Inheriting a SECRET (Corrigan & Co. #7)(16)

“Let’s go take advantage of the time we have together.”

I reach out and pull on her little orange ponytail. “Whatever you want, Cat.”

“You may regret saying that later, Crown, but I’ll take you up on that offer.”

I lean down and kiss her, before leaning my forehead against hers. “I honestly hope that neither one of us is going to regret any of this.”

“Darce?”

“I’m fine, Aud.”

“He scared you enough for us to be here, and now you let him kiss you? That’s not fine.”

She sighs, but doesn’t move away from me. “I know. You just need to trust me. If I feel like I’m in danger, you’ll know it.”

“I have eyes everywhere, and my team back home is monitoring the feeds 24/7,” Ainsley reminds us.

“Turn off the cameras in my new game room, please.”

“Game room?” Ellie asks.

“He built her an awesome room with every gaming system imaginable,” Ainsley says, with a hint of admiration in her voice.

“You can borrow it whenever we’re not using it.”

“Umm…you’re asking me to turn the cameras off, so I’m not sure I should.”

“Shut up, Ainsley. I just want some privacy.”

“You’ve got it.”

“I really don’t like this, and Reina won’t either,” Audrey says.

I have to speak up. “I know none of you—including Darcy—really trusts me, but I swear on the memory of my father that Darcy is safe with me. I won’t stop trying to get the information I need from her, but I will not harm her physically.”

“Bye,” Darcy yells behind us as she pulls me out of the room, clearly wanting to be done with the conversation.

“They’re tough.”

“They are.”

“I meant what I said. You’re safe.”

“As long as you get what you want from me.”

“I need that information.”

“And I don’t have it to give to you.”

We both know that’s not true, but I don’t want to fight. Not now, or ever. I’ll focus on the present. “Let’s just try and forget it all for tonight, and focus on how bad I suck at video games.”

“Okay, and you’re going to need to practice if you really suck. No fiancé of mine can suck at video games. I’d be laughed right out of my gamer groups.”

“I promise I’ll try to get better.”

“Thank you.”

I spend the rest of the evening showing her just how bad I am. At every single game. It doesn’t matter if it’s Pac Man, Call of Duty, or even Tetris—I suck at it all. Darcy even tries rewarding me with kisses, but I’m still horrible. She finally gives me one long and sexy kiss to thank me for trying, and we part ways for the night. I promise to visit this room with her every night to practice. I do want to get better, because I know it would make her happy. And I really, really want to make her happy, even though I know I probably can’t.

* * *

Darcy

The last two weeks have been trying—and fun. During the day, I get lessons in Parliament and History of Cyndryann. I also have to keep demonstrating my training from Paris while attending lunches and dinners as a future royal. One thing I really hate is that I have to walk behind Brayden. I understand that I’m just a commoner and he’s a prince, but it still rubs me the wrong way. Thank God for the nights, where we can just be a girl and a guy.

Brayden has kept his word and come to my game room every night in casual clothes. He still sucks at the games, but I know he’s trying. It’s partly my fault that he’s not getting better since our make-out sessions are becoming longer than our playing times. It’s just getting harder and harder to keep my hands off of him, even though I know I should.

Tonight, he had a dinner with some businessman from the island—no women allowed. I don’t know how late he’ll be, so I’m surprised to see him standing there as my opens. He’s still in his suit, and I can’t resist teasing him as I pause my game.

“You’re a little overdressed, Crown.”

“I couldn’t wait to see you, Cat. I can play in this.”

I shake my head. “Nope. The jacket and tie need to go.”

He closes and locks the door before doing as I ask. “Anything else?”

I cock my head. “Hmm…okay, roll up your sleeves and unbutton a few buttons for me. Oh and pull your shirt out of your pants, too.”

“I feel so objectified.”

“You’ll get over it.”

“Ouch.”

“Quit complaining and take your shoes and socks off.”

“That’s a little weird.”

“When have you worn anything but athletic sandals in here?”

“Good point.”

He finishes all of my requests, and stands with his arms out waiting for me to inspect him. I put my arms around his stomach and squeeze his ass. “You’re actually pretty sexy in a suit.”

“I’m glad you approve.”

“Oh, I do. I’ll show you just how much later. It’s time for you to try and shoot at least one bad guy without killing all of your allies,” I tell him, smacking that fine ass before sitting back down.