Page 73 of A Queen and HER Bad Boy
She laughed again, warmth spreading through her veins as she batted him away. Trust himnotto notice that. “Sorry! I keep interrupting.”
“Yeah…” His fingers that weren’t caught up in the sling reached across the space between them and found hers, threading through them like they belonged there. “I just want to say that you backing me up means a lot to me, okay? And… I need to talk to you… if that’s all right.”
That sounded pretty serious… like “relationship-freak-out” serious or even DTR serious, or… could she really handle this right now? Trying not to freak out before he did, she could only manage a nod before steeling herself. Her fingers clutched tighter to his. “Okay, Achilles, talk to me.”
“The man Phoenix executed knew what had happened to my father—he claimed that… he was still alive.”
Her breath caught in her throat. That wasn’t what she’d expected him to say at all—the shocking news was nothing to the full impact of him actually confiding in her! Achilles trusted no one, yet here he was, laying his heart out to her.
His father might be alive! And she was taking too long to respond. “You believe him?”
“I don’t know. Something Aggie said made me think that it could be true… he said, my father was to blame for what’s happening to us.”
“How?”
“I don’t know, but I suspected if anyone had the answers that this prisoner would… and now I might never get at the truth.”
Had they silenced this prisoner on purpose? Her blood ran cold. “Do you think someone wants to stop you from discovering more about your father?”
“Who knows? We might never know. Dead men don’t talk.”
Was her own father behind this man’s execution? Could he callously order a death? And if so, how long had he done such things, and would he ever stop? He ruled this kingdom behind her back, and if she couldn’t wrestle back control? Then he’d implanted her as a puppet, pure and simple.
Achilles was torn up from the news; his passionate eyes for once revealing everything to her—pain, hope, vulnerability—she wondered why she was putting him through this nightmare… when he’d been nothing but good to her. “I’m sorry,” she said. “Everything’s crumbling to pieces around us. I dragged you into this.”
He ran his fingers over her arm, the touch feather-light, yet sending delicious shivers of awareness through her as he found her waist. His hand pressed into the small of her back. “Brissy, I’d never leave you alone here.”
He was too good to her. She’d tried to ignore these feelings she had for him, but it was absolutely impossible in the face of his powerful presence—the power of his eyes, the power of his attention, his desire… something that could never be captured or forced or manipulated, only given freely.
And for some reason, he was choosing to give what he was to her. “Bris… do you think you could… ever loveme?”
Her heart felt like it was jumping out of her chest. “I don’t remember a time when I didn’t love you.” Had she finally admitted it? She had!
The sound leaving his lips was part laugh, part relief and it flooded her heart like warm honey as his breath became hers in a kiss that had been far too long coming! He pulled her against him with one arm, his kiss joyful and different from before, more vulnerable, more wondering and possessive. She lost herself in that joy, returning his affection with everything she had and reveling in being wife to the man who was growing more beloved by the moment, if that was possible!
His fingers tightened over her, and her heart leaped in response when she noticed the depth of emotion darkening his eyes to almost black. “You’ll have to forgive me for being such a blind fool for not realizing the truth of that sooner. Ring my ears if I ever do it again.”
There he went punishing himself again. “Stop talking,” she whispered, “and kiss me.”
He was more than happy to oblige, making her absolutely breathless with happiness. They staggered against the wall, and he let out an amused, though pained grunt. Concern flooded through her, her eyes ran to that sling. “Oh no! I’m so sorry!”
“Totally worth it,” he said with that grin she loved.
His phone rang in his pocket, the shrill sound cutting through their intimate moment like a blade.
She wasn’t sure why she was surprised that they were being interrupted yet again. He tossed his phone across the bed with a frustrated growl, but Bris, brushing a light kiss across his rough cheek and telling him not to go away, slid around his muscular forearms and saw a familiar number on his screen. “Polly! It’s from Polly!” She let out a cry and answered the phone, struggling to get it to her ear. “Polly?”
“Your Royal Highness, I apologize for the late hour. I couldn’t get through your phone.”
“Are you kidding?” Bris was overjoyed to hear from her. “I’m so relieved that you’re safe. Is Peder with you? Are you all right?”
“Yes! We’re together! And we found a boat out of Ilion. We’ve had quite a night!” Of course, they had! Polly sounded exhausted, her voice hoarse from strain. “Are you safe, Your Royal Highness? I couldn’t find cellphone reception fast enough. It’s been such a night.”
“I’m fine! We’re at the palace safe and sound! I’m just happy you’re okay!”
Achilles’s fingers ran over her arm, his ear near her chin, his presence warm and solid beside her. “Where are you?” He interrupted, the deep timbre of his voice rumbling through her. “We have search teams looking for the both of you.”
“We’re at the emergency shelter in Colone, near the Athena Columns. We’re with more survivors, but the waters are rising. Send us help.”
