Wicked in Your Arms (Forgotten Princesses #1)(61)

If he’d said love . . .

If she even thought he might love her someday . . .

Shaking her head, she told herself to stop being fanciful. She hadn’t expected a love match before. She only wanted it now because she wanted a guarantee that he would not one day stare at her with embarrassment and regret. She only wanted it because when that day arrived it would break her heart. A heart that was fully and hopelessly bound to him.

For a fleeting moment she considered baring her heart and professing her love to him. But she wasn’t that courageous. Or foolish. One of the two. She wasn’t sure which.

Instead she pasted a smile on her face. “Yes. I trust you,” she murmured, wondering if she wasn’t perhaps making the worst mistake of her life. If she shouldn’t perhaps pack up her things and flee to Wales.

Sev stared at her in such a way that she wondered if he read her mind, if he guessed her thoughts. His next words confirmed this.

“Run from me, Grier Hadley, and I’ll follow. I’ll track you down and find you.”

A small shiver scraped her spine.

“I don’t need to run away.” She squared her shoulders and lifted her chin defiantly. “I’m an independent female. I make my own choices. If I don’t want you, I simply won’t have you. No one can force me to marry you.”

His mouth twitched and he scooted closer. His warm breath fanned her neck, sending the most delicious tremors rippling through her.

“If we’re relying on you wanting me, then I won’t need to force you to marry me.”

Grier choked on a breath. “Arrogant, aren’t you?”

He looked at her, his gaze rather grim. “We’re both here right now because we can’t help ourselves when it comes to each other.”

That much was true.

He continued, “I’m not going to even pretend that I’m doing this against my will . . . that I’m led by honor.”

She gazed at him unblinkingly, his face so close that their breaths mingled. Hope blossomed in her chest at the possibility that perhaps, just maybe, this wasn’t a colossal mistake. That she could find her storybook ending with a storybook prince.

Before Sev’s lips touched hers, the door to the library opened. “Ah, just as I expected.”

Jack rocked on his heels, looking far too pleased with himself as he surveyed them. “Best keep an eye on you two until the nuptials take place.”

Grier’s cheeks burned.

Sev rose to his feet. “As discussed, I’ll see the banns posted posthaste.”

“Very good.” Jack practically rubbed his hands in glee.

Sev looked back down at Grier. “I’ll call on you tomorrow and we’ll discuss travel arrangements. We’ll be wed in Maldania where my grandfather can attend.”

Her stomach plummeted at this announcement. To leave her country, the sisters she had just met, would be hard. If only she felt more confident about their match, if it were based on mutual affection, if Sev loved her even a little bit . . . she would suffer no doubts.

“Yes.” Jack nodded in agreement. “Just as we discussed. A royal wedding in the infamous St. Ignatius Cathedral.” He looked at Grier meaningfully. “I’m told it’s even older than St. Paul’s. A grand event, to be certain.”

Grier’s stomach twisted so violently she feared she would be ill. A royal wedding. She should have expected no less.

Only it was easy to forget, here in her father’s library with Sev sitting so close to her, whispering in that low, seductive voice of his, that they were from two different worlds. People with nothing in common between them but desire.

Desire was fleeting. She knew that from her own father. He’d taken her mother, used her, and then tossed her aside. She inhaled deeply, staving off the burn in her eyes with several hard blinks.

Sev bowed over her hand, his fingers warm around her chilled ones. “Until tomorrow.”

Grier watched him depart, wondering how she could feel such love and despair at the same time.





Chapter Twenty-four

Grier clasped the piece of parchment close to her chest, the words printed there whispering through her head. I long to see you without the presence of others. Meet me outside the back of the house as soon as you can get away. I wait with a carriage.

“Thank you,” she murmured to the servant who delivered the missive, a small tremor of delight rippling through her. The girl—Marie, Grier thought her name was—ducked her head almost shyly before slipping from the room.

Grier looked down at the letter again, and a secret smile lifted the corners of her mouth. Over the last three days, she and Sev scarcely had a moment alone. Her father insisted they be seen about Town as much as possible, presenting themselves as the happily affianced couple. But always they were surrounded by others. Grier told herself it wouldn’t be like this after they married . . . that they would have ample opportunity to be alone together then.

But three days in his constant company and never a word in private, not a touch, not a stolen kiss . . . Her doubts had resurfaced to take hold, and she worried with the whirl of wedding and travel arrangements if a little regret had not entered his head.

She’d entered a state of breathless agitation. If he had the slightest remorse for his hasty offer of marriage, she hoped he would call a halt to this madly racing train at once. Tomorrow they left for Maldania. The next step toward their real life together. A life that could be hell for both of them if Sev was already regretting their union.