CHAPTER 26
Betty
The hotel room wasmodest by royal standards, which meant it was merely luxurious instead of obscenely opulent.I had exactly two seconds to appreciate the view before Archie pressed me against the door and kissed me like he'd been waiting for this moment all day.
Which, to be fair, he probably had.
His hands bracketed my face, tilting my head to deepen the kiss.I tasted champagne on his tongue and something underneath that was purely him, familiar now in a way that made my chest ache.My fingers found his lapels and pulled him closer, wanting the weight of him against me, wanting to feel surrounded.
"I've been going crazy," he said against my mouth."Watching you in that dress, knowing what's underneath, having to make small talk with your father while you were right there looking like that."
"Like what?"
He pulled back just far enough to look at me."Like everything I've ever wanted.Like the rest of my life, standing at that counter, promising to choose me."
"I did choose you."
"I know."He kissed me again, slower this time, savoring."And I'm going to spend tonight showing you how much that means to me."
His hands slid from my face to my shoulders, then traced down my arms, leaving goosebumps in their wake.When he reached my wrists, he lifted my hands and pressed a kiss to each palm.
"You're being very gentle," I observed.
"Is that a complaint?"
"An observation.You're usually more...urgent."
"We have time."He turned me slowly, his breath on the back of my neck."No crises to interrupt us.No secrets between us.Just you and me and the whole night ahead."
His fingers found my zipper and drew it down, the sound loud in the quiet room.The silk slid off my shoulders, pooled at my waist, then fell to the floor.I stood in my white lace and the bracelet he'd given me, facing the window with the city lights beyond.
Archie's hands settled on my hips, steadying me.His lips traced the curve of my shoulder, then the line of my neck, then the sensitive spot behind my ear that made me shiver.
"You're so beautiful," he murmured against my skin."I thought so the first time I saw you, covered in flour and glaring at a customer.I thought so when you were learning to ride and falling off horses.I thought so every single day since then, even when you were furious at me."
"Especially when I was furious at you?"
"Especially then.You're magnificent when you're angry."His hands slid up my stomach, fingers splaying across my ribs."All that fire.All that passion.Directed at me because you trusted me enough to show me the real you."
