Scorched - Book Four - The Surrender Series (2 page)

Chapter Two

It started out
in slow motion. Adriane stood in horror as Rachel’s eyes rolled back and she drooped forward.

He sprang into action, catching her before she hit the ground. What a fool he’d been. Why had he pushed her so hard? She’d always been so tough, and he’d thought she could handle it. But he’d been wrong, and guilt consumed him.

Laying her down carefully on the couch in her room, he snatched up his phone. “Nico, have the car readied now,” he commanded before hanging up and rushing to Rachel’s temporary desk.

He was going to take her to his private villa, where his personal physician was waiting, and had been since Adriane found out Rachel carried his child. But Adriane couldn’t whisk her away without leaving a note for her family, so he paused long enough to find a pen and paper.

Almost frantic, he scrawled a few words:

To Rachel’s family,

I have taken Rachel to see my personal physician. After he clears her for travel, we will leave for Corythia, where I will be able to care for her and my child. Though Rachel is hesitant about the upcoming nuptials, I will notify you of my plans for the wedding when they are final. You are welcome to join us, but I must inform you that I will not change my mind on this matter. She carries the heir to the throne of Corythia, and she will be my wife. Rachel will be well taken care of as the royal consort.

King Adriano of Corythia

Tossing the note onto her dressing table, Adriane carefully lifted Rachel into his arms and made his way from her room, using the back staircase. Nothing was going to stop him at this point and he’d rather not have to bother with a confrontation.

Rachel needed medical care — which, in Adriane’s opinion, only
his
physician was qualified to give. After all, she carried royalty, and she deserved only the best. He didn’t have time to deal with somebody trying to play the hero. He knew there would be hell to pay when she woke and found they were on their way to Corythia, but he’d face that problem when he had to.

His luck held, and he made it through the resort without any interference. Nico was waiting for him out back, and he shifted Rachel to his trusted adviser while he climbed into the car, then carefully held out his arms to take her back.

Adriane cradled Rachel as Nico rushed to the villa. When Rachel began stirring about five minutes into the drive, Adriane breathed a sigh of relief. She blinked up at him when she realized she was in his arms.

It took a few moments for her to recognize that they were in a car.

“Where am I?” she asked, her brow wrinkled as she tried to look around, but the night surrounded them and there wasn’t much light from the moon.

“We’re heading to my villa, where my physician can have a look at you,” he said as he stroked her hair and tried to give her a reassuring smile.

“You took me from the resort?” Her voice came back stronger than ever. She began to struggle against his hold, so he had no choice but to release her.

She pulled back from him, scooting as far away as the seat would allow.

“Of course I took you from there. You passed out in front of me. My doctor must examine you and make sure that both you and the baby are healthy,” he said calmly.

“I demand that you turn this car around right now, Adriane,” she snapped, looking at her door as if contemplating opening it.

Adriane snaked out his arm and pulled her back to him. He wasn’t about to take any chances.

“If you behave and let the doctor look at you, then we will discuss your return,” he said, crossing his fingers. He knew that nothing but his doctor saying she was unfit to travel would stop him from taking her home.

“I have a wedding to attend,” she said, spacing out the words in an attempt to remain as calm as he was.

“I left them a note. They will understand. Your health comes first.”

When it was obvious he wasn’t going to change his mind, she glared at him, but sat back and waited for the car ride to end. It did about ten minutes later.

Adriane rushed from the car when she threw her door open and dashed out. She looked around as if searching for an escape route. She wouldn’t find it. The villa was on a lake and far from other houses.

When she knew there was little choice but to accompany him inside, she followed him up the stairs and inside, where his doctor was anxiously pacing.

“Hello, Ms. Palazzo. It’s a pleasure to meet you. If you would please come and sit over here, I can make sure you are in good health,” the doctor said.

Rachel sent Adriane one more withering glare before she followed the doctor to a chair and had a seat. “I’m fine. I just haven’t eaten much the last few days, because my stomach has been too upset. I need to get this ridiculous exam over with so I can return to the resort for my brother’s wedding.” She wasn’t happy about taking her anger out on the doctor, but still, he was loyal to Adriane, so she overcame her sense of guilt.

