Married for the Prince's Convenience

‘Are you saying that if I resign you won’t tell them I’m—’ She stopped, unable to speak the hated word that sealed her guilt. But he already knew she was guilty. His eyes narrowed scornfully.

‘Afraid to say it out loud? A thief, Jasmine Nichols, that’s what you are,’ he condemned through clenched teeth. ‘You not only stole from me, you stole from my people. You single-handedly set back years of trade negotiations.’ His eyes blazed at her, grey fire that stripped her to the bone.

Her heart lurched as her sins were laid bare in front of her. The heat of shame burned through her, from the soles of her feet up through her body until the acrid taste of it flooded her mouth.

‘Rey—I’m sorry. What happened wasn’t supposed to happen.’

His laughter mocked her. ‘You mean the sex was supposed to addle my brain so much I’d suspect someone else of the theft?’ he snarled.

‘No. I mean I shouldn’t have taken the treaty in the first place.’ Jasmine couldn’t contain the sob that rose in her throat. Tears flooded her eyes. To hide it, she turned away and plugged a fist to her mouth.

But he heard it. Of course he heard it. ‘Tears, Miss Nichols?’ he taunted. ‘How original. Almost as original as your pick-up line in Rio.’

Her sob emerged, thick and broken. Desperately, she tried to gulp it down.

His scorn reached her from across the room. ‘Spare me the histrionics. You cry as if your heart is breaking. Which cannot be because you don’t have a heart.’

Her head whipped round at the cruel assertion. He stood against the window, his hands shoved deep into his pockets. She deserved every accusation he threw at her, but she needed him to see she wasn’t all bad.

‘What I did was wrong, I know that. And I have a heart, or I wouldn’t be here, trying to make amends.’

A cruel smile curved his lips. ‘Well, that’s a shame and a curse for you. Because I aim to make you pay for your betrayal. And by the time I’m finished with you, you’ll feel that heart you claim to possess ripped from your chest!’

* * *

Reyes watched her eyes widen. The same eyes had gazed adoringly up at him that night on his yacht, then darkened as passion had gripped them both. Eyes he’d drowned in as he’d sunk deep inside her.

Deceptive, duplicitous eyes that had taken his lust and turned it against him. Played him as a virtuoso plucked at willing strings. Deep down in a place he rarely liked to visit, it still burned him that he’d never seen it coming. That he’d been so completely and utterly duped for the second time in his life.

Duped by a woman who’d proclaimed to be one thing and turned out to be another.

And this time, the consequences threatened to be worse.

Anaïs had ruined one life, devastated one family. Jasmine’s actions threatened thousands.

He’d been willing to bide his time. But he’d never been one to miss an opportunity. And while he hadn’t expected the opportunity to arise so soon, he was perfectly willing to take his revenge now.

Jasmine Nichols had walked into his life, brazen and unrepentant. He had every intention of making her pay for her sins. Seeing the tears on her face only strengthened his resolve.

Reyes didn’t doubt they were genuine, but he knew they were born of self-preservation rather than a show of repentance. He’d witnessed it many times before. From Anaïs. From his mother.

One hand came up and scrubbed at her face. In the blink of an eye her tears were wiped clean. As if they’d never been there. Just like in Rio. She’d charmed her way into his bed for long enough to get her hands on what she’d wanted. Then she’d vanished like a spent tornado, leaving devastation behind.

His jaw tightened. ‘Who hired you to steal the treaty?’ He hadn’t meant to question her here, like this. But the need to know burned fiercely inside him. ‘Was it Mendez?’

‘No. I didn’t...no one hired me.’

‘So it was merely an opportunistic theft? The moment presented itself and you thought, why not? To what end, though? Blackmail?’

He caught her wince and felt a sliver of satisfaction. At least it showed she wasn’t as unfeeling as he’d thought. Or maybe she didn’t like her flaws pointed out to her. Tough. Before he was done, her every flaw would be exposed to the light of day.

She lifted a hand, as if to beseech him. ‘No... Yes, it was blackmail, but you don’t understand—’

He snorted. ‘Theft is theft, Miss Nichols. It can’t be explained away.’