Genre ~ Romance. Harlequin Presents/ Mills and Boon Modern.
Publication date ~ February 20, 2024
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I am delighted to share an extract today ~ thanks to Rachel’s Random Resources for organizing.
Introduction: This scene captures both Natalia’s quite strength, but also her vulnerability. And watching her win the fight with herself to push against years of following the rules and tradition, was a joy to see.
Extract:
Natalia fingered the silverware placed with merciless precision. The gleaming blue and white patterned plate, seemingly untouched by human hand. No smudges, no imprints of careless fingers, no evidence of life.
She placed her hand in the centre of the plate and pressed down. She inhaled, exhaled, counted to ten, and lifted.
There. Life. Creases and folds unique to her. Proof. She wasn’t invisible. So where was he?
For two months, every evening, she’d made the same request. An audience with the King. Every time they’d denied her. He’d denied her.
Still, she waited.
She’d swapped one palace prison for another. Another holding cell full of silver spoons and fine porcelain. She was free to roam the grounds, and all over the palace. Except the west wing. The old Queen’s quarters were off-limits to her.
As was the King.
She’d had two months to explore the palace. Eight weeks to realise the extent of his abandonment.
Separate quarters. Separate beds. Separate lives.
She was as alone as she ever had been. Alone in this. This facade of a marriage.
But what had she expected to happen?
She hadn’t thought about it at all. She’d assumed things would be different. She would be different.
Her cheeks heated as she swallowed down frustration at her naivety.
Time was running out. One week remained until her coronation. One week until she became Queen. And every day her dream seemed further away. Every day in her new home she was thwarted by rules. Tradition. Her every request denied without the permission of the King.
The man who’d brushed his lips against hers in a kiss she hadn’t been able to forget.
Hands appeared to her left and silently tried to change her plate. ‘Leave it!’ she demanded and added, ‘Please,’ because they were only doing their job. Removing any evidence that she was there.
‘Your Highness.’ The hands disappeared. But not the smudge. The proof.
She raised her gaze to the opposite end of the highly polished rectangular table. Her eyes moved past the gentle glow of flickering candles. His chair was empty. No fine china set before it—no silverware—no proof of life.
But she knew he lived. She remembered the press of his mouth. The glow of his honey eyes…
The door opened. The King’s private secretary appeared, a neutral expression on his face.
She stood and stopped his approach with an open palm. There would be no whispers in her ear tonight.
‘Surely the King must eat?’ she asked, breaking protocol, breaking the rules to stay quiet and wait.
‘His Majesty sends his apologies—’
She shook her head. She knew his choice to eat without her was a statement. A declaration. That her presence—their marriage—was inconsequential.
Realisation stormed through her. Of what her life would continue to be if she let it. Hidden from her duty. Ignored. Dismissed. Her mother’s dreams forgotten. Her people left behind.
‘Take me to him.’
‘Your Highness…’ He shook his head. ‘I cannot,’ he said, denying her, like everyone else.
‘Then I will find him myself.’
Book blurb:
Will the king finally surrender to their tantalizing chemistry? Find out in the latest royalty romance by Lela May Wight!
Their royal marriage: Separate beds but shared temptation…
Two months have passed since the world watched Natalia La Morte marry King Angelo Dizieno. But Natalia hasn’t seen or heard from him since their startlingly scorching kiss at the altar…
Promoted from spare to heir after tragedy struck, Angelo can’t be distracted from his duty. Being within touching distance of the woman he has always craved—his brother’s intended queen—has him on the precipice of self-destruction. The last thing he needs is for Natalia to recognize their dangerous attraction. If she does, there’s nothing to stop it from becoming all-consuming…From
Harlequin Presents: Escape to exotic locations where passion knows no bounds.
Purchase Links
Amazon Australia: https://www.amazon.com.au/King-She-Shouldnt-Crave-ebook/dp/B0CQRNW7DH/
Amazon USA: https://www.amazon.com/King-She-Shouldnt-Crave-ebook/dp/B0CQRNW7DH/
Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/King-Shouldnt-Crave-Mills-Modern-ebook/dp/B0C9XRBFC9
Author Bio – Lela May Wight grew up with seven brothers and sisters. Yes, it was noisy, and she often found escape in romance books. She still does, but now she gets to write them too! She hopes to offer readers the same escapism when the world is a little too loud.
Lela May lives in the UK with her sons and her very own hero, who never complains about her book addiction – he buys her more books! Check out what she’s up to at lelamaywight.com.
Website: www.lelamaywight.com
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