Page 41 of Impossible Heir for the King

He whirled away from her as an assistant called through the door. An interruption. Of course. That was life in the palace. Constant interruptions. Constant demands when all he wanted was to be alone with her.

So hewouldgo with her to those shops. He would snatch any moment he could have with her.

An hour later Maia tried to keep her chin in the air as she walked out of the dressing room but she was inwardly baulking at how revealing the dress she’d furiously swished off the rack actually was. Ordinarily she never would have picked one like this. Both low and high cut and skin-tight, she wouldn’t have the confidence to wear it inpublicin a million years. In a bedroom however? Well,thatwas a possibility. Doing this to aggravate Niko was likely to backfire yet she couldn’t seem to stop herself.

Niko took one look at her, whirled on his heel and barked at the hovering assistants. ‘Empty the store. Leave. Now. All of you.’

She gaped. ‘You can’t just—’

He spun back and pulled her against him before she even had the idea to step back. ‘I am the king. I can do whatever the hell I want,’ he growled.

‘Really?’

‘Yes.’ His lips traversed the edge of the dress, the high crest of her breast. ‘And I want to do you.’

It would take only a nudge of the fabric and her nipple would be exposed. But Niko didn’t nudge—he slid his hand beneath the skirt and up to where she ached instead.

‘Spoilt, Niko,’ she hissed, scandalised even as she spread her legs for him. It was appalling to consider how little she truly cared when all she wanted was him to touch her like this—to want her as desperately as she still wanted him. She needed this contact. Her head fell back as he kissed her neck, but as her eyes drifted shut she spotted something and froze. ‘There are security cameras.’

‘Williams will have the footage deleted,’ Niko slurred recklessly and then a gleam entered his eye. ‘Or give it to me.’

He kissed her—his tongue circling, hisfingercircling. It was too much, too soon and she was so close to coming apart. She gasped and clasped his shoulders, shivering as she tore her mouth free while pressing her hips nearer to him.‘Niko...’

She needed to be alone with him. She ached for the release, she wanted the luxury of time and space—for once she longed for an actual bed.Now.

He dragged in a sharp breath, stilling momentarily. Then he suddenly dropped his hand. ‘You’re right,’ he said huskily. ‘I apologise. I’ll leave you to finish choosing your dress for tonight.Alone.’

He remained only long enough to ensure she had her balance. She barely did. Because she’d never felt as angry. But he left the shop without a backwards glance.

Captain Williams appeared to accompany her mere seconds later. Scary, silent, stupidly wearing those sunglasses inside. Only once had she caught a glimpse of his eyes—so ice blue they were almost colourless. He had a scar too, so maybe that was why he wore the sunglasses. She felt bad for her mean thought. She couldn’t ask him. He wasn’t exactly someone she could confide in.

‘The king is not used to not getting what he wants,’ the taciturn soldier said. ‘It’s good for him.’ He took up position near the door. ‘You’regood for him.’

Maia was too surprised to answer. The man never spoke and he certainly shouldn’t be commenting on that. Plus he couldn’t be more wrong.

It wasn’t her job to be ‘good’ for King Niko. Honestly, they just seemed to bring worse out in each other the more time they spent together.

Niko struggled to stay still while the barber clipped his hair. ‘Oh, just leave it,’ he snapped irritably, waving the man away from him.

He’d not recovered since returning to the palace over two hours ago. How had he lost all control as to start pawing her in the middle of ashop? Why hadn’t she returned yet? Why had they left the island? Why had he agreed so swiftly instead of staying calm and convincing her to stay? They could have indulged this bone-deep lust until it was exhausted at last. Whenever the hell that was going to be.

The moment Pax walked in without knocking Niko growled. ‘What took so long?’

‘Ms Flynn was enjoying herself,’ the soldier answered expressionlessly. ‘Wasn’t that what you wanted?’

Honestly, Niko just wanted her back beside him and he was too annoyed with everything to shoot Pax a quelling look. ‘Where is she now?’

‘Finishing dressing. She asked me to tell you she won’t take long.’

Niko breathed a little more easily. He glanced at the barber hurriedly packing away his tools and regretted his short fuse.

‘I apologise.’ He never took his temper out on his staff. He never felt this irritable. Ever. ‘Forgive me, please. I’m just...’ He paused and reached for the right word.‘Nervous.’

The barber looked startled, then offered a wary smile. ‘Of course, Your Highness.’

Niko knew full well the palace gossip machine would be in full swing in two minutes on the basis of that comment. Frankly, it wasn’t a lie. He was feeling edgy. And regretful. But now they were running late and they didn’t have the time to talk through strategy for the evening. Maybe this way was best. If she were overwhelmed with information she might want to bail. She didn’t understand the consequences of being seen out with him in this context. And his admission of nerves just then? That he was taking her to the theatre? It was as good as a declaration nailed to the palace wall.

Ten minutes later he knocked on her door. ‘I’m sorry, Maia,’ he ground out. ‘There’s not much time before we’re...’

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