more than she’d ever had. He gritted his teeth. ‘Not everything. Not necessarily forever.’

‘How can it not be?’ She stared at him hopelessly. ‘I can’t ever walk away from my child and I get the feeling you won’t do that either.’

‘No,’ he said huskily. ‘But I can give you much that you’ve never had, Maia.’

She looked up, those deep eyes all mystery. All intensity and pain. And rejection.

‘We make atemporaryfix to ensure this child has all they are owed,’ he said roughly. ‘We can do that at least, can’t we, Maia?’

‘I’m not saying yes to anything yet,’ she said.

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