Page 25 of Her Royal Cowboy Billionaire

She smiled and looked down. “It’s true. But you’ve still only seen the good side of me. I get angry sometimes and I scream and yell and—”

“I should hope so. You are a passionate woman, and I want all your passions, Michele. Everything that you are and will be, is what I want to know. A lifetime is not long enough to know all that you are.”

“Oh, Alex. How can you say those things? You’re the Crown Prince. You have to marry a princess, make an advantageous match. Isn’t that what all Crown Princes have to do?”

He smiled. “You have been watching too many romance movies. I can marry whoever I wish. My father married my mother for love. She was a commoner, but has been the best queen Batrovia has had in a hundred years. She’s the one who brought us forward into this century and had us make agreements to sell our gems at a very nice profit. She set up the hospital in town and another in the palace. My mother is the one who saw to the hiring of doctors, dentists, surgeons, nurses and other medical professionals to staff them. Being born a royal has nothing to do with anything. Besides, when we marry, you will be royalty, and so will Erin. Wouldn’t she like to be a real princess?”

So much to do. How can I be a queen? I could never be like his mother. She sounds like a force to be reckoned with.“Of course, she would like to be a real princess… after we marry? But, you…we…I—”

He moved, so he was over her, holding himself off of her. “Michele. I know what I want and who I want. That’s you. I care for you so very much and I know we can have a splendid marriage. Please, think about it.”

“This is your marriage proposal? Lying in bed and—”

Suddenly, he leaned down and took her lips with his in a ravishing kiss. He moved down her neck, taking little nips that he soothed with his tongue, followed by his lips. “Marry me. You know you want to. Marry me.”

“I…I can’t. We haven’t even made love yet.”

“Darling, as I said, I am a man and I want youso very much. But, because I am a man, not an animal, I will wait until you are my wife. I have too much respect for you to besmirch your reputation.”

Michele’s breathing was heavy, and her thoughts troubled. “I don’t know. I can’t think right now.”

* * *

“Of course. I understand.”I’ll bring the ring by tomorrow and see if that will soften her…but do I want to do that? Will she see me as too aggressive? Will she resent me?

CHAPTER6

July 8th

Reina knew she must contact Alex. He needed to know he was now king, and he needed to come home to be that king. But she was afraid Nicolai would kill Alex like he did Gregor. How was she supposed to keep him safe? He’d never forgive her if she didn’t call him.

Knowing she must do her duty, she picked up her phone.

* * *

Alex wasin the arena with King Gregor for one last ride before they left for Batrovia. He answered on the third ring. “Hello, Mother. How are you?”

“Alex, I have some bad news. Your father has been killed.”

No, it is impossible. Papa cannot be gone.“Killed? What happened? Who would have the audacity to kill the king?”

“Can you think of no one?” Her voice hardened.

Alex looked at the phone for a moment, unable to fathom what his mother has just said. “Nicolai? But Father told me about him. He knew Nicolai was treacherous.”

Reina relayed everything, including Nicolai’s threat to kill the children if she did not marry him.

His empty hand drew into a fist and pounded his thigh. “Put him off, Mother, as long as you can. I will be home as quickly as possible.”

“All right, but hurry. If he threatens the children again, I will not have a choice. I will not let them be harmed.”

“Of course not. But I will take care of Nicolai when I get home.”

Suddenly, his mother’s phone call turned to static.

Nicolai. But he’s too late. Mother told me, and I will kill him when I get home. I will avenge Father.

* * *