Page 36 of Claimed By the Crown Prince

For the first time in her life she had to recognise that there was wildness in her. A wildness that had been awoken the first time she’d laid eyes on Dax. That had lain dormant until they’d met again.

It was since that night in Monte Carlo that she’d begun avoiding King Aristedes in earnest. As if she’d been reminded of what she wanted even as she’d denied it to herself.

She went back to the laptop and looked at the pictures of Maddi again. Searching for a sign that her sister was somehow in peril or unhappy. If she saw even a hint of it she would arrange for someone to go and get her out of there, but there was no hint of discomfort or unhappiness.

To the contrary. She and the King were conversing intently. Totally engrossed with each other.

A tiny seed of a suspicion formed in Laia’s head as she looked at the pictures. Could it be possible that her sister and the King weren’t just acting out a fake engagement?

Laia put her hand to her mouth at the notion. She knew Maddi would do anything for her, that her loyalty was true and deep. But Laia had made it very clear that she had no intention of marrying Aristedes, so even if there was something between Maddi and Aristedes, Laia wouldn’t consider it a betrayal.

Laia also knew Maddi had a pragmatic approach to emotions and the notion of love. But as for desire...? As Laia was beginning to understand, once desire was involved all bets were off.

Considering her own situation... If Dax was determined to ignore the kiss, how was Laia going to remind him? And, more pertinently, encourage him to do it again?

Dax felt suspicious and he didn’t know why. Well, that was a lie. He knew exactly why. Because he suspected Laia was up to something.

Since she’d brought the shopping up from the boat she’d appeared periodically during the course of the rest of the day, in those maddening cut-off shorts and the little crop top.

A tiny bikini was the only item of clothing that would have been more exposing.

First she’d helped him clear up his prep for dinner—he’d made the most of the fresh seafood the boatman had delivered and added it to the dish.

Then she’d gone off to do some gardening, reappearing with mud dotted on her knees and arms and face, carrying a big bunch of wild flowers that she’d artfully arranged in a huge vase.

Then, while he’d been watching a documentary in the media room, she’d appeared and asked very genially if he’d like anything. The sun had been going down, so he’d asked for a beer.

And now he sat here, nursing his beer and not concentrating on the documentary.

Had she really decided that their kiss was a mistake too? She was certainly behaving as if it hadn’t happened.

It shouldn’t be bothering him, because it had been weak and wrong to kiss her, but...

Dax’s hand gripped the beer bottle.Por Dios, it had felt like heaven.

He gave up on the documentary and switched off the TV. He went out into the kitchen area and came to a standstill.

Laia was naked.

He blinked. She wasn’t naked. But she was wearing a slinky silky slip of a dress that was approximately one shade lighter than her own skin tone.

She hadn’t noticed him standing there in mute shock, taking her in.

The dress had delicate spaghetti straps that looked as if they’d slip down a shoulder at any moment. There was a slightly dipped ruched bit at the front. It belatedly occurred to Dax that she wasn’t wearing a bra, because he could see no straps.

Her hair was up in an unfussy bun and her feet were bare. No jewellery, no adornment. She didn’t need it.

She was the image of understated sexiness. And that was before he noticed there was a slit on one side of the dress, so when she moved a length of very toned thigh was revealed.

She saw him and stood up from where she’d been checking something in the oven. She smiled brightly. ‘Shall I prepare the last bits for dinner and set the table?’

Dax had never cooked dinner with a woman before. Cooking was something he enjoyed privately. It was far too intimate to share.

‘Okay.’

Laia gestured vaguely towards his clothes. ‘Don’t feel like you have to make an effort just because I did.’

Dax’s gaze narrowed on her. His Spidey senses were tingling. ‘Laia, what are you up to?’