Page 81 of Theirs to Tempt: The Marriage Claim

I almost laugh, except nothing about this feels funny. “And if I say no?”

Caleb’s gaze doesn’t leave mine. “Then we still have a problem.”

The honesty defeats me.

Lucian moves toward us at last, but he stops beside Caleb rather than coming closer to me.

And I realize I’ve won as many concessions as I’m likely to get. “I want some of my own belongings. My clothes.” I wave my hand. “Personal effects.”

Caleb nods.

“And I’ll pack my own things.”

He doesn’t look to Lucian. “Agreed.”

“And I’m going to be utilizing the room you showed me.”

“It’s yours.”

“For whatever I want?”

He pauses, and then it’s Lucian who answers. “Within the limitation already discussed.”

Heat rises beneath my skin. “I want to stay in the guest room until after the wedding.”

Both men look at each other.

Eventually, when I’m sure they’ll argue, Lucian nods. “But I’m moving up the date of the wedding.”

My shoulders collapse forward.

I may have won a battle, but they… They have just won the war.

Chapter Twenty-Six

Sophie

Two weeks later

“And now you become ours.” Caleb extends his hand to help me from the back of the SUV.

My pulse slams into overdrive.

There’s tenderness and possession in his dark eyes. “Sophie?”

Drawing in a steadying breath, I slide my hand into his much bigger, slightly calloused one.

The wedding dress makes my movements awkward as I gather the skirt with my free hand, careful of the lace, the veil trailing behind me as I straighten.

For one strange moment, Caleb just looks at me. His dark gaze moves slowly over the dress I chose. “You look beautiful.”

His words are low, almost rough.

The Sterling Downtown rises around us in glass and steel, familiar enough that I’ve passed it a hundred times without ever imagining I would be married on its roof.

Married.

My stomach knots.