"Sharon Green - [ebel 01 - Rebel" - читать интересную книгу автора (Green Sharon)

Enough like her that even his father had chosen to tread lightly, Mayne admitted to himself with a sigh.
This little game that they had decided to play with the two dukes who wanted more power was
threatening to get out of hand, and all because of one black-haired, black-eyed female.
Mayne stared at the unmoving door for one more minute, then turned and strode off in the direction of his
own apartment. Silently he thanked the gods for keeping Adair from answering his knock, at the same
time keeping him from making even more of a mess in his relationship with her. HeтАЩd already punished
her once for, in effect, daring to tell the truth, and now heтАЩd come close to doing it a second time. When
what he really wanted to do was take her in his armsтАж
But that would be impossible until the end of the week, which was probably a very good thing. It gave
him time to think of ways to get closer to Adair, so that when she found out they were married she would
be more likely to accept the situation than fight it.
Mayne was still determined to find a way to make that happen, so he was deep in thought by the time he
walked into his sitting room. He closed the door behind himself, more involved with plotting than paying
attention to what was around him, so the complete lack of servants in the room made no impression. The
fact that there usually were servants went right past him until his distracted stroll toward his bedchamber
was stopped by the two slender arms circling his waist from behind.
For the briefest instant Mayne thought it was Adair who was behind him, but then the truth shredded that
delightful fantasy.
тАЬSurprise, Prince Mayne,тАЭ he heard Dinra purr in tones that were probably supposed to be extremely
provocative. тАЬIt was so clever of you to find a reason to leave the kingтАЩs presence like that, an excuse I
also used as soon as you were gone. Now no one will have to know about our little тАж arrangement until
the end of the week when you announce our betrothal.тАЭ
тАЬWe donтАЩt have an arrangement, Dinra,тАЭ Mayne said with vast annoyance as he pulled the girlтАЩs arms
away from their hold and then stepped forward to turn to look at her. тАЬAnd if there are any
announcements concerning you made at the end of the week, they wonтАЩt be coming from me. YouтАЩre
obviously not very good at taking hints, so let me say this straight out: IтАЩm not in the least attracted to
you, so you might as well leave my apartment right now.тАЭ
тАЬOf course youтАЩre not attracted to me,тАЭ Dinra said with a smile and in a tone that told him she didnтАЩt
believe a word heтАЩd said. тАЬThatтАЩs why I was seated right next to you with no one but that nothing Lisni on
your other side. I know you want me, Prince Mayne, and now that IтАЩve sent away your servants you can
have me without anyone finding out and making a fuss.тАЭ
And with that she moved close again and this time wrapped her arms around his neck. With her body
pressed up against his like that, Mayne was very much tempted to tell her the real reason she and Lisni
were seated near him. But telling Dinra the truth would ruin MayneтАЩs fatherтАЩs plans, which meant that he
had to keep silent - on that point, at least.
тАЬDinra, stop it!тАЭ Mayne said sharply, finding it almost impossible to push the girl away again without
hurting her. тАЬIтАЩm not the one who decided who sat where, a fact that ruins your ridiculous little theory, so
let go of me and go back to your own apartment. I wonтАЩt say it a third time.тАЭ
тАЬNow, now, Prince Mayne, you donтАЩt have to be afraid of me,тАЭ Dinra purred as she tried to push herself
even closer. тАЬAll I want to do is show you how pleasant life will be when IтАЩm your wife. Once weтАЩre
married, you wonтАЩt even have to send the servants away if you donтАЩt want to. DonтАЩt you like the sound
of that?тАЭ
тАЬNot particularly, but thereтАЩs a sound I will like,тАЭ Mayne said, completely out of patience with the fool of
a girl. тАЬWhen you wonтАЩt take no for an answer, you canтАЩt complain about what happens to you
afterward.тАЭ
And with that he pulled DinraтАЩs arms from around his neck, then took her by one wrist and pulled her
after him to the nearest suitable chair. Dinra, the little fool, made a pleased sound in the belief that she
was about to get what sheтАЩd been demanding, just the way sheтАЩd most likely been given whatever she
demanded all her life. Instead Mayne was going to give her what she should have been given, and then
maybe she would have grown up to be someone worth knowing.