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Many couples married with less in common. If Rachel would just open her eyes, she would see that they would be good for each other. They would never be miserable, not with the attraction burning so strong between the two of them.
Women were to be appreciated. He could understand that. They were pleasurable to hold in your arms, pleasurable to sink deep inside, and they filled an ache that had to be met, but this sugary, hearts-and-flowers emotion, love, that so many spoke about was nothing more than a myth, a meaningless fantasy.
His mother meant well. She believed what she said. But she didn’t understand his relationship with Rachel. The two of them had passion — which was so much greater than mere words of love.
Their marriage would work and it would be excellent. He would show Rachel and his mother. Love didn’t need to be in the equation.
However, maybe he could change his approach just the slightest. If Rachel believed she had a choice, then she might possibly soften toward him.
It was worth a shot. Everything else so far had failed.
“Thank you for your time, Mother. I appreciate it,” he said as he sat down next to her and kissed her cheek.
“I just hope that it wasn’t wasted, that you will listen to me,” she said, but there was doubt in her eyes.
“Of course I will listen to you,” he replied. And he had listened.
He’d learned that he needed to be a lot more savvy in the way he spoke to Rachel. She had to be playing some sort of game. And she was sure to lose.
She hid from their passion together, pushed him away, but he wouldn’t give up. The prize was too valuable.
His child.
And, of course, Rachel in his bed again.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
RACHEL POKED HER head through the doorway, peeked around the corner and made sure the path was clear. Today was the day.
She was getting off this damn island if it was the last thing she did.
After creeping down the endless hall, she peered around the next corner, and breathed a sigh of relief when she saw no one about.
Adriane must be supremely confident if he’d taken away his security detail. She wasn’t so foolish as to believe the guards were no longer there, but he was getting lax.
Since she’d heard the helicopter fly out an hour ago, she knew he had left the island. All she had to do was get ahold of her brother, Rafe, and she was home free. He’d trace the call and have a rescue party here quicker than Adriane could blink.
That would teach the king he wasn’t lord and master over all.
Rachel checked inside a few doors but had no luck finding a phone. Did this castle lack a single connection to the outside world? This was ridiculous.
Finally, she entered a large parlor with a writing desk in it. There had to be a phone there! It wasn’t possible that Adriane would have no communication with the rest of the world. He might be king of Corythia, but he was also a businessman with properties all over the world. He would need to stay in touch with them.
With an ear cocked for the sound of anyone approaching, Rachel slunk to the desk and smiled when she saw the large black telephone.
Bingo!
She picked it up and nearly shook with happiness at hearing a dial tone. Freedom was within her grasp. When she heard ringing, showing she’d made a connection, she was so grateful that her knees started shaking. She quickly plopped down on her butt in case anyone happened to look in the door.
“Operator,” the voice on the other end of the line said.
“Hello?” she whispered. Operator? Who was this?
“How can I help you, Ms. Palazzo?”
Who was this and how did they know who she was?
Rachel’s stomach sank to her toes. Of course escape wouldn’t be this easy.
Adriane wasn’t worried about her wandering about the castle because she was on a stinking island with no chance of escape, and he had an operator monitoring his phone calls.
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Still, she wasn’t going to give up that easily.
“I would like to place a phone call to the United States, please,” she said, raising her voice to a normal tone, trying to make sure she sounded calm and sure, as if she weren’t doing something against the king’s wishes.
“I’m sorry, Ms. Palazzo, but any outgoing calls are not authorized at this time. Is there something else I can help you with?”
No! That was all she wanted. Sighing in disgust, Rachel slammed the phone down. Why bother being quiet now? Though frustrated, she was undeterred. If she had to swim off this damn island, she was going to do it. If she drowned in the process, then King Adriane would just have to live with his guilt. Not much consolation, but still…
Standing up, she faced the door, then stopped in her tracks at the sight of a man standing there with a lifted eyebrow.
“Is there something you need, Ms. Palazzo?” he asked with a slight accent, but in perfect English.
Though she knew she was doing nothing wrong, the man made her feel as if she were.
“I need to get ahold of my brother,” she said, firming up her voice as she stared him down. “It’s important. ”
He gazed at her a moment before giving his head the slightest shake.
“I apologize, but that’s something we cannot do right now. ” His voice was customer-service friendly, but unyielding at the same time.
“You do realize that my basic rights are being violated by your refusal to let me make a phone call. Heck, even prisoners are allowed their one call,” she snapped, no longer even pretending to be friendly.
If these people were going to keep her trapped here, pretend not to speak English or Italian when it suited them, and refuse her basic liberties when speaking in words she could understand, she wasn’t going to dance to the tune they were playing. She was going to throw a giant-sized fit.
As she watched the man look down his nose at her, Rachel realized he might not want her to be here. He probably didn’t think she was good enough to serve as his queen. What if she could turn him to her side? Maybe he would help her to escape so a proper queen could be found for his country.
