The Queen's Nine-Month Scandal Read Free Page A

throbbed between them, deeper than lust. And then his hands tightened and he lifted her into the boat.
    Leading her to a place to sit, he placed a luxurious throw around her shoulders and legs, and then turned to put the boat in motion. They moved out into the canal and it felt like a dream Analia never wanted to wake from. Everything was made more surreal by the black lace which obscured her vision.
    The small boat scythed through the water leaving a spray in their wake. She thought of how she’d envied the couple on the boat earlier...and here she was now in her own fantasy. The glorious crumbling grandeur of Venice passing them by as night fell over the jewel of a city.
    Her eyes drifted back to where Sasha stood at the controls, his wide-legged stance. For the first time in her life she was handing over control to someone else, trusting someone else. She realized in that moment, how utterly self-contained and strong she’d had to be for so long. She’d never even allowed herself to indulge in the fantasy of leaning on someone else. Allowing someone else to make decisions...it made her ache for something she’d never really acknowledged wanting before. A soul mate . And to be thinking of that now, with this stranger...and even more disturbingly, she felt protected in a way that a hundred bodyguards couldn’t make her feel. As if nothing could harm her as long as he was close to her.
    She wondered what his real name was, who he was—then stopped herself. Tonight wasn’t about that. She would never see him again once this was over. This fleeting feeling of handing over control wouldn’t last and she couldn’t for a second get used to it. She tried to ignore the lancing regret inside her. Regret had no place here. And then the boat was coming to a stop by a wooden jetty and he was turning and holding out his hand to her. Analia stood up and put her hand in his.
    * * *
    The door of Daniel’s luxurious hotel suite closed behind them and he watched as the beautiful stranger walked into the room ahead of him—still with that intriguing mix of hesitance and confidence.
    He rested back against the door for a moment, delicious anticipation winding his body tight with desire. Watching her. Imagining baring her to his gaze. His mouth. A tendril of unease flickered through Daniel. This situation, with this woman, was very different to what he was used to. It felt as if there was a deeper communication taking place than mere lust and it unsettled him, but not enough to turn back. He could no more do that than stop breathing.
    She turned around and looked at him. He pushed himself off the door and as he did so he took off his jacket and threw it carelessly on a chair nearby. He came and stood right in front of her and could smell her clean seductive scent tease his nostrils. And something more potent. Desire.
    ‘I want to see you,’ he said throatily. ‘Take off your mask.’
    Immediately she tensed and backed away jerkily. She put a hand up as if to check it was still there. ‘No. It stays on.’
    Frustration beat through Daniel’s blood. It made him nervous to realize how badly he wanted to see her revealed. So he shrugged lightly like it didn’t matter. ‘Whatever you want.’
    He took her hand and led her into his bedroom, lit only by one dim light, curtains billowing gently in the breeze. He turned and faced her, that beautiful voluptuous mouth cast into shadow.
    Cupping her delicate jaw in his hands, he pulled at her lower lip with his thumb, feeling how soft it was. Desire enflamed him. He couldn’t ever remember any woman having such an effect on him.
    Urging her towards him he could swear she trembled lightly and yet...would such a woman tremble? A woman who could offer herself up to a complete stranger? And he, the man who would take her...a small voice pointed out. But Daniel had been damned long ago so he didn’t worry about it.
    * * *
    Analia’s heart was beating so fast she felt sure he must hear it but