by A. C. Wilds
Sydney steps out of the way, and I follow Royce into an adjoining room. I don’t bother looking around—it’s nothing I haven’t seen before. All the houses are the same. Always dripping with items that cost too much and are too soon forgotten.
Royce heads directly for the couch and sits, gesturing for me to do the same. Now that it’s just the two of us, I can start to grovel and find a way out of this mess.
“Eli’s the reason I left home. He came out to my parents a week before he was taken. My father was abhorrent and disowned Eli until he became ‘ungay.’” The words rush out of my mouth.
The sickness I felt when my father spat those words at Eli comes back to the surface, and I have to grip the cushions to not scream.
“I knew he was kidnapped, but I always thought something went wrong. I didn’t know about what your father did.”
“It’s why he didn’t pay the ransom.”
Royce’s face turns a bright shade of red, and my scalp starts to tingle. I never want him to look at me this way. He may be the polo-wearing, khaki’s-creased-down-the-middle golden boy, but there is something dark in his eyes.
“I understand why you left. I wouldn’t be able to be around that, either. It’s hard to be around my parents and think about what they did to Tilly. That’s why I’m moving to Sunnyville. I’m not at peace in L.A. anymore.”
“When I came back looking for Bliss, my father and I got into an altercation. It’s been a long time coming. My mother didn’t take it so well.”
“What a dick.”
“He also needed reminding that my grandfather left everything to Eli and I. I can cut him off from the family money if I choose to.”
Royce laughs, clapping his hands together. “That’s the perfect way to shut him up. He was always an asshole when we had parents’ weekend at Winston.”
“That’s why it took me so long to come here. When I went after Bliss at the gala, I didn’t think I wouldn’t have time to explain everything to her. Marissa took that from me. All I want is a chance to explain.”
He considers me for a moment. I can’t imagine what Bliss has gone through these last couple of days. All I want to do is hold her and take the pain away, even if I’m the one who caused it.
“You really hurt her. Bliss isn’t the type to get emotional over some guy, especially not recently. She loves hard, and when it goes away, it destroys her.”
“If I could take it all back I would. I’d give anything to apologize and make it up to her. I love her.”
He sighs and gets up from the couch. “Wait here. I’ll ask her if she wants to see you, but if she says no, I want you to respect that. It’s up to her.”
“I understand.”
He leaves just as Sydney comes in with the tea. I take one look at the scotch next to the teapot and pour myself a glass. I need something to calm my nerves. What if Bliss doesn’t want to see me? Can I leave it all, let go of what we had and forget her? Not likely.
Taking a sip of the amber liquid, I settle back in my seat and wait. Only time will tell if my fate has been sealed. I send a quick message up to whoever is listening to give me one more chance.
BLISS
The doorbell rings as I’m walking into the library. I stop in the hall, curious to see who it is. When I hear Carson’s voice, it’s like the last two days didn’t happen. My whole body turns to mush, and I blush. Luckily, there’s no one around me to see my flushed face.
But I can’t let him see me like this. I can’t give in. He knew who I was the entire time, and he judged me. It’s something my parents would do.
Royce’s voice sounds harsh as I lean over the balcony to listen to their conversation. Am I too good for eavesdropping? Nope.
When Royce moves them to the sitting room, I sneak down the stairs to hear better. The sitting room is right off the stairs, so I don’t miss too much of the conversation.
“If I could take it all back, I would. I’d give anything to apologize and make it up to her. I love her,” Carson says.
My heart stops. Did he just say he loves me? Holy shit! Time freezes until I hear footsteps approaching. Sydney is coming from the kitchen.
I dodge past the door and run to the back of the house. I go up the servants’ stairs and down the second-floor hallway to my room. Throwing open the door, I sit at my desk and try to act busy.
“There you are,” Royce says, scrutinizing my disheveled appearance.
“Yup, here I am. What’s up?”
