Page 84 of The Devil's Playground

I think I do. “Are you trying to tell me we’re eloping?”

Royce nods. “Did I ever mention that, when I was a kid, I looked up to Link? To Devil?”

I have no idea where he’s going with this, but I nod.

“Think of this like me following his lead again. He had a wedding just for him and Ava to make sure she was his. After that, he did the whole she-bang. Church wedding, tons of guests. Big reception down at the Playground. I thought he got it right. Tonight’s for us. Tonight I make you mine officially. You want to get hitched at St. Pat’s and invite your mom and your friends? We can do that this summer. But I wasn’t waiting any longer than I had to to keep you, Nic.” He reaches out, brushing his thumb along the height of my cheek where the whispers of my bruises are. “Just long enough for you to heal a little.”

“I… I don’t know what to say.”

“I do.” His blue eyes gleam beneath the shining lights of the sign. “Say ‘yes’.”

Yes.

It’s not even a question. Do I love Royce McIntyre? Of course I do. Would I give anything to be his wife? Yes.

But am I going to bust his chops a little?

Oh, definitely.

“‘Yes’ to what?” I ask him. “You didn’t ask me anything.” When Royce arches his eyebrows, I prod a bit more. “Like, I don’t know, something about if I’ll marry you.”

“And risk you thinking you can refuse? Yeah, right.”

I can’t help it. I laugh.

You think I wouldn’t. I spent years trapped in a relationship when I was expected to do what I was told, and I couldn’t refuse anything. Even joking—and I’m not so sure Royce is joking—I’d be punished if I did.

But I don’t have to worry about that with Royce. So it’s only been a couple of months. So I’m going to have to hide the fact that I eloped with him until after I get that big church wedding he’s talking about, otherwise I’ll break my mother’s heart. That’s nothing new—but the way I feel about Royce is. The way he makes me feel when I’m around him is.

If I laughed at Kieran, he’d slap me. But Royce?

He grips the back of my neck before I even see him move. With a gentle squeeze, my head tilts up, giving him full access to my mouth. He swallows the last of the laugh with his kiss, turning it deeper until I’m clutching at his suit jacket.

Royce pulls back first, though he doesn’t let go of me with his free hand. The other is hanging on to the wedding dress for dear life as he bows his head, pressing his forehead to mine.

“There’s no asking, Nic. Far as I’m concerned, you’re already my wife. I’ve thought of you as such since… well, fuck. I can’t really tell you how long it’s been. The beginning, maybe? When I was sitting at the table with that fucker, watching Julio look over his shoulder so he could signal what cards he has… you were already mine.”

Hang on?—

Signal what cards he has…

I gasp, jerking back just enough so that I can get a good look at his full face. “You did cheat!”

“Correction,” he says again, a hint of a tease to his voice as he straightens. “I’m a Sinner, baby. I always play to win.”

And then, as if to prove it, he gives the perfect wedding dress just enough of a shake for the wind to catch and carry the ruffles.

“You’re serious. You… you brought me here to get married?”

“Yes, and we don’t have much time. Our reservation is at ten. They were very clear. Miss it and we lose out.” A small shrug, and again the dress is beckoning me. “Money talks in Vegas, but they have their own syndicates here. I can’t expect them to fall at my feet and do what I tell them because I work for the devil of Springfield.”

This time, I snicker. “Poor thing.”

Royce sniffs. “I know. It’s a hardship, but what are you gonna do? Besides, Devil only gave me the weekend away. He has Killian standing in for me while we’re gone, but two days is about his limit. He needs us back. Ava, too.”

“Her baby shower is next week,” I remember. And she’s so close to popping, I hope we get to have it. “I can’t miss it.”

“We won’t. We’ll get the whole weekend to celebrate getting married, then once things settle down back home, you can pick what we do next. A big wedding where I can show you off… a destination thing where it’s just you and me, Devil, Ava, and I can meet your mom… a honeymoon for me and you and that’s it… you decide.”

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