The Forbidden Princess Read online

  Why? She breathed the single word from between numb lips, allowing a hint of outrage to underscore the question.

  He shrugged, his black shirt pulling taut across broad, well-muscled shoulders. Youre a pawn. A pawn I intend to remove from the playing field.

  Her heart pounded in her chest. How did he plan to remove her? Did he meanby killing her? A bubble of nearly uncontrollable hysteria built inside her chest, pressing for release. Isnt there some other way? She forced the words past her constricted throat, despising the hint of entreaty they contained.

  His expression remained unrelenting. Merciless. This wasnt a man who could be affected by a womans tears. Nor pleading, nor demand, nor wiles. What would happen had been predetermined by him and she was helpless to change that.

  I cant allow the wedding to go on. He hesitated, and to her surprise a hint of distaste gleamed in his odd golden eyes before being ruthlessly extinguished. I need your gown.

  The demand caught her off-guard. My what?

  Your wedding gown. Take it off.

  Butwhy?

  Wrong answer.

  She shook her head. Her hair, loosened when hed ripped the veil from her head, cascaded to her shoulders, cloaking her. Then you wont like this one any better. I cant remove it.

  She was right. He didnt like her answer. Hard furrows bracketed his mouth and tension rippled across his frame. The lion stirred. Pay attention, Princess. Either you take it off or I do. Your choice.

  For some reason his response angered her. She didnt have a clue what hidden wellspring it erupted from, or how it managed to overcome the fear that held her on the very edge of control. She simply recognized that she had two choices. She could give in to the fear and start screaming, knowing full well that once she started, shed never be able to stopnot until he silenced her, perhaps permanently. Or she could choose to react to an impossible situation with a shred of dignity.

  She looked Merrick square in the eye. Im telling you the truth. I cant remove my clothing. Ive been sewn into my wedding gown. I gather its the custom in this principality. So, if youre going to kill me, get it over with.

  Kill you? Something flashed in his eyes. Surprise? Annoyance? Affront? I have no intention of killing you. But I do need that dress. Itll draw too much attention to us. So, if you cant remove the damn thing, I will.

  She heard the distinctive scrape of metal against leather and, unable to help herself, her gaze darted downward. Hed pulled a knife from a scabbard strapped to his leg. It was huge and serrated and gleamed wickedly even in the shadow of the massive oak. The breath hissed from her lungs and she discovered that she couldnt draw it in again. Darkness crept into the periphery of her vision but all she could focus on was that knife and the hand that held ita hand that fisted around the textured grip with unmistakable competence and familiarity.

  No

  She managed the word just as the knife descended in a sudden, swift arc, the edge biting into the bodice of her gown. For a brief instant she felt the repellent coldness of metal against the swell of her breast before it sliced downward through the silk straight to the hem. He shoved the ruined gown from her shoulders, allowing it to pool on the verdant tufts of grass at their feet.

  She turned ashen, every scrap of color blanching from her skin as she struggled to suck air into her lungs.

  Merrick watched her reaction with a bitter distaste for the necessity of his actions. He despised what hed been forced to do, what hed been forced to become because of von Folke. And yet, despite everything hed done to her, her recovery was as swift as it was impressive. The panic and fear rapidly faded from her expression and renewed anger glittered in the intense blue of her eyes. He applauded her spirit, even as he realized it would make his job all the more difficult.

  The instant her breathing stabilized, she attacked. You son of a bitch.

  He conceded the truth with a twisted smile. So Ive been told before.

  She stood with her spine pressed against the rough tree trunk, her arms folded across her chest. Seeing her without her gown answered two of his earlier questions. She had, indeed, the creamy complexion hed imagined, perfect in every regard. And she was more goddess than dynamo.

  For such a petite woman her breasts were surprisingly full, overflowing the low cut demi-bra she attempted to conceal with her crossed arms. A tiny pink bow rested between the cups holding them together, though how it managed to remain tied defied explanation and tempted him beyond reason to release the pressure keeping all that bounty in place.

