Total pages in book: 16
Estimated words: 14601 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 73(@200wpm)___ 58(@250wpm)___ 49(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 14601 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 73(@200wpm)___ 58(@250wpm)___ 49(@300wpm)
“Tabby?” Roman says my nickname but doesn’t look at me. He won’t look away from his betrothed.
“No, I’m Alena.” My sister corrects him like she thinks it’s an honest mistake. Yeah right, this man knows who she is. If I had to guess, from the way he’s acting he knows everything about her.
“I know who you are, my princess.” He looks over at me, taking his eyes off Alena for the first time since we walked into the room. “Tabitha.” He says my full name this time. Only Alena calls me Tabby. “Can you take my princess to her room to remove these ridiculous shoes before she hurts herself?”
“Hey, she isn’t my servant,” Al snaps at him, and I watch her square her shoulders in a very un-Alena-like way.
“I help Alena with stuff all the time.” I jump in. Maybe if he thinks she needs me, I can go with them when they marry. It would be a fight with my parents because they want to marry me off, too, but Roman is very powerful. Alena frowns at my random comment, clearly not getting it. I can tell this man will do anything to have her, so maybe now I can convince him that I need to go with her. That’s what’s really been bothering us this whole time - the thought of no longer having each other. It’s always been Al and me.
“Then help her remove the layer of what’s painted on her face as well,” Roman adds.
Alena takes a step back from him, and I think she wants to smack him. She isn’t seeing what I’m seeing. I’m guessing he’s seen pictures of her before and he wants that Al. Not this made-up one we created in hopes of scaring him away. I kind of like that.
“Alena. Do as you’re told,” our mother half-whispers, half-scolds. Her scolding tone is no different, even in front of a king. I can’t fight my eye roll.
Roman turns to look at our mother. Her face is scrunched, and I can tell she’s pissed. We’re going to get it later.
“You don’t give her orders. She will be Queen in one week’s time. She doesn’t take orders.” Roman’s voice is stern and final. He just gave her a command, and it will be followed. He earned a few points in my book right there. He stood up for her and put our mother in her place.
“Except from you, I guess,” I hear Alena say, looking down at the floor and taking another step back from Roman. Clearly she’s trying to get space from him.
“All your whispers are too loud. Keep them in your head,” I tell her, a little too loudly myself. Crap, we are terrible at this.
“Alena,” Roman says, drawing our attention. He doesn’t look mad. In fact, he looks like he’s fighting a smile. Yep, we are definitely terrible at this.
“Please.” The word, laced with urgency, comes from his lips, and I can tell it’s not a word he uses often.
Al grabs my hand and pulls me from the room, clearly wanting to escape. I glance back over my shoulder to my mystery man. I don’t know his name, but from the look on his face, I don’t think I will ever escape him.
Chapter Two
Vlad
By the time the ladies come back downstairs, it’s time for dinner. We each take a seat at the table, and I choose the chair directly across from Tabitha. Her dark hair is in waves down her back, and I clench my fingers into fists with the ache to grip it.
She doesn’t look like a demure, staid princess. Her lush curves are like something out of a pinup magazine. Her body is made for sinful deeds, and my cock thickens with desire like it never has before.
She raises an eyebrow at me, and I see a spark in her eyes. There’s a challenge there, but I don’t think she’s prepared to have it answered. Not yet. She has no idea what temping me will do. I’m a man who’s forgotten his own needs, and suddenly they’re alive and demanding.
I wink at her and bite my bottom lip to keep from smiling. I want to go to the other side of the table and pull her into my lap. I came tonight to help my king meet his bride and offer assistance. As the head of his security, I never put much thought into my own future. I was always thinking of his. But one look at sweet Tabitha and I know what I want. All this time I’ve just been waiting. Before now I’d never seen a woman who made me want more. Until her.
Dinner is slow, and the table that separates us is an irritation. I watch Roman exchange a few words with the mother and then Alena before he’s out of his chair. I stand, joining him before he even says my name.