13
Hollyn nearly doubled over with the anxiety that swirled in her abdomen once the words were out of her mouth. She wanted Kai, and when he’d said she was strong woman and that he wanted her by his side, her heart had soared. She’d been so happy to hear those words until she remembered she still had unfinished business with her father. She needed to settle her affairs before she would be able to do anything like marry someone. Not to mention, she wasn’t sure becoming a queen was a part of her long-term life plan. As much as she didn’t want to and as much as it broke her heart, it was just best for everyone if she bowed out now.
Yet, Uma gave a sniff and said, “As much as it pains me to admit it, you would have made a wonderful queen, Hollyn, but I can’t force you to compete if you don’t want to.”
Hollyn got the feeling Uma wasn’t about to let that be the last word on the subject.
And sure enough, she pointed above Hollyn’s head, drawing her attention to a glass case. Hollyn focused her attention on the case at the top of the arena in an area that appeared to be a section Hollyn hadn’t noticed before. It was a separate roomwith glass doors that could be unfolded in invitation or closed off from the public. Right now, it was open and inside were displayed two, golden crowns.
“Those are the ceremonial crowns. The one on the left will be Kai’s when he is coronated. And the one on the right, with the ruby red fragmented jewel, will belong to the Queen, whomever she might be.”
Hollyn couldn’t believe her eyes…or her luck. The ruby fragment was the final piece of the amulet. No doubt about it, Hollyn needed to get her hands on that crown.
She would have to compete. And she would have to win.
“Okay. You’ve convinced me. What do I have to do?”
* * *
There was one task standing between Hollyn and the last piece of the amulet. All she had to do was get Kai a gift. A simple but effective way to prove you would be the best companion for the King. Yet, Hollyn was at a complete loss at the moment. What gift would be the most impressive?
Obviously, she could give him the mundane and expected types of gifts—tickets to sporting events. She could bake him something, but the goal was to impress him. That wasn’t happening with her cooking skills. She’d love to bring Otis, his adorable puppy, to him here, but getting the dog to Hanupali City would take more ability to plan and more time than she had. The only other thing that Kai had cherished was his plane, and she couldn’t imagine how she’d manage to purchase that from the Pacific Ocean depths.
The only thing left that Kai would likely want was impossible. How would she ever find the god of the oceans when she continued to get lost in the palace every single day of the threedays they’d been here. Even now, she was turned around about which direction was the throne room through which she’d find the dining room. It was damn confusing.
She turned down yet another dark hallway and wondered to herself why a building needed so many hallways. And why was it always so dark in here? It was unnerving. As she stepped around the next corner, though, she gave a squeak as she felt a pair of arms wrap around her midsection and pull her into a hard chest.
“I can’t believe you didn’t see me pass you back there.” Kai’s sexy whisper against her ear sent tingles down her spine and her body relaxed into his. He kissed down her neck, and she tilted her head to give him better access.
“I was so focused on trying to figure out where I was, but how fortunate for me that I took that last turn.”
He chuckled against her skin, and fiery sparks swirled in her midsection. “How fortunate for both of us.”
With a quick motion, he turned her in his arms until they were facing each other, and he had her back against the wall, his arms bent at the elbow and braced on each side of her head.
They were in a recess created by a jutting column that hid them from the view of anyone who happened to walk by, but Hollyn was still nervous about what might happen if they got caught.
“Do you really think this is a good idea?”
“I think it’s the best idea I’ve had in a long time.” He smiled down at her, making her heart pound. This was such a bad idea, but she couldn’t seem to care.
She lifted her hands to the hem his shirt and ran them under until she felt the bare skin of his abdomen. He sucked in a quick breath at her touch. Slowly, she ran her hands up his chest and stopped once she’d reached his pecs where she hovered and ran her fingers lightly across the smooth skin there, testing the sensitivity of his nipples.
“Let me know if I’m crossing a line.”
He groaned. “Damn! I hope you sprint across them all. I’ve missed you.”
The words made her still for a moment, wondering if they meant as much to him as they did to her. Did he missher? Or did he miss what they’d started but hadn’t finished?
“What about me have you missed?”
“I missed my friend.”
His words cooled her down a little. Was she misreading what they were to each other? “Your friend? Is that what we are? Friends?”
“Oh, we’re so much more. Let me tell you what else I’ve missed about you.” His grin widened as he lowered his lips until they were barely touching hers and he said, “I’ve missed your smile.”
The kiss began slowly, but it quickly deepened, and he closed the distance between their bodies, pushing her into the wall with his. Their tongues met, and a needy sound escaped her mouth as the kiss grew more passionate. She felt his hardened length between them, and electric pulses danced through her body, concentrating in a wave at her core. He dropped his arms to wrap them around her and pull her away from the wall and against him tighter than she’d ever been to another human being before. She was so hot for him.