“Carson is here. I told him it’s your decision if you want to see him. I can kick him out and tell him never to come back. It’s your choice.” He runs his fingers through his hair, scratching his scalp. “But I think you should hear him out.”
“I don’t know if I can. He really hurt me, Royce. I’m not ready for another breakup.”
“Is he worth it? Before all this happened when you saw him at the gala and he came for you, would you have left with him? Gone back to Bordentown? Because if it was yes, then you should listen. If it was a no, then I’ll make him leave.”
I worry my lip and try to decide what to do. What would the old Bliss do? She’d weigh the facts and find a way through the problem.
“You’re right. I should let him explain. It doesn’t make any of this better, but not knowing will drive me insane.”
“I’ll let him know you’ll be down shortly. Cassy and I are still planning on going out, but do you want me to wait till you’re done?”
“No, go have fun. Sydney is here, and I’m not afraid to be alone with him. If anything, he’s the most respectful person I know.”
“All right, I’m a phone call away if you need me.”
The door shuts with a small click. I fling myself onto my bed and stare at the ceiling. How am I going to face him? Butterflies flutter in my stomach at the thought of his hands on me. It was so good.
I change into something more presentable—jeans and a green blouse. A few coats of mascara and a deep plum lip and I head out the door. All is quiet in the house as I walk to the stairs. My feet sink into the plush carpet.
All I can hear is the beating of my heart as I round the corner into the sitting room. Carson’s ridged back faces me as he gazes out the window.
“Carson.”
He spins around quickly, taking my measure from head to toe. His face crumbles with sadness. I want nothing more than to embrace him and make him mine again.
“Bliss. I’ve missed you.”
He moves to come closer to me, but I hold up a hand. He’s like something out of a movie with his dark, curly hair and deep green eyes. If he comes any closer, I’ll lose all of my resolve.
“What do you want?”
My voice is clipped, strained. But the sooner we get this over with the better.
“I’ve come to apologize. I want to right what’s wrong with us. I can’t leave it like this. I understand if you don’t want me anymore, but I would hate myself forever if I didn’t explain things.”
“I heard you.” I clear my throat. “Before, when you spoke with Royce. I was standing outside. I didn’t intend to eavesdrop, but when I heard your voice, I had to see for myself.”
“You heard . . . everything?”
His cheeks pink as he shuffles from foot to foot. I grab a cup off the tea tray and pour myself some tea. Two sugars and some cream follow before I take my seat on the couch.
“Sit with me.”
Picking his glass up from beside the tray, he fills it up with more scotch and perches on the edge of the opposite couch. The need to touch him is overwhelming.
“I’m sorry. I should have said something sooner. You caught me by surprise that first day. All the feelings I suppressed when I left L.A. flooded back. I couldn’t deal with them. Then you showed me that I was closing off a piece of myself because Eli’s death was holding me back.”
“If you were honest with me, none of this would be a problem. I can’t be in a relationship with someone who omits the truth.”
&n
bsp; “That’s something coming from the woman who runs off at the break of dawn. You didn’t even allow me to say goodbye. You chose to end this before it had a chance to grow.”
I place my teacup on the tray and clasp my hands in my lap. “You’re right. I’m not okay with goodbyes of any kind. It was easier to sneak away. We lead different lives, Carson. At least, that’s what I thought. I didn’t think you’d understand all of this.” I gesture at my surroundings.
“If I knew you were a Stagg, I would have seen things differently, but now . . . it’s too damaged.”
“You mean, if you knew I was rich. That my family is the Staggs?” He says his name like a slur.
“No, I don’t want your money. I have enough of it. I mean, who you are on the inside. Why lie to me?”
“I can’t go back to that life.”
“I’m not asking you to. I would never make you do something you don’t want, but I won’t change who I am inside to make you feel more comfortable about your past. I was born in privilege, but society and the image we presented to the rest of these socialite monsters took my sister’s life. Your father allowed your brother to be killed because he was gay. It wasn’t the money that made him evil, it was himself.”
