Forbidden Fate (Crowne Point 3)

“So then I don’t need to lower my voice. No need to hide the fact that you’re pregnant.”

My eyes grew, and I slammed a hand across his mouth.

“No, okay?” I said. “No one fucking knows.”

Something flickered in his eyes…possession. His lips were too soft and too warm against my palm, and the dark hallway softened us, reminding me of our nights together. I tore my hand away, but he pulled me back instantly.

It was on the tip of my tongue to tell him to let go, when the look in his eyes froze me. It was like the night of his wedding, right before he’d had to leave me.

“We were close, Snitch,” he said. “We were so fucking close.”

I think my heart stopped beating.

What did that mean?

Behind us, the door clicked open, shedding light into the hallway. I blinked out of the moment, neck hot, and turned to find West…and Lottie.

I swallowed past the emotions. “I thought you left.”

Behind them, our new wing was filled with roses everywhere. They carpeted the floor in a velvety white blanket, and the air was clean and crisp.

“You didn’t think I was going to abandon you on our first night together?” West dragged me to him, wrapping his arm around my waist. His eyes went to Grayson. “Thanks for helping my wife.”

Grayson kept staring at me. Like he had a right to stare at me like he owned me. Even with his wife next to him.

“Grayson,” Lottie whispered. “We should go.”

Grayson kept staring.

“First night as newlyweds.” West grinned.

Grayson’s nostrils flared.

Lottie wrapped her hands on his biceps, urging him to go back down the stairs.

Maybe I was always supposed to be with West, and Grayson was supposed to be with Lottie. We’d taken a brief detour from destiny.

So why did this feel wrong?

Lottie’s hands on Grayson.

West’s on mine.

Like we were on the opposite sides of fate.

His jaw was clenched so tight, the muscles dimpled. Eyes still on me, burning that way that said he owned me and didn’t give a shit if anyone noticed, Grayson shoved my clothes into my hands.

“Good night.”

He turned, and Lottie chased after him.

I exhaled.

For the first time since the courthouse, West and I were alone.

Twenty-One

GRAY