Page 55 of The King's Fake Bride

Amy sighs and crosses one leg over the other. “I’ve been thinking that both of us deserve to have someone who adores us.”

“I think what we have is enough.”

“Maybe.”

Amy leans back in bed, one leg crossed over and her book in her hand. She doesn’t look up from it as I take off my shirt and toss it in the corner before climbing into bed beside her.

For the first night since she teased me about a pillow wall between us, it’s not there.

This is worse than I thought.

She’s spent most of the day going over wedding details with Daphne, so I didn’t see her much, but it seems like she’s still bothered by what we talked about in the car.

I don’t know how to make this better.

As I settle into bed beside her, she flips to the next page in her book, still not saying anything.

I bite the inside of my cheek. It’s clear that I’m going to have to be the first one to make a move to try and bridge the gap between us, but I’ve never done this before.

When other relationships started to fall apart — if they could be considered relationships in the first place — I let the women walk. I didn’t try to stop them.

And now that Amy is starting to pull away, all I want to do is hold her close.

“I missed you,” I say, the words foreign to my own ears. “I thought a lot about when you were going to get home and what we were going to do. I don’t think I’ve ever missed anyone the way that I missed you.”

She closes her book and sets it on the nightstand. “I missed you too.”

Looping an arm over her shoulder, I pull her closer. “I know that you’re worried about the wedding, but everything is going to be fine. Unless you still haven’t learned how to dance. People might notice if you’re standing on my feet again.”

A ghost of a smile appears.

I might be getting through to her.

I hope that I am. I don’t think I can spend months of my life with her icing me out and putting on a front.

As wrong as it might be, I crave that teasing smile and her playful laugh. It’s the only thing that’s made me feel normal since taking the throne.

At this point, I’m not capable of living without it.

“They’ll definitely notice,” Amy says. “It’s one of those mermaid-style dresses. I’ll have nowhere to hide.”

I get out of bed, bowing low and holding my hand out to her. “Come on, then. Let’s practice one more time. Tomorrow is going to be a blur, and the day after that is the wedding.”

She takes a deep breath and takes my hand, shuffling across to my side of the bed to get out, her little shorts climbing higher.

Even when she’s ready for bed, her hair tied into a messy bun on top of her head, she’s still the most beautiful woman I’ve ever known.

And as selfish as it is, I can’t let go of her.

I grab my phone and put on our wedding song, turning it down low. My hand rests against her bare back, the crop top she wears showing the curve of her breast when she puts her hand on my shoulder.

“Now, you’re going to do your best not to step on my toes.” I guide her back a step, spinning us in a slow circle, holding her free hand in mine. “And I promise I won’t drop you when we do the dip.”

“If you drop me, we will have some great articles getting plastered all over the internet. Other women might finally lose their fascination with you.”

“Is that a hint of jealousy I hear?” I ask, banding my arm around her back and lifting her against me for the spin.

I don’t know if she can feel the way my heart is trying to beat its way out of my body as she slides down against me, feet touching the floor, but I would be surprised if she couldn’t.

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