AllFreeNovel
Share Us
His father would immediately reject the idea of an alliance with Aristos because of what the real estate developer would undoubtedly demand—a casino license for the island—but there was no alternative now. Akathinia had to protect itself.
He expected to have a fight on his hands. Fortunately for both his father’s heart and Nik’s exhausted body, the former king had retired early. Which meant he could attack his other pressing issue: Sofi´a.
He headed toward his private wing. Sofi´a was waiting for him in his salon, staring out the window that overlooked the gardens, the tense set of her body warning him he had a battle on his hands. She whirled around, antagonism written across her beautiful face. “You fly me here to talk and then you leave me alone all day while you go to a meeting? How is that solving our problem?”
He shrugged out of his jacket and threw it on a chair. “I apologize. My meeting took longer than I thought.”
She glared at him. “I am not marrying you, Nik. You are off having all these conversations, deciding things, when you have no idea what I’m going to say.”
He worked his fingers into the knot of his tie and pulled it loose. “I know exactly what you’re going to say. What you just did.”
She blinked. “So you understand we need to negotiate how this is going to work?”
“Negotiate isn’t the right term.” He pulled the tie off and tossed it on top of his jacket. “Come to terms with our situation is more accurate.”
“I don’t have a situation. You do.”
He started undoing the buttons of his shirt. “You are carrying the heir to the throne. You are on Akathinian soil. You most certainly do have a problem to resolve.”
She stuck her hands on her hips. “You tricked me into coming here. This is a democratic nation. You can’t hold me here against my will.”
“A democratic nation in which I retain ultimate authority.” He stripped off his shirt and dropped it to the floor. “And I seem to remember you getting on that plane of your own free will.”
“Because you played on my sympathies.” Her eyes narrowed as he undid the button of his pants. “What are you doing?”
“Taking a shower so we can eat.” He stripped the pants off, dragging his boxers over his hips along with them. Her gaze dropped to that part of him she loved so much. “Unless you’d like to join me in the shower first?”
She shifted her attention back to his face. “No, thank you.”
“Later then.” He turned his back on her and headed for the shower. “Pour me a drink, will you? I’m tired and I’m in a filthy mood.”
* * *
Later? Sofi´a fumed. How about never again? She threw a mental dagger at Nik’s beautiful backside as he walked into the bathroom. He could not force her into a marriage she didn’t want. She was going to say her piece and leave.
His wet hair slicked back from his face, Nik joined her on the terrace a few minutes later. In jeans and a white shirt rolled up at the sleeves he didn’t do much for her equilibrium. He’d always been spectacular in a suit, but in casual clothes, he was all muscular, earthy male. Devastating.
She lifted her chin. “Why are we not having dinner with your family?”
He took a sip of the drink he’d poured himself and rested his elbows on the railing.
“I don’t think you’re ready for it.”
Her stomach tightened. “I’m sure they must be overjoyed to have me here. Your pregnant American lover who destroyed your alliance.”
His mouth thinned. “I think we should focus on the point at hand.”
“I’m not marrying you, Nik. There has to be some other way to make this work. Why can’t the baby stay with me in New York? We’ll do regular visits back and forth, and when he or she is older, they can choose whether they want to live in New York or Akathinia.”
He gave her a scathing look. “The heir to the Akathinian throne is not being raised in Manhattan. This child is a symbol of the future of the monarchy, one the people desperately need right now. Our child will grow up here. Learn the customs and intricacies of the country they will one day rule.”
“But I don’t want to live here,” she argued. “I have equal say in this decision, and I live in New York.”
“Don’t be naive.” His razor-sharp tone sliced over her skin like a whip. “We aren’t a stockbroker and an office assistant negotiating a custody settlement. I am the King of Akathinia. And if you think I’m letting you leave this country while you’re carrying my heir, you’re clearly deluded. Have the baby, then leave. It’s your choice. But the child remains here.”
