Page 11 of The Hero's Bride
“I know this is a lot to ask,” Mason began but her incredulous snort made him pause.
“A lot to ask? Of me? You’re offering to tie your name to a woman you don’t know who has dangerous men following. That’s a heavy burden to take on. I can’t ask you to do this for me.” She placed one hand on the mattress and angled her body toward him.
“A minute ago, you told me you trusted me.” The deep rumble of his voice seemed to reverberate through her body, sending tingles spiraling through her chest. “I can’t fully explain it, but I trust you, too.” He mirrored her body, angling to face her more fully. “The moment I saw your picture, I knew it was my Thalia who was in danger, and I nearly crawled out of my skin waiting to get to you.”
My Thalia.Those words made warmth hit her chest. The closest thing to an endearment she’d ever received. Being so close to him, processing his words, all with his shower-fresh scent mingling in the air, made it difficult to fill her lungs.
He lifted his hand slowly and smoothed a strand of hair away from her face. “I might not know the small details of your life or the things you like and dislike, but I do know the most vital things. You’re willing to help others without a thought to your own self-preservation. You’re brave and have a nurturing spirit. So, when you say you’re a heavy burden, nothing could be further from the truth. I’m worried about your feelings because I don’t want you to associate me with all the people in your life who have tried to control you or make decisions on your behalf. That’s not what I’m trying to do here.”
She pinned her gaze on him, unsure of how to respond. It wasn’t like they’d have a real relationship, and while she was honest that she trusted him, there was a small voice inside her screaming that his true colors might show once he had her under his thumb. She licked her dry lips. “I need to know what you’d expect from our arrangement.” Her voice came out in a croak, and she hated the fear that wrapped around her words.
“Jude will probably need to provide some pictures of us together and a statement from each of us about our intent to marry.”
Nerves bubbled inside her, but she refused to let her gaze drop to the floor when she asked the next question on her mind. “Will we? Marry, I mean, if the ninety days goes by?”
His eyes softened. “I will marry you, Thalia.” It was no declaration of love, but the earnest expression on his face had her swallowing past the thickness in her throat. “If you decide you can’t go through with it, we’ll find another way. If we get married and you apply for citizenship and decide you want a divorce…” A strange look passed through his gaze, but it was gone so quickly, she thought she must’ve imagined it. “I’ll give you that, too.”
She hesitated, releasing a slow breath. “And what would you expect me to give in return?”
His expression went hard. “Nothing you don’t give willingly. This is important, Thalia. What do I expect? Your honesty and I hope your friendship. I don’t know what the next few months will look like, but I do know I don’t want anything physical to happen between us because that’s what is expected of a couple, or you think that’s what I expect. I would never force myself on a woman. When we’re engaged though, real or not, I will be committed to you. Faithful.”
“Mason,” she whispered, touched by how honorable he was. “I wouldn’t want to hold you back from a woman you might actually want to spend your life with. I appreciate your generosity more than you know. If this is the only way, you have my word that I’ll release you from the arrangement as soon as possible. If you change your mind, I’d never hold it against you.” She could envision the type of woman Mason would fall for. Someone who carried themselves with confidence. Who knew exactly what they wanted and had the courage to go after it. She was not that woman. At times, she’d been made to feel barely human. It was no wonder that Mason’s suggestion had struck her so hard. She had nothing to offer and no means to take care of herself except her ever-present drive to survive.
Mason opened his mouth to speak, then closed it again, sealing off whatever he’d been about to say. It seemed he might be regretting his decision already. After a moment, Mason picked up both of her hands and leveled his gaze over their clasped fingers. “We’ll figure it all out. Together.”
Chapter Six
Whatever happened, hewouldn’t regret the offer he’d made to Thalia. When she said she wouldn’t hold him back from a woman he wanted, it had been on the tip of his tongue to say that maybe she was right in front of him. He’d quickly clamped down on that sentiment, not wanting to scare Thalia or make her feel uncomfortable in any way, especially given that she didn’t seem thrilled by the idea of being engaged—not that he could blame her. She must be confused as hell. Probably wondering what his actual motives were and if he was going to trap her in some way. He hated that she might fear his intentions, but he’d do anything to prove he had her best interests at heart.
