This is why I don’t consult my hormones when it comes to Colin. Ever.
They’ve never been reasonable.
I bet he’s royally endowed.
“Maybe next time,” I quip, and Colin gives me this look, as if to say I knew it. “Or not. If you’ve seen one prince’s penis, you’ve seen them all.” I want to staple my lips shut before I can dig a deeper hole, but I can’t help myself. “Not that yours isn’t special. I’m sure it is.”
Damn hormones!
He bites the side of his lip. That royal pain is enjoying my discomfort! “I’ll keep that in mind.”
“You do that.”
“It’s rather hard not to imagine you inspecting…me. Hopefully, it can stand against the competition.”
My face turns so red that my eyes feel overheated. “Can we please stop talking about this?”
“As you wish,” he murmurs, but he doesn’t bother to hide the smile on his face…or the outline of his enormous cock.
I did that to him. I’m responsible for every inch of that.
“My offer stands, love.”
Somehow, I manage to tear my gaze away and concentrate on eating once more. “I’ll keep that in mind,” I say, mocking him.
His grin widens in return and I’m not so sure what to make of it.
Or him.
Chapter 7
Colin
The days crawl by slowly, as if to mock every bit of the restraint I’m exhibiting whenever Della is in my presence, which is often.
Ever since we almost kissed, it’s like my body thinks it has permission to flirt with her. To touch her and…at the first opportunity, fuck her.
It didn’t help that I gave her the opportunity to inspect my dick.
What a gentleman to offer.
However, I didn’t miss the gleam of curiosity in her eyes.
I scrub my hand across my face. “I’m in hell.”
“Don’t be so pessimistic, you’re not even married yet,” Theo says from the sofa, where he lays with his hands tucked behind his head.
We’re in the game room, watching Chelsea versus Manchester United on a flat-screen television that nearly covers the entire wall. My sisters are with Della and Tressie, getting their hair and nails done, while my boys are playing outside, with Beaumont watching them closely.
I don’t ask him to do this. I think they’re perfectly fine to run the grounds due to all the extra security we’ve recently added, but he’s always taken a special interest in them. If he is their father, I don’t give a damn, because he’s had ample opportunity to either confirm or deny it.
“Such encouragement, but coming from you…”
“I have nothing against marriage. In fact, I will be the greatest husband to have ever lived.”
“God help the woman.”
He rolls his eyes. “The brotherly love is thick in the air.”
“About the ceremony today. It will be rather quick—I want it done before Parliament gets an inkling of what’s transpired—and then we’ll leave for our honeymoon. If you should need me, I’ll be—”
“Celibate. Got it.”
It’s on the tip of my tongue to tell him exactly what transpired between Della and me, but I close my mouth. One, there is no reason to share my personal life with him, and two, our almost kiss followed by a little dirty talk would only rile him up.
“You should try it sometime.”
“I’d rather die.”
“It’s not everything.”
Theo slices his gaze to me. “It’s the fucking air we breathe, and you’ve been doing it wrong if you don’t feel the same way.”
“Have you considered that my sex life isn’t a carnival ride where anyone with a set of nice tits can get on and off?”
“I don’t consider your sex life at all, brother.” He grins. “But I have considered Della. Many times. Late at night, when I’m all alone and—”
“Shut it.” I’d kick him in his brain, but I know he wants to have kids someday.
“Don’t worry, Colin. Everything will turn out as it should.”
“Your assurance means absolutely nothing to me.”
Theo flips me off and I twist the top off a beer, drinking a good portion of it down.
“Seriously, I think you made the right decision and not just for our family.” He’s serious and that part of his personality is rarely seen. “Thank you for sacrificing yourself for me. The women I plan to sleep with thank you, too.”
And there’s the brother I’m used to dealing with. “Your kind words are duly noted.”
Focusing on the match, we fall silent. Only our occasional groans, moans, and cheers when our team scores or gets a penalty breaks it. Naturally, we root for opposite teams.
Naturally, mine wins.
“Your bride is waiting in the garden,” Charlotte says as she walks into the game room. Her dark hair is caught up in an intricate updo, making her seem a lot taller than five foot five. “She is divine!”
My heart thumps hard against my chest. “Let’s not keep her, then.” A text from my secretary makes my phone chirp. “The minister is here.” The paperwork has been taken care of as well. Strangely enough, Della made no changes to our agreement. All right, perhaps strange isn’t the right word. I’m disappointed she didn’t make changes.
I want in name only stricken from our agreement. While that portion of our prenup will not be made public in any way, it still exists in my safe and another copy is in her keeping as well.
It’s for the best really, and now I truly know where she stands in regards to wanting more from me.
—
In a white gown with a pale purple ribbon around the waist, Della is the most beautiful bride I’ve ever seen.
Her apricot-colored hair is caught up at the sides and she’s wearing the tiara I sent to her as a wedding present. It belonged to my mother, but it’s not one she wore that often due to its size.
Or lack thereof.
Sinclairs are all about presentation, but Della needs no adornment for anyone to notice her.
She smiles at me, a shy smile that is very un-Della-like, and I can’t help but wonder what she has to be so reticent about.
