AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“All the better to captivate you with, my dear.”
He sank onto the couch with her cuddled close, held her tightly to him with one arm and used the other to frame her smooth jaw.
She blinked up at him. “Oh my, Big Bad Wolf, what decisive and alluring moves you have.”
“All the better to capture a few stolen moments with you, my dear.”
The teasing of the moment disappeared like a puff of smoke, and Jennifer was suddenly studying him very, very seriously. “Is that all we’ll ever have, T? Stolen moments? Do you use decisive and alluring moves on all the girls?”
“No.” He shook his head, determined to show her she was the only one for him and they had a bright future in store. “You are the only woman I want, and we will have a beautiful future together, Jenn. We’ll get your parents safe, capture William and Naomi, and talk through why you left, how committed I am to you and only you, and how you’re never going to leave me again.”
“Oh my, Mr. Crown Prince. What big plans you have.” She didn’t sound certain she believed them.
“All the better to convince you that you’re the only woman I have and will ever want, my dear.”
Her eyes got bright, and she slid her hands up his chest and encircled his neck. He loved her. He always had and always would. If only he could say those three words and hear her say them back, but he could easily read her devotion in her eyes despite the fear and uncertainty that lingered there. The loving words and lifelong plans would come soon.
The moment was slow and perfect as centimeter by centimeter they edged closer together.
A hard rap shook the door, and then it flung open. Jennifer startled and straightened away from him. Tristan groaned and tasted disappointment instead of her lips as Ray stormed in. He should’ve thought to lock the door.
“Oh.” Ray stopped in his tracks, but he swung the door closed, very much interrupting the moment. “Pardon me.” He nodded respectfully. “Pleasure to see you, Jennifer.”
“You as well,” she said in response, but Tristan hoped she didn’t mean it. It couldn’t possibly be a pleasure for their kiss to be interrupted. Again. How many times in the past few hours?
“Jensen’s right behind me. Dad’s on his way.” He drew up a chair, ignoring the fact that Jennifer was still on his brother’s lap.
Jennifer unfortunately slid off of Tristan’s lap. Curse his twin. Tristan had all but shoved his fake fiancée Macey into Ray’s arms, lips, and heart when he knew the two were gone over each other. Would it kill Ray to return the favor and help a brother out now?
But no. His twin had interrupted and didn’t even have the courtesy to say, ‘I’ll wait outside and give you a moment.’
“Jennifer, I am terribly sorry about your mum and dad,” Ray said.
Reality snapped at his face like the branch of a willow tree. Her mum and dad were in mortal danger. Tristan had to shelve the intense need for Jennifer in his arms, tangling lips with him, for the moment. They had to beat William once and for all. Kissing Jennifer would be a long-awaited reward after victory was won.
Unless she slipped away from him again.
Or believed he was a player.
Or they didn’t beat William.
Or her parents got hurt or killed.
Or a hundred other things that could go wrong.
He should just kiss her and savor the moment. Who knew what might come at them next?
Chapter Eight
If only Jennifer and Tristan hadn’t been interrupted. Again. But her parents’ safety had to be her priority, followed by the safety of her own heart. He’d shoved her defenses and safety net out of the way with his tender look and touch and flirtations. She had to be stronger.
The general, the police chief, and the king all came into Tristan’s suite and pulled up chairs facing the couch she and Tristan were sitting on. The king gave her a brief, fatherly hug, making her miss her dad more than ever. Jensen greeted her warmly with a handshake and a side hug. As Ray’s best friend, Jensen had spent as much time at the castle as teenagers and young adults as she had. They’d all been close friends at one point. Tristan’s best friend, the suave Major Chad, had been a constant in her life as well. Now everything felt less stable or easygoing, as she’d expect with the danger her parents were in and Tristan’s family had been in for a while now.
Jennifer recounted everything that had happened since her mum, William, and Naomi had come to the village. She finished by describing the note and the picture left on the doorstep earlier today, and anything else she could think of that might be helpful. They listened and then asked questions, trying to surmise what William was up to now.
“Why did you leave in the first place?” Ray asked.
Jennifer exchanged a look with Tristan, wishing she could talk this through with him alone. She’d refused to tell him this morning, but now everything was coming out. The secrets needed to be exposed so they could move past them and deal with the Rindlesbachers.
