I close my eyes and lay my head back against the arm of the couch. Bran hits all the sensitive spots on the bottom of my foot.

“I have an idea,” he tells me.

I barely open my eyes. “About what?”

“How to thwart the marriage proposal of the fae prince.”

I’ll talk about anything if it means keeping him on the foot massage.

“Okay. Tell me,” I say.

“Marry me instead.”

Episode Eighty-One

WE ALWAYS HAVE A CHOICE

BRAN

Mouse’s eyes fly open and she bolts upright. “Are you proposing to me?”

“Yes. Was I not clear enough?”

She huffs and yanks her foot from my grip and folds her legs beneath her. She’s still naked and her tits bounce as she gets herself upright. I can still smell my cum leaking out of her, just the way I like her.

“Are you insane?” Her nose wrinkles up in that adorable little angry way I love.

“Marrying you before the prince is not illogical, it’s not foolish. So no, not insane.”

“Okay, reckless.”

I won’t argue that point. It is reckless. But I’ve never loved anything enough to want to keep it for eternity. At least not anyone beyond my family.

And the thought of losing Mouse causes me physical pain.

I will stand in front of fire or arrow or stake for her.

I will face down an entire fae court to defend what is mine.

I love her. My little mouse.

And I will do whatever it takes to keep her by my side.

“The fae are ridiculously traditional,” I explain. “They have to respect a marriage contract, regardless of whether or not they agree with it. It’s practically written in their codex.”

“Contract? I’m not an acre of land!”

“Mouse,” I say.

A car drives past the house, the headlights sweeping through my front window sending a block of sharp light across Mouse. There is frustration pinched between her dark brows.

“No,” she says, and then swallows hard. “I want to do this my way.”

Panic festers in my chest, but I push it down deep.

I know she doesn’t want to marry the fae prince. But her wants will mean nothing if they sweep her into their fold and drag her to the altar before I can stop them.

I don’t like variables I cannot control.