“She fainted while we were at the resort. It took her about five minutes to wake. I want to have everything tested,” Adriane told the doctor.

“Of course, Sire,” Dr. Ricord said. He slipped a cuff on her arm and, having taken her blood pressure, listened to her heart rate at the same time.

Several minutes passed as he also checked her breathing and temperature, plus other matters of significance, while asking the occasional question. How was she sleeping? How much was she eating? Did certain foods trigger her nausea?

She answered each one, growing more frustrated as time passed. Rafe and Ari were supposed to be getting married in about half an hour. She was barely going to make it in time.

“She’s breathing well, and her color is only slightly flushed,” the doctor told Adriane as he jotted down notes about Rachel’s condition.

“I’m right here. You can speak to me,” she said, a bit ashamed when the doctor flinched slightly, but still royally annoyed to be spoken about as if she weren’t in the room.

“I apologize, Ms. Palazzo.” He bowed and scooted back.

“What does the fainting mean?” Adriane asked.

The doctor turned his attention back to Rachel and perused his notes to form the best answer to the question.

Adriane looked on at the scene. His physician wouldn’t argue with his king, no matter what, but also he had to treat his patient with respect. No, only Rachel would argue with him — in fact, continually fight him, Adriane thought — and she wasn’t afraid to push or defy him each step of the way. This might be one of the reasons he couldn’t seem to stop thinking about her.

What did that say about him?

“I think the fainting was just low iron, Rachel. You need to try to eat more whenever you are feeling well enough to take in food. You also need to rest more. The swelling in your feet demonstrates, of course, that your body is holding water. There is nothing damaging or life-threatening to you or to the baby right now, but your blood pressure is slightly high. Remember that you’re carrying another life within you now, and some mothers have it easier than others. You have to give your body time to adjust. Other than that, you should be fine,” Dr. Ricord assured her.

“Thank you. I’m sorry for snapping,” she said. Damn him for being so kind to her!

“I understand,” he said with a pat on her hand. Then he packed up his tools and left her alone in the room.

“Take me back to the resort now!” she demanded.

Adriane smiled at her, and she was surprised he was suddenly so accommodating. When he walked to the door and held it open, she followed him.

They got into the car and Nico began driving. All the upheaval and tension of the last hour and a half got to Rachel and she leaned her head back, telling herself she would close her eyes for only a moment.

Soon, she’d be back at the resort and the wedding could start. She didn’t think they would begin without her. She thought for a minute of calling them and letting them know she was on her way, but she didn’t even have her purse, let alone her cell phone.

Rachel involuntarily fell asleep against the seat. It was a huge mistake, she would later find.

* * * * *

As they arrived at his jet, Adriane thanked the heavens for Rachel’s slumber. When she woke up, she wasn’t going to be happy with him, but at least he didn’t have to deal yet with the fight that was sure to come. Being careful not to wake her, he lifted her into his arms and climbed aboard, letting his staff know not to make a sound.

He took his seat, still holding her cradled in his arms. If they could just get into the air…

“Sir, we’ve been cleared for takeoff,” his pilot’s voice came over the speaker, making Adriane tense. The one person he’d forgot to tell not to make a sound. Rachel stirred, but didn’t open her eyes.

As the jet lifted into the air, Rachel became more restless in his arms. And the reality of his situation was hitting him with full force.

He was going to be a father.

It was both exhilarating and terrifying.

Now he just had to convince Rachel that she was his — and only his. They would wed no matter how much she fought him, no matter what he had to do to get her to walk down that aisle.

Convincing her of this fact would be stimulating and a challenge. The woman made him feel emotions he’d never experienced before. She made him feel like a man, not just a royal with specific and often tiresome duties.

Yes, he liked her fight, liked that she couldn’t simply be placed into a box. And he had to admit that he was looking forward to their inevitable altercations.

He also liked to win, and with a prize as valuable as the heir to his country, this was one battle he wouldn’t back down from.

Still, the journey the two of them would take was well worth traveling.

