Page 61 of Royal Charmer
He turns me toward him. “Stay with me here on Villroy.”
“What are you saying?” I back up a step, my stomach dropping. “What are you saying?” My voice is high and reedy because some part of me knows, and I can’t go there. I take another step back, my pumps shifting in the sand, making me stumble.
He grabs me by the upper arms and guides me back to him. “Okay, calm down. You look like you’re in a horror movie. It is not that bad.”
“I’m not ready,” I manage over the lump in my throat.
He turns me back to the sea, his hands on my shoulders. “Breathe. Look at the sea and breathe. Forget I said that. You are my fake fiancée and, after this, you’re going back to your suite to finish your story.”
I slowly relax again. Somehow he knows just what I need to hear, even when he’s the one who caused my distress.
He kisses the side of my neck before speaking low in my ear, “But I think you know you’re mine now. I’ll give you some time to get used to it.”
Arrogant domineering man. I turn, glaring at him. His crooked smile appears right on cue, his blue-green eyes soft. “I’ll wait, Alice.”
My knees go weak. I open my mouth and shut it again, unsure if I want to blast him for his arrogance or admit I’m in deep and I’m terrified. Maybe he knows I’m in deep. Or maybe he just assumes that I will fall in line with his plan to keep me. Does he love me?
A horn bellows and we both look over at the approaching ferry. “Showtime,” he says, grabbing my hand and tucking it in the crook of his elbow, guiding me off the beach.
My nerves are shot. From worry over the meeting today to Lucas proposing I live on Villroy, I literally cannot deal with one more thing. So I let him take the lead, following him blindly back to the waiting cars on the road next to the dock. The driver will guide our guests to the second car.Our guests?Hisguests.
“Lucas, when you say that I’m yours, is that your arrogant domineering way of saying you l-like me a lot, or maybe feel like…”
He stops and frames my face with his hands. “I love you.”
“Oh!” My eyes water, my chin wobbling. “Oh.” He’s shocked the words right out of me. Somehow I hadn’t expected an open admission of deep feelings, the kind I’ve been drowning in for the past few days.
He kisses me tenderly. “I’ll wait for you to catch up.”
I stare at his chest. “I’m already there, and it terrifies me.” My voice cracks, and I feel so out of sorts I can’t move. Maybe I don’t want to move.
His hands slide down my shoulders to my elbows and then wrap around me, his mouth covering mine in a passionate kiss. I wrap my arms around his neck, losing myself in the kiss and everything he makes me feel. It is the kiss that tops all other kisses, and I never want it to end.
Even when people start cheering and whistling.
Even when Lucas’s hands cup my ass and press me against him.
Even when I hear my name.
Wait. I know that voice. I jerk away from Lucas, turn, and face my worst nightmare—Mason.
And Riley.
Here on Villroy.
My hand flies to my chest, my heart racing. I break out into a cold sweat, and my world does a horrific spin, making me sway on my feet. Lucas’s hand closes over my upper arm, keeping me steady. He’s talking to me, but I can’t make sense of the words.
I blink a few times, hardly believing my eyes. Mason and Riley arehereon Villroy. What are they doing here?
I look away, trying to think. They’re not supposed to be here. They’re intruding on my solo honeymoon that I paid for with my own hard-earned cash. And they’re interrupting the most romantic moment of my life!
A red haze fills my vision, and when I finally speak, there’s so much venom in my voice I barely recognize myself. “I willkillhim. Mason is here, and he brought Riley.”
“Hell,” Lucas says. “I’ll help you kill him, but this is not the time. Come on. Let’s get to the cars. Jules and David are already there.”
He practically drags me away, his arm around my shoulders.
Footsteps pound behind us. “Wait!” Mason yells. “Alice, Riley needs to talk to you.”
