Page 118 of Seduced

“They made me see that underneath all your black locks and your sullen looks, you were nothing more than a soft-hearted boy, rescuing strays from the streets,” Poppy was saying.

She looked like an angel, sitting there on the bed in her nightgown, with her hair falling down her shoulders, her sparkling eyes, her little hands in his.

Why is she always in my bed but never in a way I can enjoy it?

Have to rectify that as soon as possible.

His whole body shook, suddenly on fire, and he fought for control.She needs time. Do not press her, for God’s sake. Conquer yourself. Tame it. For her. It’s up to her: from now on, everything is. You will just obey.

“Did you just call me soft-hearted?” he smiled.

“I did.”

“And I let you live?”

“I am breathing still.”

He threw his head back and laughed.

“Marry me,” he murmured. When had the laughter turned to tears? He leaned closer. God, he couldn’t get enough of those eyes, those lips, those hands. He couldn’t breathe, just looking at her. “God, marry me, I’m begging you. I’ll go down on my knees, you’ll like it. I am entirely at your mercy.”

“No, stop that, get up.” He was already on his knees. He hadn’t realized. “You can’t marry me, Alexei. I told you, I’m too broken. Beyond repair.”

Sudden anger gripped him, and he looked into her face, hating the sad look that had come over her.God help me.

“Do notevertalk to me about broken, Wyatt,” he said, trying to stay calm. The need to comfort her overwhelmed him, but now was not the time to be overwhelmed. It was the time to fight. For her. “Who is more broken than me, eh? No one, that’s who. Now come on, you seduced me, you know you did. You have been at it for weeks. The least you can do is accept my marriage proposal without trying to gloat first over your conquest.”

“I am not about to do anything of the kind. What’s more, there is nothing to gloat over; it’s not the entire truth.Youseducedme.”

“How? No man has ever contained himself more than I had to, ever since the first day I laid eyes on you, even in your boy’s getup, damn it.”

“And yet, here I am, completely seduced.”

For some reason, this did not make him laugh as her previous words had. To seduce a girl like her…That was a serious offense, and one he did not take lightly.

“I’m sorry, I…” he closed his eyes, guilt-ridden. “I know that you were innocent and pure, and I kissed you like a brute…”

“As I said, it was the cats.”

He opens his eyes. Thank God, she had been joking again.

“You’ll kill me, Wyatt,” he murmured. His lips trembled.

Her little, beautiful face was deadly serious. “The cats saved us in more ways than one,” she said. “I am serious, Alexei. It was the cats that made me see that every rumorabout you was a lie. Then I knew you for who you really were.”

“A pathetic fool?” Alexei smirked.

“Naturally,” Poppy agreed, and he roared with laughter. “But also, the most caring, kind-hearted, amazing man I could ever hope to meet.”

“Please,” Alexei groaned, still laughing, “no more. How shall I ever live down such slander?”

“You cannot,” Poppy informed him gleefully. “I suggest you embrace it.”

“If you mean embrace you, then gladly, Your Highness.” Alexei grabbed her by the waist, and swung her onto his lap. He felt her stiffen in his arms at the title. “You will be my princess,” he told her gently, bending down to peer into her head, which she had suddenly hung low. “Hey, look at me.” He tipped her chin up with a finger. “I am still a prince, little seed. And, if you agree, I intend to fight to stay one.”

“I…” She had trouble speaking.

What have I done now?Alexei thought in a panic. I have ruined everything, haven’t it?

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