I freeze, my eyes climbing back up to meet hers. Is this when she mentions the merger? Tells me she knows I’ve been hiding it from her?
Penelope continues. “Mr. Donovan has been trying to buy Crown land in the eastern part of the kingdom, near Roston. It’s the second largest city in Nord, and a major industrial center.” The Queen’s voice is steady, but her hands tighten around each other. She’s hesitating. With a breath, she continues. “Donovan Enterprises is planning on opening at least three large diamond mines in the area.”
Air whooshes out of my lungs. Diamonds. That’s why Donovan is here. All my investigative work over the past weeks has returned nothing, but the Queen just dropped that information in my lap without even knowing I needed it.
Again.
Discomfort churns in my gut. I should tell her. I should be honest about the merger. I should tell her why I came here…
…but then she’d think I was lying when I said I wanted to see her. I wouldn’t be in this room if I’d told her I’m in Nord to find out what Reginald Donovan is up to. It’s only been a couple of weeks since Gabriel’s wedding, but I can’t let this connection go. I can’t bear the disappointment in her eyes. I can’t imagine going on with life without the promise of seeing her again.
So I say nothing.
When I nod, Penelope continues. “The government would prefer to keep those mines under the control of the public resources conglomerate in Nord—the Nord Resources Group. But for reasons I won’t go into, NRG isn’t in a position—financially or managerially—to take on a project such as the diamond mines near Roston. There have been questions posed about the suitability of Donovan Enterprises. They have a less than stellar reputation, and I don’t want to open my country up to companies that aren’t reputable.”
“I understand.”
“I’m not sure you do, Asher,” Penelope says. She leans forward. “I want you to provide a proposal for the land and mines. I can give you the contact details for Mick Burgundy, the director for the Nord Resources Group. I’d like you to put forward a proposal for a joint venture for the development of diamond mines in Roston. From what I understand, the Gerhard Corporation has a great track record and would have the capital to at least match Donovan’s proposal. With NRG on board, your proposal would be even more attractive since you’d have Nordish local industry on your side. I can’t guarantee you’ll get the contract, but I can tell you parliament isn’t completely satisfied with Donovan Enterprises. If there were another company in the mix, and especially one that’s willing to work with a public company…”
The Queen is handing me a victory on a silver platter. She’s giving me Donovan on his knees, and she doesn’t even know it. A lump forms in my throat, and I struggle to swallow past it. “What about Donovan?”
She shakes her head. “I don’t trust him. I’d rather work with someone who has a reputable company with a good history. You’ve already had good press in Nord, and you’ve only been here two weeks. We could help you grow your business here.”
“We?”
Her lip tugs. “The royal we.”
My mouth goes dry. Penelope is delivering the killing blow to Donovan Enterprises and making my job incredibly easy. By offering me the opportunity to bid on this land, this mine near Roston, the Queen is ensuring I go back to my father with not only Donovan Enterprises ready to merge with our corporation, but a new mine under construction with all the approvals in place. A sprint to the finish line with a royal head start.
It would be an unimaginable victory for me. Father would have no choice but to recognize my success. It would be enough to show him that I deserve the company, not Logan. No one—no one—would be able to close this deal as decisively as me.
I’d be a fool to refuse. I can’t refuse. All the work I’ve done for my father has led me to this room. This deal. This conversation.
But…I should tell Pen about the merger. I should be honest about why I’m here. I should tell her I came here with the intention of finding out what Donovan was planning, and I should tell her she just made my job easier. I should tell her that once I submit a proposal for these mines, my father will no doubt proceed with the merger, and Donovan Enterprises will be part of our company, too.
No words come out, though. If I tell her, will she retract the deal? Or worse…will she cut off whatever connection is forming between us?
Gulping down my worries, I nod. “I’m interested. Get me in touch with NRG. I can have a proposal put together within two weeks, and I’m sure my company will be able to release the funds for the purchase of the land near Roston.”
“Two weeks. That’s sooner than even I expected,” Penelope says softly. She takes a deep breath, stands, and extends her hand for me to shake. My palm slides over hers, and heat flows through my arm. I resist the urge to tug her closer and crush my lips to hers, but in Penelope’s eyes I see something faint. Something hidden.
Yearning.
Penelope nods, making a soft, closed-mouth noise. “Good. I’ll let my staff know to expect your proposal.” She pauses, her cheeks slightly red. “Come with me.” Penelope walks toward the door, her gauzy dress flowing around her legs like smoke. Her blond hair is twisted into a low bun, and those twinkling diamonds still garnish her ears. I want to kiss them—they’re the only diamonds I care about right now.
When she stops at the door to wait for me, I scamper closer. I inhale her sweet scent, immediately forgetting why I’m here. Reginald who? I follow her out of the office, trailing in her wake like a dog on a leash.
Usually, I’d hate this. I’ve never been one to follow behind a woman—behind anyone. My father gives me free rein in the company because he knows I don’t do well with authority. My results speak for themselves. I’m his best performer, and the person who’s made him a very rich man.
