Princess in the Iron Mask - By Victoria Parker Page 0,72
arrange something.’
‘One week?’
‘Only one. My heart cannot take any more.’ Her hair tumbled down around her shoulders and he groaned, thick and low. ‘I will take you to visit Bailey and build you a new place for your work here. The best in the world.’
Claudia flung her arms around his neck, sank her fingers into his hair and breathed him in while her brain tripped. What else did she want? She was on a roll. She could have every little thing she’d secretly dreamed of.
She sprang back. ‘Can we have a baby too?’
His throat convulsed. He went pale. Claudia’s heart pinched, but she told herself not to be disappointed—it was only one little dream. She could push it back down.
‘I never thought I deserved such a thing,’ he said, wearing that haunted look that made her heart weep for him.
‘Oh, Lucas, you deserve everything—and I’ll spend my whole life proving it to you.’
One corner of his sexy mouth quirked. ‘I want a baby girl with amber eyes and honey-gold skin.’
Typical, then, that she wanted a boy with rich sapphire blues. ‘I don’t think nature is going to listen to your rules, my darling.’
‘Of course it will.’
She laughed. ‘God, I love you.’
His hot gaze dropped to her chest. ‘I love this thing you are wearing, but I want it off.’
‘Pull the ribbons here,’ she said, running her fingertip provocatively from the dip at the base of her throat to her cleavage, to rest on a line of tiny bows trailing down the front.
One after another he pulled the ties free—colour slashing his cheekbones as he unwrapped her. And if she’d thought he was hard beneath her already she’d been oh-so-very-wrong.
‘Did you hear what I said about my dreams that day?’ she asked, breathy as she undulated against him. Heat flooded her core, soaking her skimpy panties.
A husky groan poured from his mouth. ‘I would not have a heard a freight train rolling through town, cariña. I was too busy imagining you in this sinful contraption.’ The tight material gave way under the weight of her breasts, parting. ‘My imagination was scarily accurate. Dios, Claudia, I need to be inside you.’
Lifting her arms, she peeled the corset from her body and let it fall to the floor.
His hot, heavy eyes raked over her flushed skin, his feverish hands following in their wake. He cupped one of her breasts, taking all the weight from her shoulder, and she leaned forward, needing the crush of his talented fingers.
‘Tell me, querida. While I can still think.’
She licked her lips as he scraped his thumb over the tight peak, making her shudder.
‘You said every princess dreams of Prince Charming. And I...I tried to tell you. I used to lie in bed and dream of one man.’ Dreams...stories she’d passed onto Bailey. ‘A warrior who would charge through the hospital walls...or in our case my lab. Sweep me off my feet. Save me from myself.’
She caught his questioning gaze, held it. ‘I used to dream of being kissed by my hero. The Dark Knight.’
He grinned one of those gooey bad-boy smiles that made everything hot and wet, gripped the strip of lace around the top of her thighs and tore her panties clean off. ‘I am adoring your dreams, Just Claudia.’
‘Oh, I have tons more,’ she said, sheathing him. Loving him.
He curled his hand around her nape, pulled her down to his mouth and murmured against her lips, ‘And I shall make every one come true.’
Then he kissed her. Her hero. Her Dark Knight.
* * * * *
Keep reading for an excerpt from Beholden to the Throne by Carol Marinelli
We hope you enjoyed this Harlequin Presents title.
You want alpha males, decadent glamour and jet-set lifestyles. Step into the sensational,
sophisticated world of Harlequin Presents, where sinfully tempting heroes ignite a fierce and
wickedly irresistible passion!
Enjoy eight new stories from Harlequin Presents every month!
Visit Harlequin.com to find your next great read.
We like you—why not like us on Facebook: Facebook.com/HarlequinBooks
Follow us on Twitter: Twitter.com/HarlequinBooks
Read our blog for all the latest news on our authors and books: HarlequinBlog.com
Subscribe to our newsletter for special offers, new releases, and more!
Harlequin.com/newsletters
CHAPTER ONE
‘SHEIKH King Emir has agreed that he will speak with you.’
Amy looked up as Fatima, one of the servants, entered the nursery where Amy was feeding the young Princesses their dinner. ‘Thank you for letting me know. What time—?’
‘He is ready for you now,’ Fatima interrupted, impatience evident in her voice at Amy’s lack of haste, for Amy continued to feed the twins.
‘They’re just