Page 95 of Prince of Control
I have a dozen questions and certainly things I should care more about, but my brain snagged on Melinda, and the fact that he told her about us.
My lips tremble when I ask, “were you with Melinda?” I need to know. While he’s here being so honest and telling me everything, I need to know if she’s his girlfriend. Or if she was. I need to know what she meant to him.
Love storms Baron’s expression. His eyes go soft. He grips my hips tighter, in a more possessive hold. “Malyshka, no. Melinda is a masochist who uses pain to help her cope with the stress of her type A personality. I used to deliver that pain. When she showed up asking for it this year, I told her I was married, and she was no longer welcome because of the scrutiny her father’s elevated political position would bring to our house. Plus, I knew Anders had a thing for her.”
I nod but my eyes swim with tears. Baron deceived me about something so huge. I guess I need to know what is real. If we are real.
“I’m sorry I hurt you. I never meant to do that. I will never lie to you again. I promise. I told you before that I fell in love with you the moment you walked off that plane. It’s true. I agreed to marry you out of duty, but the moment I met you everything changed.”
I stare at him. I want to believe. I want to believe so much. But I’m not sure.
“I had thought we would have a marriage in name only. For appearances only. We’d have separate bedrooms. I’d let you do your thing, and you’d let me do mine. But meeting you felt like destiny. And then I didn’t care what method fate used to bring us together, I wasn’t going to walk away from a gift like you.“
Tears spill down my cheeks, and I suck in a sobbed breath. I clap a hand over my mouth to hold it in.
“I’m so fucking sorry I hurt you, Lara. Please forgive me.“
There’s a question in his gaze, but before I can answer, he says, “Brash is dead, but I’m not giving you up.” A fierce expression settles on the hard lines of his face.
“I don’t want you to give me up,” I choke.
“Oh, baby. Malyshka.” He rises a little to cup my face. “I love you so much.”
“I love you, Baron.” I throw my arms around him, knocking him down to the floor of the van. He takes me with him, pulling my body over his, so he can wrap his arms around me.
“Marry me, Lara,” he murmurs.
I smile. “We’re already married. Or was that a lie, too?”
Baron rolls us to our sides, so we’re nose to nose. “Not a lie. We’re married. You're mine. But I want a do-over. Call me a modern guy, but I want my bride willing. Consensual weddings are all the rage now.”
“You want the wedding with the white dress?” I tease him, remembering what he said to me the day we married.
We’ll have a do-over later. You get to have the ring you want. And the dress you pick out. Flowers. All your friends and family there to celebrate.
He kisses the bridge of my nose. “I want it all with you. A proper courtship. A wedding. Mad love. I want to know all your secrets. To be your best friend.” He swallows. “To be the father of your children.”
“You want kids?” I’m suddenly catapulted out into space. No earth is under my feet. No gravity. Just stars winking from every direction.
He nods, searching my face. Looking like he’s holding his breath.
I see it–a future with Benjamin Baranov. The future I never imagined. A real marriage with true love and children. The kind of love my parents have. Ben would make an incredible father. He’d move mountains to make sure his children had everything they could ever need. He’d sacrifice his life to keep them safe and happy. Just like I know he’d do for me.
“Yes,” I whisper.
A boyish grin splits Baron’s face. “Yeah?”
I laugh. “Did you think I’d say no?”
Pain clouds his eyes. “I wasn’t sure. I was afraid I’d lost you forever.” His brows slam together. “Not to Brash–I wasn’t going to ever let that man have you. But after I got you free…” He exhales. “I didn’t know if you’d forgive me. You got jacked around hard by your dad and me. That’s a lot to forgive and forget.”
A tight band closes around my throat.
“Not to mention the fact that you had a life in Paris. If you want to go back to it, I will–” He swallows, and I can practically see the quick calculations taking place in that brilliant brain of his.
“I will figure it out. I’ll move there to be with you. Leo can run Baranov House. You’re what matters.”
My chest gets tight. He would give everything up for me. Everything he’s built–an entire kingdom. People he feels responsible to protect. His business enterprises.