But trailing behind Penelope…I have to admit I like it. I like the cool way she delivered her business proposal. I like the rational side of her, and the angry, slapping side of her, the undone, passionate side of her and every other emotion she’s shown me—because none of those emotions are pity. None of them are disgust. She doesn’t stare at my neck and jaw, trying to keep her face steady. Her eyes don’t drift down, wondering just how much of my body is scarred.
No, Penelope doesn’t even seem to notice. She gave me her pleasure and laughter at Prince Gabriel’s wedding, she gave me her fury and annoyance, and now she’s showing me that she, too, knows how to do business. I’ll take it all. Anything. All of it—because to her, I know I’m not a monster. She sees me.
We walk in silence for a few moments, until we spill out into a large foyer at the back of the castle. Penelope glances over her shoulder at me. “I was angry yesterday,” she says.
“You were.”
“It was inappropriate of me.”
“Are you trying to apologize right now?” My lips tug at the corners. “If so, you’re not doing a great job.”
“I’m trying to establish the boundaries of this relationship.”
“And what are those?”
She pushes open a door, walking out onto an outdoor patio area. Potted plants line either side of the door, with a wide, paved path leading to the vast castle grounds. “I’ve decided I need you.”
A jolt of heat pierces my gut.
Penelope cuts me with a glare. “Professionally, I mean.”
“Right.”
We walk for a few minutes, across a lawn and into a more wooded area. A fountain sprays into a pond at the end of the path. She pauses, glancing behind her, then turns to me. “We need to talk.”
I nod. “I’m listening.”
“I’m serious, Asher.”
I bite back a groan. I love the way she says my name. It’s sweeter on her tongue, somehow. Like it would sound good if she cried it out in ecstasy.
Penelope takes a deep breath. “What happened at Gabriel’s wedding—”
“I understand.”
“Let me speak,” she snaps. H
er eyes flick to mine, icy-blue and clear. “It…It was fun. But it can’t happen again. This relationship must remain professional.”
“Of course.”
“No comments, Asher. No innuendo. No kisses. No touching. No slapping.”
“To be fair, you’re the one who slapped me.”
She lets out a frustrated huff, and I can’t quite hide my grin. “Asher, I mean it. The only reason I’m even considering this deal is because of the economic situation in Nord. We need heavy industry. Our workers need jobs.”
“And I can provide them.”
She holds up a hand. “But if anyone thinks I gave you that project because of some kind of…personal favor…it would look very, very bad. For both of us.”
A soft breeze teases a strand of hair out of her bun, making it whip across her face. Before I can stop myself, I’m tucking it behind her ear. Her skin is so soft. She closes her eyes for just a moment, and everything goes still.
I forget that she’s a queen, and I’m only a lowly business executive. I forget that she’s telling me there can be nothing between us. I forget that my body is scarred and ugly, and no one will ever be able to love me when they see what the fire did to me.
Because in this moment, Penelope closes her eyes and lets out a soft sigh, and it’s easy to forget everything around. “Asher,” she whispers.
“The more you say my name, the more I want to kiss you.” My voice is full of gravel. I take a step toward Penelope, letting my hand slide behind her ear to caress the nape of her neck.
“Did you not hear anything I just said?”
“I heard every word, Pen.”
Her eyes meet mine, emotion warring within them. “So why are you doing this?”
“Because it feels too good not to.”
“I’m not…” She shakes her head. “I’m not a regular woman, Asher. I need to be a queen to this country before everything else.”
“I’m not asking you to give up the throne.”
“But you are.” Her voice is nothing but a whisper. “Touching me like that…” she trails off, closing her eyes.
With one hand drawing small circles over the nape of her neck, I slide my other hand over her hip. Her dress feels silky, and I let my fingers crawl down to rest on top of her ass. One step forward, and her chest is against mine.
“You can tell me to stop, Pen, and I will.”
She lets out a sigh, conflict written all over her face.
“I wasn’t pretending at Gabriel’s wedding,” I say. “I swear. What happened between us…it felt…”
Real.
The words don’t come. We stand there, in silence, with her body melting into mine as I pull her near. Her lips part, and everything in my heart screams at me to kiss her.
“Pen, I really want to kiss you right now.” My voice is a growl. A rasp. It’s pure need.
“We can’t,” she whispers.
“Why not?”
“Because I’m the Queen, Asher.” Her eyes are closed, her voice so soft.
“You’re Penelope Stone.”
“But I’m the Queen first.” She pulls away, and it feels like she’s ripping the air between us in two. Like the atmosphere is being shredded, throwing up an invisible shield between us.
I inhale deeply, dropping my head. “You’re right. I’m sorry.”
“We can’t.”
“I know.” I know but oh, I hate it. I hate the fact that she’s the Queen, and I need to work with her. I hate the fact that I care about the future of my company, and I know I need this diamond mine to inherit my father’s business. I hate that not telling her about the Donovan merger feels a lot like a lie. I hate all the barriers between us.
I lift my hand to my neck, feeling the too-smooth skin of my scar. Penelope doesn’t know it covers a third of my body. She doesn’t realize I’m not like other men. I’m not beautiful and flawless like her husband was—perfect for photo opportunities and official paintings. I’m not worthy of her.