Beyond the whole marriage-of-convenience thing, that is.
“Do you take Della Sheridan Hughes as your wife?” the minister asks, and I can’t help but focus on the last two words.
My wife.
Mine.
“Yes,” I answer rather loudly, making Aiden and Pierce giggle because I should have said I do.
“And do you, Della, take Colin William Henry Apollo Sinclair to be your husband?”
She looks at the boys. “What do y’all think?”
They nod vigorously and give her the thumbs-up.
“I do!” She winks at me, then at Pierce and Aiden.
The boys took the news rather well last night. All right, so they jumped on their beds in excitement, pointing at Della and me while they sang songs about kissing, for thirty minutes at least, but I suspect they used their excitement as an excuse.
Then again, Della didn’t help any when we made the announcement.
“Do you even know how to get married?” Aiden asks.
I nod gravely. “Read up on it.”
“Did you have to read about how to kiss, too?” Pierce laughs.
Della snickers, biting on her sweet bottom lip. “Don’t laugh at your daddy. He’s really happy to marry the greatest bedtime-storyteller ever, so I’ll make sure he knows exactly how to kiss me by sharing the top five kisses of all time.”
“Grossssss,” they yell in unison.
“You may now kiss your bride.”
Her gray eyes fairly sparkle in the sunlight as her mouth parts. She licks her lips and I lean in. “Shall I try to top the five kisses of all time?” I ask.
Her mouth curves into a smile. “You can try.”
I take her face in my hands, cupping her jaw tenderly before lowering my mouth to hers. Her sweet breath fans o
ver me and I close my eyes.
There is no need to tell myself that I have to make it convincing. There is every need to not get caught up in what’s about to happen.
Our lips meet in a soft kiss. A sweet pass of skin against skin that makes every atom of my body take notice. My brain ceases to function while my heart pounds, while it beats out one word.
Della.
With a shaky breath I pull away and look into her eyes. As they flutter open, they’re foggy with desire. She’s just as affected as I by our simple kiss.
“Strong effort,” she says teasingly, recovering first.
“I gave it the old royal try.”
Theo groans his disappointment.
Yes, he’d never be so unsophisticated with a woman, but I have long accepted myself for who I am—a man who knows what he wants and acts on it, but without smooth words. I’m blunt, at times with an odd sense of humor that only Della seems to get, and I’ll never apologize for that.
Della leans up and kisses my cheek, then turns to face the small crowd consisting of Sinclairs, security, staff from the house, Tressie, Lola, and Lola’s date.
“Shall we leave now, princess, or would you like to mingle?” I ask.
She glances up at me from the corners of her eyes. “How about a compromise. We mingle for fifteen and then leave?”
I cant my head back and forth, pretending to consider her offer when all I really want to do is shout, Hell, yes. “Perfect.”
“Move out of the way,” Theo says as he moves closer to us. “I need to properly welcome my new sister to the family.” He takes her hand and kisses the knuckles.
Della gives him a look. “I just washed that hand.”
“So what? I didn’t lick you. That’s Colin’s job.”
Her head tilts to one side as her eyes narrow. “Maybe so, but I don’t know where your mouth has been.”
I don’t bother hiding my laughter.
Neither does Theo. “My brother is a lucky man.”
“He is indeed,” Charlotte says, as she kisses Della’s cheeks. “My mouth has been right here.”
Della snorts. “Your mouth needs to get out more.”
“No, it doesn’t,” Theo and I say simultaneously.
Imogen joins us. “Char’s mouth is very selective, which makes her smart…unlike our brothers. No offense, Della, we adore you.”
“None taken, but I’m slightly offended for Colin.”
Imogen shrugs a dainty shoulder. “That’s something for a wife to worry about. I’m sure you’ll make him forget everyone else but you.”
I narrow my eyes at her. Why is she rubbing it in? Even the twins know about my arrangement with Della.
“There is no one else but Della,” I say firmly, tucking her arm into mine.
Imogen gazes up at me. “Never doubted that for a second.”
Charlotte, bless her, steps in. “May I steal Della? I want her to at least taste the cake before y’all leave.”
“Cake. Yum.” Della gently pushes away from me and follows my sister to the dessert table.
“Wait for us,” Theo calls out, taking the boys with him.
“Care to explain why you’re being such a royal pain today?” I ask, keeping my voice low.
“It’s Saturday?” she replies, all flippant.
“Not acceptable.”
Imogen stares at a spot over my shoulder. “Maybe it’s because you get to marry someone of your choice and I won’t ever have that option.”
“You don’t know that.”
Her gaze returns to mine, hard and unflinching. “Scold me for being a jerk, but don’t patronize me.”
“My refusal—”
“Has paved the way for me to be their pawn. You were nothing but a knight to get out of their way.”
“That’s not true,” I insist, even as her words make a lead ball form in my stomach.
She gives me a brittle smile. “We shall see.”
Chapter 8
Della
This is only temporary, I remind myself for the hundredth time as I walk with my sister-in-law to the dessert table.
