And then what? Would he want to consummate it like a medieval conqueror? Is that what it would take? To make sure that the marriage took. To make sure that she was trapped with him. Because that was what he would want. For her to be stuck with him. For her father not to want her back. And the truth was, him taking her virginity would go a long way in making her useless to her father. Her father wouldn’t be able to simply farm her out to another world leader, would he? She would be damaged goods.
Men really were so boring.
She hated them. Every last one of them. And by the time the plane touched down, and Ragnar opened the door to the bedroom, she was nearly overflowing with hatred. Where was her peace? Where was all that peace that she had found in the convent? Where was the diplomacy that she had learned?
She was ready to fling herself right at him and attack, but the immense impact of him stopped her. It wasn’t fear coursing through her veins. No. It was something else entirely.
He was big and broad, masculine in a way that nearly made it impossible to gaze upon him directly.
Perhaps it was simply because the convent was a female place. No men at all. Perhaps that added to the intensity of his impact. Of his…
Beauty.
The word sent a pang of fear through her.
No. She wasn’t her mother.
She would not offer a brittle smile while she was broken into pieces. And she would not trade herself for the attentions of a man, simply because she found him beautiful.
“I’m not getting off this plane until we come to an agreement.”
“I am perfectly capable of carrying you off the plane, little one.”
“But not without the entire world seeing you manhandling me,pendejo, so I would assume that it’s in your best interest for me to walk off here on my own two feet.”
She glared up at him, resilience making her stand straight.
“What is it you wish to negotiate?”
“If I’m to be sentenced, then I want a term limit.”
“Marriage is for life, my queen.”
“Why?” The image of her mother, a beautiful, frozen emblem who lived in a house full of men who neither loved nor respected her, galvanized her now. “This is simply to cement trade agreements. To help you become the ruler that you want to appear to be. Why do you need me forever for that? You can find a new queen once you get rid of me. One to bear your children. To give you an heir. I don’t want it.”
“You don’t want to be queen?”
“What I want is to befree.”
“You want freedom from your father?”
“Yes. I will do whatever you ask of me as far as your image, as far as helping you with your present issues. I will not have a child. I will not share your bed. But I will get off this plane on my own, and I will look for all the world like a beaming bride. Iam the only one who can give you the public-facing victory that you want. I am the only one that can give you your lavish, public wedding, because I have to look happy to be there. So you have to give me something.”
“Two years,” he said. “Or until the agreements feel eased. We may have to extend.”
“Fine. That is fine with me. But you will not… I will not…”
Those blue eyes looked her up and down. “Do you think I’m about to fall on you like a lust-crazed animal?”
His words were so scathing, and she felt like she had been lit on fire.
“I know how men are. I grew up in a house filled with them. I know how little they respect women. I certainly know how little I’ve been respected.”
“I didn’t take you because you’re a woman. I took you because you were useful to me. If the agreement was between me and the oldest son, then I would have taken him.”
“Oh,” she said, not certain of what to say to that.
“But alas, we live in a very traditional society, and you were the offering. But you are a worthy opponent. And I would prefer to have you as an ally.” His eyes were sharp and clear as he looked at her. “You’re very smart, aren’t you?”
