out sharply, his face twisting. ‘But then things changed. I started to care about you—’
He took a step forward and with shock she saw that his hands were shaking.
‘I missed you when you weren’t there and I looked forward to seeing you.’ He shook his head vehemently, his eyes dropping away. ‘You have to understand, Addie. I’d never felt like that before. I didn’t know what I was feeling.’
She looked up at him uncertainly. ‘What were you feeling?’
He shivered. ‘Out of control. Scared.’
She bit her lip. ‘Why were you scared?’
He clenched his teeth. ‘Because I cared. About you. Only I didn’t know how to deal with those feelings. When you got so upset it hurt to see you like that and I just wanted to get away. I didn’t think you would leave—’
‘I didn’t think there was any point in staying,’ she said flatly. ‘I thought you didn’t love me.’
His eyes met hers. ‘I can see why you would think that.’ Looking away, he ran a hand over his face. ‘I grew up not knowing what love was. I didn’t understand how to love someone or be loved. I didn’t have relationships. I had sex. And sex was just a way of feeling things without actually having to care.’
His voice cracked.
‘When I met you that changed. I started to see the world differently. But it was still all so new, and I found it hard.’ He shook his head. ‘I should have come after you.’
There was a lump in her throat. ‘I was to blame too.’ She bit her lip. ‘I should have stayed and fought for our marriage.’
He breathed out slowly. ‘Upstairs, you said you loved me and that you wanted to try again. Was that true?’
Hesitating, she stared at him in silence. But she knew the truth was written all over her face anyway. ‘Yes. But I won’t be your mistress, Malachi.’
He shook his head, his eyes damp, his face pale and strained. ‘I don’t want you to be my mistress.’ Reaching out, he gently took hold of her hands in his. ‘But I do want you to forgive me for blackmailing you. And treating you so badly.’
His hands tightened around hers.
‘I’m so sorry, Addie. I know I don’t deserve you, and I should have let you go tonight. Let you find someone kinder and better than me. But I can’t. I know it’s selfish, but I can’t allow you to leave because I love you. And my life is nothing without you.’
Breathing out unsteadily, she looked down at his hands. ‘Does that mean you’re not going to sue me?’ she said softly.
He shook his head. ‘It wasn’t a binding contract.’
She smiled weakly and then pulled away slightly.
‘What about divorcing me?’
She felt her heart tumble over as he shook his head.
‘Absolutely not.’ Gently, he pulled her towards him. ‘You’re not getting rid of me that easily. You’re my wife, and as soon as we get out of here I’m telling the entire world.’
She looked up at him, her mouth trembling. ‘I don’t know, Malachi. It all sounds perfect in here. But we can’t stay in a lift for the rest of our lives.’
He grinned. ‘It’s tempting, but—trust me, sweetheart. I can make this work.’ He frowned. ‘Which is more than can be said for this lift...’
Her eyes narrowed. ‘You broke the lift?’
He nodded. ‘It would appear so. See that flashing light—that means it’s locked.’
‘Locked!’
He gave a helpless shrug. ‘I was a little distracted.’
‘So what happens next?’ she asked slowly.
His eyes dropped to her mouth. ‘We have to wait. Just for a couple of hours.’
She lifted an eyebrow. ‘I see. I suppose we’ll just have to think of a way to pass the time.’
His hands slid slowly round her waist. ‘Do you have any ideas?
‘Actually, I do.’ She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him gently on the lips.
He drew away from her, his eyes softening. ‘Me too.’ Lowering his mouth, he brushed his lips across hers. ‘Did I tell you that I love you, Mrs King?’
His hands moved over her waist, sliding under the shirt, warm palms touching her bare skin, and she felt her heart start to race.
‘Yes, you did.’ She closed her eyes. ‘But tell me again.’
The Secret That Shocked De Santis
Natalie Anderson
For the fabulous Flo, thank you for being such
an awesome editor and giving me such support—
there’d be no book without you
STELLA ZAMBRANO FELT as if she was sitting outside the principal’s office, knowing she was in trouble without a clue as to why. All she could do was wait and try not to think the worst.
The military wing of the San Felipe palace was designed to impress and to intimidate. It succeeded in both. The vaulted ceilings were metres high, the floors tiled in a headache-inducing intricate mathematical pattern, and the walls plastered with gold-framed portraits of the De Santis predecessors—princes, military leaders, powerful men.
San Felipe, a famed island principality in the heart of the Mediterranean, was currently ruled by Crown Prince Antonio De Santis. Austere, yet beloved, and devoted to duty, Antonio was aided by his charming, utterly adored younger brother, Eduardo. The public face of San Felipe, risk-taking, suave Prince Eduardo almost single-handedly kept the tourism industry afloat.
The most recent portrait in the vast room depicted the two brothers standing side by side in full military regalia. It hung on the wall directly opposite, dominating Stella’s field of vision. She opted to stare at the floor. The sweat on her back iced. She desperately hoped the Princes were not present in the palace today.
‘Lieutenant Zambrano?’
She looked up as her name was called.
‘The General will see you now.’
