Royal Line by Carrie Ryan (online e book reading txt) 📕

And worse, I remembered wanting to nuzzle into it.

Given the memory of just how strong he was, I’d likely hurt myself if I hit him. I opened my eyes again and assessed the man sitting next to me on the tiny bed. He was built, broad and tall, given how far his legs extended. His thick muscle was more than apparent under his relaxed-fit long-sleeve T-shirt. I had basically been rescued by Thor. Excellent.

The fact that my mouth watered had nothing to do with the head injury I’d sustained the night before. He was…stunning. I would never admit it, but drooling was definitely a possibility.

“Why are you on my bed?”

He snorted. “It’s our bed, baby. You’d better get accustomed to sharing.”

I ran the word our through my head. Then blinked. Had he slept next to me? “Excuse me?” I asked, looking around and groaning again at the pain in my head.

“I need to check you for a concussion.” With strong fingers, he lifted my chin and shined a light into my eyes.

My world spun, and nausea rose as my mind replayed everything that had happened. I needed to focus. I forced a deep breath, trying to regain some of my meager control. I hated feeling like I couldn’t grasp hold of my life. Like I was spinning and there was nothing I could do to fix it.

Focus, London. “What happened?”

“You don’t remember?” He mumbled a few things to himself that I couldn’t understand but nodded as he looked at me. As if checking out my eyes had reaffirmed any previous diagnosis he had made when I was passed out.

“No, of course I remember what happened last night. I just don’t understand how I ended up in bed. With you.”

His smirk was slow but held a note of worry. “You passed out after we got shot at. I didn’t have any other choice, so I brought you here. This is my hotel room. Looks like you’ll be fine though.”

His hotel room? Hell. And why did he sound vaguely annoyed by the idea?

“How do you know I’m fine?”

“Because I checked you over. Your ankle is a little swollen. You may have a slight concussion and definitely some bumps and bruises, but you’re no worse for wear. Nothing broken. Nothing that indicates internal bleeding. I’d like to have a doctor look you over though.”

The violation slid over me like an oil slick, and I pushed at him.

“How did you manage that while I was passed out?” I asked, my voice going into a higher octave with each word.

“Nothing like that. Jesus Christ.” He calmly pushed to his feet as if to give me space. “I had to do a quick check before I moved you from the roadside to here. I didn’t want to do any more damage than necessary.” He also slowed the cadence of his voice to something level and calming. Like he was used to dealing with hysterical people. “Every other room in the hotel and the surrounding hotels is booked. The room my company booked for me is it. It’s one nobody can trace, but there’s only one bed. I would have put you with my associate, Sparrow, but her room is tiny and only has a twin and I figured someone should watch you. I put you to bed after I made sure you were okay. And you are. You’re going to be fine.”

“I don’t understand.” Even trying to think about what had happened last night sent the hairs on my arms to attention.

He eased into the chair near the foot of the bed. “I gather you’re confused. And I know this scenario has to be stressful. I’m only here to help.”

He was doing it again. The gravel in his voice more of a low purr than actual words. “You don’t have to talk to me like that. I’m not a child. And I’m not going to bolt or do anything stupid.” I raised my chin, something I had learned to do at a young age. I’d had to learn the art of showing disdain and yet looking regal at the same time early on.

I hated that look. Aunt Rebecca had taught it to me long ago. Sometimes it was the only way to get rid of people who saw too much or wanted too much. She’d been the only one I could rely on when I lost my parents, and I did my best to remember what she’d taught me.

“I don’t think you are. We don’t know who was out there chasing you, and we’re in fucking France, not your home or mine. So while we figure out what the hell we’re going to do, you’re going to stay here in my room, the one place where I can keep you safe.”

“Who are you?” I asked, wondering how the hell I had ended up in this situation.

I’d left home wanting room to breathe. None of this was anything I had bargained for. I just needed time for my brothers to work out how to fix this arcane rule. I had to believe they would because I wasn’t about to open my uterus for business, no matter what. Children should be brought into the world for love, not necessity or a crown.

For now I needed to stay off everybody’s radar. Kannon had done the right thing. He’d protected me. Kept me safe.

Jesus Christ, I had been shot at. Just the memory made my heart race, and I pressed my palm over my chest, trying to calm the rising panic. I was safe for now and needed to think. I had more important things to worry about.

Namely, how the hell I was going to get out of this situation and who Kannon was exactly.

Could I trust him? He’d kept me safe for the night. I hoped to hell I could put my faith in him, but hell, besides his name, I knew nothing about the man. I didn’t even know his last name.

“I’m a security specialist. A consultant.”

I frowned.