Total pages in book: 53
Estimated words: 50869 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 254(@200wpm)___ 203(@250wpm)___ 170(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 50869 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 254(@200wpm)___ 203(@250wpm)___ 170(@300wpm)
Fuck me, though. She’s not wrong. I went along with it because it was easy and wouldn’t hurt anything, but how very wrong I’d been in that train of thought. I’m usually good at looking ahead and predicting what’s to come, but I never saw Mable coming. If I’d known she was out there, I would have hunted her down years ago.
“You said you didn’t have a date,” she whispers, and I hear the disappointment and vulnerability there, the fear that she’s been played. That I’m just another fuckboy trying to get off and I’ll lie if I have to. I had lied, but it wasn’t about sex. Sure, that would come, but it’s not what this was all about.
I step closer to her, and she doesn’t retreat when I trace her jaw with my thumb, gentling my touch even as my body screams at me to claim her.
“I don’t. What I have with Cordelia is easy. I wouldn’t call that a date. It’s an understanding.”
“An understanding. It’s called a ‘situationship.’” She rolls her eyes and tries to turn away from me, but I grip her chin, holding her in place, needing her eyes on me.
“What do you know about a situationship?” I grumble before I can stop myself. Fire lights up in her eyes, and I know I’ve fucked up. Here I am getting pissed again, thinking about her with anyone when I’m the one that maybe has plans to see Cordelia today. It’s all just for convenience. Cordelia was already going to be here, and we would cross paths. I’m not going to pick her up, and we have an unspoken mutual understanding that there’s nothing between us. Never has been and never will be.
“What did you say?” A small growl leaves her, and it’s adorable as hell.
“I have never had a situationship.” I make that clear. “Nor have I ever done anything with Cordelia except that stupid fucking double-kiss-on-the-cheek shit I hate.”
I release her chin but don’t step back. I’m not giving her space, not right now. If she really wanted me gone, she could say one word, but she hasn’t, and hell, I don’t know if the word would stop me at this point.
“I haven’t been fully honest about who I am.”
“So you lied. Twice.”
“I just didn’t tell you everything. I omitted things.” She tenses, and I can tell she’s not a fan of that. “Okay, you’re right. I apologize.” I’ll own my shit. I have no problem admitting when I’ve messed up. “I lied.”
I drag a hand through my hair, searching for the right way to say this. There isn’t one, so I just say it. “My family isn’t just wealthy, Mable. We’re... royalty. Old bloodlines, estates, the whole fucking thing.” I force myself to meet her eyes. “When I marry, I’ll take my father’s place as the public head of the family. The press follows us. Everything becomes public.”
She blinks, her mouth falling open slightly. “Royalty? Like... actual royalty?”
I nod. “There are hereditary titles and estates in three countries,” I laugh, but there’s no humor in it. “The Montclair name opens every door and invites every camera. I didn’t tell you because the second people know, they change. They see the crown, the spotlight, the access. They don’t see me.”
I step closer. “But you looked at me like I was just a guy on a plane. Like I was worth knowing without having the knowledge of those titles. It’s the first time in my life I’ve felt as though someone truly saw me. You are so different from anyone I have ever met. I didn’t want you to be intimidated or scare you away,” I ramble. I feel an immediate sense of relief that she knows the truth. “Not interesting, my ass.” I shake my head. “I didn’t want to lose you before I even had you.”
Mable’s quiet for a long moment, taking in what I said. I can see the questions forming behind her bright eyes, the weight of what I’m asking her to accept. Not just me but everything that comes with me.
“So if we’re together,” she says slowly, “people will watch. They’ll write about it. About me.”
“Yes.” No point in sugarcoating it. “They’ll dig into your past, your family, your schooling. They’ll speculate and criticize and make up lies because it sells papers.” I cup her face in my hands, my thumbs brushing her cheekbones. So damn soft everywhere. I can’t lose this. I won’t allow it. I can’t. “I should have told you before I pulled you into this. But Mable, I’ve never felt this. Whatever this is between us, it’s new to me too. I wasn’t lying when I said I don’t date. I don’t do... this, and clearly I’m fucking it all up.”
A small smile forms, making her cheeks rounder. “Okay,” she finally says, but I’m still holding my breath here.