“Good.” His gaze grows heated. “I don’t want anyone else to touch you the way I do. Not ever.”
Doesn’t he realize how crazy that sounds?
We’re too young to be making this kind of commitment. “King—”
“No!” he snaps before his eyes narrow. “I want you. I don’t give a shit about the company or this agreement.” He pauses for a beat before rectifying the statement. “Actually, that’s not true. I’m fucking thrilled this arrangement gives me you. The only reason I’m even going along with it is because I have to have you. We belong together, Summer. I realize that even if you can’t see it yet.” His voice drops, becoming more of a challenge. “Tell me that you don’t feel this between us.”
I bite my lip and glance away.
“Summer,” he growls, “I’ll walk away from the whole damn thing if you can tell me that you don’t feel the same way. I’ll tell my father that he can go fuck himself.”
If I were smart, that’s exactly what I would say.
“I can’t.” My gaze stays fastened on his. I don’t ever want to look away from him. “I can’t tell you that.”
“We belong together,” he repeats, stronger this time. “You belong with me, to me.”
I don’t realize how desperate I am to hear those words until they’re reverberating in my ears.
When I remain silent, he adds, “I know we’re young, and that everything is stacked against us, but we can make it work. I’ve never felt this way before. I’ve never wanted—needed anyone the way I need you.”
Marriage. He’s talking about marriage. It’s no small thing. If I agree to this, I’ll be shackling myself to Kingsley forever. A reluctant thrill shoots through me at the notion, but I quickly tamp it down.
I shake my head and whisper, “I don’t know…”
“Then I guess it’s a good thing I do.” With one swift motion, he rolls on top of me. Instead of feeling trapped by the heaviness pinning me to the boat, I’m tempted to wrap my legs around him and pull him closer. There’s something soothing about the feel of him covering me. “You just need to trust me.”
Does he understand what he’s asking?
We will never be just Summer and Kingsley. He’s a Rothchild and I’m a Hawthorne. Our families have been enemies for generations. It’s doubtful anything will ever change that. There is too much ugly history standing between us.
My feelings for Kingsley have nothing to do with the company. But can he say the same?
Therein lies the problem. That’s an answer I’ll never know. The insidious little question will always be there, clawing at the back of my mind, creating doubts.
Why is he with me?
Can I live with that? Never knowing for sure?
When I remain silent, he says, “You are aware that my family owns a shit ton of stores throughout Wisconsin and Minnesota, right?”
What?
I had assumed there was only one.
His lips quirk into a cocky grin. “Maybe you haven’t realized this, but my family has money, Summer. A lot. During the early eighties, my grandfather started Rothchild’s. The store in Hawthorne was the flagship. Since then, it’s continued to grow, and now we have over fifty stores. Every year, a few more get added.”
But that doesn’t make sense.
“Then why?” I shake my head. “Why is your dad doing this?”
The smile fades from his face as his expression grows somber. “He wants what was stolen from his great-grandfather. He’s been obsessed with getting the company back for decades. His thirst for revenge drove my parents apart.” He searches my gaze as his voice turns gruff. “There is no way I’d go through with this arrangement unless it’s what I wanted. I wouldn’t martyr myself for Hawthorne Industries.” He presses a quick kiss against my lips. “Since the first moment I saw you on the beach, I’ve wanted you, Summer. And throughout all of this, even when I found out who you were, that never changed. My feelings never wavered. Maybe I wanted them to, but they remained the same, only growing stronger.”
“We’re talking marriage. Are you willing to put enough stock in your feelings to marry me?” My head spins as I force myself to say, “We’re only eighteen years old. Doesn’t that scare you?”
No matter how strong my feelings are for Kingsley, that knowledge frightens the hell out of me.
His lips quirk as his expression softens. “How about we take it one day at a time and get through high school first? If our parents can’t accept that, they can fuck off. We’ll do things our way, when we’re ready. Got it?”
I pin my lower lip with my teeth before nodding.
“So, is that a yes?”
I shouldn’t…
“Yes.” Only now that the word has been released do I realize how much I want this.
How much I want Kingsley.
“Thank fuck.” He grins before his lips slam into mine.