Read Online Princess in the Iron Mask by Victoria Parker - Free Book Online Page A

eyes. Blinked. Stretched again. Writhed her centrefold body like the she-devil she was. Then bolted upright. ‘Where am I?’
    ‘In my hotel suite. You may sleep, but first you need to undress,’ he said, his already tentative hold on control fraying at the image of her undressing in front of him. For him.
    Her face scrunching in a strangely pretty grimace, she twisted her legs, folding them underneath her. ‘Ugh, I feel horrid,’ she said, absorbing her surroundings, her eyes wide as they flew to his. ‘How did I get up here?’
    ‘I carried you. In slumber you bring new meaning to the adage sleeping like the dead.’
    Cheeks pinkening, she swung her legs over the edge of the bed, her eyes riveted to his chest. ‘Oh, I know. Comes from sleeping in the noisiest places.’ At his quizzical glance she elaborated. ‘In a hospital full of children with paper-thin walls. Still, I’m surprised you managed it.’
    ‘Are you?’ Was it his imagination or did she fixate on his chest a little too long?
    ‘No, not really. You’re huge.’
    Her voice was husky but he managed to put that down to thirst. The alternative was a treacherous road to travel down.
    ‘I’d bet good money you’re the only man on the planet who could manage it, though.’
    Plenty of his men could—not that he’d ever allow it. The thought unearthed a foreign sensation in his guts. ‘You are far from heavy, Claudia. I have carried twice your weight on my back for days on end.’
    ‘Why on earth would you do that?’
    Thuds began to pound at his temples. ‘Up,’ he ordered, amazed that he’d told her that. Frankly astounded that he’d divulged one iota of his past. Dios, he needed to get rid of her. ‘I’ve decided that we should return to Arunthia today.’
    But she wasn’t listening. Something had occurred in her fierce brain. ‘Oh, of course. How silly of me. I saw it straight away too. You’re military. Or ex-military at least.’
    She attempted to stand but fell straight back onto her rear. A curvaceous bottom now imprinted on his forearm—lush and firm.
    A groan rumbled up his chest but he managed to stall it halfway up his windpipe.
    ‘And, by the way, you can forget leaving today. You promised me twenty-four hours, Mr Garcia.’
    She stood then, unfolding to her full height: a phoenix rising from the flames.
    ‘I was under the impression I was dealing with a man of his word.’ Ouch.
    ‘I’m not leaving until tomorrow. I have business to attend to in London, tomorrow morning, and I’ll be there. Fire, flood or obnoxious control-freak notwithstanding.’
    Lucas fumed from the inside out. ‘There is every chance we will be followed again.’ He’d make sure they were not, but he had no intention of making her feel comfortable. She should be concerned for her safety, dammit. She was in for a rude awakening back at home.
    ‘ If we were followed. I’ll chance it.’
    ‘Still you continue to doubt my word.’ What could possibly be so important for her to even risk it?
    She met his eyes, tore on her lip. And he knew. It must be a man. The thought struck a knife to his heart. Dragged him back into the darkness. Why did women do this to themselves? Jeopardise their life for a man?
    ‘You may be willing to chance it but I am not,’ he said, hard enough to ram the point into the next millennium. ‘You have ten seconds to tell me what or who is so important. Then I promise you, Claudia, the decision will be mine.’
    Her stunned mouth worked. ‘But...you gave me your word.’
    Lucas moved in, slowly biting out each syllable. ‘I will break it in a heartbeat if your safety is in question.’
    She slumped back onto the bed and stared up at him. ‘You mean it.’
    ‘I am deadly serious.’ He’d had enough. Of her blasé attitude. Of the constant spike of his pulse. Of the fact that he’d forgone his word of honour for her protection as a result of her sheer obstinacy. Of everything Claudia. ‘You have less than five