Page 119 of In the Prince's Bed
Katherine’s heart twisted in her chest. He’d given up Beleza? Oh, her poor sweet darling. She started to push the door open and put an end to this right now when another voice arrested her, one she knew only too well.
“I don’t understand why you can’t marry another heiress. I know of a woman whose brother owes me money—”
“Absolutely not,” Alec snapped. “If I can’t have Katherine, I don’t want another woman. You’ll have to ask me for some other favor, Byrne, because marrying to help you get your money is no longer something I’m willing to do.”
Her heart had begun to soar when one of the men said, “Wait a minute.”
Before she could react, the door swung open, bringing her face-to-face with a bearded giant who bore a fierce scowl and hands that looked capable of crushing her with one blow.
“Who are you, skulking about, listening in on private conversations?” he growled.
This could only be the Dragon Viscount in the flesh. “I beg your pardon, but I—”
“Katherine?” Alec said. Coming up behind Lord Draker, he thrust the man aside. “For God’s sake, stop scowling at her. You’re scaring her to death.”
Draker crossed his arms over his burly chest. “She was eavesdropping.”
“I don’t care.” Alec’s gaze never left her face. “What are you doing here?”
Gathering her courage, she stepped into the room. “You never answered my question. About why you’d be willing to give up my fortune if I’d marry you.”
The leap of hope in his face sparked her own hope even higher. Then his expression changed to a troubled frown. “Before I do, I have to tell you something. No matter what happens between us, I’m done with keeping secrets from you.”
She forced a smile. “That sounds ominous. I’m not sure I can take many more of your secrets.”
“Forgive me, sweetheart, but this one’s important.” Shutting the door behind her, he nodded to his companions. “You know Byrne, and you’ve heard me speak of Draker. They’re…well…”
“Your friends. Yes, I know.”
“They’re not just my friends, Katherine.” He sucked in a deep breath. “They’re my brothers. My half brothers.”
She stared at him in complete bewilderment. “But that would mean—”
“That my father is His Highness. My mother had a short-lived affair with Prinny. I am the result.”
She could hardly take it in. “Does the prince know?”
“Nobody knows except my brothers and two of the old earl’s servants.”
Yet he’d trusted her with the secret, too. He was Prinny’s son. Oh, of course! That explained so much—why the previous earl had treated him cruelly, why he didn’t like to discuss his parents…
Why he was regarding her now with an air of expectant dread.
She cast him a reassuring smile. “It doesn’t matter to me. I don’t care who your father is. I don’t care who your friends or your brothers are. I only care who you are.”
Alec went still. Then, as if suddenly aware of their audience, he flashed his half brothers a glance. Muttering something about going in search of more brandy, they vanished past her into the hall.
As soon as the door closed behind his half brothers, she said,“Nowwill you answer my question?”
With his face alight, he stepped nearer. “Surely you know the answer.”
“I need to hear the words.”
“Very well.” He laid his hands on her waist. “I love you, Katherine.” He drew her close. “I love you.” He bent his head toward her. “I will always love you.”
As his lips met hers, her heart expanded near to bursting. His kiss was so tender, so loving, that she couldn’t believe she’d ever thought to give him up.
When he pulled back, he added, “I think I began falling in love with you the minute you told me I was careless for turning my life into a cliché.” His eyes darkened. “But when you tried to seduce me just to get me to rest, I knew I could never live without you.”
