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“Your biceps are incredible,” she whispered.
“All the better to hold you with, my dear.”
She laughed, though him holding her was far from a joke. It was beautiful. “Somebody’s been busy in their exclusive home gym,” she tried to tease. “Wasting away the hours because you were pining for me?”
He smiled, but it flickered and was gone. “You know I have. I have little spare time, Jenn, but every free moment has been spent missing you.”
Was that true? What about all the pictures she’d seen online with other women? What about him getting engaged to Macey Clifton only four months after she’d left? She’d studied the beautiful Macey cuddled close to Ray at the wedding. Despite the lingering jealousy and anger Jennifer felt, Macey appeared sweet and very in love with Ray. What had happened? Had it broken Tristan’s heart when Macey had chosen Ray over him?
She didn’t want to think about any of that right now. Her brain was a mess and her body needed him close. She slid her arms around his neck and tugged his head down. She was going to kiss him, and nobody and nothing could pull them apart again.
Footsteps came down the hallway. A throat cleared.
Tristan sheltered her with his larger body, glancing over his shoulder at whoever had dared interrupt their reconnection kiss. It would’ve been an insanely good one, too.
“Pardon me, Prince Tristan.” The young man’s voice had laughter in it. “But the king is waiting on you to pray and start dinner.”
“Forgive me. I’ll be right there.”
“Thank you, sir.”
The footsteps retreated.
Tristan stared down at her. The ache in his eyes dug at her heart, but the guilt over forgetting her purpose stabbed her. Her parents needed her to keep her head on straight, not waste away the hours kissing Tristan until she got another message from William. Yet she had been ordered to gain his trust. A thorough kissing session should get her back in his good graces.
Guilt stabbed her hot and quick at that thought. She wouldn’t use Tristan or manipulate him. She knew he’d help her if she could only figure out how to share what was happening.
“Come sit with me at the dinner,” he requested. “We can continue this after the dancing.”
Nothing had ever sounded better. “T, thank you. I’m honored, but… I can’t.”
His eyes reflected a deep disappointment. She’d wounded him. Would he walk away? Would she lose him all over again? She wanted to beg him for his help, but she didn’t know how or even what to tell him.
He studied her, beseeching her to give him something, to at least promise she wouldn’t leave again.
She shook her head, helpless to promise anything with her parents in such danger.
“I can’t ruin Derek and Ellery’s day,” he murmured.
“I know.” She swallowed against the thickness in her throat.
Tristan took a step back and then turned to go.
“They have my mum,” she whispered. “And now my dad.”
He turned back to her.
She wanted to tell him how deeply she loved him, but instead she said, “You’re the only one I trust.”
Maybe she shouldn’t have let it spill, but if she couldn’t turn to Tristan as she always had, she was in deep trouble.
He studied her. They both knew there was no time to hash this out right now.
“Please don’t disappear on me again.” Tristan’s exquisite blue eyes beseeched her to never leave his side. Her heart raced, and hope and happiness she didn’t know she’d feel again filled her. “Can you wait in my suite? I’ll slip away as soon as I can.”
“I don’t want you to miss out on your brother’s wedding celebration.”
“And I don’t want to miss out on you.”