None of this is real; not even the kiss Colin gave me is in the top five of best kisses ever. Lord, that kiss was good and I know it’s not simply because I can’t remember the last time a man kissed me.
My husband kissed me.
My husband kissed me because we’re married.
A nervous panic tries to set in, but I do everything I can to push it away while Charlotte keeps up a lively conversation about how pretty the weather is, my dress is, and weddings in general are. I answer at the appropriate time, feeling bad for not really listening.
I glance over my shoulder at Colin. He’s with Imogen, the two of them deep in conversation while security hovers nearby.
“Della?”
I turn around to find Charlotte holding a plate of wedding cake, a pretty smile on an even prettier face. She’s the quiet one of the twins, but she can hold her own when push comes to shove.
“I realize it’s tradition for the couple to cut the cake, but since you and Colin are in such a hurry to leave, I took the liberty of doing it myself. Hope you don’t mind.”
“Why would I mind?” I take the plate and pinch off a small bite of cake with my fingers, carefully eating it so I don’t get a crumb on the gorgeous dress I rented.
The chocolate and amaretto melt right on my tongue. “Mmmm.”
“Do you approve?” Charlotte asks, an anxious look on her face.
“I’d move inside that cake and eat my way out of it, if that wouldn’t be weird and gross.”
My sister-in-law grins. “I wouldn’t think so, but I can’t vouch for the rest of the family. They’re rather stuffy at times, but not me—I’m the most accepting of anyone.”
“And so humble, too, like the rest of the Sinclairs.” I wink at her.
She nods sagely. “It’s one of our best traits.”
We burst out laughing.
I recover first and say, “Thank you so much for all your help. I know this is weird and quick….” I let my words trail away, not because I can’t think of what to say, but because Lola is heading our way.
I didn’t tell her that I was only marrying Colin to help him. She thinks that we’ve been secretly seeing each other for months and got a wild hair once the Sinclair secret got out, like that somehow freed us to do what we want.
“Princess Della, you look gorgeous on your wedding day,” Lola says, hugging me tightly, then letting go. “When will your costume be in stores?”
I hope she’s joking. “Never.”
“Cake?” Charlotte says, holding out another plate. “Della approves of the flavors.”
“It is her day, so…” Lola takes a bite and her eyes widen. “I think this is the best cake I’ve ever had.”
Charlotte practically bounces. “It is?”
I look at her closely. Usually, Charlotte is on the outskirts during large gatherings, even with her own family, sitting and watching everyone.
“Did you make it?”
She shakes her head, but her eyes are sparkling. “No, I researched the best cakes in the area and found this charming store, over in Forrestville, that practically no one has ever heard of. Until now. I want to do a post on Instagram about it, get people going there.” Giddy, she claps her hands and takes a deep breath. “If you’ll excuse me, I have to take pictures.”
Lola and I stare after her as she walks to the other side of the table and pulls out her phone.
“That girl is way too excited about cake,” Lola says.
“I think she’s more excited to be able to share what she thinks, without hiding who she is.”
“You are such a mom,” Lola teases, but there’s admiration in her tone. “I have to say that while you and Colin make sense and that I’m mad you’ve kept your love affair secret for so long, I’m truly happy for you.”
“Thank you. That means a lot.” I swallow down the urge to tell her the truth and
it goes down like a half-eaten chip.
“I know the whole kid thing bothered you for a long time, and—don’t get me wrong—it is a big deal, but it’s not one that can’t be overcome. Obviously.”
“I haven’t told him,” I say quietly. “Doesn’t matter anyway.” A large lump starts to form in my throat. “He has his boys, so…everything is fine.”
“Della”—she says my name on a sigh—“you have to be honest with him.”
“Eventually, I’ll tell him, but not now.”
“I don’t mean right this second, you goofball.” She rolls her eyes playfully and then turns serious. “I’m glad you didn’t bolt when Colin asked you.”
It wasn’t a real proposal and despite what you saw here, we’re not really married, I want to tell her. But I don’t.
“Me, too.”
My favorite song fills the air and I stare in wonderment at the trio of musicians as they play.
Colin catches my eye and smiles. Butterflies form in my stomach and my knees get a little wobbly. Sunlight shines down on him as he strides my way, his gait confident and his suit immaculate. With his golden brown hair and piercing green eyes, he looks like a prince straight out of a fairy tale.
You don’t believe in fairy tales.
“May I have this dance with my wife?” he asks, and my breath catches in my throat.
Lola takes my plate and all but shoves me forward.
I nod, barely able to do more as he takes my hand and pulls me to him. My arms go around his neck and we begin to move as one to the music.
“Did you enjoy the cake?”
“Your sister knows my weakness for amaretto.”
“Char is very observant,” he agrees. “Our fifteen minutes is nearly up. Will you be ready to leave, then?”
“All packed and ready to go,” I say cheerfully.
“Good. I hope you don’t mind, but our destination is near my homeland. It’s an island that my siblings and I would go to with our parents when we were younger. But if you prefer a more tropical climate, that—”
“I would love to go there with you.”
His smile widens. “Thank you. You don’t know how much that means to me.”
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