Arranged: An Array Series (Book #1)(80)

“Garrett Cranfield doesn’t surrender.”

He kept his concentration on my fingers. “I found something to submit to. I can’t spend my life fighting the things around me, can I?”

I shook my head absentmindedly, and Garrett stood. Coming to my side of the table, he lifted me up from the chair, his heat enveloping me. I glanced at his lips. Strong. Perfectly shaped. He cupped my chin and trailed kisses down the nape of my neck.

“You are so beautiful, Avie,” he breathed. Placing my hand firmly on his chest, I halted his movements.

“Chitwood,” I said.

Garrett looked at the ceiling and groaned. “What about her?”

I raised a brow. “That woman is walking around this palace, ordering wedding flowers and invitations for your wedding. And I’m in a parlor, alone with you, while you try to…distract me.”

Garrett’s lips quirked. “Really? I have the power to distract the influential Peitho?”

I smacked his chest. “Stop teasing me. I’m no goddess of anything.”

“To me, you are.”

“Then you must have taken too many hits to the head in training,” I quipped.

Garrett chuckled. “Don’t underestimate a beautiful woman.”

“You’re distracting again.”

Garrett laid his hand over mine placed on his chest. “Okay, Avie, I’m listening. Get out what you need to about Chitwood.” I went to open my mouth, but he continued, “And hurry up because I have other plans for us at the moment.”

“I’m honestly not sure what to do…”

“Well, Peitho, what are your plans for me?”

“Garr—”

“I mean that in all honesty. Do you care anything for me?”

“Of course I do, but—”

“There are no buts. It’s just me and you.”

I let out an exasperated sigh. “It’s not just me and you. It’s George and—”

“Don’t bring my brother into this,” he retorted.

“And Sophia.”

“I don’t have a past with her.”

“I understand that, but—”

Garrett released me and raked his hands through his dark hair as he paced the room.

“Avie, I don’t know how much more clear I can be with everyone. I’m not going to marry that vulture of a woman.”

I took a deep breath because I knew the outcome if he refused. And it wasn’t something I had fully accepted myself. He would be the sacrificial lamb.

“Then Hara gets married off to Femme Fatale knows who,” I added.

Garrett stopped in his tracks and looked at me. “Who told you that?”

“Hara.”

He mumbled something I couldn’t make out and rubbed his forehead. His shoulders were tense as he fisted his other hand along his side. I understood the frustration; the uncontrollable emotion of hopelessness when you were forced into something with no option.

“I’m not going to let anything happen to my sister,” he finally said, his back to me. I took a step near him, wanting to comfort him but not crowd him.

“I know. You are a noble and selfless man,” I replied softly. “She is lucky to have you.”

He turned to face me, defeat lingering on his face. But just as quickly as I saw it, it faded.

“I want to be selfish. We both deserve it.” He took a step toward me until we were face to face. “When do we fight back, Ava? When do we take our lives and demand to make them our own? Nothing will happen to Hara, I’ll make sure of it. Even if I have to hide her in a damn cave for a while. And for me”—he brushed his hand against my cheek—“I want to see what cosmic plans Femme Fatale has in store for us.”

His sentiments made me speechless. My heart tugged in my chest, telling me to jump and take this chance; that I might not be offered another one. I lived my life in hesitation, always wondering what else fate would throw at me. But Garrett, he may be the light at the end of the horizon that I’d been chasing.

Gripping the back of his neck, I brought his head down, crushing my lips to his, silently agreeing with him. I swallowed Garrett’s soft groan as he trailed his hands down my sides, electrifying every nerve in my body. The bustling of the help outside the room faded, my accelerated heartbeat filling my ears along with Garrett’s harsh breathing. Feeling lightheaded, I fisted his shirt, squeezing it to keep my balance. Strong hands held me to him, my breasts crushing against his chest.

The tips of our tongues found each other, and I felt Garrett’s fingers press firmer through my dress, our heated bodies melting together in a wistful kiss. I felt like Peitho, wanting to take his soul and make it mine.

Forever.

Garrett shifted his lips from mine. “I can’t,” he murmured, panting against my forehead. “Tell me to stop.” His heavy breath brushed my skin. My own breathing matched his, ragged and violent.

“Garr,” I said between breaths.

His eyes engulfed mine. “Yes?”

“Don’t stop.”

He looked down at me, his features tight. “Are you sure? I can’t seem to keep a rational head around you.”

I nodded, and he reached for my hand. Desire burned in the irises of his eyes. “You set the pace,” he said.