His hand brushed her hair from her forehead as he looked into her sleeping face. She was a true beauty, a real gem. He would never allow her to escape.

Chapter Three

Rachel was warm
and cozy. As she drifted up from the deep lake of sleep, she struggled to hold on to its blissfulness.

But, no. Something jostled her, and she knew that no matter how badly she wanted and needed to stay asleep, it was over. Stretching her arms, she hit solid muscle. What?

Her eyes finally creaked open and she tried to focus in the harsh light. When the blurriness faded, she locked eyes with Adriane and instantly stiffened. What was she doing sitting on his lap, leaning into him?

“You’re just fine, Rachel. You simply had a little nap,” he said, stroking her back.

Rachel tried to focus on Adriane. Where was she? Why was she with him? As she woke up all the way, the night came back with the violence of a slamming door and she pulled away, nearly falling on her butt in her haste to jump out of Adriane’s arms.

“What’s going on, Adriane?” She looked around the roomy jet in puzzlement.

“You were just having a little dream, darling,” he said. It was obvious she hadn’t quite figured out where she was yet. She’d be a whole lot more upset when that happened.

“I’m not your darling,” she said, and sat down on the chair across from him.

“Oh, Rachel, you most certainly are,” Adriane said.

A shiver passed through her. If only she weren’t so attracted to him — hating him was so difficult. But did she want to hate the father of her child? No. Of course not. She just wanted to find a happy medium, be able to breathe normally in his presence, and then work out what she was going to do next.

“We were in the car,” she said, confused as she again looked around. Adriane could see she was starting to get her bearings. This wasn’t going to end well.

As she looked around the jet, they suddenly hit a pocket of turbulence, and that’s when she noticed the vibration. She looked toward the curtained windows and her eyes widened. This wasn’t a normal room. The curved walls, the small window openings, the confined space…

“Are we on a plane?” she asked with an exasperated gasp.

“You need to remember what the doctor told you back at the villa. You have to keep your blood pressure down, and fighting with me will surely raise it,” he said in a quiet, calming tone.

“I am trying
really
hard right now not to freak out, Adriane, but I swear by all that’s holy that if you’ve kidnapped me, my blood pressure is going to go straight through my head and explode,” she said, gritting her teeth.

“I’m taking you home for a little while. I have to take care of you.” Adriane prayed that the remark didn’t send her into another faint.

“The doctor said I need to not get stressed or overexert myself, so I’m trying really,
really
hard not to yell right now, but all I want to do at the moment is reach out and strangle you,” she said, fire returning to her eyes.

“I just want to make sure that all is well with you and our child. It’s important that I look after you. I won’t bring up our wedding until you’re feeling better,” he said, offering his idea of a compromise.

“I will be just fine looking after myself,” she told him.

“Please try to understand. My country is in upheaval right now with the death of my father, and my brother making a play for the throne. I must return home — it is my duty — but I can’t leave you behind if your health and that of my child are not at one hundred percent. You are my duty, too,” he said. He couldn’t back down from this and leave her behind. She was too important.

“I am nobody’s duty, Adriane. I demand that you turn this plane around this second.” She looked toward the cockpit and considered pounding on the thick doors and informing the pilots that their king had kidnapped her. Yeah, right. That would do a lot of good.

In their eyes, as in the eyes of everyone who worked for him, Adriane could do no wrong. She didn’t see that she had a whole lot of choices right now.

Why had she let her exhaustion overwhelm her? If she’d only stayed awake, she wouldn’t be in this mess. Yes, Adriane was stronger than she was, but surely she could outrun him — even tired and pregnant.

OK, she didn’t know if she could, but she would have made a valiant effort.

Her eyes still narrow, Rachel looked from him to all points of exit on the jet. Adriane watched her under his eyelids just in case she tried to do something foolish, but he tried to portray a man at ease. He felt relief enough that she wasn’t screaming, that she didn’t seem to be getting overly upset. Maybe she would compromise with him. As well she might; he was doing her an amazing favor by bending at all. He’d prefer to march her straight to the altar, but she certainly wasn’t making things easy for him even just to talk to her. He was already working on a new strategy.

