Page 68 of The Wicked Prince

“Are you asking me because you despise me and the trap I’ve had you in?” John opened his eyes. “Or because you’ve been running for so long you don’t know how to stop?”

When had they gotten so close?

He swallowed thickly. “Because if it’s the first, I will not destroy you just to have you. But if it’s the second, I would beg of you, please, stay.”

“If you do not wish to own me, why the drawings?”

“Because from the moment I first saw you, you had captured me.”

“Personally designing the furniture? My clothes?”

“Because I wanted you to have things you would like.”

“Working with me?”

“Because I value your intelligence and dedication and I need it as much as Astren does.”

“Training with me?”

“Because I admire your ability to protect yourself and others and I wanted to be close to you.”

“My leg? The wool clothes?”

“Because I wanted to take care of you.”

“Not telling me you were catching and releasing my men when they tried to rescue me?”

“Because I knew I would lose you and I was desperate to put it off for as long as possible.”

“The green and gold for my birthday?”

“Because I wanted everyone to see I belonged to you.”

“The portrait?”

“Because I love you.” John’s hands brushed Robin’s arms. “All of it because I did not know how to tell you I love you. But I do. I love you, and if I must lose you, I will have you face me.”

Then Robin’s hands were in his collar, and her lips were crashing into his. John stumbled, catching himself on her waist as he threw himself into it, deepening it. It could very well be the last time, and he was going to make it count.

He distantly heard Robin’s men in the background exclaim their bafflement and call for Robin to stop and that she must have lost her mind in the desert heat. John just sank a hand into Robin’s hair and gently tilted her head back as he continued kissing her again and again.

Ever since he’d kissed her before she’d gone running, the memory of it had been haunting him at night. He had wished he’d taken more time to memorize the details. Now that he had another chance to sear it into him for the rest of his life, he wasn’t going to waste it.

It was desperate and needy and everything Robin made him, but he didn’t care. He just kissed her with everything he had in him, curling his fingers tighter as he kissed her harder and faster, his breath quickening as it brushed over her skin.

When he finally rested his forehead against hers, struggling to catch his breath and feeling her breath on his face, he didn’t dare open his eyes. He did not want this moment to end. Because when it did, she was going to be gone for good.

He tightened his grip on her waist, clutching her to himself.

Her hand was on his cheek, her thumb brushing over the skin. She whispered, “John, open your eyes.”

He bit his lip and shook his head slightly. She was going to ask him to let her go, and he would. He would, but he couldn’t. He just needed a few more seconds to memorize the feel of her waist under his hands.

“Please, my husband.”

John opened his eyes to see Robin pull her left hand back from his cheek. The wedding band was still on it.

“You…”

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