Page 54 of Back to Claim His Crown
She watched him warily. ‘I’ve written up a list of responses. The books are sorted. My work is done.’
He set the tray down and took the seat opposite, as he always did.
‘I want you to marry me.’
Her heart stopped and it took her two tries to get her immediate answer out. ‘We’ve been through this already.’
‘I won’t take no for an answer this time.’
She stared at him across the table. Trying to keep calm internally. Failing.
‘Why?’
‘It makes sense. It’s the simplest, most effective solution.’
‘To what problem?’
‘To several problems.’ He leaned towards her. ‘You were right. I need an heir of my own and perhaps it needn’t be in a decade after all. It would be efficient if I married you now.’
‘Efficient? Because I’m already installed in the palace? Because I’ve already been vetted?’
His nostrils thinned. ‘You’re better at it than you give yourself credit for. You charm anyone you meet. You know what you’re doing. You were beautiful at the ball.’
‘Are you saying I could pass as a queen?’
He’d effectively listed some of Garth’s reasons. She understood duty. She would be docile. A good enough clothes horse.
‘Are there anypersonalreasons why you think this is a good idea?’ She barely kept her tone cordial.
‘I trust Victor, but I think, after this morning, everyone will know there’s something between us. This will leak, Zara. Our marriage will protect you from those complications.’
‘Because my reputation needs protecting? Didn’t you once ask what century this is?’ She glared at him. ‘Anything else?’
A muscle in his jaw flexed. ‘We’re good together.’
‘Do you mean in bed? Because we haven’t often actuallymadeit to a bed.’
Once, in fact. His bed. Where they’d both slept like newborns. But the afterglow this time was now more like an afterburn. It wasn’t the love bites on her breasts or the grazes on her inner thighs from his stubbled jaw this morning causing the sting.
We’re not friends.
It hurt. Deeply. He wanted her. He liked her. Respected her even. He’d been kind. He wanted her physically. But hedidn’tlove her. And she knew he’d fight to keep part of himself separate from her. Always. His heart was out of bounds to everyone.
‘Anything else?’ she prompted again.
‘You don’t have anywhere else to go. You have no real plan, Zara.’
Not true, actually. Not any more. But she kept that to herself for now. Because he still wasn’t offering the reason she really wanted.
‘You were angry with me this morning,’ she said. ‘I overstepped your mark. What if I overstep it again?’
‘I was taken by surprise. If we’re married, there won’t be the need for secrecy. Nor will there be any uncertainty—’
‘You mean you’d know I would be in your bed every night,’ she said.
He nodded.
‘You want stability and certainty,’ she clarified.
