Read Online Fighting With the Infuriating Prince by Elizabeth Lennox - Free Book Online Page B

wasn’t until she was inches away from him that she remembered that she’d ignored so many of his calls and he might not feel the same way about her.  But as his strong arms closed around her, she breathed much more easily. 
    “You are in so much trouble, woman,” he whispered in her ear as he hugged her, squeezing her until he realized what he was doing and that he might hurt her. 
    “I can’t believe you’re here,” she said, blinking hard to fight back the tears. “I’m so sorry that I didn’t return your calls.  I was being an idiot.”
    He pulled back, just enough so that he could look at her beautiful features.  “Don’t let it happen again,” he told her, his hand coming up to cup her cheek, a thumb reaching out and capturing the tear that spilled over her dark lashes.  “You have some explaining to do, my love.”
    She laughed at his tenderness because she knew that it was reserved only for her.  “I know.”
    “Just tell me you love me and it will all be worth it.”
    She laughed again, dropping her head against his chest.  “Arrogant to the last, aren’t you?” she asked.  “But yes.  I love you.  And I can’t believe how much I missed you.”
    “I love you too.  But we have a pretty big mess that we need to clear up.”
    Her smile brightened now that she was back in his arms.  “Anything can be fixed now.  I can’t believe I left that morning.  I never should have gone back to my room.”  She wrapped her arms around his lean waist, reveling in how good he felt.  And smelled!  Oh my how she loved the way he smelled!  It was all man, all Tasir!
    “Jalayla!” she heard her father snap behind her. 
    She swung around, but Tasir kept her pinned against his side, not letting her move away from him. 
    “Sorry, Father,” she said but kept her arm around his waist as well. “I guess there are a lot of things I need to explain.”
    Her father’s furious eyes glanced between the two of them. “I believe this man has explained a great deal, just by showing up.  What I’d like to know is how you so completely lost your sense of who you are and the responsibilities you have to Tularia to allow any of this to happen!”
    Jalayla cringed, never having seen her father this angry before.  And he didn’t even know all of it.  She hadn’t told anyone that she was pregnant and she was fairly certain that her father didn’t know all that she and Tasir had done at the fortress.  He only knew that she loved Tasir.  Nothing more though.  At least, she hoped that was all he knew.  “I’m not sure I can really explain it either.”  She glanced up at the man she loved so much.  “When I first met him, I thought he was the worst sort of man.  But as I got to know him, I…”
    When she couldn’t finish, Tasir stepped in.  “It’s my fault, Your Highness.  She behaved with complete dignity and I’m the one who acted inappropriately.”
    Jalayla’s father rolled his eyes.  “I doubt it.  I know my daughter too well.  She probably…” he threw his hands up in the air.  “It doesn’t matter.  What’s done is done.  We’ll just…”  He rubbed the space between his eyes as if he were trying to fight off a headache. 
    Tasir stepped into the silence.  “The contracts will have to be destroyed.”
    Jalayla looked up at him, not sure what was going on.  He turned back to her and explained, “My father arranged for me to marry Princess Ciara.”
    Jalayla couldn’t believe the stab of jealousy she felt that her friend might be marrying this man.  “No!”
    “And you’re supposed to be marrying Prince Zoran next month,” he continued.
    She pulled back a bit more, confused now.  “And yet….”  Her hand fluttered to her stomach unconsciously.  She couldn’t say a word about the pregnancy now.  In fact, she was more confused at this moment than she was before she’d walked in here.  What was going on?  A marriage contract that her father