Forbidden Fate (Crowne Point 3)

Snitch.

A few feet behind her was West.

Fucking West.

It was a brief glimpse, but I would always and forever recognize her. Only hours ago I’d been inside her.

Come inside her.

“Grayson?” Lottie’s concerned tone drew me back.

I started dancing again, plastered a smile on my face. Fuck, I really didn’t like that he followed her.

Snitch rounded a corner out of the ballroom, and Westley followed.

It’s not my place. Not my place to wonder if she still dripped me between her thighs. Not my place to care that Westley fucking du Lac was once again riding my girl’s ass—not my girl anymore.

Shit.

Fuck.

“Is something wrong?” Lottie asked, then blew out a breath. “I mean, other than the very obvious.”

My eyes were still on the door, but a small smile quirked my lips at Lottie’s honesty.

“I just think Strauss is a really trash waltz,” I said. “Couple of the century and our first dance is to the one song everyone plays for their first recital.”

Lottie laughed, and for a minute I forgot about Snitch and that I had no right to think about her anymore. For a second, it was normal and almost okay.

I fingered the rubies in her ear. “You hate red.”

She shrugged, as if it wasn’t even worth mentioning why she was wearing something she hated.

I couldn’t believe any of this was how Lottie had imagined it. Walking down the aisle to an empty altar, married to a man like me. Though her makeup had been fixed, her eyes were still red.

“Lottie, if you could do anything right now, what would it be?”

Her throat bobbed. “I don’t want to play this game.”

I wanted to give her something.

Anything to prove I wasn’t the man I’d taught her I’d become.

“Lottie—”

Her eyes flashed to mine. “You can’t give it to me.”

“I’m Grayson Crowne. I can do anything.”

Her eyes narrowed at the challenge. “I don’t want to smile for pictures. I want to take off this dress and this tiara. I want to talk to you and get to know you again in private. And…” She looked away, as if ashamed. “I don’t want to see her.”

I stopped dancing. “Let’s get out of here, Lottie.”

“Really?” She blinked. “Just…leave?” She looked around us. Our song ended and couples had surrounded us on the dance floor.

“We’ve taken enough pictures. Let’s

go have your perfect wedding night.”