Royal Security (The Hidden Kingdom Romances Book 2) Read online

  They neared the family residences and he stopped. Addie faced him, looking over his handsome face. He pushed a hand through his dark, wavy hair as his deep-brown eyes traveled over her. Addie flushed and felt her own pulse race as quickly as his. Was that the look of a man ready to share his long-repressed feelings for her and kiss the joy right into her? Her birthday was tomorrow, and she couldn’t think of any present she wanted more than a birthday kiss from Malik. It would be like a fairy princess show come to life. She leaned in.

  He took a long breath, stepped back, and said in a rush, “Addie, I know you’re young and impetuous, but you need to honor your promise to your brother to never go to the beach at night again.”

  Addie flinched. Young and impetuous? All signs that he’d been interested in her as a woman were gone. Had she imagined them? Read him wrong? She was only six years younger than him. That wasn’t a huge gap. He was all man and she wanted him to finally see her as a woman.

  “Of course I’ll honor my promise to my brother,” she said stiffly.

  “Good.”

  “Why are no women at the beach? What do you do down there?” she asked. She wanted to ask if he loved her like she loved him, but she wasn’t getting any indicators of that at the moment.

  A ghost of a smile softened his chiseled features and his slight dimples appeared in his hollowed cheeks. She loved those shallow dimples. “We fight,” he said.

  “Oh.” That made sense why Quinn didn’t want her there and why he had acted so weird. Her brothers were usually kind to her and she was the one who was feisty with them.

  His gaze traveled over her face again. Addie’s hopes took a leap, yearning to land safely on lasting happiness. “I know you have a childhood crush on me,” he said in a soft voice.

  Addie’s eyes widened. That was a blunt approach. Why did he call it a “childhood crush?” Maybe what he’d meant to say had come out wrong; that was all right with her. She didn’t need perfection or movie theater lines. As long as he told her he loved her and kissed her long and beautifully. She moistened her lips and leaned closer.

  “I don’t want to hurt you, Addie.” He said the words slowly and in a kind voice as if to make sure she understood. “You’ve always been a cute, fun little girl.”

  Cute, fun little girl? What he seemed to think were compliments were like daggers to her heart. She was a full-grown woman. What was he saying?

  “Quinn noticed your crush and we’ve debated what to do about it.”

  Addie’s cheeks heated and she wished she could fall into the ocean and swim far away from here. What kind of horror was this? Malik and Quinn debating her “childhood crush.” She wanted to die.

  “I am not a child,” she flung at him.

  He gave her a smile that was kind, patient, and patronizing. “I’ve always felt protective of you, Addie, and tonight made those feelings even stronger.”

  Protective was good. It wasn’t madly in love like she felt for him but she could work with protective.

  “You’re like the little sister I never had.”

  Little sister? What? This conversation was going the wrong direction.

  “Please understand I could never reciprocate any … romantic feelings for you. You realize that you’re far too young for me, right?”

  Any hope she’d had tonight had missed its safe landing spot and plummeted screaming and flipping end to end into the dark, never-ending gorge of misery. His words were said evenly, kindly, with no romance or emotion, no hope or happiness for her future. His gaze was steady as if he would kindly protect her but could never love her like she loved him.

  She had no idea what to do, how to respond. She loved him, yearned for him, watched for him in any crowd, could live for days on one kind word or one tender glance from this beautiful, perfect man. And he could “never reciprocate her feelings?” She was a child, a little sister, a cute kid to protect? Any supposedly meaningful look he’d given her had been meant like he were her big brother? Gross. She was crushed, humiliated, and broken.

  So she slapped him.

  He took the slap without any emotion. He didn’t even react, making her feel even more childish and stupid.

  “Well … good,” she hurled at him. “I don’t like you anyway. I never have and never will.”

  He arched an eyebrow as if he knew exactly how desperately she loved him.

  Her eyes narrowed. “Any woman who would like a tall, muscular, buffoon like you is an idiot. You’re a scum, the lowest of jerks.”

