The door shut behind him.
Darkness was her only comfort.
A warm tear rolled down her cheek. She reached to wipe it away, and her fingers fell to her lips. It was a beautiful kiss by a very dangerously beautiful man, who, in his own words, wanted nothing to do with her.
She could handle rejection based on propriety.
But rejection based on loving someone else?
It caused a pain in her chest that refused to rub away, no matter how many times she willed it. For Ash had experienced one thing that she never would. He’d had love.
He’d lost it.
But he’d still had love.
And she had nothing.
Except for the memory of a taken man’s kisses.
A stolen kiss, meant for someone else.
And the promise that it would never be repeated. Those were not the thoughts for a happy sleep — but nightmares.
Sofia vowed to do better in the morning. To not show weakness. To follow through… she had no choice.
And maybe, just maybe, in the process of finding someone to marry — they’d kiss her at least once the way that Ash just had.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
It wasn’t enough. And to top it off — I’d lied. But that’s what villains do. They lie. I shouldn’t have been surprised. —The Grimm Reaper
“ASH!” A BOOMING VOICE bellowed. “I’m going to murder you!”
Bloody hell, he knew about the kiss. Somehow he had spies in the form of whiskey and candles, and Ash was going to see his own murder firsthand.
Well, it was bound to happen sooner rather than later.
Slowly, Ash rose from his bed, careful not to rush. After all, if he was dying, he wasn’t going to be quick about it.
The door to his room burst open.
Dominique stomped in, followed by Hunter and Pierce. Both men crossed their arms, ridiculously cheerful grins painted on their all too arrogant faces.
“Rough night, Dominique?” Ash sighed and went over to the washbasin. He nearly made it, but Dominique jerked him back by the shoulders and threw him against the floor.
Ash sighed from his view, looking up at Dominique towering over him. His dark eyebrows pinched together. Egad, throw a walnut between those lines, and the bloody thing would crack.
“Perhaps a bit of whiskey,” Ash offered. “Takes the edge off.”
“It’s morning.”
“Doesn’t stop Pierce.” Hunter interjected.
Ash pointed behind him. “He speaks the truth.”
“We are not discussing Pierce…” Dominique spat. “…but you. We are discussing you.”
“Yes, yes, my death.” Ash fought a yawn. “Can you make it quick? After all, anticipation is everything.”
“No. It shall be slow, with a dull knife.” Dominique pulled a dagger from his jacket, a beast intent on killing.
Well, Ash had had a good run, and what better way to die? After all, he’d shared the most erotic and forbidden kiss of his life the night previous. He deserved to die, and if Dominique didn’t kill him, he’d be tempted to do it again, that and much more.
“What are you waiting for?” Hunter asked.
“At least now we know who the bloodthirsty twin is.” Pierce chuckled.
Ash continued to stare at his reflection against the sharp dagger, waiting for the inevitable, trying to calm himself. Hadn’t he asked for death every day since she had met hers? Yet, the buzz of Sofia’s kiss on his lips burned into his memory. Why not stay alive for one more? Just one more. Even though it was wrong, so very wrong. Wasn’t he lying on his back in the middle of the floor for that very thing?
“Well?” Dominique asked. “Aren’t you going to say something?”
“Er...” Ash coughed. “I’m sorry for… well, I’m just sorry.”
“For what?” Dominique seethed.
“Existing?”
“Close.”
“Breathing?”
“Better.” His teeth snapped. Ash half-expected fire to erupt from Dominique’s eyes.
Ash opened his mouth to speak.
“You slept in the same room!” The roar was quite loud and impressive, even for Dominique.
Wincing, Ash lifted his hands helplessly into the air. “I was doing my job, a job you commanded I do well, lest I find my body detached from my head. Were those not your exact words?”
“Yes but—”
“So, I protected her all night from men who would use her for their own personal form of bed sport. I protected her, didn’t sleep a wink, and lived in my own personal hell while she tossed and turned on what could only be described as the most uncomfortable mattress ever created. And you want to kill me? For doing my duty? For doing a damn good job? Go ahead. I’ll wait.”
Dominique’s brow furrowed.
“He always was good at talking himself out of a corner,” Hunter said in a confident voice.
“I wonder who told.” Pierce’s voice cut in. “I was too drunk to remember.”
“And I knew this would be his exact reaction,” Hunter agreed.
“You knew?” Dominique roared, turning his sneer behind Ash toward Hunter and Pierce.
“But of course…” Footsteps neared Ash’s head. Hoby boots that were shined to perfection framed his face from the floor as Hunter shrugged and pulled the knife carefully from Dominique’s grip. “I was also clearly smart in my decision not to tell you what you clearly did not need to know. The girl is safe, untouched, happy… and soon to be wed. Now, about that whiskey—”
“Who told you?” Ash got up from his place on the floor, dusted off his body, then took a few steps away from Dominique, just in case the man had another sudden change in heart and felt the need to impale him in the chest.
“Montmouth.” Dominique shrugged his heavy shoulders. “Seems the duke was needed in town and stopped by to explain the situation about putting both of you in the same room at the inn.”
“That loose-lipped bastard son of a whore!” Hunter stomped his foot. “I’ll meet him at dawn, brother, just say the word.”
“Word.” Pierce coughed.
Ash peered around Hunter and fought the urge to pull out his pistol to silence his partner. “Ever so helpful, aren’t you, Pierce?”
“I do try.” He grinned.
Ash’s eyes narrowed. “Try harder.”
“Nobody is shooting anyone!” A female voice rang out down the hall, and suddenly Isabelle was standing in the door, hands on hips. “Dominique! How dare you threaten our guests?”