Although this feels like the best day of my life, I can’t help but wonder what it will feel like to hold our daughter. I can’t wait to meet her. To share all the love her mother and I have for each other with her.
Sitting in the back of her grandfather’s vintage Bentley, Arabella puts her feet up on my lap. All the excitement has taken it out of her.
“Tired?”
Her face falls as she looks at me. “Absolutely not. This dress has a date with our bedroom floor.”
“I’m sorry we can’t do more today.” Taking her strappy heels off, I rub her swollen feet. “I know it’s not what you wanted…”
“Christopher, I wanted to marry you.” She
’s trying to hide her disappointment; I can tell from the way her hands clasp tightly in her lap. “Now I have. I’ve married the love all fairy tales talk about.”
Except our life isn’t a fairy tale.
“You deserve more than a three-course meal and a night in a hotel.”
Dropping her feet off my lap, she brings herself closer, stretching her legs the other way. “Listen to me, Christopher Sinclair. I couldn’t give a shit about some massive party. We have that coming, and it won’t be half as amazing as today. Today was for you and me, and it was perfect. Now I can’t wait for you to strip me naked and fuck the life out of me.”
The car pulls up to the back of the hotel, and before I’ve had a chance to gather my thoughts of all the ways I want to get lost in her, security is opening my door. It’s impossible for me to miss the way her chest deflates as her state bodyguard looks in and begins to tell us how we’re going to go about getting to our suite.
It doesn’t matter that they’ve rolled out a red carpet and strewn it with white petals. It doesn’t matter that the hotel courtyard is filled with all the beautiful blood-red roses I requested. I feel like I’ve already failed her. She hates all the security, the constant eyes on us, but we don’t have a choice right now.
Following the security detail to our room, I pause as we get to our floor. The Goring Hotel is small enough that lifts aren’t really needed.
“What are you doing?” Laughing as I hoist her up into my arms, she rests her head on my shoulder, her arms wrapping around my neck.
“The right thing. Every bride gets carried over the threshold.”
“Oh for goodness’ sake, Christopher, this isn’t our home.”
“It is for tonight.”
“You don’t have to charm me anymore. We’re a done deal now—we’re stuck together.”
“You think I’m charming you?” Looking down at her face, I laugh. “I’m conserving your energy for when we get into the room.”
Heavy-lidded eyes flash to mine. They’re dark and alluring like bottomless pits. Every time I look in them, I fall a little harder and further.
When we get to the Royal Suite, security waits for me to open the door so they can do their checks, and although I know I should, I can’t let them in there. I want just this one thing for us today.
I don’t care if they stand out here and listen to us fucking all night, but that room is our bubble for the next twenty-four hours, and I’ll be damned if I let them burst it.
Chapter 1
Christopher
Five months later…
Knock! Knock! Knock!
I take a sharp breath to stop myself from yelling, and when there’s no answer, I thump some more.
I’ve been standing out here for ages, Leo isn’t answering his phone, but I can hear Toby’s loud sniffs at the door. He’s not barking, which means he and my sister are home.
“Open the fucking door, Fairfax!” Shouting, I ram my fist onto the hard wood.
I just about manage to stop myself as the door opens. Cassie stands there with her hands on her hips, a scowl twisting her face.