Royal took a slow sip of wine. “I do. They've been joined at the hip, which could be normal for newlyweds, especially with Hope pregnant and not feeling well. I don't think Griffen would willingly leave her side right now, even if he could. But back at the start they weren't exactly head over heels and still, they stuck together. I always thought the will forced them to get married—you know Hope's uncle Edgar was practically Prentice's partner. Their businesses are so intertwined. They're like two feudal kings, bartering an heir to keep the wealth intact.”
“Ironic that after so many years treating Hope as no more than an assistant, she's the only one left to help you and Griffen run Sawyer Enterprises.”
“She's smart as a whip, too. Which I think they always knew, but they shoved her aside anyway. I hope she stays on, at least part-time, after the baby comes.”
Royal looked more comfortable talking about business than the will, but I wasn't ready to let it go. “You think Hope and Griffen aren't allowed to spend a night apart.” Another puzzle piece clicked into place. “And Griffen was supposed to come out here tonight. Not you.”
We both looked over at the trapdoor, and from there to where we'd stood by the window, kissing. “The bed would have blocked his view. He would have seen your back, but he could have missed me. He wouldn't have been able to see your face without coming all the way up the stairs.”
I leaned back in my chair, staring up at the dark beams of the ceiling. Every inch of this place was gorgeous. Nice, considering we were stuck here. “Griffen and Hope went upstairs before we left. I bet they don't come down until morning. Bryce won't know he trapped the wrong Sawyer until tomorrow.”
“Was J.T. serious about waiting up for you? Is he going to worry when you don't come home by ten?”
I loved that Royal thought to ask about J.T. My lips curved up at the thought of J.T.'s reaction when I didn't come home. “He'll be thrilled. And everyone else will just assume you swept me off somewhere private to have your way with me. No one's going to miss us until tomorrow.”
Royal's eyes were steady on my face, a spark lit deep within the vibrant blue. “Well, they're not wrong. I did sweep you off to have my way with you.”
“Hmm.” The hum in my throat vibrated through my entire body. Here we were, all alone, with that big, empty bed. “So, when you said you were prepared for all sorts of things…”
Royal reached in his pocket and slapped something down on the table between us. Red foil glinted in the glow of the oil lamp. Two condoms. I picked them up and tapped the edges on the table as if considering what to do with them.
“Two condoms? Ambitious.”
Royal laughed, a deep, genuine laugh I felt all the way to my toes. Plucking the condoms from my hand, he said, “Not hardly. With you? Two will barely get me started.” He lay the two foil squares on the table the same way he might have laid out a hand of poker. “And I wasn't ambitious so much as hopeful. I've been trying to wait, Daisy. And it's been a hell of a lot harder than I expected. But I don't want to use those unless you're sure. I know I have a repu—”
I cut off the rest of Royal’s words. “I'm sure.”
His eyebrows shot up. “Just because we're trapped here doesn't mean—”
“I'm sure,” I repeated. I had no doubt Royal wanted me. He'd made that clear. And I'd stopped worrying about his reputation. He'd worked hard to make sure I understood this was different. That I was different. Either I trusted he meant what he said, or I might as well forget about this whole thing.
Royal's mouth opened again, and I was done. I knew exactly how to change the subject. I pushed back my chair and stood. His deep blue eyes widened, the flame buried there burning brighter. It was easy to toe-off my borrowed sneakers. Even easier to grab the hem of my dress and whip it over my head.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Daisy
I stood before him in lace lingerie the exact tawny shade of my skin, my breasts already swelling, nipples drawing tight just at the heat of his eyes on me. His throat worked as he swallowed hard. Before he could move, I straddled his lap, facing him, and went to work on his tie.
Color hit his cheeks. He swallowed hard again. He lifted one hand, and I caught it in mine. Getting up, I stepped behind him, pulling one of his arms behind the chair, then the other. Using his tie, I secured his hands to the chair before I moved back in front of him.