Red scoffed the instant the thought popped into his head. She had no reason to believe he was just trying to help. Not after being traumatized and used over the years. He mulled over her situation long after he’d left Thalia’s room and took one of the twin beds in the second bedroom. Despite the strange sense of rightness as they sat on the end of the bed together in the small room, he had to remember that Thalia wasn’t his to keep. She had a whole lot of living to do now that she was free and once the danger had passed there’d be plenty of time for her to explore the world alongside her new reality. She’d have the opportunity to be her own person and discover what she wanted out of life. A life that didn’t include him. There was a deep pang in his chest, and he rubbed his sternum. For the first time in ages he felt drawn to a woman. Not just any woman. Thalia. Doing right by her meant he needed to step away when the time came so she could live her life free of attachments or baggage. He’d only just reconnected with her, but he had a feeling saying goodbye was going to be the hardest thing he’d ever have to do.
Maybe these feelings stemmed from the way she’d once rescued him or their current situation, but it was unlikely. Her beautiful green eyes flecked with gold were as captivating as the rest of her. While she was street-savvy and wary, she was also kind and had an innocence about her he fiercely wanted to protect. Earlier, he’d reached out and tucked a piece of thick hair behind her ear and a jolt had speared through him.
He’d had to shake the image of his hands fisted deep in the silken strands to will his cock under control. Despite his attraction to Thalia, he was completely honest when he said he would never expect a physical relationship from her. Would never pressure her for anything beyond her friendship and camaraderie.
The bed next to him creaked. “Stop thinking so fucking loud,” Sully grumbled. A pillow flew past, grazing his head, and he reached up and caught it before it hit the floor.
Before he took his next breath he whipped the pillow back across the room. “Not in the mood for a pillow fight.”
“We need to catch sleep where we can, but that’s not gonna happen until you get out whatever’s in your head,” Sully grumbled.
He wasn’t about to deny that he was thinking of something or someone—Sully knew him better than he knew himself. “Nothing I want to talk about.”
“Jesus. It’s about the girl.” Sully sighed. “And your shitty parents.”
“My parents? What do they have to do with anything?” He loved Sully like a brother, but he could be a pain in the ass like one, too.
“They were shit parents. Put their career and lifestyle above you and each other. Dragged you across the world or left you home. No kid should see their dad snorting lines of coke off some groupie’s ass or their mom shit-faced hooking up with the drummer.” Sully’s bed creaked and there was a clicking sound before the bedside lamp cast a dim stream of light through the room.
“How many mornings did you rouse them out of their own vomit or stay in a hotel room in some foreign country by yourself with no clue when they would come back from a post-concert bender? How you turned out to be a respectable human is beyond me. Now you’re thinking about Thalia, and even though this isn’t a real engagement, or a real marriage, if it comes to that, you’re already analyzing how you can do right by her. I’ve said it before, Red. You’re not your fucking parents.”
“Shit. They should’ve gotten divorced. Not my problem now, and I’m no longer theirs. You’re right though—I would never disrespect Thalia like my parents did each other. Constant infidelity. Dragging the other back into addiction after one of them only just got sober.”
Sully blew out a short breath. “Serious, though. She might be a keeper. Didn’t complain once today. Eyes constantly tracking you like she was afraid you weren’t real. Brave in a bad situation. So, when you’re telling yourself all the reasons why you shouldn’t go for it, just do me a favor and remember you’re not them, yeah?”
He opened his mouth, ready to tell his friend to shut the fuck up already, but damn if he wasn’t right. He let Sully’s words settle and said nothing more. Despite the house being locked up and an alarm system set, he wasn’t going to get too comfortable. Having Thalia just down the hall had his senses on high alert. He would’ve preferred to sleep on the floor of her room to keep watch, but didn’t want to make her uncomfortable. He shut his eyes, and within moments he was asleep.
*
