Free The Prince She Had to Marry by Christine Rimmer Page B

he didn’t believe that. Not for a second. Lili might be a royal pain, but she never gave up on the things she believed in. “Interesting. I thought you said you believed that marriage was forever.”
    “I’m discouraged, Alex. Very, very discouraged.”
    “Yes, I can see that. I’ll tell you what...”
    She sent him a sideways look that spoke of pure suspicion. “What?”
    “Take off your shoes, settle back on the pillows. Have a nap.”
    “Will you please stop telling me to have a nap?”
    “Things will look brighter after you’ve rested.” He dropped to his knees on the carpet.
    She let out a tiny shriek of surprise and craned back away from him. “What are you doing?”
    “Here. Give me your foot.”
    She tucked both feet to the side, tight against the bedspread. “Why?”
    “I’ll help you off with your shoes.”
    The Delft-blue eyes narrowed. “You are being altogether too solicitous. I have to ask. Who are you and what have you done with Alex?”
    “Perhaps I’m...” He paused. He truly did not want to say the word. But then he gathered his determination and made himself do it. “...trying.”
    She stared at him, hard, her soft lips a thin line. And then, with clear reluctance, she offered him her right foot. He took it gently. It was soft and small and perfect and delicate.
    Like the rest of her.
    He undid the clasp at her ankle and slid the shoe off, all too aware of the slim, sculpted shape of her ankle, the beautiful, high arch of that foot, of her slim, smooth little toes that were painted the same deep blue as her eyes.
    She offered the other foot without being asked. He removed the sandal, sharp images suddenly popping and flashing in his brain.
    Lili, naked.
    Lili, laughing.
    Lili, when he came back from Princeton after his sophomore year. She was sixteen years old and suddenly way too grown up. Stunningly so. He’d said something cruel to her, hadn’t he?
    And she had slapped his face and run away.
    He eased his hand from around her ankle, set the left sandal neatly aside next to its mate. And then he tipped his head back and made himself look in her wide, waiting eyes. “Come on, then. Let’s pull the covers back.” He rose and held out his hand.
    For a moment, she considered. Then she gave in and laid her hand in his. He cradled her delicate fingers and she rose. He thought about pulling her close and kissing her, even though there was no one there to see them, no one to impress with how much in love they supposedly were.
    Because really, why not? If they were forced to be constantly together, to try and make everyone think that they were shagging their brains out every chance they got, why not just go ahead and do what everyone was supposed to think they were doing?
    Because she’s dangerous, said the warning voice inside his head. She wanted more than he could give. She wanted to...open his heart and have a long look inside. That was not a good idea. He was getting along now, getting by. There was a certain equilibrium now. The night sweats and vivid, brutal dreams no longer tortured him. He wanted to keep it that way. Some things were simply better left unexamined.
    “Alex?” She was searching his face.
    He still wanted to kiss her. He made a questioning sound and reminded himself again that kissing her when no one was watching was completely unnecessary and would only lead to trouble.
    “That time...” She seemed suddenly breathless. “That one time, in April, you know, when we...”
    If kissing her wasn’t a good idea, talking about that one time in April was a really, really bad idea. He let go of her hand and stepped sideways to get around her and pull the covers down. “Rest for a while. You’ll feel—”
    She caught his hand. “Alex. Please. I...have a question. Something I very much need to ask you.”
    Don’t ask, Lili. Please. Don’t ask ....
    But he was trapped and he knew it. He’d said he was sorry for the way he’d behaved. They were getting along