Page 14 of Royal Beast
Rory stares at me for a moment before leaving without another word.
As I walk over to make myself an afternoon cup of coffee, a knock sounds at the door.
“Come in,” I call, sinking back into my chair. I smooth down the tie I’m forced to wear and wait, expecting some routine interruption.
But when the door swings open, I freeze. Darcy steps inside, her movements stiff, lips set in a tight line. "I’m here," she says, her voice edged with resignation.
I gesture toward the leather wingback chair opposite me, eyes flicking over her. Darcy is sharply dressed, wearing a form-fitting black top and a sleek pencil skirt that clings to every curve, a trench coat draped over her shoulders. She’s wearing dark red lipstick, her hair pulled back smartly into a bun at the nape of her neck. She looks like she’s ready to fight, tension in her jaw as her fingers twitch against the arms of the chair.
“Welcome,” I say, keeping my tone professional.
“I got your text.” Darcy’s voice is clipped as she runs a hand through her hair. I catch the slight tremor in her hands, though she hides it well. Her tone might be firm, but I can see the way her body trembles as she sits down. A part of me almost admires her tenacity. Almost.
“Do you have a decision for me, then?” I ask as I lean forward, steepling my fingers under my chin as I study her.
She looks down for a moment, then takes a deep breath before her eyes meet mine, a fierce look in her eyes. “I have,” she says, jutting her chin upward. “I’m not ashamed to say it. I need your help, Kellan. I’m willing to negotiate a marriage with you, but I want to know all the terms before I agree.”
Something unwinds inside me and I feel some of the tension melt away as I pull out a contract our lawyer had put together this morning. I push it toward her. “The terms are listed in here,” I say. “All of it is spelled out for you. Once you’ve signed it, we’ll go to the courthouse.”
Darcy bites her lip and picks it up, thumbing through the paperwork. “You’re sure that everything is laid out in here?” she asks.
I nod. “Everything. The terms are straightforward. You agree to marry me, and in exchange, I’ll assume responsibility for allof your family’s debts, past and future, along with a few other minor stipulations.”
She narrows her eyes at me in suspicion. “What’s this?” she asks, wrinkling her nose. I blink, momentarily distracted by how unexpectedly adorable I find the gesture, and then realize she’s pointing to one of the stipulations. “It says, ‘Party of the second part agrees to marital relations a minimum of three times a week.’”
I grin. “That shouldn’t be a problem for you, right? I seem to remember you begging me to fuck you last night,” I remind her, my voice low. Darcy frowns, but her cheeks flush pink, and she quickly ducks her head, mumbling something I can’t quite catch.
“What was that?” I ask, leaning forward, my grin widening.
“I said we’ll see,” she replies, her gaze hardening with defiance. “I’m not your sex toy to play with and discard when you get bored. If you want me to be your wife, I have a condition of my own. You won’t be seeing anyone else on the side.”
I suppress the urge to tell her I haven’t been with anyone else in a while. Instead, I stroke my chin, pretending to mull it over. “Fine. I’ll agree to that,” I say, letting her feel like she’s won this round. “Any other terms or conditions?”
“My daughter,” Darcy says quickly. “She’smychild. I’m the only one who gets to decide how she’s parented. I get the final say in any major decisions when it comes to her.”
“Your daughter will be safe under my protection,” I inform her, smoothing over her worries. “You get to parent her as you see fit, but I reserve the right to make any necessary decisions to ensure she’s fully protected.”
Darcy flips through the document, eyes scanning, fingers tensing on the edges of the pages. She’s stalling, considering the weight of this decision. Her chest rises and falls with deep, measured breaths like she’s trying to rein in the gravity of what’s about to happen.
As I watch her review the pages, I stay silent, giving her time to process. My patience is starting to wear thin. I want Darcy to understand that this isn’t just business for me. It’s personal. There’s a part of me that craves having her close again, though I won’t say it out loud.
We have unfinished business between us.
She closes the folder and tosses it on the desk. It lands with a light thud. When her gaze meets mine, the tension in the room thickens. “This is a lot, Kellan,” she says, her voice quieter, the bravado slipping just a bit. “It’s not just about the money, is it?”
I smile, slow and deliberate, as I lean back in my chair. “No, Darcy, it isn’t. This is about loyalty. You know the rules. Once you’re my wife, you’re protected for life. The Brannagan family protects their own.”
She doesn’t flinch, but I can see the battle waging behind her eyes. She’s weighing her options, though she has none. Her father’s financial situation is beyond repair. Marrying me is the only way out and she knows it.
Finally, she nods, her chin dipping just slightly in resignation. “Fine,” she whispers, “but I want something else in return.”
I raise an eyebrow, curious. “And what would that be?”
7
DARCY
The pressure in the room is thick, nearly suffocating. I shift in my seat, trying to weigh the pros and cons of this decision. I glance back at the contract, where I tossed it on his desk. Smoothing my hand over my skirt, I look up at Kellan. His jaw is locked and he’s got his arms crossed, a simmering frustration clearly boiling under the surface. I know that my hesitation is probably setting him off, but I need to know that I can maintain a semblance of control in this situation, so I pretend not to see it.
