Elise stirred awake, completely disoriented.

She had no sense of time.

Her body felt heavy, her mind foggy.

The room was utterly dark and unfamiliar.

She couldn't recall how she'd arrived here.

Or how she'd ended up in this bed.

Bed?!

She threw the covers back in a panic.

Her clothes were on, neat and tidy.

A wave of relief washed over her.

But it was short-lived.

She wasn't wearing this outfit when she arrived.

Who changed her clothes? William?!

She lifted her pajama top to check.

Her bra was missing.

Heat flooded her cheeks instantly.

How could she have slept so deeply?

She was usually a light sleeper, waking at the slightest sound.

How had she let her guard down around William? He was dangerous.

"Could you be imagining some dramatic events in your head, Ms. Scott?" A deep, attractive voice murmured near her ear.

Startled, Elise whipped her head around.

William leaned casually against the doorway, watching her with clear amusement.

"When did you get here?" she demanded, her voice tight.

"I've seen everything there is to see anyway," he replied evasively.

His answer made her want to scream.

What did that mean? Had he undressed her?! Where was the respect he'd promised?

All men were truly pigs.

"Since you're awake, Ms. Scott, dinner is ready," William added, his demeanor still relaxed. He turned to leave, pausing at the door. "Your luggage is in the closet. Remember to wear undergarments. There will be others around."

Elise was speechless. She could murder him right now.

She pushed the covers aside and got out of bed.

She took a moment to properly study the unfamiliar room.

It was enormous. The bed was vast. An atrium overhead revealed a breathtaking, dreamlike tapestry of twinkling stars.

She walked to the massive window and opened it.

The crystalline ocean stretched below, waves crashing gently. A salty breeze caressed her face, filling her lungs with the scent of the sea.

It was an incredibly serene sight under the night sky.

Elise drank in the view for a long moment before closing the window.

She headed to the walk-in closet, which was as spacious as the rest of the room.

William's clothes hung right beside hers.

Their underwear was folded together in a single drawer.

It felt disturbingly intimate, like they were already living together.

Elise quickly found her own undergarments, refusing to dwell on the thought.

She changed into a conservative set of casual clothes and left the bedroom.

Downstairs, William sat on a luxurious leather couch in the living room, legs crossed, reading a local newspaper.

A gourmet chef worked in the open-air kitchen.

Five uniformed waitresses bowed in unison when they saw Elise.

"We'll start eating now," William said, setting the paper aside and rising.

He walked toward her, dressed entirely in white.

The color softened his appearance slightly, but it couldn't hide his ridiculously handsome face.

His tall, commanding frame made her feel a familiar, slight pressure.

He carried a kingly aura naturally.

Her heart fluttered as he reached for her hands, intertwining their fingers.

She pressed her lips together but allowed it, her silence a quiet acquiescence.

A smile touched William's lips. He led her to the window seat in the dining room.