  His gaze lowered and he almost smiled. Damned if she wasnt wearing a petticoat, no doubt another custom of the region. But then, he supposed it was necessary given the gown shed worn. The layers of white silk and tulle belled around her, whispering in agitation in the light breeze.

  His amusement faded. Time to set the tone for their relationship from this point forward. Distaste filled him again, but he forced himself to do what he knew he must. Dont move, he ordered.

  He lifted the knife again, giving her a full ten seconds to fixate on it before driving it through the voluminous skirting at her hip and deep into the tree trunk, pinning her in place. Then he reached down and snatched up the shredded wedding gown, crumpling it in his fist. Deliberately turning his back on her, he carried the gown to the silver SUV and tossed it inside. His men would dispose of it.

  Merrick paused, interested to see what the Sutherland woman would do next. Her choice would determine how they spent the rest of their time together. He didnt have to wait long for his answer. Nor was he surprised by her decision. The sound of rending silk signaled her response.

  Turning around, he was just in time to see her stumble free of the knife and runas best she could given her three-inch heelsback into the woods, her petticoats fluttering behind her. To his relief, it didnt occur to her to scream. He retrieved his knife before giving chase, running in swift and silent pursuit. Her hair streamed behind her like a golden flag of surrender and her breath came in frightened pants. Shed kicked off her shoes at some point and the tear in her petticoats where shed ripped free of the knife gave her plenty of legroom, allowing her to run more easily and making her far more fleet than hed anticipated.

  Merrick gritted his teeth. Miris disguise would only hold up for so long. Before von Folke discovered the deception, he needed to have his princess whisked far away from here. Putting on an extra bit of speed, he closed the distance between them. He waited for her to take a couple more steps so that he could control their fall, and then he launched himself at her.

  He twisted so hed take the brunt of the landing. Hitting the earth with a thud, he skidded a foot or two in the leaf litter and tree bracken before coming to rest in a grassy section free of rocks and sticks. He wrapped one arm around her body and the other around her neck, controlling her air supply. She struggled for a brief minute before giving up the fight with a soft moan of surrender.

  You dont listen very well. He spoke close to her ear. Thats going to cost you, Princess.

  You dont understand. His choke hold prevented her from speaking above a whisper. I have to get back to the chapel. I have to go through with the marriage. If I dont

  If you dont, you wont get to be Her Royal Highness, Queen of Verdonia. Is that it?

  No! You dont understand. My mother. He has my mother.

  If your mother is anything like you, Im sure shell be able to fend for herself.

  He released his choke hold and rolled, reversing their positions, which might have been a mistake. Seeing her splayed beneath him against the grass-sweetened earth, her tousled hair fanned around her beautiful, treacherous face was more provocative than he could have imagined. And though honor kept him from touching, he sure as hell could look.

  Her petticoats belled around her, nipping in at her narrow waist. The tear in the endless layers of tulle allowed him to catch a glimpse of a lace garter and silk stockingsstockings that seemed to glisten along every endless inch of her leg. And then there was the practically nonexi
stent bra she wore with the tiny bow that tempted a man almost beyond endurance, begging him to tug at the ends and allow the feminine scrap to drift from her body.

  Merricks body clenched, reacting to a powerful need with frightening predictability. He was infuriated to discover that it was beyond his ability to control the automatic response. Not even a lifetime of training enabled him to overcome the temptation of this particular woman. It defied explanation.

  Beneath her silver wedding gown shed been dressed to seduce, to provoke the ultimate possession, to make a man forget everything but the desperate need to mate. She stared at him with wide aquamarine eyes and in that insane moment he saw what it would be like to have her. He saw them locked together in the most primitive dance of all. A give and take that went much further than mere sex. He saw the ultimate possession, a sharing hed never dared allow himself with any of the women hed had in his life. White-hot passion. Basic driving need. A mindless surrender. Blind trustsomething hed never known in all his twenty-nine years. He saw every last detail in eyes rich with promise.

  And he wanted as hed never wanted before.

