Page 82 of Wyatt

He just blinked, staring at her. Then, “Wait. You don’t think…that I didn’t want to see you?”

“I didn’t know what to think.”

“And…after?”

She drew in a breath and lifted a shoulder.

“You don’t think that was just a one-night stand for me, do you?”

“One of a series, maybe.”

“One of a…who do you think I am?”

“I don’t care who you are—”

“Well I do!” He scooted forward and grabbed her wrist. She tried to twist it away, but he didn’t let it go. “Coco, listen to me. Look at me, please.”

She gritted her teeth. Looked at him. His eyes were earnest in hers.

He let her wrist go. “I admit I let my publicist create a few stories, but none of them are true. I am not a player—”

“Please—”

“You are the only woman I’ve ever been with!”

“What?” She stilled, looked at him.

He held up his hands as if grasping for something, then curled them into fists. “Coco. I’ve been faithful to you since that first night. I meant it when I said you were my one and would be my only.”

Even as she stared at him, she heard his voice, soft in her ear, young and eager, but oh so ardent.I love you, Coco. You are my one. And you will be my only.

“That was five years ago,” she whispered.

“I know,” he said.

“And not once—”

He shook his head.

“But, Natalya said…”

He frowned. “Nat? From the train Nat?”

“She was my father’s chief of security, and she found me in your suite that next morning. Told me that not only was I jeopardizing my son’s safety by being with you—clearly, my father feared my telling you the truth—but she said that…” Oh, she didn’t want to say it.

“Saidwhat?”

“That I was just one of many girls you’d slept with in Moscow.”

A word emerged from his mouth, one she’d never heard him say. But it about summed up her opinion of Natalya.

“She lied, Cookie. Sure, I had a party in my room, but I swear, that was all. Deke and Kalen and a bunch of other guys were there, and it never ended up with…well, anything but some crazy pranks. I swear to you that I’ve never loved anyone else. Physically or emotionally.”

Crazy tears burned her eyes. She pursed her lips, nodding. “But it doesn’t matter, because…”

“Because what? Because you don’t want me?” He nodded harshly. “Yeah, I get that part.”

What—?“No! That’s not what I meant.”

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