Captured and Crowned by Janette Kenny Read Free Book Online Page A

shouldn’t have touched her. Touched?
    Ha! Kristo paced the length of his private salon and battled the lust that throbbed through him, begging for release. He’d done far more than touch Demetria Andreou. His hands had molded over the lush swell of her breasts in a blatant caress, lingering until her nipples budded against his palm, until his sex grew to an unrelenting ache.
    For that brief moment time had stood still. He’d been back on the beach with her. Both wet from the surf. Both hot with desire.
    Just like then he’d easily gotten lost, stroking the gentle curves of her torso and waist, relearning her shape even though every delicious inch was branded on his memory. The shivers that had danced over her silken skin and into him in an erotic rhythm had pounded in his soul.
    He’d pushed resentment and anger from his mind. He’d forgotten who she was. Forgotten they were bound by duty.
    He had simply been a man caressing a very desirable woman. A woman who responded to him as no other ever had.
    And that was the problem. All he had to do was touch her and he went up like dry kindling, the fires of desire roaring through him so hotly that they burned out all reason.
    He could barely think beyond the driving need to sate the hunger that gnawed within him. And now that she was here in the palace—now that they were alone…
    This time Kristo had to finish what he’d started with her a year ago. Maybe then he could be near her without being consumed by this primitive lust.
    He wanted her. He’d have her. But he’d be a fool to trust her.
    The door to his suite opened and Vasos slipped inside, deceptively quiet for such a giant of a man. That was why he was the best bodyguard a man could want.
    He could move soundlessly. He could blend in. And Kristo trusted him with his life. Now he trusted him with Demetria’s as well.
    â€œYour Majesty,” Vasos said, and bowed. He rarely let emotion show on his rugged face. But right now that visage was drawn in deep lines of worry.
    â€œWhat’s wrong?” he asked.
    â€œDemetria has destroyed the royal wedding gown.”
    â€œHow?”
    His mouth turned down. “She ripped it apart with her bare hands.”
    He’d have never thought her capable of such rage. Such volatile passion.
    Anger curdled in Kristo, but he couldn’t help but allow a grim smile as well. She would need a strong hand. A man who could match her in bed and out!
    â€œThe lady is removing the options,” he said.
    Vasos lifted one thick black eyebrow, the action far more noticeable due to his cleanly shaven head. “I don’t understand.”
    â€œShe is a clothing designer.” A very angry one, because she hadn’t been consulted about her wedding gown.
    She didn’t trust him to abide by his promise either. So she had removed his choice. She played to win.
    â€œI was not aware of her vocation,” Vasos said.
    He likely never would have been either if Gregor hadn’t fallen ill and passed the crown and the lady over into his care. Damn, what a coil!
    â€œAlert the guards to pay close watch on the palace. Keeping her under lock and key will only breed more resentment.” She certainly resented him enough already! “I don’t wish for Demetria to leave it as yet.”
    â€œAs you wish, Your Majesty.” Vasos bowed and then left the room.
    Kristo stared at the closed door for the longest time. In the span of a few days his life had turned into a complication. Duty. Business. Desire.
    He’d gone from second son to Crown Prince to King in just one day’s time. Now he’d soon add husband to that list.
    Kristo crossed to the window that afforded a magnificent view of the mountains. But the peace he usually derived from admiring this vista was lost on him today.
    Destiny had brought him and Demetria together again.Only the gods knew if it would be a marriage made in heaven or hell.
    His door