For now, however, it would suffice to have her under his roof, where he could ensure her health and know her whereabouts. Where he could force her to communicate.

“Your country’s problems are not my concern, Adriane,” she said. At the hurt that flickered briefly in his eyes, Rachel felt a pang of remorse. She shouldn’t, though. The man had taken her against her will, and she had a lot of other grievances against him. If his feelings were hurt, that should be just too bad, because he’d been nothing but a bully since returning to her life. And yet…and yet she didn’t like to hurt anyone intentionally, and it was obvious that her words had done just that.

“I would like for them to be your concern, since they will be the concern of our baby,” he said after a long pause.

“I get that our child will be a part of your life. I can see that you aren’t going to accept anything less than being an active father, but that doesn’t mean the two of us have to be friends, or even have to deal with each other at all. Many children grow up happy when their parents aren’t together.”

“That’s just not how it’s done in Corythia, Rachel. You carry the heir. He needs to be raised to know and love his land,” Adriane insisted.

“Would you stop saying ‘he’?” she growled. “That is driving me crazy!”

Adriane’s eyes grew round, and then a grin split his face as he lifted his hand and brushed back her hair.

“I love that you have such spirit, Rachel. It’s unbelievably sexy,” he said, wanting so badly to reach over and take her lips. If he hadn’t feared that she might bite him, he would have done just that. Hell, it might have been worth it, anyway.

“Don’t try to distract me, Adriane. I’m angry with you,” she said, but he watched as her breathing quickened.

He enjoyed seeing that he still affected her as much as she affected him. But he also knew that she’d rather eat dirt than admit that to him.

“I like distracting you,” he murmured, his hand sliding down her face and then caressing her shoulder and arm as he sat down next to her.

“Adriane…” she warned.

“Yes?”

“Stop touching me. You’re making my blood pressure spike again.”

Adriane immediately withdrew his hand, though it was exceedingly difficult for him to do so. After the doctor had examined her again, he would be doing a lot more touching, in a lot more-intimate places.

“I will back off if you stop fighting me long enough to come and see our child’s birthright. Don’t you want to see his — I mean, the baby’s land?”

Rachel was furious, but as she had to keep her blood pressure down, and as they were already on the jet, she really didn’t have a lot of choices at the moment. Once they landed… Well, that was a different story.

“Am I free to leave the minute I want?” she asked, looking him in the eye so she could detect if he was being anything but honest.

“Rachel…” he began.

“I swear, I’ll call in the U.S. military, Adriane,” she threatened.

“Not if you can’t get to a phone,” he countered with a small grin.

“Oh, I have ways,” she warned him. She also had a family that would move heaven and earth to get to her. She wasn’t concerned about her rescue. She might have little choice but to play his game, but he’d discover soon enough that it was a game he would lose.

“We will discuss your departure later if you still feel like leaving,” he said.

Rachel knew exactly what he was doing. He was trying to pacify her with vague promises. OK, she would let him believe it was working. If he thought she’d surrendered to his will, it would be so much easier to make her escape. Still, she couldn’t help but make one more snarky comment, damning her plan as soon as she’d formed it.

“I’m not going to fight you any further right now, because I’m smart enough to listen to what the doctor has said. But don’t think it means that you’re off the hook, Adriane. When I get the all clear from the doctor, we’re going to have one hell of a battle. That’s a promise.”

Then, before he could answer, she stood up and moved to the back of the jet. She had no doubt that there was a bed aboard, and she was going to find it. All the fighting had drained what little energy she had left, and since she was stuck here, she was going to at least try to catch up on her sleep.

He tried to talk to her, but she just hummed as she walked away, finding a room and closing the door behind her. She was sure the king of Corythia didn’t appreciate her less-than-respectful treatment of him, but the poor sap would just have to get used to it.

Adriane found himself wanting to chase after her to teach her a few lessons on royal behavior. Her health was the only thing stopping him from doing just that.

As soon as she was better, though…

That thought made him smile as he kicked back on the sofa. Yes, they would certainly battle when she was back in full health, and Adriane was a fine warrior.