  He forced words past a throat gone bone dry. Von Folke must have caught one glimpse of you and thought all his dreams had come true.

  To his surprise she shuddered. If he was attracted to me, he never showed it. She squirmed beneath him, which thrust her breasts and pelvis up against him in a provocative brush and swirl. Please let me up.

  He wanted to refuse her request, wanted it with a raging fervor that proved to him that man was still at heart a creature of wanton instinct, an unleashed animal lurking beneath a thin veneer of civilized behavior, ruled by emotions barely kept in check and not always within his ability to control. He fought with every ounce of willpower. Endless seconds ticked by before intellect finally managed to overcome base desire.

  Very well, Princess. Or maybe intellect hadnt fully won out because he found himself saying, But I warned that running would cost you. Time to pay.

  With that, he took advantage of her parted lips and dipped downward, possessing the most lush, sumptuous mouth hed sampled in many a year.

  Two

  A lyssa sank beneath the powerful onslaught of Merricks kiss. Shed never felt anything so all-consuming, so fierce and passionate. This wasnt remotely similar to what shed experienced during her lighthearted collegiate years, untutored kisses that tasted of beer and youthful enthusiasm. Nor did it resemble the well-practiced embraces from the men shed dated in the years since, embraces tainted with calculation and ambition.

  This was an experienced man with an experienced mans skill and knowledge. A dark desire underscored his breaching of her lips and the sweeping possession of his mouth and tongue. He consumed her, igniting a fire shed never known existed until hed fanned it to life.

  Heat pooled in the pit of her stomach, a finger of flame scorching a path downward to the most intimate part of her and she moaned in protest. She shouldnt want this didnt want this. And yet she remained still beneath him, offering no resistance. His fingers forked into her hair, tilting her head so he could deepen the kiss. He softened it, coaxing where before hed subdued, tempting instead of demanding. Teasing. Enticing. Daring her to respond.

  And she did respond, her blasted curiosity getting the better of her.

  Her mind screamed in protest while her body softened to accommodate a taking she didnt want, yet somehow couldnt resist. Her jaw unclenched and her lips relaxed beneath his, parting to offer easier access. Maybe she surrendered so readily because it would keep him off guard and allow for the possibility of escape when he least expected it. But in her heart of hearts she knew the excuse was sheer self-deception. She couldnt explain her response to Merrick. She reacted to him in ways she hadnt with any other man, in primal ways that overrode rational thought and intellect in favor of reckless impulse and base desire.

  And it horrified her even as it thrilled her.

  One of his hands slid from her hair and followed the line of her throat to her shoulder before settling on her breast. That single brushing stroke branded her, marking her his in some inescapable way. He cupped her in his palm, his thumb grazing her rigid nipple through the thin layer of silk.

  Her breath escaped in a soft cry of shock, the sound absorbed by his mouth. His hand shifted, hovering above the bow that held the cups of her bra together. Before he could pluck the silk ribbons free, the urgent clatter of church bells rang through the forest while a pipe organ bellowed forth the first few triumphant notes of the wedding march prelude. The change in Merrick was instantaneous. He levered himself off of Alyssa in a flash, his scar standing out bone-white against his tanned face.

  What the hell? With a quick shake of his head, he focused on her, the passion scoring his face dying a rapid death. Clever, Ms. Sutherland. Very clever. Youll do whatever necessary, even seduce the enemy, to make sure you wear the crown of Verdonia, wont you?

  The breath hissed from her lungs and she glared at him as she shoved herself upright. Seduce you? How dare

  To her surprise, he whipped off his shirt and thrust it at her. Beneath it he wore a black stretch T-shirt that clung to his muscular form, emphasizing every hard bulge and angle. Put this on.

  You kissed me, not the other way around, she reminded him as she thrust her arms into the overlong sleeves.

  And you fought me every inch of the way, didnt you?

