“He’ll follow,” Pierce said from behind her. “Though if I gain a bullet through the head, my death rests upon your shoulders.”
She turned. “Surely he won’t shoot first, then ask what we’re about once you’ve stopped breathing!”
Pierce’s dark eyebrows shot up, nearly meeting his messy blond hair. “Oh pardon, do you know the mind of that man better than I? Been by his side for five years. He bloody well would shoot first and ask questions later.”
“So, you risk your life for me?”
“Damsel.” Pierce pointed at Sofia and shrugged. “Distress. It’s my siren’s call.”
She pressed her lips together to keep from laughing out loud. “Heavy burden to carry, I’m sure.”
“Oh very.” Pierce nodded solemnly. “But someone has to be the hero. I always imagine it should be a good-looking chap with the ability to undress a woman with one hand.”
Sofia felt her cheeks heat as Pierce grinned seductively.
“As tempting as it seems…” His teeth flashed. “…I believe there is someone who wants you more.”
“He says he doesn’t.”
“All men lie.” Pierce nodded. “Lesson number one.”
“And lesson number two?”
“All men lie.”
“But that’s lesson number one?”
“And two.” A smile slid across his face. “It bears repeating twice, on account that women rarely listen to me when I say it.”
“Probably because—“ Sofia shook her head. “Never mind.”
“Lesson number three…” Pierce took her hand and led her to the edge of the balcony that overlooked the rose garden. “All men are asses.”
“Agreed.”
“Especially ones named Ash. Why, take the H away add in an S… it’s simple subtraction, addition…” He pointed at his temple. “…math.”
“Clearly you’re a genius.”
“I was a child prodigy and all that.” Pierce examined his nails. “And the final lesson?”
“Yes?”
“No, more often than not, means yes… not just yes. I imagine, in Ash’s head, it’s a whimpering yes followed by a shout and then complete and utter fear.”
“So no means yes, and Ash is afraid?”
“Ash has but one fear.”
Sofia leaned in.
“Himself,” Pierce whispered. “Have a care… Princess, that you do not make that fear worse than it already is.”
“I wouldn’t…” Sofia shook her head. “I would never... I simply—” She liked Ash, more than she should. She wanted him, more than she’d wanted anything in her life.
“Oh, one final lesson.” Pierce glanced at the door then reached for Sofia. His head hovered near hers. “The no turns to a yes when faced with one thing.”
“What’s that?”
He smirked and tilted her chin toward him. “Jealousy.”
His mouth touched hers just as the door to the balcony opened.
Ash shouted, barreling toward them.
Sofia let out a little squeak as Pierce pushed her away and then, with a bow, jumped over the balcony and into the rose garden. Granted, the fall was only a few feet, but it had to have hurt, tangling with the thorny bushes.
All she saw in the darkness was the silhouette of Pierce running for his life then tripping and falling into the duck pond.
“I hope they eat him!” Ash seethed.
“The fish?”
“The ducks,” he snarled. “I have a sudden intense desire to see all of God’s creatures attack Pierce within an inch of his life.”
“He did nothing wrong.”
Ash leaned over the balcony, his shoulders hunched, his face indifferent as he watched the night sky.
Sofia was afraid to speak.
So she stood next to him, waiting for the set down, waiting for the scolding. But it never came.
Instead, Ash cursed under his breath. “Three weeks.”
Sofia nodded, not trusting herself to speak.
“And you marry.”
“Yes,” she whispered.
More cursing.
Was the idea that repugnant?
Ash slammed his hand against the railing. “I was damned the minute I saw you.”
“What do you mean?”
“Damned the minute you opened that mouth… damned if I do, damned if I do not.” With a jerk, he tugged her body against his and slammed his mouth against hers.
She wrapped her arms around him. Was he saying yes? Was this yes?
“This changes nothing.” He panted against her mouth. “I’ll give you your three weeks, but this changes nothing.”
“All right.”
But they both knew… it would change everything.
Because the kisses they’d shared were not symbols of merely physical lust, but something more, something beneath the surface, waiting for the right time to break through.
Sofia only hoped she would be around — to survive it.
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
Fear is a tragic thing—for it keeps me from what I want the most. And in this moment I want to imagine a life where fear is no longer present, where I’m free to claim what will never be mine. —The Grimm Reaper
ONE IN THE MORNING, and Ash was ready to call the evening. He stood at a distance while Sofia excused herself from Dominique and Isabelle.
Dominique met his gaze with a challenging frown as if to say, “Well, follow her!”
If only The Beast knew what lay in wait for Ash that evening — for Sofia as well — he sure as hell wouldn’t rush him or insist he follow the innocent princess to her bedroom.
The seven guards were standing along the hallway, blocking all rooms.
“What have we here?” Ash asked, irritated that the men would take their jobs so seriously when Ash had everything more than covered.
“Orders…” Cornelius nodded seriously. “…from Master Pierce.”
“Pierce?” Ash repeated. “What the devil did he order you to do?”
“Stand watch,” Gerald grumbled while Serafano hid a yawn behind his hand.
“Don’t forget we are to break into the rooms using force if necessary, if we hear but a squeak from the princess!” David nodded his head.
“A squeak, you say?” Ash clenched his teeth until they ached.
A drenched Pierce made his way down the hall. “Oh, lovely and right on time. Did you enjoy the ball, Princess?”