Award-winning author
Rebecca Winters
is known and loved for her unique characters and intense, deeply emotional stories.
Here is just some of the praise her books have receivedâ¦.
âRebecca Wintersâ latest is full of emotional scenes, fantastic characterization and endearing romance.â
âRomantic Times on His Very Own Baby
âWinters weaves a magical spell that is unforgettable,â
âAffaire de Coeur on The Nutcracker Prince
âAn emotionally intense premiseâ¦dynamic characters, heartrending scenes and wonderful romance.â
âRomantic Times on Undercover Baby
Look out in Harlequin Romance>® in June for
His Majestyâs Marriage (#3705)
by Lucy Gordon and Rebecca Winters
DIMITRIOS heard footsteps in the passage outside his door. It was the middle of the night. Curious to know what was going on, he flung his covers aside and hurried out into the hall.
âLeon?â he whispered when he saw his adored elder brother carrying a suitcase. âWhatâs happening?â
Leon spun around. âGo back to bed, Dimi.â
Ignoring the command, he rushed up to Leon. âWhere are you going?â
âLower your voice. Youâll find out soon enough.â
âBut you canât just leave!â He worshipped Leon whoâd been father, brother and protector all rolled into one this last year. âWherever you have to go, Iâll come with you. I can be ready in two minutes.â
âNo, Dimi. You have to stay here with Uncle Spiros and our cousins. I should be back in a week.â
Tears filled his eyes. âThe cousins arenât fun like you, and Uncle Spiros is too strict.â
âSince our parents died, heâs been good to us in his own way, Dimi. It wonât be so bad.â
Panic-stricken, Dimitrios threw his arms around Leon, trying to prevent him from leaving. âPlease let me come with you.â
âYou canât. You see, Iâm getting married before the nightâs out. Itâs all been arranged.â
Married?
Dimitrios felt like his world had come to an end. âWhich one of your girlfriends is it?â
âAnanke Paulos.â
âIâve never heard of her. Will you bring her here?â
âNo,â he said on a heavy sigh. âWeâll be living in our parentsâ villa.â
âThen Iâll come and live with you. I can sleep in my old room like always.â
He shook his head. âIâm sorry, Dimi. A woman likes her own house.â
âBut that means you and Iâll never live together again!â
âHeyâweâll always be brothers. Iâll visit you every day, and youâll come to visit us.â
The pain kept getting worse. âDo you love her more than me?â His voice wobbled.
Leon stared down at him with eyes full of anguish. Dimitrios didnât know his brother could look like that. It terrified him.
âNot at all. In fact I would give anything in the world if I didnât have to marry her. But sheâs pregnant with my child.â
Dimitrios blinked in astonishment.
âSheâs going to have your baby?â
âYes.â
âYou made a baby with a woman you donât love?â He couldnât comprehend such a thing.
âOh, Dimiâlisten to me. Youâre only twelve, not quite old enough for a manâs feelings to have taken over inside you yet. When that day comes, your body will react when you see a beautiful woman. Youâll want to hold her, make love to her. The pleasure a woman can bring you is to die for.â
Dimitrios frowned through the tears. âTo die for?â
A sound of frustration came out of Leon. âI only mean that when a man and a woman make love, itâs wonderful beyond your imagination.â
âWas it that way with Ananke?â
âYes.â
âBut if you donât love her?â
âYou can feel great desire for a woman without loving her. I would never have married her but for the baby. Now I have to do my duty as a Pandakis.â
âNo, you donât!â Dimitrios cried from the depths of his soul. âWhat kind of a woman would want to live with you if she knew you didnât love her?â
A groan escaped Leonâs throat. âDimi? There are other reasons she wants to marry me.â