Page 62 of How To Please A Princely Fae

I catch her lips against mine, effectively cutting her off. The kiss deepens and she softens in my arms, before pulling away.

“Answer the question,” she snaps, wrapping her arms around herself like she’ll float away without them.

“I was an asshole,” I tell her. “I acted abominably. Because I knew. I knew, Willow, the moment I walked into your life, thatI wouldn’t be walking out of it. I knew as soon as I let my guard down around you, the moment I finally kissed you, that you would be mine.”

“And you hated that so much that you treated me like that?—”

“Never,” I tell her, not laughing this time, shaking my head. “I treated you like that, kept you at arms’ length, because I will never, not in a thousand lifetimes, deserve you. I wanted more for you. I am the toxic thorn in your side, my Willow. I would be the one that dragged you down.”

“You’re a fae prince,” she says, her jaw hanging open in surprise.

I press my palm against the side of her lovely face. “I am the unwanted spare to the Underhill throne. If my mother ever decides she wants me back or to end me once and for all, I’m a sitting duck and always have been. Being with you puts you in danger, too. You are everything that is pure and green and new in the world, the spring that’s finally thawed the winter of my life.”

She lets out a shaky breath, fresh tears streaming down her face.

But she leans into my hand.

Leans into my hand, and closes her eyes.

“I’m not scared of your mother.”

Of all the things she might have said, that statement is the furthest from what I expected.

This time, I can’t hold in my laugh, and she opens her eyes and smiles back at me weakly.

“I wanted to protect you. I wanted more for you than what an exiled ass of a fae prince could offer you. But I forgot that. I forgot all the reasons I should selflessly let you go, and now you’re mine, Willow witch. I refuse to let you go.” I kiss her lightly, the slightest brush of our mouths together, and the feelof her is as electric as it always is. “I refuse to be anything but selfish where you’re involved.”

She laughs too, though the lovely sound is broken by another shaky breath, and I pull her into my arms, just needing to hold her close, to prove to myself that she is whole and here and mine.

“You’re stuck with me, Willow, not the other way around. Forgive me for wanting the fantasy of me not having a horrible past to last a bit longer. I’m sorry I hurt you, and I swear on my life that I will spend the rest of it making it up to you.”

“Does it come with this bread and stew?”

“What?” I tilt my head, confused.

“Does the rest of your life making it up to me come with more of this stew and bread?”

I snort, my eyebrows lifting as high as they can physically go. “That can be arranged.”

“Good.” She sniffles again, then wraps herself fully around me, her arms hooked around my neck, her cheek wet against my collarbone.

When her legs wrap around my waist, I decide I’m done with dinner.

I’m ready for dessert.

Chapter 20

WILLOW

Iam weak with relief. Weak with it.

All the fight I thought I had stored up for when this finally happened, for when Kieran finally remembered, went out my body with his simple explanation.

He wanted to protect me.

I fist the fabric of his shirt in my hands, snuggling as close as I can get to his perfect body.

“I was on the brink of giving up my foolish notion of chivalry when it came to you anyway. Spell or no spell. Amnesia just made it happen faster.” He makes a chuffing noise, nuzzling my neck before inhaling deeply.

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