The glass trembles as he takes a sip before setting it back down on the tray.
“It’s all true. I can say I was blinded by my anger, but I’m scared more than anything. Losing someone else, it’s too much.”
“You don’t think I feel the same? We’ve lost two of the most important people in our lives. But we have to stop being swallowed in our grief.”
“The pain kept me from submitting to this, but I’m ready now. These last few days have been miserable without you. I don’t think I could get you out of my system.” He comes closer, getting on his knees in front of me. The soft lines of his face crinkle in worry. I run my fingers through his hair and sigh.
“What will we do about it, then? Your life is in Bordentown. Mine is somewhere else. How can this work?”
“I’ll go where you go. All I want is you. All I need is you.” He reaches for my face and cups my cheek. I lean into his hand, closing my eyes for a moment.
“I’m afraid.”
The kiss he brushes on my lips has me clutching him like a lifeline. It’s only been a few days, yet it feels like a lifetime.
He deepens the kiss, pushing me back onto the sofa. My legs part for him, and his body is a perfect fit. I feel safe here, secure.
“Marry me,” he says, pulling away to gaze into my eyes.
My breath catches in my throat. Of all the things this man could have said.
“We hardly know each other. We haven’t even figured out if this is going to work. What if—”
“Stop. Answer me this, do you love me?”
He grips my cheeks in both hands, his nose a breath away from my own. All my nerves dissolve at what I see there. His beautiful face, open and honest. I can’t imagine life without him. The last two days were torture, and the hollowness I felt is something I never want to feel again.
“Yes, with all of me. Yes, I will marry you.”
His lips slam against mine and the salty sweetness rolls down his face to our lips. His tears spur on my own.
My name is Bliss, but I’ve never known it until now.
KB WORLDS
Want to keep up with all of the other books in K. Bromberg’s Everyday Heroes World? You can visit us anytime at http://www.kbworlds.com/ and the best way to stay up to date on all of our latest releases and sales, is to sign up for our official KB Worlds newsletter HERE.
Are you interested in reading the bestselling books that inspired the Everyday Heroes World? You can find them HERE.
ALSO BY A.C. WILDS
Changer Series
Death Card
Claiming Death
Death Ruins
North American Werewolves
BLACKCLAW
Omega Secrets
Omega Christmas
BRAVECREST
Alpha’s Match
Beta’s Fight
Join my newsletter for the most up to date information on new releases and conventions!
https://www.acwilds.com
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Thank you all so much for reading!
There are so many people to thank for helping me put this book together.
Candice - My ride or die. There isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t thank the universe for throwing us together. This book wouldn’t be what it is without you.
Hollis - You’ve been such a wonderful friend. I can’t thank you enough for all your advise and help writing this book. You’re the best table mate a girl could ask for.
Monique - It was such a pleasure working with you. Thank you for dealing with my insecurities and craziness of writing my first contemporary romance.
To all my readers - Without you all this wouldn’t be worth it. Thanks for sticking by me throughout this rollercoaster. I appreciate each and every one of you.
Momma - Senza di te non sono niente. Ti amo.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
A.C. Wilds was born and raised in New York City. She lives in an outer borough with her husband and two girls. She loves horseback riding, mythical creatures, and everything books. When she isn't at her desk writing the next great escape, she can be found with the blankets over her head reading a steamy paranormal tale.
BOOKS BY K. BROMBERG
Driven
Fueled
Crashed
Raced
Aced
Slow Burn
Sweet Ache
Hard Beat
Down Shift
UnRaveled
Sweet Cheeks
Sweet Rivalry
The Player
The Catch
Cuffed
Combust
Cockpit
Control
Faking It
Resist
Reveal
Then You Happened
Hard to Handle
Table of Contents
Title Page
Contents
Copyright
Introduction
Dedication
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
KB Worlds
Also by A.C. Wilds
Acknowledgments
About the Author
Books by K. Bromberg