  A jerk who had saved her tonight and had kindly tried to explain why he couldn’t return her obvious and embarrassing feelings, but she was too angry and hurt to admit that he was trying to be kind. She wanted him to be a jerk. It would hurt less.

  “Go back to your stupid fight night. I hope Samson or Kingston pummel you.”

  His look was full of regret. He obviously felt bad for hurting her.

  Her response had just confirmed that she was an immature child.

  “Ugh!” Addie pushed through the door to her family’s rooms and ran for her bedroom.

  She hated him for trying to be kind while breaking her heart. She would somehow steel her heart to him. If only she could stay far away and never have to see him again.

  Chapter One

  Eight Years Later

  Addie was insanely busy. The first group of tourists would be arriving within the hour and everything had to be perfect. She wanted them to love the island, spend lots of money to stimulate Magna’s economy, and give fabulous reviews on Trip Advisor, a site her new friend Julia had introduced her to that she’d quickly become consumed with.

  She’d triple-checked the suites on the third floor, west wing, where the first group of tourists would be staying. Americans. The billionaire heartthrob Axel Dexter was bringing his fiancée Kinsley Grady, his assistant Emerald Taylor and her fiancé, Ace Fuller, and two of Axel’s Army Ranger buddies.

  Her cousin Kingston had been contacted by Axel shortly after they announced the first tours for sale on the internet. Kingston had met Axel when he was training with the U.S. military a few years ago. Axel asked to book out an entire week for himself and a few guests. The royal family was thrilled to have someone like Axel Dexter and his friends as their first tourists. If it went well, Axel and Emerald wanted to film some of their adventure reality shows here next year. Bodi, Julia, and Addie were ecstatic. This first week was going to be great.

  Addie rushed down the grand staircase, out the granite entry hall, and down the sweeping front steps. The sun was a glorious fireball sinking into the ocean in the west and the beautiful city of Magna was lit with its soft light. She loved the gracious steeples of their church, the picture-perfect shops and cottages with wrought-iron second story balconies decorated with flowers, the small river dancing over rocks, the towering mountains in the background, and the gorgeous castle she’d grown up in.

  “Rushing past without saying hello?” The masculine, sexy, irresistible voice stopped her in her tracks.

  Addie steeled her spine and her resolve and turned to face the man she still loved, despite trying to hate or at least not care about him for years. She looked him over coolly, unnerved that he was even more attractive than he’d been back when she was a teenager and she’d thought for that fleeting moment she had a chance with him. She prayed he couldn’t see how even the sight of him made her stomach do an ungraceful flip-flop and her hands tremble. Clasping her hands together at her stomach, she arched an eyebrow. “Yes, I am in too much of a rush to slow down for you, Malik Sherwood.”

  He chuckled that deep, mellow chuckle she dreamt about and his unique shallow dimples appeared. Oh, how she loved those dimples.

  Flipping her long, dark hair over her shoulder, she gave him what she hoped was an imperious glare. Why did his sculpted, hollowed cheeks, his dark eyes and thick eyelashes, and those firm, incredible, luscious lips have to get to her every time? Why did being a rancher slash security expert build the perfectly tough yet
lean body that she wished would hold her close and never let her go?

  Good criminy, Addie. Get it together, she scolded herself as she stomped off through the green courtyard bordered with flowering bushes. Where were Bodi and Julia and the vehicles they were taking to pick up their new friends from America? How could she keep her composure if she had to spend one more moment looking at or listening to this perfect man?

  Her shoulders rounded. She wasn’t keeping her composure. She was stomping off like a schoolgirl.

  He followed her. Dang him. He was so close she could smell his crisp, clean scent.

  She whirled on him. “What do you want?”

