I open my bedroom door and peek down the hallway, making sure no one is in there before I slip out. I head for my sister’s room, needing to talk to her. Today’s been crazy. Okay, the last forty-eight hours of my life have been crazy. I find out I’m getting married to a brute of a king, who’s constantly popping out of nowhere and doing deliciously terrible things to me. Okay, not terrible, but it makes me feel better to think it.

I don’t know if I want to smack him or kiss him. The worst part is I haven’t gotten to have a moment alone with my sister since we separated after dinner yesterday. I’ve been dying to talk to her about everything. She has no idea about the two times Roman’s shown up or the things we’d done. Each time we try to get a moment together, someone interrupts us.

Since I woke up this morning I’ve been on the move with my bridal shower. My mom made a giant deal out of. She invited everyone from here to the moon. There were people there I’d never seen in my life. And when it wasn’t my mother rushing me around, Roman’s mom was hovering close, shooting my mother death glares and asking me a million questions about myself. And, oh yeah, when am I going to give her grandbabies?

I’m not sure these families are going to like each other, but I did notice Roman’s mom only gave my mom death glares when my mom snapped at me or barked an order. Then, to top it all off, we found out midafternoon the wedding would be tomorrow. That sent everyone running to get things done. It was already almost midnight and I’d barely gotten changed into my pajamas, and knew I couldn’t stay in my room tonight. I had to talk to my sister.

I get to her door and grab the knob. I go to turn it, but it doesn’t work. It’s locked. We never lock our doors. There’s no reason to, and oftentimes we end up in each other’s beds. I hear a giggle from her room and press my ear against the door. Then I hear a moan.

Oh my God.

I knock on the door lightly and wait.

“Coming,” I hear her say in a high-pitched voice. Then she starts whispering. “Get in the closet. Oh God, you’ll never fit in the closet. What do they feed you? I bet that—” I knock again, knowing my sister just got off topic and would never come to the door.

“It’s me,” I whisper in a voice that’s way louder than it should be. I look up and down the hall to make sure no one is coming.

The door swings open, and my sister is standing there in a shirt that’s clearly not hers. Her hair is a wild mess, and her make-up looks like she slept in it. But we haven’t gone to bed yet. We only parted from my mother thirty minutes ago.

“What is going on?” I half-yell. She grabs me by the arm, pulls me into her room, and shuts the door behind us.

“Shh,” she snaps.

“Don’t shh me,” I snap back, pointing my finger at her and narrowing my eyes. I want to know what’s going on. She smiles at me, and I want to roll my eyes.

“Surprise?” She makes her smile even bigger, showing her perfect teeth. “I got you a stripper? You know, bachelorette party…” She shrugs like she has no idea where she’s going with this lie.

I look around her and see Vlad, Roman’s bodyguard, buttoning up his pants, and my eyes almost pop out of my head. I see the shade of lipstick that’s smeared on her face matches the shade smeared all over his mouth.

“Wait. I take it back!” She jumps in my line of sight of him. “Don’t look at him. Vlad, put a shirt on!”

“Babe, you’re wearing my shirt,” I hear him say, laughter in his voice.

“Oh.” She looks down at the shirt.

“You had sex,” I gasp, really putting everything together.

She nods and mouths, “It was amazing.” I snort.

Suddenly Tabby’s door flies open, making us both jump. Roman fills the doorway, and he swiftly steps into the room and shuts the door behind him. He’s in a dark suit, but he somehow still looks like he’s ready to go into battle.

“You found me.” I stomp my foot. I was going to hide out in my sister’s room tonight, knowing he’d likely come. Well, I thought I was. She clearly had other plans. Still, I was going to hide. I wanted a little payback for how he thinks he can pop up anywhere and do whatever he likes to me. Even if I kinda like the things he does. Okay, maybe kinda is putting it lightly.

“Took me an extra two seconds, but it wasn’t hard. Should I have a tracker put on you?”

“She not a dog,” my sister hisses at him.