  Hot color flooded her cheeks while the unpalatable truth of his accusation held her silent. She searched for a sufficiently quelling retort as her fingers fumbled with the buttons of his shirt. Not that she came up with anything. Perhaps she had so much difficulty because his distinctive scent clung to the black cotton, distracting her with his crisp, woodsy fragrance. Or perhaps it was because she kept sneaking quick glances at Merrickor rather how Merrick filled his impressive T-shirt.

  Regardless, she worked each button into each hole with a stubborn doggedness until shed fastened her way straight to her neck. The instant shed finished, he reached into his back pocket and to her horror pulled out a flat roll of duct tape. Before she could utter a single word of protest, hed slapped a piece across her mouth and wound another length around her wrists.

  Note to self, he muttered, his mouth twisting into a humorless smile, from now on, no kissing the bad guys.

  She shook her head in furious denial, her angry protests stifled by the tape, though she didnt doubt for one moment that he understood the gist of what shed attempted to impart, if not the full flavor. Standing, he lifted her with ease and slung her over his shoulder. A strong, calloused hand held her in place, gripping the backs of her thighs. She shuddered beneath the intimate contact even though it came through layers of tulle, hating herself for the sizzle of heat that vied with her terror at her predicament.

  Within minutes hed retraced the path theyd taken in her desperate flight through the forest, carrying her with long, swift strides to the SUV that idled on the side of the road. Opening the back door, he tipped her onto the floor.

  Keep silent and still, he instructed. Dont make me take more drastic measures than I have already. Nod if you understand, Princess.

  She fought a silent inner battle for five full seconds. With no choice but to acquiesce, she jerked her head up and down. Satisfied, he tossed a blanket loosely over her and closed the door. An instant later the drivers door opened and he climbed in. Without wasting another moment he put the car into gear, driving swiftly from the scene of her capture.

  They continued for what seemed like hours, the route twisting and turning, the roads rough and bumpy. She could tell that many were either dirt or gravel. As the sun crept lower and lower in the sky, she worried endlessly about what was happening back at the chapel.

  It hadnt been difficult for her to figure out that the woman whod been part of Merricks group had taken Alyssas place. But how long would the womans disguise work? Even more imperativewhy had Alyssa been kidnapped and what did Merrick plan to do with her? Clearly, Verdonia had political
problems in which shed somehow become embroiled. Her abduction must be related to those problems.

  Of even more concern was what Prince Brandt had done when hed discovered the switch in brides. Had he taken his fury out on her mother? Was her mother safe? Although the prince hadnt leveled any specific threat against her when shed been brought to his palace, the implication had been loud and clear. If Alyssa didnt marry him, her mother would meet with an unfortunate accident.

  She closed her eyes, fighting her tears. So now what? She had to find a means of escape, that much was obvious, though even if she succeeded in freeing herself, how could she rescue her mother? The worrisome questions swirled through her mind, increasing her fear and desperation while offering no practical solutions.

  During the interminable journey, a single goal formed, burning in the forefront of her mind, and she latched onto it with unwavering determination. She had to escape and return to Prince Brandt, no matter what that entailed. But how? Slowly, an idea grew through her fear and worry.

  There was little question that her abductor was attracted to her, even if he fought hard to resist that attraction. Shed seen the desire in those extraordinary eyes of his, the hunger that had risen unbidden to score his face when his hand hovered over the tiny pink ribbon holding her bra in place. It had been strong enough an attraction for him to act on, despite the circumstances and the clear need for haste. Assuming nothing better presented itself, she could attempt to seduce him in order to free herself, no matter how distasteful she found the prospect. Then, once shed returned to Prince Brandt, shed marry him if doing so ensured her mothers safety.

  It was a frightening plan, one that just a short week ago would never have occurred to her. But she hadnt come up with a better idea, and right now time was her enemy.

  She wriggled in place, the floor of the SUV uncomfortable. Unable to stand it for another moment, she inched onto the backseat, shoving the blanket under her head as a pillow. Over the next several minutes, she surreptitiously peeled the duct tape off her mouth, wincing as the glue left her sensitive skin raw and chapped.