Page 114 of The Forgotten Queen
Marx pulled back so he could look into her eyes. He lifted his hands to her cheeks, gently stroking them with his fingers. “I regret a lot of things in my life, but I will never regret kissing you.” He hesitated for a moment. “Or marrying you.”
“I feel the same way.”
Sydria McKane felt that way, but as soon as she found out she was Seran Haslet, she would feel differently.
She grabbed his hands from off her cheeks, holding them close to her heart. “Listen,” she bit her lip nervously, “I’m not charming or flirty or anything like that, so I’m just going to come out and say it.” She sucked in a deep breath, gathering courage. “Would you like to come in my room…you know,” she glanced away like it was killing her to be so open, “and stay for a little bit?”
Marx knew what “stay for a little bit” meant. She wanted to repeat what had happened on the balcony the night before. He wanted that too. He wanted to kiss her more than anything. Sydria was definitely charming and flirty and everything likethat.But he couldn’t do it. Knowing who she was changed things, and Marx hated it.
“Thank you for the offer, but I’m going to decline.”
The light in her eyes dimmed, and the air escaped her chest. He felt awful. If there was a way to take his words back, he would, but they were out there, floating between them like little knives pointed at her heart.
She pushed a smile onto her lips. “Of course.” She shook her head, dropping his hands. “I totally understand.” She reached for the doorknob and twisted the handle. She lifted her eyebrows as if she was trying to pass for bright and cheery, but he didn’t buy it. “I’ll see you tomorrow.” Then she quickly escaped behind the door.
Marx dropped his head into his hands.
It was the story of his life.
He let down everyone he cared about.
* * *
“I’m going to decline!” Dannyn exclaimed, throwing her head back against her pillow. “Who says that to theirwife?”
“I know. I’m such a jerk.” Marx sat on the foot of Dannyn’s bed. His feet rested on the bench at the end, and his elbows were propped up on his knees.
“I don’t get why you turned her down.”
Marx looked over his shoulder at his sister. “It’s complicated. It’sreallycomplicated.”
“It can’t bethatcomplicated. You’re falling in love with her, and she’s falling in love with you. What else matters?”
He twisted his body, facing his sister. “Why did you say that? Do you think she’s falling in love with me?”
Dannyn rolled her eyes. “Please, as if you didn’t already know.”
“I don’t know.”
How could he possibly know? Their entire relationship was based on a lie, a sham, a charade.
“You two are adorable.” She smiled. “It’s like watching two awkward twelve-year-olds fall in love. Neither one of you knows how to act.”
“I know how to act,” he said, getting defensive.
“Really?” She tilted her head. “You just told your totally hot wife that you didn’t want to come into her room and stay awhile.”
He melted back into the bed, looking up at the ceiling. “I was trying to be the good guy.”
“The good guy fights for the woman he loves. He lets nothing stand in the way of being with her. If you know she’s the woman for you, then fight for her.”
Marx twisted his head so he could see Dannyn’s face. “You know, you actually give pretty good advice.”
“I know,” she said. “I don’t look smart, but I really am.”
Marx knew what he had to do.
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