Don't Tell (Don't 1)

“Now that everyone is gone, can you please tell me what happened between the time we arrived at the hotel and when we met for our date?” She took a bite of salad.

I wasn’t used to sharing for many reasons. As king I didn’t have to express feelings or thoughts. I didn’t govern as a partnership with my siblings. It was my country.

And now there was an angelic woman who had pure intent behind her questions. It was hard to ignore her naiveté. However, what happened today, involved her.

“I’m pleased Ayla is so good at her job. She kept you away from phones and TV.”

Molly placed her fork on the side of her plate. “Why? What did I miss?”

“You are Galona’s new mystery woman.”

“What?”

“The trip in the grove. When you fell? There are pictures taking over every headline.”

“Oh no. Oh no, no, no.” She shook her head. “That wasn’t supposed to happen.”

“No, it was a simple accident. But it has catapulted us somewhere I didn’t expect.”

She reached for her champagne. “I don’t understand.”

“I called Kenley and Sutcliffe. Kenley is working on a way to re-focus the press’s attention on the olive grove funding. Sutcliffe is working on a way to move you into the palace.”

She blinked. Her sapphire eyes alive under the candlelight. “Move into the palace? You can’t be serious.”

I nodded. “Oh, I’m serious, Molly. He will find a way to make it work with royal protocol.”

“Royal protocol? I’m not interested in protocol. I have a place. I have a roommate.”

“Neither of which can keep you safe against the press. It’s necessary for your safety.”

She scrunched her nose together. It would have been adorable had she not been so pissed at me. “You can’t just move me into the palace.”

I sighed. I had forgotten this part. “Right. How about like this? Molly, will you please move into the palace so I can protect you from paparazzi and rabid citizens who may believe you are a threat to national security?”

She threw her napkin in her lap. “No.” She pushed back from the table.

“That was what you wanted, isn’t it? I asked.” I dropped my fork and walked over to her.

She spun to face me. “It’s not supposed to be an afterthought, Damon. If you don’t see that, then I don’t see how I can keep doing this.”

“I don’t have time to consider what everyone wants. That’s not a luxury I have. I have many others, but not time.” I pressed my gaze into hers. “I need you to be safe.”

That was all that mattered. Her safety. Her wellbeing. How else could I guarantee any kind of normalcy for her in Freychon if she didn’t have security? She wasn’t thinking clearly.

Her eyes fell to the floor. “This has all been amazing. Beautiful really. But I can’t be with a man who thinks I’m a treat. A trinket to carry around in his pocket.” Her blue eyes lifted and I saw the mist along her lashes. “You can tell Sutcliffe he doesn’t have to worry about damage control.”

She gathered her train and started for the door. I grabbed her arm, spinning her to my chest.

“No, Molly.”

Her eyes landed on mine. “You were right that first night. It was a fantasy.”

My ribs crushed against my lungs, squeezing the air into tight and uncomfortable places.

I didn’t want to let her go. I had no intention of her letting her through that door, but I had never begged. Fuck. What was this woman doing to me?

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