“For this to work, we have to keep things professional,” Penelope says. The breeze flutters through stray strands of hair again, but I resist the urge to touch it.
I nod. “You’re right. I apologize.”
She sighs, shaking her head. “It’s my fault. I never should have done anything with you.”
Her words pierce my heart, spreading an ache through my chest. I clear my throat and turn away from her, but I know the truth.
She doesn’t feel what I feel. This connection I thought existed? It’s one-sided.
Penelope needs me to employ her citizens, and I need her to earn my inheritance.
It’s business.
11
Penelope
Mind reeling, I walk back to the castle with Asher and excuse myself. I hurry to my chambers and lock the door, dropping my head in my hands.
I’m in trouble.
How can I say I want to keep things professional when my body screams at me to act? To lean in and kiss him? To take his face in my hands and run my fingers over his lips?
How can I pretend to be a worthy queen when I’m so easily prepared to turn my back on my responsibilities for the sake of...lust? Or is it something more?
When Xavier died, I turned to my duty for comfort. The part of me that was open to love got buried in the ground beside him, and I resigned myself to my fate.
But now…
Shaking my head, I strip off my dress and take a shower. I need to wash off the embers Asher sprinkled all over my skin. I need to cool down my heated core and remind myself why I’m here. Who I am. What I need to do.
The water does nothing to temper my feelings. I find myself sliding my hands down lower, bracing myself against the tile wall. My fingers slip through another kind of wetness—one not caused by the shower. I shouldn’t. I can’t.
My hand doesn’t listen, though. Fingers slide through my own arousal and I find that bundle of nerves promising sweet release. All I see is Asher. His broad hands, and the feeling of his palms on my hips. The hard planes of his chest. The taste of his kiss.
This finger sliding in and out of me? I wish it were his. The pleasure teasing through my thighs feels like a whisper of the real thing, but I still let myself go there. I picture his dark hair curled around my fingers, and his thick, hard cock driving inside me. I imagine his strong, broad body caging mine, and the feeling of letting go. Letting him take control. Letting him give me what I need.
Under the shower stream, I stifle a cry as an orgasm washes over me. My legs tremble as my core clenches on nothing, Asher’s face burned in my mind. Panting, I stand under the shower for a while longer. It doesn’t cool me down or wash away the feeling that I’m making a big mistake.
Asher may be beautiful. He might make my body feel more alive than it has in years. He might have a disarming smile and mischief in his dark brown eyes, but that doesn’t mean I can pursue him—or anyone, for that matter.
I’m the heirless Queen of Nord, and my duty is to my people.
I succeed in keeping things professional with Asher by avoiding him entirely—well, except for my dreams. More than once, I wake up tangled in my sheets with an ache between my legs. A week passes, then another. He communicates with me through official channels but not directly with me, which is fine. We’re professionals. I don’t normally talk to mining executives personally, anyway.
Whenever I see his name, heat blasts through my core. I wear an almost permanent blush. As the days roll into one another, I pretend I’ve regained control over myself. I almost forget the way it felt to be in the same room as him.
Almost.
But two weeks after our talk in the garden, my office receives the Gerhard Corporation’s official application for mining rights and purchase of land near Roston. The proposal, as I requested with Asher, is for a joint venture between Gerhard Corporation and Nord Resources Group, with the former providing the capital and management oversight, and the latter providing the labor and diamond mining expertise
. When I review the application, I’m impressed. Two weeks isn’t a long time to put something like this together. It’s almost unheard of—but this deal is too sweet to pass up. I knew it when I asked him to submit a proposal. I handed him a big, fat paycheck and a new market to explore.
I make a few comments, asking that the contracts stipulate a minimum percentage of local workers to be employed at the mines and construction sites at all times. I can tell by my staff and legal team’s comments that this application is much more desirable than the Donovan one.
By making this deal with Asher, I might have just saved my kingdom from doing business with Donovan Enterprises—but I’ve cut myself off from ever being with Asher as anything other than a distant professional acquaintance.
Things move quickly. The protests in the kingdom are gaining steam, and the government is keen to announce something positive to the people. Gerhard Inc.’s application is approved within two more weeks, and the sale of land proceeds. Four weeks after I tell Asher about the diamond fields, his company officially purchases the land from the Crown.
Our relationship is officially professional and must remain that way. When I see the news break about the sale of the land and see the positive reaction of almost everyone in the country, I know I made the right decision. Nord needs new industry, and Asher is perfectly positioned to provide it.
Still, I can’t help the feeling that I’ve lost something. A chance at…something. Love, maybe. Or at least companionship.
A week later, at the beginning of July, we receive an invitation to a ceremony to officially announce the start of the project. We’ll be unveiling the preliminary plans to the locals and announcing the new mine to the world.
My presence would be appreciated, as it would make it very clear where the Crown stands. Royal approval of this project will be good for the mine—and good for my image. I’ve sustained so much criticism over the past few weeks that any good news will need to be blasted to the public.
Ice Queen: An Accidental Pregnancy Romance Page 9