Her attitude changed, and she put a bright smile on her face. His gaze narrowed suspiciously.
“What’s your name again?” Rachel asked, seeming to recall him from the States. He had to be one of Adriane’s right-hand guys.
“I am Nico,” he said, his expression not changing.
“Well, Nico, maybe you can offer your assistance,” she said, batting her eyes.
From his unaltered expression, she didn’t think her pathetic attempt at flirting was doing her any good.
“Of course, Ms. Palazzo. I am willing to assist you with anything I can,” he said, though his suspicious expression was telling her otherwise.
She had to try, though.
“I need to speak to my brother so he can return me to the States. We both know I’m not the right fit to be queen of Corythia. Wouldn’t it be better for everyone involved if I just disappeared? Adriane could then find a proper woman of royal or at least noble birth to be his wife and the queen of this exquisitely beautiful country. ”
OK, so she might be laying it on a bit thick, but she was desperate.
“It is King Adriane’s baby you are pregnant with, is it not?” he asked, looking pointedly down at her stomach.
“Does it really matter? Many, many children have been born out of wedlock to royalty. They and their mothers don’t join the family. So we can all just pretend I never existed. Everyone can get on with their lives. ” Rachel spoke in pleading tones, growing a little more desperate at the hardening in his eyes.
“Why do you want to leave?” This time there was no expression on his face, not a clue of what he was thinking.
“Because I won’t marry a man simply because I carry his child. I only spent one week with Adriane, knowing him the
n only as Ian, a beach bum who was romantic and made my world spin. Corny, no? That certainly isn’t enough of a reason for us to wed. ”
He seemed thoughtful as he looked at her. Had she made him understand?
She continued to work on him. “You must know, Nico, that it’s not right for him to hold me captive here. I have a family back home. All you have to do is let me make one little bitty phone call. Just turn your back while I get through to my brother. Adriane need never find out. ”
Nico’s lips tilted almost imperceptibly as he stared at her.
“I like your determination, Ms. Palazzo. I think perhaps that I may have misjudged you. Most Americans I have encountered aren’t as…resourceful as you. But still, I can’t go against my king. That would be profoundly disloyal, even treacherous. I will say that I believe you will make a fine queen,” he said, dashing the last of her hopes.
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He was doing his job, so there was no use in getting angry with the man. But someone here had to be willing to help her. She had never found a group of employees to be completely happy in their jobs.
“I will see myself out,” she said, and she walked past him to the door. There was no point in continuing the conversation.
“I do apologize, Ms. Palazzo,” he offered as she passed him.
Rachel paused for a moment before continuing on. She wasn’t going to say anything more. She certainly wasn’t going to thank him. He hadn’t helped her.
With her head tilted up, and more determined than ever, Rachel retreated, for now, back to her room. This wasn’t over — not by a long shot.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
NOT AGAIN! YET another night in which sleep played the merciless tease. If this didn’t stop soon, she was going to make herself sick — far sicker than just a mere fainting spell and slightly high blood pressure.
And yet, while sitting on the balcony, Rachel was at least able to enjoy the pleasant breeze as the sun rose in the sky. If she hadn’t been there against her will, she would think it an ideal place to be. The sea was so gloriously fresh that it was almost clear, making her desperately eager for a swim. The food was amazing, and the accommodations beyond luxurious.
This could be a resort.
There was just one minor problem: she’d been abducted, and that tended to color her mood. She wasn’t so relaxed that she’d forgotten the reason she was here.
She hadn’t seen Adriane since the morning before, but she knew he was back. If she were able to fly the dang helicopter, she would have been hot-wiring it and making her escape. But, no, she knew how to fly only as a passenger, and she had no interest in ending up on the bottom of this beautiful sea.
This morning, when she’d looked in the mirror, she’d noticed the tiniest hint of a bump on her stomach, not enough that she looked pregnant, but enough that it was all becoming more and more real. Each time she experienced morning sickness, or felt dizzy, each time she looked in the mirror and found minor changes in her body — it all added up to the fact that she was going to be a mother.
In about five and a half months she would have a baby.
At this moment, it would be so nice to sit down and talk to her mother, ask her how she’d felt the first time she’d noticed a change in her body. Had she been afraid or overjoyed? Had she run to the toilet and thrown up or lay back and rejoiced? What had gone through her head and heart?
Of course, her mother had been happily married to a man who loved her completely and utterly. Rachel was sure that made a world of difference, softened the fears that went along with the condition.
Maybe if she played nice, Adriane would allow her to call her mom. Rachel wouldn’t burden her with the knowledge of her abduction. She just wanted to hear her mother’s warm voice.
Adriane had to understand that much.
If he didn’t, he was an even crueler man than she took him for.
“I hope you slept well. ”
There was the man of the hour, or maybe of the nine months. Rachel didn’t turn to acknowledge him as he stood behind her. But just knowing he was there was causing her stomach to stir in ways that weren’t making her happy.
