Scorched

Didn’t all children want their very own pony? Well, she’d find out very soon whether the bribe worked.

“Maybe our child wants his presence to be known to the world. After all, he is the future king of Corythia and shouldn’t be hidden, even while still in the womb.”

Rachel froze as she peered into the mirror and discovered Ian, or King Adriane, standing just inside the door to her room.

Of course. The day was just getting better and better.

It was more than obvious that this man wasn’t going to simply disappear. Why make it easy for her and her unborn child? She should have known he wouldn’t have the patience to wait for a better time to seek her out.

It was all about his schedule and what was convenient to him. This was one of the reasons she had refused to answer his calls — he was too damn impatient. She didn’t know what she wanted to do yet; she didn’t have any answers for him, so there was no point in them talking just yet.

“You weren’t invited here, Ian,” she said in her haughtiest tone. She quickly regained her composure after the initial shock of seeing him.

“I didn’t ask for your permission, Rachel. You’ve been avoiding me for too long now. Don’t you realize how rude that is?” he asked with irritation as he prowled about the room, coming closer to where she was sitting.

“I would say that you’re the one being rude. I didn’t invite you to any wedding, much less my brother’s. And I certainly didn’t allow you into the room I’m dressing in.”

“You’ve apparently been coddled too long, because your manners are appalling.”

Rachel gasped at his audacity and lack of self-awareness. If her stomach hadn’t been rolling, she’d have shot to her feet to confront him more forcefully. The man needed to be taught a lesson on how to treat a lady. He was no knight in shining armor, and certainly no Prince Charming — or King Charming in his case.

“Yes, you are right, Ian Graziani, or I guess I should say Adriane, since even your name was a lie. I have been very well taken care of my entire life because I have parents who adore me as I adore them. This is my brother and my best friend’s wedding, and I don’t have time to fight with you today. Leave now, and I will talk to you next week.”

Rachel’s choice of words and abrupt dismissal lit a fire inside him that went shooting through his eyes. Well, tough, she thought. They were having a child together, one she was carrying, and as long as he continued treating her like a servant, he’d have to get used to her attitude. She didn’t submit well — not well at all.

“I’ve been trying to be reasonable with you, Rachel, but you insist on acting like a spoiled brat. I tire of this game you are playing.” He stood directly behind her, lifted his hand and placed it on her shoulder as if he had a right to do so.

He didn’t.

Now it was Rachel’s eyes that were blazing. How dare he! Twisting around, she threw his hand off her shoulder.

“Look, Ian. I really don’t want to say something that can’t be taken back. It’s more than apparent that you don’t have the same consideration toward me. Before this goes any further, I suggest you do as I’ve requested and make yourself scarce,” she said between clenched teeth.

“I was invited here, Rachel — by your brother,” he told her smugly.

“Why in the world would he invite you?”

“We are friends. I told you this already. It seems you don’t listen when I speak. Rafe and I have done business together for many years.”

“You didn’t tell him about the baby, did you?” She hated the hint of worry in her tone.

Adriane paused. He looked at her, his head slightly tilted as if assessing her mood along with her words. She didn’t like feeling as if she were under a microscope — and that’s exactly how she was feeling as his gaze seared her.

“No. I thought you should be the one to do it. But you obviously have a difficult time communicating with your family,” he replied.

“I do not!” Did this man have a death wish?

“Then why haven’t you said anything yet?”

“That is none of your business.” Because she was afraid of their reaction. Their good little girl had screwed up. Literally. Why else wouldn’t she have told them?

“The fact that you carry my heir makes it very much my business.”

“Doesn’t the baby have to be a boy to be your heir?”

Puzzled, he looked at her for a few moments before he responded. “Of course it’s a boy.”

“You don’t know that. There’s a fifty percent chance that I carry a girl. If he is in fact a she, will you go away and leave us alone?”

Rachel didn’t like the pang that thought caused. No, she wasn’t in love with Adriane. How could she be after spending only a week with the man? But she did want her child to know his or her father, even if the man wasn’t completely active in the baby’s life. Rachel just didn’t want to deal with him at this moment. Eventually, though, the two of them would have to come to an understanding.

“Throughout our country’s long history, the first child of every king of Corythia has been a boy. It is invariable in the royal line.”

“Well, maybe this time the little girl swimmer was the fastest out of the bunch,” she countered.

“In that case, she is still a princess of Corythia.”

Rachel thawed just the tiniest bit — he’d said those words with a hint of a smile. So he probably wouldn’t reject the child if it turned out to be a girl, after all. That was a point in his favor. Still, even if he wasn’t a complete ass, her anger with him was through the roof.

“But that is a moot point, Rachel, since you will produce a son for me. Our second child can be a daughter,” he said matter-of-factly.

Rachel gaped at him and waited for her voice to return. Was he kidding?

“You say I’m the one who is spoiled. Have you looked in a mirror, lately, Adriane? A second child? There won’t be one. I’m hardly ecstatic about being stuck with you because of the first. Don’t get me wrong — I will love my baby with everything I have. It’s the fact that you are involved that displeases me.”

There. Maybe that would get through his thick skull.

“When we are married, you will learn to be more respectful. I have no doubt about it,” he told her with an indulgent glance.

“I’ve already told you that I won’t be marrying you, Adriane. The sooner you accept that, the better off we’ll all be,” she replied, trying desperately to hold on to her temper. It wouldn’t do her body any good to raise her blood pressure.

“I think you will make a mighty fine first wife,” he said with a smirk.

Rachel forgot all about her blood pressure as she saw spots start forming before her eyes.

“First wife?” she roared.

Adriane actually had the nerve to laugh. Never before had she felt such a desire to bloody anyone, but she was close to finding a sharp object and impaling him. The makeup table had a few promising weapons.

“I’m just kidding, Rachel. You will be my only wife,” he said with a laugh as he held up his hands in surrender.

“You’d best find a more willing partner, Adriane. I won’t marry you — not for all the gold in the vaults hidden beneath your dungeons — not for all the jewels in your kingdom. I don’t know how many times I need to say that until it sinks in,” she snapped.

“Well, then, although we appear to be at an impasse, one way or the other you will marry me, Rachel,” he said with a confident grin, not fazed in the least by her rejection of him.

Rachel’s temper heated up to molten levels. She leaped to her feet to confront him at her full height — a less than intimidating five foot four. It was the wrong move. The room suddenly started to spin and black spots began to interfere with her vision. She was about to pass out and there was absolutely nothing she could do to