Page 40 of Impossible Heir for the King

‘What?’

‘I want to go back to the city,’ she said firmly.

He stared, wariness flickering in his eyes before he stiffened. She knew then that he didn’t want her to go there. Not back to the palace. Why did he want to keep her isolated? Was he afraid she would embarrass him somehow? Her horror simply deepened.

‘You can stay here. You’re safe and free to do anything you like here.’

‘Swim, sleep and have sex? I want more than that.’ She was furious that he was trying to block her. She would fight for the lifestyle she’d longed for. ‘I’ve been shut away below deck for most of my life. The last thing I want is to be shut away on a remote, unpopulated island for the next who knows how long. Even if it is a paradise island, it’s still a kind of prison. I won’t let you hide me away like some shameful secret. I want to do things. See things. I want tobreathe.’

She wanted independence and liberty. She wanted to go shopping. She’d never been paid. Never had money. She wanted a job. There were so many things she’d never had and never done.

His expression had turned stormy. ‘You’re saying this isn’t enough.’

‘No. It’s not.’ Her nerves tightened but she needed this. It felt good to declare her needs. To put her own desires as her priority—for the first time in her life. Even so, she braced for his explosion.

He regarded her intently. ‘Fine. That’s fair enough.’

She glanced up, startled that he’d agreed so swiftly.

‘We’ll return to the city. See if you like palace life better this time round. You’re the one who ran away, remember?’ He tugged on a T-shirt with jerky movements. ‘It’s hardly been a walk in the park for me either by the way. Trying to run my country from a remote island. Disappearing and not turning up to events that have been scheduled months in advance.’

‘I’m so sorryyourlife has been so inconvenienced,’ she said sarcastically. ‘But as it happens you’re not the only one. I have the ultimate accidental pregnancy going on.’

CHAPTER ELEVEN

NIKODIDN’TKNOWwhat to think. Somehow an off-hand remark had caused a combustion of epic proportions. But if Maia wanted more, she would get more. It took nothing to make the arrangements. In less than an hour they’d helicoptered back to the palace—returning to formality, to constraint, to all those rules, too quickly. But he would show exactly how willing he was and far he would go to look after her and keep her happy.

‘There’s a gala tonight,’ he coolly informed her the minute they were left alone in the suite he’d insisted she be accommodated in. The one right alongside his. ‘I’d intended to send my apologies but you can come with me instead. I’ll never be ashamed to be seen with you, Maia.’

She looked unsure. ‘A gala?’

‘A variety performance. Singing. Music. I think some dance, I can’t remember all the exact details.’

‘Like the theatre?’

‘Yes, the theatre,’ he snapped.

Her eyes suddenly brightened. ‘I’ve never been to the theatre.’

Speechless, he stared, his anger instantly swamped by the desire to see her reaction to such an entertainment. And by bitterness that she’d not been before. Something else brewed deeper. He’d wanted to keep her safe and honestly he still didn’t know if there was a direct threat either to him or to her given what had happened at the medical centre. He’d wanted time for Pax to complete his investigation. Only now she’d had enough of the island and he refused to keep her prisoner there.

‘I might need to go shopping,’ she said apologetically. ‘For underwear at least. Will one of the beach dresses do?’

‘No,’ he muttered. ‘I’ll come with you.’

‘You don’t have to,’ she said annoyingly quickly. ‘I’m not going to try to run away.’

He gritted his teeth but failed to stop the resurgence of his temper. ‘I know that.’

‘Did you want to vet my choices?’ she suddenly flared. ‘What if I promise only to get clothing that will show off how thoroughly I’ve been...seduced.’

‘That sounds perfect,’ he snapped. ‘We’ll start with evening dresses. Backless and braless.’

‘Of course, Your Highness.’ She dropped a mocking curtsey. ‘Your wish is my command.’

His jaw tightened. She seemed determined to takeeverythingthe wrong way and he was beyond frustrated that everything seemed to becoming more complicated by the hour. He missed the easy alignment they’d had only yesterday. He’d wanted to see she was safe. And he’d wanted to see her have somefun. Instead he’d been provoked into retaliating and she was huffier than ever. He needed to kiss her. Now.

‘Your Highness?’

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