for her grandfather as she tried to come up with a decent idea for her next children’s book.
No. She just wanted to run.
“I don’t want to resort to commands,” he began, crossing his arms over his thickly muscled chest. “But I will.”
Sophia’s brows shot together; she wasn’t sure she’d heard him correctly. “Excuse me?”
“I’m afraid I will have to command you to tell me who you are.”
“Command me?”
“That’s correct.”
She grinned, let out a throaty laugh and shook her head, the tension inside her easing considerably. “That’s very funny. You’re funny. So that must make you what? The king of Llandaron or something?”
He shook his head brusquely. “Not yet.”
Her stomach pinged with nerves, but she shoved the feeling away, forced out another easy laugh. “Well then, I suppose you can call me the queen of the sea.”
“This isn’t a time for humor, Miss…”
“I agree.” She stood up, straightened her shoulders. This was getting ridiculous. They’d acted without thinking, made a horrible mistake. But it was over. She needed to get out of here. Now. Before this charade went any further. Before she made an even bigger fool out of herself. “Any more commands before I go find a boatworks, sire?”
His severe gaze fairly wilted her resolve. “Just one.”
She swallowed, feeling the heat in her belly fire to life—and hating herself for such a reaction. “Knock yourself out.”
“I was careless. For that I apologize.”
“Please, no more apolo—”
“You may be carrying my child, miss… The heir to the throne of Llandaron.” He raised a fierce brow at her. “I’m afraid you’ll have to remain with me, in my kingdom, until I know for certain.”
Two
Alex watched the blood drain from the woman’s beautiful face like wet paint from a canvas, and felt as though he wanted to ram his fist through a wall. He was the cause of the unease and shock she was feeling. He’d been too quick, too apathetic, in his quest to bring reality to the situation.
As though in the path of a rolling ball of fire, the woman leaped, glanced over her shoulder, then returned her stormy green gaze to him. “Listen, whoever you are. This, whatever it is, has gotten way out of hand.”
Alex was calm as he replied, “You don’t believe me?”
She sniffed, looked him up and down. “No, of course I don’t.”
“There are many ways to prove my identity.”
“I’m sure there are,” she said, her tone thick with agitated sarcasm. “But I’m not really up for more games today.”
“Neither am I.”
“Good.” Her gaze filled with strength as her long, fiery hair swirled around them. “My boat hit a rock and is flailing around out there. I need to have it towed in before—”
“There’s no need to worry about your boat. I will have it brought in for you.”
“That’s not necessary.”
“I think under the circumstances—”
“Thank you, but I can handle it. Now if you’ll excuse me.” And with that she turned to leave.
But her hasty departure was something Alex couldn’t allow. This was far from over, far from resolved. He grabbed her hand.
When she whirled back to face him, her expression screamed antagonism. “You’ve got some nerve, buddy.”
A grin tugged at Alex’s mouth. No one had ever spoken to him with such ferocity. Granted, she didn’t believe he was the crown prince of the country, but still her pluck intrigued him.
“What do you plan to do while you wait for the repairs on your boat?” he asked.
She tugged her hand from his. “I haven’t made any immediate plans yet.”
Alex looked out toward the ocean, saw the boat thrashing around and made a quick assessment. “With damage like that, repairs will take a few weeks at the very least.”
“We’ll see. I’m pretty good with boats, so maybe I’ll lend a hand.”
“I don’t think Mr. Verrick will allow such a thing, but of course, there is no harm in trying.”
“Thanks for the advice. Can I go now?”
“Just one more thing. Where will you stay while your boat is healing?”
“I don’t know,” she said impatiently. “In town, I guess.”
Alex shook his head, a vehemence he didn’t know he possessed seeping into his blood. There was no way he was going to send this woman off to some hotel room. No matter how unwise, he wanted her close, where he could keep an eye on her, where he could protect her—where he could make certain she wouldn’t leave Llandaron without his knowledge.
Not with the ominous possibility of his child growing inside her.
“You will stay here at my beach house.”
Her brows shot together. “Just who do you think you are?”
“I told you who I am.”
“Right. Future king. Right.” She gestured around her. “I don’t see any guards.”
“I don’t allow my guards in my private residence, nor are they allowed on the grounds.”
“That’s a little unsafe for the future king, isn’t it?” she asked sarcastically.
“Perhaps. But after a lifetime of living ‘beneath the shield of protection,’ so to speak, it is what I have chosen.”
She met his imperious gaze without flinching. “Look, buddy, what happened here was a mistake, okay? Can’t we leave it at that? We weren’t thinking. All that fog and having your life flash before your eyes can—”
“Can make one foolish?”
She pointed at him. “Exactly.”
“Well, that doesn’t stay the fact that you might be pregnant.”
On a tiny gasp, her mouth dropped open and her gaze dropped to her belly. There was a long silence before her eyes finally met his once again. And when they did he saw pure unadulterated shock. Then, like a shifting breeze, anxiety and wonder filled those sea-green depths.
She said quietly, almost to
