Free The Defiant Princess by Alyssa J. Montgomery Page A

mess.”
    A man like him?
    Khalid recoiled inwardly at the disdain of her words. Nobody spoke to him like that. He was used to women throwing themselves at him, not rejecting him. Even without his looks, women recognised he was a very wealthy, powerful man. The combination drew them like iron filings to a magnet. Yet Sabihah, spectacular in her rage, appeared to have little respect for him. Before he could delve more into her statement, she continued.
    She pointed at him. “I didn’t ask you to come here. I didn’t want Mustaf to know I existed. I don’t want to rule Rhajia, and I certainly don’t want to be your wife.”
    Each statement was accompanied by a slight increase in volume. Anger shimmered off her. The hot-blue fire burning brightly in her eyes was arousing even while the idea of marriage to her went completely against all his plans.
    â€œWe don’t need to stay married,” she said. Her eyes sparked at him with determination. She stood up and took a step toward him, so she finally had the advantage of height. “In fact, the quicker the marriage is over, the better. We just need to get married, get all the paperwork signed so you can take over, and then you can get on with ruling Rhajia and I can come back here.”
    Did she really think it was so simple?
    He resisted the urge to get up and kiss some sense into her. Instead he rested his hands on the armrest and tried to appear indifferent to the stimulating energy she projected.
    â€œYou’re proposing a temporary marriage?” His voice was tight. The words conjured up the temptation of having her in his bed for a short interlude. It was impossible, but he was only human and the idea very much appealed to his baser male instincts. Instincts he was having a great deal of difficulty managing right now, which was another first for him.
    â€œNot really a marriage,” she said quickly. Her hands went up to her temples for a second. “In fact, not a real marriage at all. Just our signatures on the paper, me staying in Rhajia for as little time as possible to be convincing, then we can state irreconcilable differences or something and get divorced.”
    He bit back a curse. That this woman, even if she was a princess, could propose marriage to him on such casual terms was insulting. How could she stand there and talk about them marrying on a name-only basis? How could she deny the chemistry between them? She was deluding nobody but herself. If she were his wife, she would be his wife in every way.
    But that wasn’t going to happen.
    As incredibly desirable as he found her, he didn’t want all the passion the blue-heat in her eyes promised if marriage was the price. A wild, erotic affair? Yes, he wouldn’t have had a problem with that had he not already been planning marriage to Inaya. But, if he was to rule Turastan, then it was Turastan that was to be his true wife and mistress. The role of his queen was to stand by him, perform royal duties with dignity, and produce heirs. He already had a course he’d mapped for his future and she didn’t feature in it.
    As he stood, she backed away. “There’s more than one flaw in your plan, Sabihah, but the biggest is that I have already chosen the woman I wish to marry.”
    Her shoulders sagged, her face fell, and all the vibrancy and fight drained out of her. “Oh.” Avoiding his eyes, she sat back in the chair. “I see.”
    Why did his victory in putting her back firmly in her place feel like a loss?
    Silence stretched between them as he turned the tables and stood over her.
    â€œYour fiancée … Would she … I mean, if she knew of the plan … If she knew it wasn’t a real marriage, would she be prepared to wait to marry you until we were divorced?”
    His eyes widened slightly in response to her incredible cheek.
    â€œI just can’t see any other way,” she told him in a voice heavy with