“Yeah, what she said,” I add, because I’ve got nothing else to use as a comeback.

A half-smirk plays on Roman’s lips, but I glare at him. I’m sure my sister is doing the same.

“Wait,” Tabby says. She leans into me a little. “Do we like him or not? I can’t remember.”

I hear a chuckle come from both of the men and nudge her to hush it.

“Doesn’t matter. I don’t need a tracker. Come tomorrow, I can keep you at my side for the rest of my life.”

“Well, then I’ll see you tomorrow. Goodbye,” I say tartly, trying to dismiss him. I know it won’t work, but a girl’s gotta try.

“My princess, you know what I came for, and I’m going to get my taste before I leave.”

His words make anger boil up in my stomach. That’s all he cares about—sex…or whatever it is we’ve been doing. Yeah, it feels good, but for some reason it hurts that it’s the only reason he seeks me out.

“You shut your face and get out of my room right this second.” My sister steps in front of me, standing in between us and ready to go to battle.

“Babe, get your sweet ass over here,” Vlad commands. All our eyes go to him. He’s leaning up against the wall, still shirtless, with a smile on his face like he doesn’t have a care in the world.

“Not now. I’m doing something,” she tells him.

“Eyes,” Roman orders, making me jump. I turn to look at him. “Vlad, cover yourself in front of my wife.”

“She’s not your wife yet,” Tabby fires back. I nod, agreeing with her.

“Is this how it’s always going to be? Maybe it isn’t so wise I let your sister come and stay with us.”

I gasp, and my eyes fill with tears. No. Before I can even open my mouth, Roman is in front of me, his big hands cupping my face.

“I’m sorry. Forgive me. I didn’t mean… Please.” He peppers kisses all over my face. “I’m sorry. Don’t cry.”

I close my eyes, and he kisses my eyelids.

“I was angry.” His voice sounds a little choked. “I don’t like when you say you’re not going to be mine. I didn’t mean it.”

I open my eyes and see remorse all over his face. His eyes look soft and not as dark as normal.

“Please don’t cry. Say you forgive me.”

I stand there, shocked by how he’s reacting. He’s upset that I’m upset.

“Your sister can have a whole wing of the castle for all I care.”

“I really don’t take up that much space,” I hear my sister say, and I can’t fight my smile. Worry drains from Roman’s face. He lets go of me reluctantly, and I blush as I realize what everyone has just seen. I glance over at Vlad, and he simply stares at Roman as if in shock.

“Princess,” Roman growls, and I pull my eyes back to him. I can see jealousy light up his eyes.

“Shirt,” I hear my sister bark at Vlad again.

“Babe, you’re still wearing it, for one, and two, come tomorrow night you sleep where I sleep.”

“Don’t boss me around,” Tabby replies halfheartedly, but I can tell she likes it. It makes me giggle, and she smiles.

Roman huffs out a breath, and the next thing I know I’m over his shoulder and he’s leaving Tabby’s room and heading for mine. I don’t fight it because I don’t want to make noise and get caught and also because my belly got all tingly when he picked me up like that.

When we get to my room he places me softly on the side of the bed and drops to his knees in front of me. The move allows me to see him at eye level.

“Did you come here to get off?” I blurt out, and I feel my face turn red. I drop my eyes in embarrassment. I can’t believe I said that.

He brings his finger to my chin and tips it so I look up at him.

“No, my princess. I came here because I couldn’t stay away from you.” He brushes his finger along what I know are cherry-red cheeks.

He suddenly stands, kicking off his shoes and taking off his suit jacket before going to the other side of the bed. I watch as he lies down, his eyes on me the whole time.

I bite my lip, unsure what he’s going to do. Then he grabs me and pulls me to him so I’m on my side. My back is to his chest as he wraps his arms around me. One of his legs tangles with mine, and I immediately feel so safe. He buries his face in my hair, and I can feel his breath against my neck as I drift off to sleep faster than I ever have before.