  He gave her an endearing smirk. No, an infuriating smirk. Goodness sakes, she needed to stay far away from this irresistible—aggravating—man. Those dimples made another appearance. Ooh, that about undid her. Thankfully, she rarely saw him. He spent long hours working on his ranch or training with the military, but each interaction they’d had over the past eight years was imprinted in her mind. Despite her rude comments the night he’d protected her from Kelvin and gently explained that she was too young and he wasn’t interested in her, Malik always treated her with kindness, teased her like a brother, and seemed protective of her. How she longed for his teasing to turn to flirtatious banter. It never had, and she prayed her longing didn’t show on her face. How humiliating would it be as a twenty-four-year-old to be rejected again?

  “I’ve been assigned to protect you, Princess Addie.”

  Protect her? She could only imagine him pulling her closer, shielding her with his strong body, making sure no one hurt her. The last time he protected her was eight years ago. She’d forever be grateful to him for it, but he also ripped her heart out that night when he’d explained he could never reciprocate her feelings.

  Never. That was an awful word. At sixteen she had been girlish and stupid, but unfortunately for her, she’d never stopped crushing on him.

  “Protect me?” she scoffed. “From what?”

  He grinned, and dang those dimples made her knees quiver. Stay strong, she begged herself, but it was all she could do to stand her ground as he stepped closer. All she wanted was to throw herself against his perfect chest and beg him to hold her.

  “Who knows what kind of riffraff you, Bodi, and Julia have invited to our island?” The twinkle in his dark eyes showed he was teasing, but her spine still stiffened in response. “I’m supposed to keep the most beautiful woman on the island safe.”

  Addie pulled in a quick breath. He was only teasing, but it was quite the compliment. Their island was filled with exquisite beauties. She should know; she’d watched Malik and her cousin Darian date most of them throughout their teenage and adult years.

  “That’s ridiculous,” she managed. “I’ll have Bodi with me. We have screened and background-checked everyone coming to the island.”

  She, Bodi, Julia, and countless other Magnites had worked tirelessly over the last month to get the island ready for tourists. When Julia had come to their island in April and she and Bodi had proposed tourism as the solution to their financial woes, Addie had not been excited. At first. Now she was a hundred percent behind the idea. People from around the world had quickly booked exclusive island packages complete with medieval reenactments, beach time, hikes in their gorgeous mountains, and stays in the exquisite castle. Addie and almost everyone on Magna had seen a freshness in the step of the whole populace as upgrades to medical equipment, the internet, roads, the airport, and a hundred other facets of life took place.

  More upgrades would come as tourists arrived and supported the shops and local artists and farmers. With faster internet and new computers, some Magnites were already working or selling art, books, and other goods online and improving their situations. Scholarships for online education had already been awarded, with old and young improving themselves in their chosen fields. It was brilliant, and Addie didn’t mind admitting she’d been wrong … to herself, anyway.

  “Bodi and Julia will be in one Humvee. You and I will be in the other,” Malik explained.

  Addie swallowed hard. “I thought Alaric was driving with me.” Her next-oldest brother was second in command of the military to her cousin Kingston. The short drive to the airport with Alaric would be much less exciting but much safer for her heart.

  “The commander assigned the job to me,” Malik said in a deep, husky voice. He softly touched her cheek and she shivered. “I’ve never had a more appealing assignment.”

  That was it. Too far. “Don’t,” she warned, backing up so fast she almost tripped over her own feet.

  Malik’s dark eyes looked almost … sad. What a joke. He was the one who could never be interested in her.

  “Don’t try your lines on me,” she warned. He was teasing her. He probably thought she was still caught up in a childish crush.

  Malik’s mouth opened and she found herself leaning forward. No matter how strong she tried to be around him, she’d be putty in his hands if he ever wanted her.

  What was she thinking? He’d never want her. If she let herself think he did, she’d end up crying herself to sleep for another eight years.

  A roar of engines approaching was the catalyst she needed to break the spell. Addie whirled around as Alaric and Joe each drove a Humvee up to them. Malik placed a hand on her lower back. It was probably just instinctive, but it ripped the oxygen from her lungs and made her back heat up with the sheer pleasure of his simple touch.

