Page 23 of Wild Heart
There’s only one thing I care about right now. Making sure my princess doesn’t leave here without knowing she’s mine.
10
ISABELLA
Ialmost trip over the sleeping figure when I open my door the next morning. Raiden opens one eye and peers at me.
“Good morning.”
He stretches and his t-shirt rides up, revealing the defined V-shape of his Adonis Belt and a hint of ink swirling around the side of his torso.
My mouth goes dry as I drag my eyes up to his. His hair’s mussed up, and he’s in the same clothes from last night.
“Have you been out here all night?”
He nods.
I don’t want him to notice how pleased that makes me, so I hide it behind a scowl. “I’ve swapped one prison for another.”
Raiden shakes his head. “You’re free to go anytime you like.”
I raise my eyebrows, because it sure as hell doesn’t look like it if he’s been standing guard outside my room.
“Then why did you spend the night here?”
He finishes his stretch and looks at me lazily. “Because if you’re going to leave, I want the chance to convince you to stay.”
I lean against the doorframe and study him closely, hoping he can’t tell how pleased his words make me.
“So are you leaving?” His expression is causal, but apprehension flickers across it. He doesn’t want me to leave.
“That depends.” I let it hang in the air for a moment, enjoying watching him. “Do you serve breakfast downstairs?”
He stands up, and my gaze follows him as he draws himself to his full six foot something height. I’m not a small woman, but next to Raiden I feel petite. He takes a step toward me and his look is hungry, like I’m on the menu.
“What do you want, princess? Scrambled quail eggs? Pomegranates and cinnamon yoghurt?”
He’s teasing me, and the smile that plays on his lips makes my core pull up tight.
“I eat regular food, you know. Poached eggs and hand caught wild Alaskan salmon will be fine.”
He chuckles, and I like making him laugh. He holds his arm out for me, and I link mine through his as we walk downstairs.
The restaurant won’t open for another couple of hours, and I sit at one of the tables while Raiden fetches cereal and milk and two bowls from the kitchen.
As we’re crunching on Cheerios, he sits back and looks at me.
“So princess, what do you want to do today?”
I look out the window at the mountain road and the quiet valley beyond. It’s so peaceful, made more so without the constant guards that follow me around.
I often wondered what it would be like to do normal things without my guard: go to a shopping mall, get my hair done without their presence. But there’s really only one thing I want to do today.
“I want to go for another ride on the back of your bike.”
Raiden raises his eyebrows, and I like that I’ve surprised him. But the bike ride last night was thrilling.
“I want to ride in the mountains where there are no people. No one to recognize me. No one around at all.”
