Page 28 of Crowned for His Son

‘What—? I don’t know what you’re talking about.’

The magnificent Crown Prince stared at her for a long stretch, and then, casting a glance in his son’s direction, to make sure he was still happily playing, he prowled towards her.

‘The innocent waif act may work with men like my private secretary, but you should know that as long as you keep it harmless your life will be as smooth as you wish it. Stray beyond that and there will be consequences. Understood?’

* * *

He knew he’d given far too much away when her eyes rounded—even more alluring now, after whatever magic the damn stylists had created. She blinked again, and he stifled a breath as her long lashes batted against the top of her cheeks.

Dios mio, when had he ever noted the sexiness of a woman’s eyelashes?

It’s a good thing you’re marrying her, no?

Was it, though? When his primary reason for doing so was to keep her in position when it came to his son’s wellbeing and nothing else? Hadn’t he warned himself against raking over disagreeable emotions? Yet here he was, already snapping at Gaspar for staring at her too long, and feeling his manhood thicken at the sight of her face and the seductive sway of her hips.

‘Are you warning me against…cheatingon you?’

The word fell from her glossy lips with such contempt he would’ve thought he was dealing with someone else entirely had he not known first-hand what this siren was capable of.

But, while his friend Nick had been many things—rabidly competitive, shockingly obstinate and borderline obsessed with one-upmanship—he’d never outright lied to Azar.

In his darkest nights, Nick’s accusations rang through his nightmares.

‘I saw her first. Just like you to slide in and take what’s mine, isn’t it? You should be thankful that she returned to my bed last night. She spent all night apologising. For the sake of our friendship, I suggest you stay away from her, though. She’s mine now.’

Except things hadn’t remained as cut and dried as that.

Crown Prince Azar of Cartana, a man renowned for his integrity and his tough but fair dealings with heads of state and unruly family members, had succumbed to temptation again.

And again.

Because this woman had played this same act and seduced him. And, yes, he knew the hypocrisy of blaming the woman. Knew and accepted that a large swathe of blame lay with him.

He’d succumbed to lust and desire. Rowed with his best friend over a woman. Watched that same woman choose his friend over him.

Hours later, Nick had been dead.

Sorrow and fury congealed into a hard ball in his gut, effectively slaying his blazing arousal.

Frustration cannoned through him at the reminder that she didn’t even remember any of it.

‘I’m advising that only your most exemplary behaviour will ensure a smooth transition for our son. We owe it to him to play a straight bat.’

Her lips parted, but he was done with this conversation.

Turning, he strode to Max and picked him up, revelling in the faint baby smell he’d grown so ragingly addicted to in just half a day.

Thiswas safe.

Thiswas less mind-bending.

And if there was the tiniest bit of cowardice in the act…who would dare accuse the King-in-waiting of such a thing?

CHAPTER FIVE

AFULL DAYlater and Eden was still fuming at Azar’s not so veiled denigration of her character. Whether by design or coincidence—and she was inclined to believe the former—since then they’d been inundated with staff, and the occasional guest who wanted one thing or another from the Crown Prince. A crown prince who insisted that Eden and his son were present for each meeting, the last of which had included his half-brothers.

And between one breath and the next, Eden had found herself being coaxed into having Teo Domene’s creative designer as her wedding trousseau maker.

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