  She edged away from him, breathing a sigh of relief when his hand dropped. She glanced up at him; he was staring at her with an almost ravenous expression that shot fire through her body. Her eyes widened. Had something changed since the last time she’d seen him? Was it possible he didn’t think of her as a child any longer?

  No. She couldn’t get caught up in that drama.

  Doors opened and shut, and she tried to pull herself back to reality.

  “Hello, Princess Adelaide,” Joe said, focusing on her face as if the sun rose and set there.

  “Hi, Joe.” Addie smiled at him. He was harmless and a good soldier.

  Malik moved closer to her, and she could swear she heard him … growl? How odd.

  “Addie, Malik,” Alaric greeted them both warmly, coming around from the far vehicle.

  Malik snapped to attention, inclining his head. “Commander Alaric. Thank you for the assignment, sir.”

  Addie always found it interesting the deferential treatment given to her cousin Kingston as head of the military and Alaric as second in command. Malik was older than Alaric, had played with all of them as children and been their schoolmate throughout the years. He was best friends with Quinn, the crown prince, but there was something about Alaric’s expertise and bearing that encouraged respect.

  “Thank you for taking it.” Alaric reached out his hand and they shook. “There are very few I would trust with the job of protecting my sister.”

  Addie startled. Protector. Malik had protected her that night and despite herself, she’d indulged in fairy tale fantasies of him being her knight in shining armor. How interesting that Alaric would “assign” him to protect her now. Almost everyone knew of Kelvin’s attack and Malik’s rescue years before. Kelvin had been released after serving four years prison time, and she’d only seen him occasionally over the years. She was safe here in town and only went to the beach to swim or walk during daylight hours.

  Alaric smirked. “No one else could deal with her sharp tongue and her superior wit.”

  Malik grinned, looking her over. “Or remain immune to her superior beauty.”

  Oh, so that was it? He was immune to her because she was still a child to him. Her stomach twisted uncomfortably.

  “Ha, ha.” She tried to act immune herself. “You two are hilarious. As if I’m some feisty man-eater.”

  They both raised their eyebrows, hiding grins.

  “You said it,” Alaric teased.

  “Enough, big brother, or I’ll put snakes in your bed a
gain,” she said in her sweetest tone.

  Alaric’s handsome face blanched. Her tough, incredible brother did not like snakes. Addie had no fear of them, so as children she’d routinely put a garden snake or two in his bed to remind him who was in charge.

  “I’ll …” He scrambled for a threat and she and Malik exchanged a glance. She liked sharing a secretive smile with Malik. “Burn down your doll house.”

  Addie and Malik both laughed openly. Her doll house? As if she were still a child.

  “Too late,” Addie teased back, ignoring the sting. “You already did that, and I sadly never replaced the dolls.”

  It actually had been tragic for her as an eight-year-old, especially when her father the king had to admit that he could rebuild the doll house but their country was no longer importing any nonessential items, so she and her sister Belle scrubbed the dolls and the house and had their seamstress do the best she could with scrap material for the burned dolls.

  “I’ll think of something worse if you put snakes in my bed again,” Alaric said, his mouth drawn in a firm line.

  “I know it’s rough never being able to best me.”

  Alaric looked to Malik. “You see why I need my top security specialist to deal with her?”

  Malik nodded, his gaze sweeping over her like a warm caress. “I do. There’s far too much wit, brains, and beauty in one package.”

  Addie could not look away from his magnetic eyes. His compliment made her all warm and tingly.

  “Of course you need a soldier of my superior skills to keep her in line.” He winked at her.

  Addie rolled her eyes. “Oh, boy.”

  Addie was about to say more, but Bodi and Julia approached from the castle’s front doors. She hugged them both. Julia was bursting with excitement. She looked gorgeous in a white fitted dress that contrasted with her dark red hair. “This is it! Our first vacationers to experience the beauty of Magna.” She clapped her hands together.