Page 29 of Crowned for His Son

Very soon after that she’d firmly excused herself to bath Max and put him to bed—then spent a restless night swinging between the fear that she was doing the absolute wrong thing and the knowledge that there was no way back now she’d agreed.

Morning had arrived with another flurry of activity—including a surprise visit from Mrs Tolson, apparently organised by Azar, which had triggered another jolt of surprise she’d quickly pushed aside. Because of course he’d work to keep her onside until he had her firmly where he wanted her.

Still, she was glad for the chance to say goodbye, and for her neighbour to have some time with Max one last time.

Then the regal circus resumed, with stretch SUVs transporting the sizeable retinue she’d had no idea were even present at the hotel to the airport, where they boarded a jetliner the same size as Air Force One.

Eden was still reeling at the rollercoaster effect when the jet soared into the Nevada skies and winged its way towards Europe. After a half-hour exploring with Max, who was delving into his first experience on a plane with gusto and wearing himself out very quickly, she’d just settled him with a box of colourful puzzles when his father folded himself into the club seat opposite.

It was the first time they’d been alone in hours.

She cleared her throat. ‘I wanted to say thanks for bringing Mrs Tolson so we could say goodbye.’

‘It was nothing.’

‘No. It wasn’t nothing. I appreciate it.’

A spark of surprise lit his eyes—as if, like her surprise over his consideration, her courtesy amazed him. It was gone an instant later, his gaze switching to Max.

‘He’s such a clever little boy.’

But before the burst of pride could bloom within her he was spearing her with those incisive eyes.

‘Has he ever asked about his father? About me?’ he amended, as if she was in any danger of forgetting who he was.

She shook her head. ‘Not in any real sense. He’s too young, I think. He probably would’ve if he’d been in daycare…’

His nostrils flared and a fierce light of satisfaction and determination ignited the silver-grey depths of his eyes. ‘It seems I came along just in time, then.’

The sting of his words sharpened her retort. ‘If you’re trying to laud yourself as some sort of saviour, Your Highness, you won’t find me falling over myself with gratitude. You might not think so, but we were doing okay before you came along. Not everyone is born with a dozen sets of silver spoons in their mouths.’

He leaned forward, resting his elbows on the polished table and surrounding her with the magnetism of his presence and the sublime scent that made her want to bury her nose in his throat and inhale lungsful.

‘Word to the wise: feel free to use that cutting tone with me all you like when we’re in private. But you will have to moderate it when we’re in public.’

The delivery was even-toned to the point of icy, with zero signs of disgruntlement. In fact, he looked faintly amused.

‘So I’m to walk three steps behind and ask how high when you tell me to jump or suffer the consequences?’

He reached across lazily and helped Max place another puzzle piece into its right slot. ‘Not at all. And not if I express a liking for my future queen’s tart tongue.’

She couldn’t stop the heat from suffusing her, despite the relatively benign statement. ‘I’m not changing who I am just to get on your or anyone else’s good side.’

She’d watched her mother do that far too many times, with the same heart-wrenching results.

A hint of something resembling respect flitted across his face. ‘Bending a little might be wise. Otherwise, get ready for a period of…friction.’

Again his words evoked steamy scenes that made her squirm in her seat. That made her far too aware of her erratic heartbeat. The tightening of her skin. The dampening between her thighs.

His silver eyes glinted again and she was sure he knew how erotically his words affected her. Straining to distance herself from the sensations, she snapped, ‘We’re getting away from the original subject, I think.’

The subject of his son refocused him, as she’d known it would.

He gave a brisk nod. ‘We are.’ Another taut pause, then, ‘I wish to tell him who I am. Sooner rather than later.’

Eden looked out of the window at the puffs of cloud several thousand feet beneath her. Up until yesterday morning she’d believed her son’s father had died in a car accident.

A part of her couldn’t deny she was glad Max’s father was alive and well and eager to claim him. And, yes, while the level of his claim was staggering, as long as she had breath in her body she would shield her son from any hurt and harm.

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