Page 6 of A Rogue's Rules for Seduction
“What in God’s name did you think to accomplish?” She glowered at Kieran and Finn, jabbing her finger at them. “Deceiving me to... what... bring me closer to the man who jilted me—withyourhelp, I might add—the man who made me the laughingstock of London? How in the hell was this ever considered a good idea?”
Kieran looked unusually grave, and Finn’s expression was somber.
“You didn’t...” She pinched the bridge of her nose. “You didn’t seriously expect that marooning us on this island would somehow bring us back together?”
Behind her came the sound of someone unstoppering a decanter and pouring a beverage. A glance back revealed Dom filling a glass to the rim with what appeared to be whisky. He downed the entire drink in one swallow before grimly pouring himself another. This he drank almost as quickly as the first.
She marched over to where he stood and snatched up the decanter, which she put directly to her lips.Her eyes on Dom, she took several swigs of whisky before setting the vessel down on its table with a heavy thud.
Dom didn’t blink. But then, he never did. It had been their mutual flouting of convention that had brought them together in the first place.
“Swear to me you weren’t part of this,” she said tautly.
He shook his head. “I didn’t know a bloody thing. You think I’d be here if I was onto what they planned?”
“I’ve no idea what you think,” she fired back. “I used to believe I did, but I was proven quite spectacularly wrong.”
His jaw tightened. He stared at her for a moment, his tempest-hued eyes locked with hers. A sizzle of something danced down her spine and low in her belly. There’d never been a shortage of attraction between them. Even now, when she hated him to the depths of her being, he exuded a primal energy that drew her in, luring her with potential of what could be if they ever permitted themselves to let go of all restraint.
In their courtship and after their engagement had been announced, they’d shared a few kisses, some caresses, hinting that the passion between them could be explosive. Yet Dom had always been too protective of her reputation to go any further. Much to her annoyance.
What she didnotwant now, or ever again, wasto feel anything for him beyond rage. She would ignore the heat that flared into being whenever they were within touching distance. It was merely an unsatisfied urge. Naturally, she’d crave something that she couldn’t and shouldn’t have.
“Whatexactlywas your plan?” she said, turning back to her brothers. “If not to act as my pimps?”
Celeste sucked in a breath, and Tabitha’s hand flew to her throat. Red stained Kieran’s cheeks, and while Finn still appeared unruffled, his hands flexed. He never did that tell with anyone but her, as if he was still the older brother ready to leap in and keep her from toppling off the railing she insisted on climbing.
“Brutal words, Will,” Kieran said lowly.
“Deservedly so,” she snapped.
After a moment, Kieran said, “Neither you nor Dom have spoken to each other since the night before the wedding.”
“Didn’t seem much point in it,” Dom said.
“Except,” Finn noted, “from that time, both of you have been in spiraling descents. We, that is, Key and I, know that if there’s to be any hope of progressing forward, you twomusttalk.”
“It’s not about me forgiving the man who embarrassed me in front of London?” Willa shot back. “Or forgiving you—not only for your part in it, but your own manipulations in bringing mehere?”
“Both of you are damn stubborn,” Kieran answered, “and if we didn’tmakeyou communicate, there was no hope of either of you moving on.”
“My God.” Willa threw her hands into the air, utterly disgusted with the entire situation. “I’d only just begun to accept speaking to you both again, but now that you’ve pulled another horrendous stunt, it would be miraculous if we ever exchange a single syllable.”
She narrowed her eyes. “Is this about that ultimatum our parents issued when you helped Dom in abandoning me at the altar? Oh, yes, I know all about it,” she added. “You two and Dom must find respectable brides within a year, or else you don’t receive another penny. Two of you have married—to women who deserve far better than you, I might add—and that leaves Dom’s bachelorhood standing between you and your allowances. And the year is almost complete.”
“Hell, Will,” Finn said, having the audacity to sound hurt, “we wouldn’t compromise your happiness for money.”
“If you’d concerned yourself with myhappiness,” she threw back, “youwouldn’t have helped my groom flee our wedding. Orlured me here under false pretenses.”
Kieran opened his mouth, presumably to try to defend his and Finn’s actions, but Dom spoke first.
“Enough.” His voice rang out, deep and decisive. “There’s nothin’ more to be said. We’re all stuck here for the likely future. Best we can do isagree to stay away from one another ’til the next boat comes.”
“It’s a small island, Dom,” she answered coldly. “Staying away from each other is going to prove a challenge.”
“Since when have you backed down from a challenge, princess?” He said this in a low, soft voice, intended for her ears only, just the same way he used to whisper his support of her whenever she’d declared that she would do something bold. There’d been that one time when they’d been at the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition. She’d been so incensed at the number of female nudes versus the number of paintings depicting unclothed men that she had privately sworn to Dom that she would tell the whole Academy what she thought of their blatant double standard.
Go and tell them, princess, he’d murmured to her.They need to know, and who better to hold them accountable than her royal highness?
