Chapter Two

Chris hadn’t given Robert much to go on when it came to this woman, but Robert had to hand it to her because she was making this adventure even more fun than he’d ever imagined it could be. She had the appearance of a victim down to a T.

And though the entire game of capturing her had been more than fun, his excitement continued growing as he gazed at her. Chris might not have told him much, but her dark hair was mussed and long, hanging halfway down her back, making him think of running his fingers through it as she lay over him, her lips inches from his own.

No makeup adorned her face, but that took nothing away from her as her midnight blue eyes flashed at him with both fear and anger. Her cheekbones were flushed, and her full pink lips parted. Her heavy breathing was causing her generous chest to heave, making it difficult for him to take his eyes away.

Her long legs were smooth and tan, and he desperately wanted to see her perfectly rounded butt as he ran his hands over it. Only a skimpy pair of light blue panties rested there. He’d gotten a decent look while she’d been flung over his shoulder, and he was more than grateful she’d chosen her current attire for their night of fun. Maybe they could turn it into a week . . . or longer.

Only a few moments had passed since he’d proclaimed she was his, but he waited in anticipation for what she’d say next. Would she keep up the charade of the game or was she going to begin laughing and tell him he was a very terrifying captor? He’d be willing to do it either way as long as it led to his bed . . . preferably. He might be having fun on his adventure, but he wasn’t going to bed her during a game if she was struggling to be set free. That wasn’t a turn-on in the least.

“I’m not yours,” she said. “I’m Isabella Shell, an American, and I demand you release me.”

Role playing it was, Robert decided. Yea.

“Your name’s too much of a mouthful,” he told her, and she glared at him as if more than willing to stab him if she happened to come by a knife. He was a little grateful there wasn’t one around. He didn’t know a thing about this woman, and that made all of this so much better. “Let’s shorten it to Izzy.”

A huff escaped Izzy as she glanced around them. Robert wasn’t worried. He’d brought her to this island at Chris’s suggestion. It was secluded, giving them little possibility of unwanted guests. Depending on how things went between them, they might share a few glorious days in this place. He decided she was definitely spirited enough to keep his attention for at least that long.

In fascination he watched as her spine stiffened. Then she stepped forward, moving easily up to him as she reached out and stabbed a sharp nail against his chest. Fire brewed in her eyes as she looked at him without fear.

“You will take me home, and I might think about forgetting all about this. If you keep me one moment longer, I will ensure you’re dangled by your toes for all the people of this island to see.”

Robert was surprised by her little speech and the urge to touch her was too great to resist. He reached up, capturing the hand that was trying to do damage to him. He pressed it against his rapidly increasing heartbeat and ran his thumb along the smooth skin of her inner wrist. A shudder ran through her, and it had him growing hard as he gazed into her beautiful eyes.

She took in a large gulp of air before she pushed against him. Of course he didn’t move an inch, but pleasure coursed through him at the fight in this girl. She was beautiful with an imagination he was immediately drawn to. Robert would have to send Chris a new car or give him a vacation to anywhere in the world as a thank you for this gift who was bringing some much needed excitement to Robert’s life.

“Enjoying the feel? Want me to remove the shirt?” he asked with confidence. No woman had ever complained after spending time with him. He had no doubt Izzy was well pleased already.

Izzy’s eyes widened as she jerked her hand away and took a step back. Though he missed her touch already, he allowed her retreat. Something inside of him stirred in discomfort as he watched her gaze around again. Yes she was a hell of an actress, or . . .

Robert gazed at her again and a thread of worry filled him. He had checked the address of her place at least a dozen times before he’d scaled the dangerous stairs to her open patio door. There was no way he’d taken the wrong woman he assured himself.

But as soon as he had the thought, unease was taking over inside him. Unease and . . . to be honest, even more excitement. Maybe he’d been born into the wrong family line.

“This has all been an exciting night, but why don’t we pause for a moment, and you can tell me how you know Chris,” Robert told her.

When she gazed back at him with a blank stare, Robert knew the unforgivable truth. This woman wasn’t who Chris had set him up to play with. He’d captured the wrong person, and she wasn’t a willing victim.

“What are you talking about?” Izzy asked.

“You have no idea who Prince Christopher Demande is.” The words weren’t a question.

“I just arrived last night and went right to sleep. I’ve been planning on exploring the island all week. Isn’t he the youngest of the Demande brothers?” she asked as she clearly searched her memory. She wasn’t faking this.

“Yes he is,” Robert said.

He had to think fast because he wasn’t sure what to do next. He knew without a doubt he should turn them around and return her with a lot of apologies and pray she wouldn’t announce to the world what had occurred. His family would be furious with him.

“Maybe he’d be more reasonable than you. Why don’t you call him up?” she snapped.

Something new shifted inside Robert, and he wasn’t sure why, but he knew he wasn’t turning around. His action of kidnapping the wrong girl had already occurred. Maybe now he just had to win the woman over. If he took her back now, she’d surely scream about what had happened. But if she spent a little time with him, he had no doubt he’d have her eating from the palm of his hand.

He just wasn’t sure if he should confess all, or have her assume he’d meant to take her. When she glared at him again, he decided she could wait on an explanation. He was a prince after all, and she was an American with no such lineage. His family had always looked down their noses at Americans and their uncivilized behavior. It wasn’t so bad that he’d captured one, he assured himself.

“I’m going to go to those trees for a moment,” she informed him. They were only about twenty-five feet away.

“For what?” he asked. There was something conniving going on inside that brain of hers. He could practically see the wheels turning behind her eyes.

“None of your business,” she said with a new glare that made her eyes stand out even more. Damn, she really was beautiful.

“There’s no point in running. For one, you’re on an island, and for two, well, I’d easily catch you,” he pointed out.

Her body trembled in what he was assuming was unadulterated rage. That amused him even more. She was well worth keeping around — not only was she gorgeous, but she was also stimulating him in ways he couldn’t remember ever being.

Robert leaned back against a fence as Izzy disappeared into the treeline. He was sure she was relieving her bladder. When she didn’t return after five minutes, he smiled. He didn’t hear a sound from where she was supposed to be. She’d made a run for it.

The chase was now on.

It took him a little under five minutes to hear the sound of what she probably thought of as quiet steps through the woods. She was moving at a jogger’s pace, probably because she was attempting to keep quiet. She was failing.

Approaching her soundlessly from behind, he let her continue to flee, not allowing her out of his sight. She looked behind her once in a while, but he was careful not to be spotted. How could he observe her if he gave away his position?

After about ten minutes, he saw her stop and look around, a satisfied smirk on her lips. She truly thought she’d escaped, had been so smart to get away. It was either that or she gravely underestimated Robert’s ability to control one small female.

When she began moving forward again at a slower pace than before, he decided he was ready to go to the house. The chase had been fun but far too easy. He came out of the shadows and before she ever got the chance to move farther from him, he wrapped his arms around her and once more lifted her off her feet.

She truly was his — at least for now. And in this moment, that was all Robert cared about.