Page 17 of Royal Beast
Kellan nudges me toward a chair. “I’ll be right back. I’m going to go get us something to celebrate,” he says, leaving me alone with my new brother-in-law.
“I hope you know what you’re getting yourself into,” Rory says once we’re alone. “Kellan is my brother. You might be his wife, but if you cross him, I have no qualms about getting rid of you—permanently. Is that understood?”
I nod, clenching my fingers around the arms of the chair. Rory’s icy blue gaze is cold and calculating as it bores into my soul.
A part of me is suddenly relieved that I’m with Kellan. He may be doing this for his own benefit, but at least he isn’t as cold as his brother.
Kellan returns, passing both of us a glass of chilled bourbon. He lifts his own glass, inclining his head toward me.
“Here’s to my new bride,” he says, looking entirely too pleased if the smug grin on his face is any indication to go by. “May she never forget her place, which is by my side.”
Kellan and Rory clink glasses.
I feel ice cold all of a sudden.
Shit.
How am I going to explain this to my dad?
8
KELLAN
Iswirl the bourbon in my glass, watching as the amber liquid catches the light. I sit back, eyeing Darcy across from me. It’s done now. I’ve barely let it settle, but Darcy’s avoiding meeting my eyes, her gaze locked on something past my shoulder, her expression tight.
She’s having second thoughts. I can see it plain as day from the way she chews her lip and taps her fingers against her thigh. If she’s going to back out, better now than later. Might as well get it over with. I hold my tongue, daring her to spit it out.
Finally, she looks up, a flicker of worry in her eyes.
“I… I’m just not sure what I’m supposed to tell my father,” she says slowly, like she’s choosing each word with care.
Sothat’swhat was on her mind. I take a slow sip, hiding the smirk that threatens to spread across my lips.
“Tell him whatever you want,” I say, setting my glass down with a soft clink. “If he’s got a problem, he can take it up with me.”
She blushes, that faint pink creeping up her neck, and I can’t help the satisfaction that flares up, knowing I’ve managed to getunder her skin without even trying. Darcy’s tougher than she realizes, but there’s still that soft side just beneath the surface.
I glance at my watch, then over at Rory. “We’d better get going,” I say, tossing back the last of my bourbon. “Got a full day tomorrow, and I’d like to start celebrating early.” I shoot her a look, enjoying the way her blush deepens, that last hint of composure cracking just a little more under my gaze.
Perfect. This is going to be fun.
I say my goodbyes to Rory and we head down to the parking garage. “We’re going back to my place tonight, so you’d better get your story straight for your father,” I warn her.
As I steer us through the city streets, Darcy pulls out her phone and stares at it like it might bite her. The tension is rolling off her in waves, and it’s all I can do not to laugh. Eventually, she takes a deep breath and makes the call, slowly placing the phone to her ear.
“Dad?” she starts, her voice steadier than I expected. “I have some news. I, uh, I got married.”
I bite back a grin while I keep my eyes on the road. Her father’s voice comes through faintly, but I can’t fully make out whatever objections or questions he’s throwing her way. I’ve got my own distractions. One hand is steady on the wheel, but the other finds its way to her thigh, resting there casually.
I let my fingers start a slow, lazy trace along the soft fabric of her dress, knowing damn well I’ve got her attention now, even with her father’s voice on the other end of the line. She tenses, trying to stay focused, and I can almost feel the panic as I let my hand move just a bit higher.
Her words falter, and I chuckle, enjoying watching her squirm.
She chokes out a few polite responses and tells him she’ll call later before hanging up, her hand still gripping the phone a little too tightly. I glance over, arching a brow.
“Everything go well?”
Her face is flushed, her expression torn somewhere between relief and exasperation. I let my hand settle, enjoying the way her breath catches as I squeeze her thigh hard enough to make her gasp.
