Page 73 of A Royal Arrangement
When he finally pulled back, he was breathless. Colin settled his hands on her waist and rested his forehead on hers.He opened his eyes and took in her appearance—this was officially his new favorite version of her. Even soaking wet in the rain, she was absolutely beautiful. Her eyes were full of adoration as they gazed at him. Her thoroughly kissed lips were swollen and perfect. And Rosalie’s cheeks were flushed, evidence that the kiss had affected her as much as it had him.
Her teeth started chattering, and Colin pulled her close, enclosing her in his arms, trying to shield as much of the rain and wind as he could with his body.
“We should get you inside, sunshine.”
She nodded, wrapping herself under his arm as they started walking back to the palace. He could still feel her trembling beneath his touch, so Colin bent down and scooped her up into his arms, carrying her back to the palace. Rosalie didn’t even try to argue about being carried. She nestled up even closer to him, burying her face in his chest.
When he finally got near the palace’s main entrance, Colin was beginning to shiver himself. Luckily, Hector threw the door open, welcoming them in with a slew of blankets and warm cups of tea. Colin tended to his wife first, setting her on a bench and wrapping her in blankets until she looked like a cozy burrito. He carefully helped her take a few sips of tea, holding the cup for her.
Colin stripped off his sopping-wet suit coat and wrapped the remaining blankets around himself. He took turns between taking a few sips of tea and helping Rosalie continue to drink her cup.
His eyes hardly left her as they warmed up, constantly watching and checking on her to make sure she was truly okay.
I don’t know what I would’ve done if I had lost her.
Thatlittle declaration was like a shock to his system, and he had no idea how to react to that tidbit of truth.
Colin moved a pen between his fingers as he casually leaned back in his seat. But the thoughts flooding his mind right now? They were anything but casual.
Wes walked into the room and took one look at him before smiling like a fool and taking the seat across from him.
“Let me guess—” his friend started.
“Yeah, yeah, I’m definitely nearing the deep end.” Colin sighed.
Wes leaned forward, sitting on his hands with his legs bouncing in anticipation. He didn’t say anything, but he had a giant grin on his face.
“It’s frightening when you don’t talk.” Colin grimaced. “Go ahead, give it to me. I know you’re bursting with excitement on the inside.”
His friend took a deep breath in and then exploded, a million words flying out of his mouth so quickly that Colin wasn’t even able to comprehend them.
“You’re going to have to slow down if you want me to understand anything you’re saying.” Colin rested his elbows on his desk.
“You’re in love with your wife?” Wes yelled.
Colin got up and slammed his office door shut. “Tell the whole palace, why don’t you? Also, I never said I was in love with her.” He paced the room. “I care about her, though.”
“Sorry,” Wes lowered his voice. “When did this happen?”
“I realized it for certain after I kissed her. But—”
“Kissed her?” His friend screamed again.
Colin rubbed his temples. “I’m going to punch you.”
“Sorry, sorry. I just can’t believe it. You shouldn’t tell me such shocking information if you don’t want me to yell.” Wes picked up the apple that was sitting on his desk and tossed it into the air before taking a giant bite out of it. “So, how was the kiss?”
“I don’t know why I even brought this up to you.” Colin balled up a piece of paper and chucked it at him.
“All right, I’ll be serious. Please tell me about how you are falling madly in love with your wonderful wife.”
Colin rarely opened up to his friend, but he figured now was as good a time as any to start. He shared about how painful the loss of Isabella had been for him and everything that had happened in his time married to Rosalie. When he finished talking, Wes was silent.
“It’s not often I find you speechless.”
“How have you been holding all that in?” Wes’s eyes were wide with shock. “My head would’ve exploded if I’d held that much in.”
“It’s been a lot, but I’m trying to learn how to be more open.”
