Page 8 of Royally Theirs (Risqué Royals)

Oh, there it is. That tone paired with a possessive flare in his dark eyes. It is the exact thing I was afraid of. Becoming some man’s property. Being just a part of his package, not my own person with my own needs or desires.

But if this is something I expected to hate, something I swore I would never allow, I was fooling myself. Maybe if it were someone else. Or maybe if we were somewhere else. Standing in this castle, with this actual prince—well, Duke, but tomato tomahto—his possessive declaration feels right.

“Come on, we ought to get to know one another without my mother or your grandmother there to interfere.”

Righting me on my feet, he offers his arm the same way Dominic did earlier. Only he grabs my hand, brings it to his lips to brush his mouth over it in a brief touch that sends shivers rippling through me before he wraps it around his bicep. Leading me down the hall, he guides us to two glass doors that lead out to a sprawling garden.

When we step out in the late afternoon sun, I gasp. The way the sun hits lights up the beautiful gardens, making them seem ethereal. Manicured bushes and flower beds in a rainbow spread of colors fills the gardens just beyond a huge stone patio filled with stone tables and benches.

It is something right out of a fairytale.

“This is my favorite place here at the castle. Well, my second favorite place but I will show you our quarters later,” he teases with a chuckle, making my face flush. “When I was in school, I took all sorts of horticultural classes. Drove my father mad. He wanted me to learn about the law since I am part of the lawmaking process in Cambridge. And I suppose I learned enough. Learning about this, about how such beauty comes alive was much more interesting to me.”

Stunned not just by his admission, but by how surprised he seems to be sharing it with me, I laugh. He grins and we share a look that almost feels as if we’re agreeing on something. Maybe agreeing that sharing these things matters. We will be husband and wife, after all. I suppose we ought to know a thing or two about one another.

“Not sure if I ever talked about that before,” Chambers admits with a deep chuckle.

We walk down wide steps that curve away from the castle, and I wonder how many royals have walked these same steps. How many arranged marriages started right out here in the stunning gardens? Were any of those filled with love? Or were they just doing their part for the monarchy?

“Well, I think it’s lovely,” I admit as we stop by a huge bush of ivory roses. Reaching out, I brush my fingertips over the lovely blooms. “Back home in Silver Shores, I worked at a little bookshop. It hardly paid my bills, but I loved it. When your guard took me to the library today, I about passed out. I felt like Belle,” I admit something myself, glancing up to find him watching me.

“Does that make me the beast, love?” he wonders, coming round to face me, his hand reaching out to tip my head back.

“Youdohave a castle. Any enchanted tea pots or candlesticks?”

Chambers laughs, the sound warm and low in his chest. With his hand, he guides me closer, his fingers sinking into the hair at my nape. I am a live wire of sensations when I feel his hard body press to mine, his dark eyes holding mine. Lowering his head, his brow touches mine as he answers.

“Not that I know of. Just one completely enchanted Duke,” he whispers, his voice rough as his eyes flare with heat.

“An enchanted Duke? Enchanted by magic?” I whisper, my body straining against his, my heart galloping in my chest.

“Just the magic of you, love. Neither of us planned this. Neither of us had much choice. And yet...once I set eyes on you, Charlotte, I was most definitely enchanted. You becoming my bride feels very much like magic.”

We watch one another for a moment, and I wonder if this is even real. Am I really at a castle, with a Duke, having one of the most romantic moments of my life? His arm wraps around me so he can haul me closer. I let out a little sound when I feel he is hard when he presses against me.

“Charlotte,” his voice is raw, his words hot against my mouth. “I will be a good husband to you. Let me show you how good I will be to you.”

“H-how do you intend to show me, Chambers?” My voice is raspy, as desperate as I feel as I rub my body against his in need.

“I am going to kiss this perfect mouth,” he answers, his thumb rubbing at my mouth in a sensual touch. “And later I am going to please you the way you deserve. But most important, I will make you a vow, Charlotte. One I am not supposed to make you.”

“What sort of vow?”

“They won’t let us divorce once we give our vows. It is forbidden. If I cannot please you, if I cannot give you all that you need, I will let you go. You would still be my wife. Iwill nevergive you a divorce. But I would not keep you here. I would not force you to live this life if you decide you do not want to live it with me. I promise you, Charlotte.”

Shuddering against him as his words pant out against my mouth, hot and heavy, I nod. Not because I want him to give me this vow. Not because I can even be sure he means it. It is the way he growls that he will never divorce me. He means that, I can tell. He wants me to be his wife. He wants me to give him vows to stay with him no matter what.

Chambers wants me to promise myself to him forever.

God, I want to give him that promise now. I would say yes to him today if they let us. I have never wanted a man this way. I’ve never felt so needy that my body aches as he holds it tightly against his. Never have I felt so desperate to be taken, to be owned, to feel him inside me and all around me. I want it sobadly,I would let him have me right here in these gardens.

“Yes,” I gasp against his lips, my hands grasping at his broad shoulders.

“Yes, you want me to kiss you,” his voice drips sex and I moan. “Yes, you want to be my wife. Yes, you want me to prove I can please you. Is that what your yes means, love?”

“Yes. All of those, yes Chambers.”

“You spoke of magic before. I never believed it. Never believed in a lot of things, love. Until you. Now I know there is magic. Because you are so bloody perfect,” he groans it as his hand cups the back of my neck, his fingers tugging at my loose hair.

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