Seducing the Princess (Shillings Agency 3)

“No, of course not.” He undid his belt, and her stomach hollowed out. The things he could do with that belt… He smirked, as if he knew exactly where her thoughts were. But that smirk faded away, and he frowned at her with narrow eyes. “And the fact that you believed I would, hurt. I’m not happy you fell for it so easily.”

She flinched, an apology on the tip of her tongue. But she refused to voice it aloud, even if she would say almost anything to get him to be the Gordon she’d known and come to care for, instead of the man he’d been before she left. He’d told her some horrible things that night. Of course she’d believed him.

“You presented a pretty strong case,” she said defensively.

“Yeah. I did.” He pulled the belt out of the loops. “But I’m still not happy you believed those lies. We’ll discuss that later.”

Licking her lips, she stared at the belt. “What else did you lie about?”

“Not caring about you.” He slapped his palm with the belt, heading for the door. With his back to her, he locked it. She watched his muscles roll and flex, unable to look away. “That was a lie, too.”

“It…was?”

“Yeah.” Tossing the belt to the side, he turned back her way. His hands went to the button of his pants, and he undid it with a flick of his wrist. She could count the tight ripples on his stomach, and all she wanted to do was trace the outline of each and every one. “I care. I care a lot. And…I’m…” He swallowed hard. “I’m sorry. I’m so fucking sorry, Belle.”

The significance of that apology wasn’t taken lightly. He’d told her he never apologized

, and yet here he was. Saying the words. She gripped the sheet tighter. “I missed you.”

“I missed you, too.” He unzipped his pants. “So damn much it hurt.”

Nodding, she blinked back tears. Princesses don’t cry. “You hurt me. You hurt me so much, Gordon. You have no idea.”

“I know, and I’m so sorry for that, Belle. I’ll say it a million times if that’s what it takes to make you take me back. If that’s what it takes to get you to forgive me. I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I’m sorry.” He stalked across the room, his stride sure and steady. Like him. “I’m so fucking sorry I hurt you. I thought I was doing the right thing. Thought pushing you away would save you in the end.”

“It didn’t.” He blurred in front of her, due to the annoying tears. “You ruined everything, and it’s too late now.”

“It’s never too late for us. For this.” Reaching out, he cupped her cheeks tenderly. His thumbs brushed away her tears, and his eyes ached with regret. “I can’t lose you. We might have only met a few days ago, a short blink in the void of time and space, but I can’t live without you. I can’t be the guy who regrets losing the woman he loved for the rest of his fucking life.”

Her heart wrenched. “L-Love?”

“Yes. Love.” He smiled at her, his brown eyes so tender and sweet that it almost broke her heart. “Princess Isabelle, I don’t really know what love is, but I think I love you. I think I fell in love with you that first night we ran in the rain together, but I know for a fact that I don’t want to live in a world where you’re not with me.”

“I think I fell for you, too,” she admitted, laughing. “Is this seriously happening?”

“This is seriously happening.” He kissed the spot under her eye where she had a small freckle. “I will spend the rest of my life making that one night up to you. I want to make you happy, Belle. All you have to do is say yes…” He hovered by her lips, but didn’t touch. “…and ask me nicely.”

Yes. God, yes.

Of course she wanted him. Of course she wanted this.

But…she couldn’t have it. He was saying all the right things, but she was already engaged to another man. She’d already agreed to marry George. After jerking the guy around three different times, could she back out again? Would her parents let her?

He didn’t know about her fiancé yet. And when he found out, he’d leave. Again. And after all she’d done to get here, it was painful to even contemplate. “Gordon…I…”

“Hm?” He kissed the tip of her nose. “What is it?”

“I can’t,” she said, her voice breaking on the last word. “I’m sorry, but I can’t say yes, no matter how much I want to. You see…” She closed her eyes. “I’m already engaged. Again. After you said what you said, I gave up. I said I’d marry George.”

“I know.”

Her eyes flew open. “You know?”

“Your mother told me on the plane.” He smiled at her and slipped his hand into his pocket. “But you don’t know what she did.”

“My mother told you? Wait, did she come get you? Is that where she went?”

“Yep. Turns out, your parents never contacted George at all. They knew what you really wanted, and they set about making it happen.”