Page 20 of Captive Bride

Tristan

She’s a vision in white, slumped down on the floor.

She holds a bottle of champagne in one hand, and her eyes look sad.

Earlier, I watched her up on stage with the Governor, and then I watched her leave the room. People were more interested in the man of the hour, the Governor himself, than this stunner in white lace.

But to me, she’s a fucking angel.

And from the moment I set eyes on her, I knew my world would be different.

I saw her walk along the edge of the party, grab the bottle of Dom, and head out the door.

Likely, she came out here to drown her sorrows in the liquid bubbles. But now, I’m here, and all that’s changed.

She’s gazing into my eyes like I’m her fucking prince charming, and in a lot of ways, I am, because I already know that I will never let her go. And more than that, I’ll never let her marry that bastard, the Governor.

He can have a lot of things in this town…but not her. Never her.

She’s mine. She may not know it yet, but she is.

Luckily for her, I’m here to wipe away her tears. And she seems ever ready to reveal her secrets to me, the Montague spy.

Even though I know it’s love at first sight, I’m just not quite ready to admit that yet.

Tristan Montague doesn’t believe in love. He’s a lone wolf. He’s a player.

He doesn’t fall for anyone.

And yet here I am, sitting on the floor with this angel, hanging on to her every word.

“I just can’t get out. I’ve dreamed about it my whole life. My father doesn’t let me leave this building. And now that the Governor’s in the picture, I just have to find a way,” she says to me, the perfect stranger.

Yeah, her father, my sworn enemy. I’m surprised she even made it out here. The girl’s usually flanked by security guards at all times.

“I don’t know why I’m telling you this,” she continues, taking a long and steady drink from the bottle.

She hands it over to me, and I smirk as a take it. This girl is pretty fucking cute. She has attitude.

“Thanks,” I say, taking the proffered bottle. “Do you want me to tell you the truth?”

She looks up at me with wide eyes and says, “Please do. No one ever tells me anything.”

“Well, the world out there is bleak. It’s not all it’s cracked up to be. It’s dangerous, and people are fake. Everywhere you look, people are trying to get ahead with money and power and greed and seduction.”

Her eyes widen even more at the word ‘seduction’. Something tells me this girl has never even been kissed. And oh, how I would like to be the one to do that.

Suddenly, all I can see are her lush, pouty lips. Suddenly, all I can think about is how much I want to taste her and be with her and crack her wide open to me.

Yes, it feels like fucking love at first sight. But what do I know about love?

Nothing. It’s totally unfamiliar to me.

And so maybe what I’m feeling for this girl is just, say, a step up from lust. Maybe something about her saddened expression and beautiful face has me feeling more exposed than I should be.

Internally, I remind myself to make this all about business. I came here with a plan after all. Now is the time to make it happen.

In my mind, the pieces are already coming together. Does she want an escape? Well, I’ll give her just that.

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