“Jesus.” Tucker’s footsteps paced away, came back. “I’m sorry.”
“No, it was me, too…I…”
Despite their apologies, despite the fact that they’d just learned the importance of keeping some distance, they gravitated closer, closer, again, until they were inches apart, his body heat warming her front. Everywhere. They were so close, she could almost feel his concerned eyes tracking over her, hear the grinding of his jaw. “You don’t belong where you’re asking me to take you, Mary.”
Mary thought of the conversation she’d just had with Tilda. What was at stake. Everything. “Please. Don’t try and dissuade me.”
Tucker made a harsh noise, as if a small explosion had gone off in his chest and his body heat deserted her. “Me? Trying to dissuade you, kid? Nah.” She listened to him pick up her suitcase and then their fingers were hesitantly intwined, so he could pull her down the stairs and out into the cool nighttime air. “I’m, uh…” He cleared his throat. “I’m going to say a quick goodbye to my friends. Do you want to wait in the car? I warmed it up for you.”
“Thanks,” she said slowly, trying to reach out and read his emotions, but he’d locked them down tight. Why did that cause a finger of dismay to trace up her spine? Almost like she’d been robbed of the ability to draw air. “Yes, I would.”
Sitting inside the car a minute later, Mary centered herself. Took some deep inhales and exhales, running her hands over everything. The heat-giving vents, the cross dangling in the rearview mirror, the worn leather of the seats. She touched the steering wheel where his palms would curl and circled a finger around the cup holder. Touched her cheek to the glass of the passenger window. Getting her bearings, learning her surroundings. And all the while, she chewed on what Tucker said. How he’d said it.
Me? Trying to dissuade you, kid? Nah.
Something about the way he’d said those words caused Mary to repeat them over and over. By the time Tucker climbed into the driver’s side and started the car, she realized why.
He’d been lying.
“Are you kidnapping me?”
“That’s the plan.”
“Oh dear.” The car was already moving and her fingers curled into the edges of the seat. “I misjudged you, did I?”
She heard his swallow. “That depends. How did you judge me?”
“Um. Kind of…like a boat on the lake in the sunshine.”
The vehicle jerked a little, as if he’d accidentally depressed the brake. When he spoke again, his voice was hoarse. “Well this boat can’t bring you somewhere dangerous. I can’t, Mary. Can’t leave you on the dark side of a war and drive off.”
“But you have to bring me to Hadrian.”
“Hadrian?” The leather steering wheel creaked. “Is that his name?”
“Yes. You need to leave me in his care. You have to, Tucker.”
“Why? Your mother’s alliance? It’s going to cause death and destruction. I’ve only known you for one night and that can’t be something you want. So why?” He laughed, but the sound cut itself off quickly. When he spoke again, his voice was so low she could barely hear it. “Do you have feelings for him? I assumed you didn’t. It sounded like you’ve never met.”
“I don’t.” Why did this exchange seem so deeply important? “We haven’t met and I don’t have feelings for him. In fact, our marriage will be in name only.”
The car swerved a little and he let out a long breath. Several moments passed before he continued. “All right.” His tone was far less tense. “Then why?”
“Because in exchange for wedding Hadrian, he’s going to give me sight.”
Chapter 4
Once an idiot, always an idiot.
For a minute there, he’d actually fancied himself a hero.
Rescuing the damsel in distress.
That had to be why she’d chosen him, right? Out of a room full of capable people. Because she wanted help. Needed to get out of her current predicament of being betrothed to a monster—and Tucker was just the sucker for the job. An easy to convince puppy dog with a set of wheels and hearts in his eyes for the pretty girl, to say nothing of the wood he’d be sporting for the rest of his “life” after holding her in that stairwell.
Damn. The smell of her neck, the taut give of her hip. The way she’d granted him just one single grind of her pussy, before taking it away like forbidden fruit. Was it wishful thinking that she’d wanted to kiss him? Maybe allow him even more? It had to be. Unfortunately, his stiff johnson was all too ready to believe it. And that wasn’t good, because she was forbidden fruit. Betrothed to someone else. Whether for love or underworld clout, there was a wedding set to take place and he wasn’t even the ring bearer, let alone the groom.
Get your head together.