She was a rebellious princess. He was her brother’s best friend and reluctant protector. An isolated cabin and one bed ignited a forbidden spark.
Princess Annika, the wild younger sister to King Stellan, was no stranger to trouble. A drunken night out ended in disaster when the paparazzi caught her in a compromising position. To protect her reputation, the royal family sent her to a secluded cabin with Erik, her brother’s stoic best friend and loyal bodyguard.
The icy Danish wilderness was no match for the heat crackling between them. Annika’s fiery spirit clashed with Erik’s unyielding sense of duty. But undeniable chemistry built between them until they couldn’t deny it anymore. A single kiss set them on fire.
Annika longed to break free from royal expectations, but Erik’s loyalty to her brother and his role as her protector stood in the way. With duty pullingthem apart and their hearts pushing them together, their forbidden love became harder to resist.
Tropes:Royal romance, brother’s best friend, forced proximity, only one bed, opposites attract, forbidden love, grumpy/sunshine, spicy.
Loved Stellan & Margot? Fall for the rest of the royals in this series!
Cruel Heir — Stellan and Margot — Enemies to lovers
Sinful Princess — Erik and Annika — Best friend’s little sister
Pretend Princess — Lars and Pippa — Friends to lovers
Chapter Forty-Three
Annika
Dusk has just fallen over the beach, coating everything in sight in a dusting of shadow. The ocean looks dark and intense as the last rays of light disappear over the horizon. Our enormous beach house is the only structure around for miles and its back patio spills right out onto the dunes of sand that lead down to the water.
Other than the twinkle of tea lights on the patio, it’s quickly growing dark. I open my arms to the unbelievable spread of the night sky. The stars wink down at me.
Maybe tonight is the night.
My best friend Kalindi looks over at me from her beach blanket, looking beautiful as ever. She has light brown skin and dark eyes, with hair as thick and lustrous as a raven’s wing. She leans back, adjusting her pink bikini.
“What would you think about me snagging your brother?” she asks. Her accent is a mix of British and Indian influences, and her voice is melodic. But her words make me pull a face.
“Which one?” I ask. “Don’t say Stellan. All my life, my friends have been asking me whether he is single.”
She shakes her head with a soft smile. “No, Annika. I’m talking about Finn.”
My eyebrows rise. “Finn?” I glance back toward the house, at the picnic tables where the older guys and their friends are sitting, Finn included. “Are you sure you mean him and not Anders?”
Kalindi wrinkles her nose. “What’s wrong with Finn?”
I scrunch my face up. “Nothing. He’s just… odd. Remote. You are a beautiful ray of sunlight and I wouldn’t want him to dim your vibrancy, that’s all.”
She rolls her eyes. “I just mean a casual make out, nothing serious.” She turns and looks at the group again, wrinkling her nose as they get up and head for the house. “I think I’m going to go inside and change my clothes. This bathing suit is cute but itchy.”
“Okay.” I sit back, noticing that a lone figure walks by us out toward where the water laps at the beach. With his ruggedly good looks and his blond hair, I can spot Erik easily though it’s dark. “I’m going to stay for a while.”
Kalindi shakes her head. “You shouldn’t like him, Nika. He’s almost ten years older than us.”
Pouting, I look down at my sun-kissed skin in my tiny black bikini. “Erik is only eight years older than me, first of all. And second of all…” I look up at her. “It’s just snagging, as you say.”
She shakes her head. “You are crazy. He doesn’t even know you’re alive.”
That stings. I make a face. “I know.”
She smiles. “Okay. As long as you realize. I’ll be inside, scavenging for food.”
I nod, letting her leave. My eyes find Erik again, silhouetted against the darkened beach. He wears jeans and aplain white t-shirt, his sleeves rolled up in a way that shows his bulging biceps. He bends over and rolls his jeans up to mid-calf. He keeps walking down a little further, submerging his bare feet in the foam left by the lapping sea. Without realizing it, I stand up, brushing myself off. It’s only when I’ve pulled my shorts and black t-shirt on that I realize that I’m going to go talk to him.
I shiver. Maybe tonight will really be the night. The night that I’ll remember for the rest of my life… The night that Erik takes my virginity.
