Page 12 of Undecided Heiress

Anna crumples on top of me, and I wrap my arms tightly around her. Our breathing slows, and as I’m about to pull out, there’s a jiggling of keys in a lock, and the door opens. I quickly shift until I’m on top of Anna, not wanting anyone but me to see her like this.

A woman averts her eyes. “I’m sorry, Your Highness. We thought you left for the wedding. We’ll return later.” She scurries out, quickly closing the door behind her.

I let out a hearty laugh, but it’s cut short when the world shakes around us. Instinct has me shielding Anna from anything that might possibly fall. Though there’s nothing that could harm her, I want to protect her all the same.

The quake stops, and Anna sighs, “What do you say we try to fall asleep? Maybe we’ll wake up at home.”

“And what of the book?”

She kisses me softly, whispering, “Fuck it.”

Anna

An alarm blares, and I groan, opening one eye at a time. There’s a large bookcase in view and two strong arms holding me tightly from behind. We’re no longer in the dream, and I’m in his flat—it worked!

I swat at the alarm clock to quiet it, only to notice a picture frame next to it that I didn’t notice before. Squinting to make it out, my eyes suddenly fly wide when I realise it’s James and me, and I’m wearing a white gown.

A wedding?

As I reach for the photograph, a glimmer of metal on my left hand catches my attention. I pause, twisting my hand to get a better look; it’s a white gold band with an ornate vine of sorts but no diamonds. I glance at the photo again, and it’s not from an elopement; it’s a professional wedding picture.

What the fuck is happening?

I shift in James’ arms to wake him. “James?” He holds me tighter, kissing my forehead. “James, wake up. Something’s wrong.”

He blinks awake, a wide grin painting his face. “You’re still here.”

“What is this?” I hold up my left hand. His smile dissipates as a frown pinches his brows. As he takes my hand to examine it, I spot a matching band on his left ring finger. “Shit. Did we get married? Are we married to each other? Are we cheating on our spouses? What?—”

James kisses me to end my spiral, and I can’t help but melt into him as our tongues tangle. I’m certain I’m in a dream within a dream, until he pulls me on top of him, keeping me close. He slides his hands up my thighs, sending shivers down my spine. I can’t seem to figure out where fiction ends and reality begins, but this feels real.

Whatever I’m wearing is made of rougher fabric than I’m used to. I press on his chest to lift up and examine what the hell I’m actually wearing, but he pulls me back to him, making both of us chuckle. “James, what year is it?”

“I don’t fucking care.”

While he won’t allow me to move, I’m able to get a glimpse at his clothes, and I gasp, “You’re wearing a coat! Why are you wearing a coat in bed?”

His gaze falls to his white linen shirt and black coat. “Did we attend a party?”

I’m finally able to scramble out of his hold, and I’m wearing the dark green dress from the dream. I inspect it closer and shake my head. “None of this makes sense. This is your room, there’s a wedding photo on the nightstand, and we’re wearing what we wore in the dream.”

My phone chimes and vibrates on the table, and I dismount the gorgeous man to retrieve it. There’s a new text message from Jen and one an unknown number. It’s probably spam this late at night—or is it morning?

Jen

Hope you have an amazing anniversary dinner! Tara and I can’t wait for brunch tomorrow to hear all about it.

Dinner? Tara?

I click the other message.

Unknown

I warned you, Anna.

Enjoy your prince, Miss Anna.

Kathryn?

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