“No. As a matter of fact, I didn’t sleep well. If I’d been in my own bed, I’m sure I would have had a great night’s sleep,” she said.
“If you’d been in my bed, you would have been well pleased and then would still be sleeping,” he countered.
The most infuriating part of his statement was that it was most likely correct. Not that she would admit to that. His ego was bloated enough without her puffing it up further.
Silence stretched on for several moments before he sat next to her.
“The doctor is here. He brought a device so we can see our child. ”
Rachel perked up at the thought. She should have had an ultrasound already, but she’d been too busy with denial to do it. Seeing the baby residing in her stomach, knowing he or she was healthy, would cheer her immensely in these less than encouraging circumstances.
“You had ultrasound equipment brought in?”
“Of course. We need to make sure the baby is healthy, and there isn’t a medical facility on this island,” he said matter-of-factly. Even though she’d grown up with amazing wealth, the excesses wealthy people were prone to always amused her. So much for her dreams of living like a normal person — but she’d given up on that for quite a while now.
She was thankful for her mother’s influence. Thankful she had made sure Rachel, Rafe and Lia knew money wasn’t something to take for granted. Yes, they’d had nice things, but they’d also lived humbly, at least when in Italy.
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No, Rafe hadn’t lived that way since adulthood, but he’d been taught those principles, too, like his sisters. Rachel had been jealous of Rafe a time or two, envious that he could do whatever he wanted whenever he wanted to do it. Now, she understood more why her mother had instilled her values in her children.
Too bad Rafe hadn’t listened more. But at least his love for Ari proved that his obscene wealth hadn’t totally destroyed his character.
“Are you ready, Rachel?” he asked softly, laying a hand on her shoulder.
If only he actually cared whether she was all right. But she knew his concern was only for the child she carried. She was glad he cared about the baby, but she didn’t think it was possible to go through with a relationship with him when she knew she was simply an incubator for his little one.
Would he simply discard her after the baby was born? Ignore her completely? It seemed very likely to her. Still, she wanted the ultrasound, and as she was stuck here for now, it looked as though she was going to see her first pictures of the baby with him at her side.
Without saying anything more, Rachel stood, pushing away his hand. She could get up on her own. His eyes sharpened just a bit, but he didn’t say anything about her rejection of him.
He should be well used to it by now.
Her bladder was full, which was apparently a good thing for the ultrasound, but not as wonderful for her as she walked beside him from her room and into the hallway. They made their way in silence through the maze of hallways until he stopped and opened a door on the far side of the castle.
“I know you are upset with me, but this day is special. Try not to let what’s been happening between us ruin that for you,” Adriane said as the two of them stepped inside a room that had been turned into a mini-clinic.
“I won’t let you affect how I feel, period,” Rachel said as she looked around.
His team of doctors had brought in a medical bed and an ultrasound imaging machine, along with other equipment that she had no clue about. Was he planning on never letting her leave this opulent hideaway?
It seemed to be set up for delivery. A chill went down her spine — she might be trapped here forever. The princess — no, dammit, the queen — in the tower.
/> One of the nurses led Rachel to a partitioned-off area where she changed into one of the unflattering gowns all patients wore. As she slipped the soft cotton around her, she worried that eventually she’d not even care. She thought for a moment about letting her ass hang out the back and walking out, giving Adriane a good view. She could title her memoirs “I Mooned the King”!
Then she thought better of it.
She couldn’t deny that she had feelings for Adriane. Not love, but certainly feelings. She desired him, but she was sure that was par for the course with his women. He’d been an excellent lover, and though she’d tried to forget, it was impossible not to remember his hands and mouth caressing her body — and his impressive manhood sinking within her. Showing him her ass might push him, and she didn’t think she’d be able to say no if he put forth a serious effort to seduce her.
Nope. Much better off leaving the gown nice and closed.
A tremor washed through her as she stepped from the partition and approached the table, where Adriane was waiting to help her up. She didn’t refuse him this time, not wanting to teeter over the other side of the table and let everyone in the room get a good gander at her tush.
This was all so confusing. Once again she blamed it on pregnancy hormones. That had to be the only explanation, because suddenly she had to stop herself from laughing at her own lame jokes.
“Just lie back and relax. We’ll have an image of your baby in just a few moments,” the nurse said as she lifted Rachel’s robe and applied a cold gel to her belly. Any thoughts of laughter evaporated just as fast as they’d appeared.
When the woman pressed the small wand to her stomach, Rachel was afraid she was going to embarrass herself and lose bladder control right there in front of everyone, but as the screen flashed on, Rachel forgot all about her discomfort and gazed at the monitor in fascination while she waited to see the first image of her baby.
When the doctor’s brow furrowed and he leaned down to start whispering with the ultrasound technician, turning the screen away and pointing at it, Rachel felt her pulse escalate.
Adriane turned his full attention to them and she felt like an outsider as she heard them speak urgently — in French again! Why did they keep doing that!
