Amelia Autin - King's Ransom

Reunion with the king turns forbidden…and dangerous

Internationally renowned actress Juliana Richardson should be concentrating on the role of a lifetime, not on the man who broke her heart years earlier. Yet King Andre Alexei IV is no longer a young prince-in-training—he’s an undeniably sexy monarch with seduction on his mind. Juliana’s heart is at risk, but after a series of deadly coincidences, it becomes clear her life is on the line, too.

Andre vows to protect the stubborn star even as she pushes him away. But as the threat to Juliana’s life grows more intense, Andre must choose between saving the vulnerable beauty or letting her go forever…

“Do not run, Juliana,” he said softly, reassuringly. “You have nothing to fear from me. You never did.”

It wasn’t that easy, of course. She couldn’t just turn off the panic at a word from him. Especially since his words didn’t stop there.

“When I make love to you,” he said, his eyes suddenly blazing, his deep voice curling inside her, making her knees weak, “you will come to me of your own free will. You will come to me because you want me the same way I want you.”

A memory flashed into her mind, a memory she’d resolutely suppressed until now. And suddenly she was seeing Andre as she’d seen him all those years ago, his green eyes in a shaft of moonlight glowing with what she’d fooled herself into believing was love.

She was hearing his voice, that deep, throbbing voice she still heard in her dreams whispering in Zakharan, “Now it begins.”

“Never,” she whispered from a throat gone suddenly dry, fighting the sensual web he was weaving. Fighting herself. “Never again.”

* * *

Be sure to check out the next books in Amelia Autin’s exciting miniseries: Man on a Mission—These heroes, working at home and overseas, will do anything for justice, honor…and love.

* * *

Dear Reader Dear Reader Title Page About the Author Dedication Prologue Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9 Chapter 10 Chapter 11 Chapter 12 Chapter 13 Chapter 14 Chapter 15 Chapter 16 Chapter 17 Chapter 18 Chapter 19 Epilogue Extract Copyright ,

When I wrote McKinnon’s Royal Mission, part of my Man on a Mission miniseries, two characters kept popping up, assuming more and more importance—my heroine’s brother, King Andre Alexei IV of Zakhar, and her one-time best friend, the achingly beautiful Juliana Richardson, now an internationally famous movie star. Naturally, when I finished McKinnon’s Royal Mission I had no choice but to let those two characters take me where they wanted to lead me. And what a story King’s Ransom turned out to be! Royal intrigue, lovers reunited against all odds, the reenactment of a centuries-old love story and a villain who won’t balk at murder to get what he wants.

I think every romance author falls a little bit in love with every hero she creates, and I’m no exception. While far from perfect, Andre embodies the best of what most of us look for in a hero—strong, faithful and true.

And my heroine, Juliana? She’s the perfect foil for my hero. She’s strong and just as determined as he is in her own way. She knows what she wants and goes after it without hesitation. She won’t settle for second best, not in herself, and not in the man she loves. Juliana represents the best of who I would like to be…in another life.

I love hearing from my readers. Please email me at AmeliaAutin@aol.com and let me know what you think.

Amelia Autin

King’s

Ransom

Amelia Autin

www.millsandboon.co.uk

AMELIA AUTIN is a voracious reader who can’t bear to put a good book down…or part with it. Her bookshelves are crammed with books her husband periodically threatens to donate to a good cause, but he always relents…eventually.

Amelia returned to her first love, romance writing, after a long hiatus, during which she wrote numerous technical manuals and how-to guides, as well as designed and taught classes on a variety of subjects, including technical writing. She is a long-time member of Romance Writers of America (RWA), and served three years as its treasurer.

Amelia currently resides with her PhD engineer husband in quiet Vail, Arizona, where they can see the stars at night and have a “million-dollar view” of the Rincon Mountains from their backyard.

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For my nephew, John Michael Autin, who gently goaded me into writing fiction again after many years…and probably doesn’t even remember how he did it! How happy I am he met and married his true love, Kristy Len—he deserves the best, and

he found it in Kristy. And for Vincent…always.

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text Reunion with the king turns forbidden…and dangerous Internationally renowned actress Juliana Richardson should be concentrating on the role of a lifetime, not on the man who broke her heart years earlier. Yet King Andre Alexei IV is no longer a young prince-in-training—he’s an undeniably sexy monarch with seduction on his mind. Juliana’s heart is at risk, but after a series of deadly coincidences, it becomes clear her life is on the line, too. Andre vows to protect the stubborn star even as she pushes him away. But as the threat to Juliana’s life grows more intense, Andre must choose between saving the vulnerable beauty or letting her go forever…

Introduction “Do not run, Juliana,” he said softly, reassuringly. “You have nothing to fear from me. You never did.” It wasn’t that easy, of course. She couldn’t just turn off the panic at a word from him. Especially since his words didn’t stop there. “When I make love to you,” he said, his eyes suddenly blazing, his deep voice curling inside her, making her knees weak, “you will come to me of your own free will. You will come to me because you want me the same way I want you.” A memory flashed into her mind, a memory she’d resolutely suppressed until now. And suddenly she was seeing Andre as she’d seen him all those years ago, his green eyes in a shaft of moonlight glowing with what she’d fooled herself into believing was love. She was hearing his voice, that deep, throbbing voice she still heard in her dreams whispering in Zakharan, “Now it begins.” “Never,” she whispered from a throat gone suddenly dry, fighting the sensual web he was weaving. Fighting herself. “Never again.” * * * Be sure to check out the next books in Amelia Autin’s exciting miniseries: Man on a Mission—These heroes, working at home and overseas, will do anything for justice, honor…and love. * * *

Dear Reader Dear Reader Dear Reader Title Page About the Author Dedication Prologue Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9 Chapter 10 Chapter 11 Chapter 12 Chapter 13 Chapter 14 Chapter 15 Chapter 16 Chapter 17 Chapter 18 Chapter 19 Epilogue Extract Copyright , When I wrote McKinnon’s Royal Mission, part of my Man on a Mission miniseries, two characters kept popping up, assuming more and more importance—my heroine’s brother, King Andre Alexei IV of Zakhar, and her one-time best friend, the achingly beautiful Juliana Richardson, now an internationally famous movie star. Naturally, when I finished McKinnon’s Royal Mission I had no choice but to let those two characters take me where they wanted to lead me. And what a story King’s Ransom turned out to be! Royal intrigue, lovers reunited against all odds, the reenactment of a centuries-old love story and a villain who won’t balk at murder to get what he wants. I think every romance author falls a little bit in love with every hero she creates, and I’m no exception. While far from perfect, Andre embodies the best of what most of us look for in a hero—strong, faithful and true. And my heroine, Juliana? She’s the perfect foil for my hero. She’s strong and just as determined as he is in her own way. She knows what she wants and goes after it without hesitation. She won’t settle for second best, not in herself, and not in the man she loves. Juliana represents the best of who I would like to be…in another life. I love hearing from my readers. Please email me at AmeliaAutin@aol.com and let me know what you think. Amelia Autin