Expecting Royal Twins! by melissa mcclone

Author:melissa mcclone
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2011-02-20T05:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER SEVEN

NIKO covered Izzy’s hand with his. The warm touch was a harsh reminder to her that another man, a stranger, would soon call himself her husband and be the one touching her. Hot tears spilled down her cheeks.

She turned away so Niko wouldn’t see her cry.

He cupped her chin and turned her face toward him. Gently he wiped the tears from her cheeks with his fingers. “I will not allow you to be forced into a marriage you do not want.”

“Thanks, but this is bigger than you and me. People have suffered too much already. My parents and Uncle Frank sacrificed their lives. I won’t be the catalyst for more violence and pain.”

“I did not believe you had what it takes to be a princess, but you do,” Niko said. “My apologies, Isabel.”

The sincerity in his voice brought another round of tears. She would miss hearing him say her name.

“Thanks.” Izzy sniffled. “I’m usually not so girly about things.”

“I’m glad you’re a girl,” he said. “Or I couldn’t do this.”

Niko gathered her into his arms.

Izzy stiffened. She didn’t need him, but she had no desire to back out of his embrace. The loneliness in her heart made her relax and lean toward him so he could pull her closer.

Pressing her cheek against his hard chest, she felt the beat of his heart, steady and strong. Invisible warmth enveloped her. For the first time in years, she felt safe. All the emotion she’d been holding in poured out.

Niko didn’t try to soothe her with platitudes. He simply held her, rubbing her back. It was more than she had expected from him. It was all she needed at the moment.

She didn’t know how long Niko kept his arms around her, but slowly her breathing settled. Her tears stopped. Izzy found the strength she needed in his arms. “I know what I have to do. It’s just…I can’t imagine having to spend the rest of my life married to someone who was forced to be my husband. It seems so wrong to me.”

He brushed his hand through her hair. “You are not used to the concept. But arranged marriages aren’t all bad. There’s friendship, companionship, having a common purpose.”

His closeness comforted her. Izzy could almost believe things would be better. “I only wish…”

“Tell me.”

Izzy hesitated, but Niko had been so caring, so kind she had to tell him. “I wish instead of marrying some random royal with a fancy title I could marry for love. But at this point I’d settle for being able to choose who I married.”

Niko continued to comb his fingers through her hair. “Whom would you choose?”

The thought of him popped into her mind then quickly vanished. The emotion of the situation, his compassion, was making her feel closer to him.

“Tell me who,” he pressed.

None of her dates liked cars or racing the way she did. The guy she spent the most time with was Boyd. Building go-carts together, working at dirt tracks on pit crews, watching races. They shared the same interests and the same dreams.

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