Page 12 of Mistaken as His Royal Bride

Basta.Enough.

This woman, whoever she was, was intent on making a total fool out of him and she would be punished for that. And,worse, for making him want her.

He willed the lust in his body down to a dull throb and stepped forward out of the shadows.

‘Princess Laia, thank you for joining me.’

Maddi started and turned towards where the King’s voice had come from. A door leading out of the reception area. He looked mouthwateringly handsome, wearing dark trousers and a white shirt open at the neck.

He came towards her and she had to stop herself from moving back. Not because he intimidated her—but because of her own reaction. Her pulse was suddenly thundering, her skin prickling all over with awareness.

‘King Aristedes.’

She suddenly wondered if she should curtsey, but maybe it was a bit late for protocol.

He stopped and held out a hand, indicating to the room beyond. ‘Please, come in.’

She walked ahead of him, a little wobbly in the high heels, very aware of him behind her. The room she entered was vast, and had stunning views straight out to sea. French doors were open and a light breeze brought in scents of the island—wild flowers and the sea. Intoxicating.

The room was as opulent as the rest of the palace but also surprisingly not as decadently decorated as she had imagined it might be for a monarch. It was almost minimalist in style, with a few pieces of furniture and some abstract art on the walls. Maddi liked the unfussiness of it.

‘And, please, I think there is no need for formalities. Call me Aristedes.’

Maddi turned around. Her breath hitched at just how gorgeous he was against this backdrop. Tall and vital andsexy.

Somehow she found her voice. ‘Okay... Aristedes.’ It felt unbelievably decadent, just saying his name.

He asked, ‘Would you like a drink?’

He walked over to a drinks cabinet with that loose-limbed grace. For the life of her Maddi couldn’t understand why Laia thought this man was staid...boring. He oozed a dynamic energy that made her skin prickle and her blood thunder.

He looked at her. Her mind was blank. Wiped clean because he was so distracting.

Drink, supplied a helpful voice. He’d asked her if she wanted a drink.

She was losing it. She wasn’t sure what she should ask for, but the thought of something to take the edge off her self-consciousness sounded good. ‘What are you having?’

He looked a little surprised by her question. ‘A small whisky.’

Impetuously she said, ‘I’ll have the same.’

He brought over a tumbler with rich dark golden alcohol covering the bottom. She took it from him and sniffed it appreciatively.

She looked up. ‘Scotch?’

He took a sip and nodded. ‘How did you know?’

‘My—’ Maddi stopped. She’d been about to say,My stepfather is an aficionado.‘I took an interest on a trip to Scotland once.’ She mentally crossed her fingers, hoping that Laia had been on a trip to Scotland.

Aristedes said, ‘Ah, yes, I think you went there with your father?’

Maddi made a non-committal sound and took a sip, hoping he’d move on. The drink was fiery and immediately warming.

The sun was starting to set outside and the sky was turning a golden pink. Entranced, Maddi walked over and stood at the open French doors, beyond which there was a balcony and then nothing but a precipitous drop to the crashing sea below.

She sensed him coming close behind her.

She said, with genuine emotion, ‘I would never get tired of this view.’

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