Julian looked at me. “So?”
“I heard there was a basement in this castle but that it was off limits.”
He froze in mid-wipe of his mouth. “You heard?”
“Okay, I asked someone and they said there was one, but it was only for the royal family.”
He didn’t blink. His attention was fully on me and if I had to guess, he was having some sort of internal struggle. I waited him out; rushing him wouldn’t be a good idea.
Finally, he relaxed in his chair. “It’s where the secrets are.”
“Then shouldn’t I see it?”
“Wynn.” He sighed.
“You don’t want me to see this super-secret side of yourself, and that’s fine. I’m not gonna ask you again.” I stood and tossed my napkin onto my plate. “But without knowing all of you, there’s no point in waiting to tell you I won’t be marrying you. I can’t be halfway into a relationship, especially if it’s forever.”
“Wynn, please, you don’t understand.”
“You’re right, I don’t, and isn’t that the problem?” I turned on my heel and left the dining room.
There was no way I would be able to sleep in the same room with him because no matter how hurt or upset I was with him, if he touched me, I’d cave and get lost in him, and I had to be strong.
I quickly went to his bedroom, grabbed my toiletry bag, pajamas, and clothes for the next day. It was all I needed. After that, I went a few doors down to another bedroom and locked myself inside.
I wasn’t sure if I was being silly or childish. People were allowed to have secrets, but when Julian had said it was something that would make me run, that he was what was lurking in the dark, I couldn’t ignore that. It felt vital to know.
Fuck!I went into the en suite and decided I’d take a shower. Maybe I just needed to wash away the day and get a good night’s sleep. Tomorrow would hopefully bring me clarity.
I stripped and got into the shower, my brain going a mile a minute.I should have a nightcap, maybe it’ll help me sleep.
I got out, dried, and dressed in my pajamas. I stepped out of the bathroom and froze. Julian was sitting in a chair on the far side of the bed. His eyes were shadowed, he was clenching his jaw, and if looks could have killed, I feared I’d be dead.
“What are you doing?” His voice was like gravel.
“About to go to bed. Why are you in here?” I should have known he’d have a key to every room.
He stood abruptly and instinct told me to step away, but I stayed put. He stopped an inch from me.
“Why areyouinhere?”
“I need to be alone.”
He moved so fast, I had no time to react. His hand gripped my neck, and he pushed me against the doorframe. It didn’t hurt, but I gasped.
“You sleep beside me, Wynn.”
“Not tonight, I don’t.” Every nerve ending told me to shut up, that I was in the presence of a predator. But there was another something that told me Julian wouldn’t hurt me.
“This isn’t open for discussion.” With that, he lifted me up into a fireman’s carry and carted me out of the bedroom.
“Put me down!” I pounded on any part of his body I could.
“In a minute.”
“Now!”
A beat later I was being flipped, and I landed on his bed. “You need to understand something, Wynn. You run, I will follow you. I will catch you. I will bring you right back here to me.”
