Her eyes widen as she looks around the room. “There’s no way out, though, is there?” The room’s windowless, the only way out the way we came in.
“None. But once you’re in, no one else can get to you but me.”
Finally, she nods, and she can’t stifle a yawn.
“Alright, clear enough.” I lace my fingers through hers. “Let’s get you to bed.” I hand her the clunky heels.
She suddenly looks very, very awake.
Chapter Fifteen
“And where two raging fires meet together, they do consume the thing that feeds their fury.”~Romeo and Juliet
Vittoria
His nearness makes my head spin, my belly plummet, and my palms all sweaty. Part of his plan, probably.
“Is your body temp like a hundred degrees?” I ask, then suddenly wish I hadn’t when he looks at me with a twinkle in his eye. That’s all I need is for him to make his eyes all magical. They’re already mesmerizing with their blue-gray allure, and now that they’re smiling, I’d hand over my panties… if I were wearing any.
“Maybe. Why’d you ask that?”
“You’re just… like, physically hot, it’s like I’m standing next to an inferno.” He smirks at me, and I feel the need to backtrack. “I don’t mean you’re hot as in handsome or anything.”
“You don’t find me attractive?”
“I, well I—I didn’t say that.” His chuckle makes my nipples harden. “I just mean I… well, it’s like flames just radiate off your skin or something.”
Why did I open my mouth?
He shrugs as we make our way back to the war room. “I’ll keep that in mind. No need for clothes in bed, then.”
I don’t reply. I can’t, because I’ve somehow lost the ability to speak.
I’m not so naïve that I think he’s going to put me to bed and go sleep on the couch or something. He’s been hitting on me full throttle, and even though I know the plot to get me into his bed is ostensibly for my safety, I know he has a vested interest. There are many other methods he could’ve used to keep me safe.
Maybe he wants me.
We return, albeit reluctantly, to the guests, but Romeo sighs.
“I want out of here, babe,” he says in a low voice to me, as if reading my mind. “Half a dozen fuckin’ men wanna chew my ear off, but I’m done. Whisper something in my ear.”
I blink in surprise, but he nods and bends his head toward me as if I asked him for his attention. I feel the eyes of those around us fixated on me. My cheeks heat. I lean in and whisper in his ear, “I have no idea what to say.”
He smiles and nods, then leans in to whisper back, “You did perfect, babe.”
It’s too much. All of it, too much. His flirtation, the elaborate display of wealth, the promise of an inheritance and his undying protection. A place to live, the fear of what that means, and the knowledge that the choice to marry Romeo’s irrevocable.
In the far corner of the room I see a man dressed in clerical black. He’s young, wears wire-rimmed glasses, and he’s eying me curiously.
Romeo said he called a priest…
What does he know? Would he extricate me if I asked him?
Is there anyone who wields power over this family?
Romeo’s obviously pretending whatever I said to him is urgent, as we’ve increased our pace. He takes the stairs two at a time, but he seems impatient with me walking in my clunky heels that I’d put back on, so halfway up, he swings me into his arms again.
I feel all tingly and excited, and a dull ache settles between my thighs.
I wonder what he’ll do when he gets me upstairs. Will anyone come between the two of us?
I feel as if I’ve lived a full week this day, like every moment’s lasted longer than the one before. I’ve experienced such a wide range of emotions, too, from fear to elation to arousal and terror. And the day isn’t even over yet.
Romeo’s phone rings. He sets me down to answer it, sliding his phone to his ear and taking my hand in his other without missing a stride.
“Yeah?” He scowls. “What do you mean? I fucking told you to watch him.” His lips thin, and I can feel the vibration of his anger just from holding his hand. “Fine. Do what you have to. Tell Tavi and Orlando too, and tomorrow, morning meeting. You, me, office.” I don’t know who he’s talking to, but I would not want to be them right about now. His verbal lashing alone could flay me.
His father, maybe? He’s gone. They lost him.
His thinned lips confirm my suspicion as, cursing under his breath, he pushes the heavy wooden door open for me. The Castle’s so big even the sound of the door slamming’s quickly muffled.