Delta's Baby Surprise (Special Forces Elite 1)

My eyes widened. “You were in the Royal Navy? I wouldn’t think you’d have to do that.” I followed him through the double doors and out onto a balcony.

He poured a cup of coffee and handed it to me.

“Thank you.” It smelled heavenly.

“Why? Do you think because I’m royalty I shouldn’t serve my country in the military?”

From his tone I could tell I may have struck a nerve. “It seems maybe running the country would suffice.” I smiled. I tried to picture him in a full military uniform. Could he possibly get any sexier?

“The House of Sauvage has a strong tradition of military service. My father and all my brothers have served. After I completed university, I was an officer in the Royal Navy for four years. I had to retire earlier than expected when I was crowned king. I left service as a captain.”

“You didn’t know you were going to be king?” I sipped the coffee and I looked across the balcony. The view was incredible. I could see endless miles of ocean, surrounding the city of Freychon. It was beautiful from the top of the palace.

He followed my gaze to a ship leaving the marina. “No. My father’s death wasn’t planned.”

Shit. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to sound ignorant of your family’s history. I’m very sorry.”

His eyes floated in my direction. “How long have you been in Galona?” He quickly changed the subject.

“Ten months,” I answered.

“Have you spent all your time in the city, or have you ventured out of Freychon?”

“Not much,” I admitted. “I’ve gone to the beach with my friend a few times. I did a vineyard tour.”

“Not much, is correct.” He frowned.

“Well, I don’t have a lot of free time.” It might sound better if I explained I wasn’t uninterested in his country. I was up to my eyeballs in my dissertation research. “I will explore the country. I just need a little time.”

His eyes narrowed. “And what is it that takes up so much of your time?” His voice was cold, icy.

“My dissertation.”

He arched his eyebrows. “You’re at the Conservatory?” It seemed to change his tone.

I nodded. “I’m here on a scholarship. Sometimes I feel like I’ll never be done, and then other times I don’t want it to be over. But for now, it’s time consuming. I keep telling myself I’ll travel when the writing is complete. At least it brought me here.” I smiled. I rattled on longer than I intended.

He leaned against the table, his heavy arms shifting the weight of the surface. “The burning question is what do you study, Miss Washington? Should I guess?” His smile was devilish. In the sunlight, I could see flecks of amber in his dark eyes. They were subtle, but they were there. “You seem to be an avid learner.”

Holy shit. My cheeks flushed with embarrassment. What happened between us last night and this morning was not me. It was alternate me. The me who wanted to try something wild and naughty. The me who needed a break from the notecards.

“I-I. Literature,” I sputtered. Contrary to what he thought, I wasn’t schooled in stripper or hooker activity. Last night was a first.

“Maybe you’d be interested in the royal library.”

“The royal library?” I knew there was a special collection in the city that hadn’t been archived for public use. I had no idea it was housed here. Like The Titan, I thought it was an urban legend. Just a much nerdier one.

“Collected for centuries. It’s downstairs.”

“It’s here? In the palace?”

He nodded lazily. “Would you like to see it?”

“I would love to see it.” The smile quickly dropped from my face.

I wasn’t supposed to stay. I had been given explicit instructions to get the hell out of the fantasy as soon as the sun came up. The contract was clear. No loitering. No stalling. No segue way to the next part of the day. The Titan created a one-night binding contract.

“Something wrong?” He poured a second cup of coffee for me. The china mugs were small.