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“No.” She held his gaze. “T, look who you’re talking to. I know and love you so much deeper than what’s here on your skin. I’d still love you if you lost your hair, gained a hundred pounds, or grew a questionable mustache. And besides, I don’t trust any woman who doesn’t like a few good scars … I think they make you even more enticing, more rugged and manly.”
His brows lifted. He pressed her against him and kissed her very, very thoroughly. When he pulled back, he said in a husky voice, “I haven’t liked the scars. They kind of shock me every time I see them, but if you think I’m enticing with the scars, then all the pain was worth it and I’ll love them.”
“I don’t like that they shock you to see them, or that you went through pain.”
“You didn’t cause the pain, and I know you wouldn’t want me to go through it, but you should know, Jenn…” His blue eyes captured her. “I’d go through anything for you.”
She kissed him this time. It was so intense and all-encompassing she was swept away.
Tristan pulled back, and they were both breathing far too quickly. “We’d better ease up on the kissing or go to our own bedrooms.”
She smiled, loving how she affected him, but she wasn’t ready to let him go just yet. “Tell me about each of your brothers’ stories instead. I can’t stand to be away from you.”
He grinned. “No one can blame you for that.”
She laughed, but instead of kissing him like she wanted to, she rested her head on his shoulder and said, “Tell me stories.”
“All right.” He talked through each of his brothers’ adventures while falling in love. All were intriguing and intense, yet romantic and happy. Most of their troubles originated from one disturbed family—the Rindlesbachers.
It was after midnight, and they were still chatting. He wanted to hear everything she’d been up to. It was hard to condense all the volunteer work and friends she’d made into a quick story, and she was tiring quickly. It had been a long and emotional day, and they were going hiking at six.
“You’re exhausted,” Tristan said, cradling her close as he stretched out on the loveseat as best he could. “Let’s rest for a few hours.”
“We could lay on the bed,” she suggested, cuddling into him.
“Absolutely not. You might have enough self-control for that, but I am only masquerading as a crown prince. The Big Bad Wolf would definitely come out and I would kiss you far too intensely if we were snuggled on that bed.”
She smiled—loving that he was so drawn to her, loving how they teased, loving everything about this perfect man. “I love you.”
“I love you too.”
Cradled close to him, Jennifer felt more content, safe, and loved than she’d been in eight months. Her Big Bad Wolf was back in her life, and he loved her and only her. He’d rescue her parents, keep her safe, and they’d live happily ever after.
Nothing could go wrong now. Not with Tristan back in her life.
CHAPTERELEVEN
The alarm jarred Tristan awake at five-fifty a.m. He somehow silenced the buzzing while not releasing his mesmerizing love, who’d fallen asleep in his arms. He was tangled up with Jennifer on the too-small couch, his arm asleep, his back aching, and all he could think as he looked down at her beautiful face was that he didn’t want to move.
“Time to hike?” she asked blearily, blinking up at him.
He groaned. “Who agreed to this?”
“You. But I love hiking and I’m dying to meet Aliya. It sounded like a fabulous idea until I stayed up kissing and snuggling the Big Bad Wolf all night.”
“You’d better not regret that.”
“Never.”
Tristan wanted to kiss her all over again, but he had morning breath and he needed to get changed and ready to go. Hopefully after their hike to find the ‘cure’ they could snuggle and kiss and talk some more. Would William get suspicious if they hid out in this room where the recording device had been disabled? Who knew how long they’d wait here for William to make a move.
Her parents were still in William’s power, and that cast a pall over everything. He couldn’t imagine anything worse and wanted Henry and Leslie home safe. He could go back to teasing Henry, after he was on his best behavior for long enough to ask for the prime minister’s daughter’s hand in marriage. It was past time he put the two-karat diamond he’d bought for her before she left and his mum’s wedding ring on each of her ring fingers.
Jennifer smiled and disentangled herself, sliding off of him.
“Back to monitoring what we say.” He tilted his head to the hallway.
She nodded. “I’ll go change into hiking clothes and meet you downstairs.”
