❥CHRIS ❥

I had only intended to tease her, maybe test her resolve and see if she would back away.

But I was mistaken.

The moment my lips touched hers, I felt her body freeze. I couldn't help but love how soft and inviting they felt against mine. It was a sensation that sent a jolt of desire coursing through my veins.

The taste of her, the warmth of her breath mingling with mine, only intensified my longing for more.

The instant my hand glided along her back, caressing her skin, I sensed her make a sound that almost got my cock hard. 

Well almost.

I knew that having a sexual connection with her wasn't part of our contract, but as I had decided the moment I read those terms: Fuck that.

I didn't delve deeper into the kiss than I wanted to. I merely wanted to tease her a bit, considering how stubborn she had been since she entered my room. I was genuinely glad that I hadn't answered that call, as it had given me the chance to see her in that dress.

It was a shame that I couldn't take it off.

But as the saying goes, slow and steady wins the race, and I was damn sure that I would have her screaming my name before this contract was over.

Parting our lips, I spared her a chance to catch her breath, ignoring the stern glare she shot my way. I leaned back in the chair, grinning as I relished in the discomfort my antics brought upon my parents.

I needed to prove that I was fit to be king, even if it meant showcasing that I would be absolutely terrible at it.

There was so much work that lay ahead.

My dad cleared his throat, dabbing at his mouth with a napkin. "I see you're serious about this," he remarked.

"Of course I am," I replied, taking Sarah's hand, the hand adorned with the ring I had placed on her finger. Our fingers intertwined, a visual display of how committed I was to this charade.

Sarah might think I could fake it since we were pretending, but I had to make every aspect of this feel real, even if it meant losing a few million from my bank account to acquire a diamond ring.

"Oh, woah," Mum's eyes widened in shock, her gaze darting from the ring to Alex and back again.

Now I was confused. Wasn't she the one who had suggested I find a fake bride? Why did she appear so astonished?

"See, Dad," Alex interjected, her tone laced with humor, "Chris is serious about this whole thing. He should have just shown us the ring instead of pulling that stunt back there." Her words held a touch of jest, but the death glares I received from both sides could have been lethal.

"He's serious, huh?" Dad's voice held a hint of skepticism, but at least he didn't storm out of the dinner. "How did you two meet?"

I knew he would ask that question.

"We met—"

"I wasn't asking you, boy," he cut me off, his tone brusque. "I'm asking my soon-to-be daughter-in-law. Answer me, dear." His voice softened a bit as he turned to Sarah, awaiting her response.

All eyes, including mine, were fixed on her, as if it were somehow my fault for not being serious enough with the lie we had concocted.

Sarah cleared her throat and took a sip of water, perhaps buying herself a moment to think of an answer. I could feel perspiration forming on my forehead as my nerves began to rise. Guilt gnawed at me, witnessing her fear. I glanced down and noticed how she pinched her fingers with her nails, a nervous gesture to calm herself down. Her breathing quickened, and I instinctively slid my hand down to grip her thigh tightly, silently urging her to calm down.

I didn't enjoy seeing her in such a state. This was supposed to be a bit of fun, just teasing her a little. But it had spiraled into something far from enjoyable.

Finally, Sarah took deep breaths and offered a smile that stirred something within me. "Your Majesty," she began, her voice steady, "I met your son in a meeting."

"Really?" Dad's disbelief was evident. It wasn't surprising; after all, I despised meetings, and anyone who enjoyed them must have been a bit off in the head.

Sarah nodded, her eyes meeting his. "Yes, your Majesty. You see, I work as an assistant in a small company upstate, and Christopher here..." Her gaze shifted to me, her hand resting gently atop mine as she gave it a soft squeeze, "...was trying to strike a deal with my manager. I was tasked with bringing that deal to life, and from there, things developed."

Wow. She was good.

I couldn't help but be mesmerized by her acting skills, the way she seamlessly wove her story. It was clear that she was a master at this game.

And yet, somehow, it unsettled me.

"I never thought it was possible for my son to settle down," Dad chuckled, but I could sense the forced nature of it.

Everything was just a facade.

"Well, it's an honor to have you here, my dear," he continued, lifting his wine glass. "This calls for a small celebration, doesn't it, Chris?"

"Of course, Father," I nodded, raising my own glass and noticing Sarah, Mum, and Alex doing the same.

"We welcome you to Gardwin Kingdom, Sarah, and I hope he doesn't screw this up," he finished his words by taking a sip of the wine, followed by my mother who once again never tried to caution him whenever he went overboard.

My jaw tightened at his words, but I held my tongue. I raised my glass, following the customary tradition, and watched as Dad took a sip of his wine. Without a care for royal decorum, I downed my drink in one swift motion. I needed a damn drink.

Pushing back my chair, I stood up. "I apologize, but I can't stay for dinner," I adjusted my suit, glancing at Alex, who looked concerned. She understood my reasons for wanting to get away from here, so she simply nodded.

"And why is that?" Of course, he had to stop me.

"Just not feeling well. The journey was long, and I need some rest," His indifference towards my well-being was palpable, but with Sarah by my side, it seemed like he was masking his true feelings.

If only she knew.

He nodded, his attention back on his meal. "Very well, goodnight then."

"Goodnight, Father," I didn't bother looking at my mother's reaction because I knew it would only be her trying to persuade me to stay. Tonight, I wasn't in the mood for her insults.

I exchanged a knowing glance with Sarah, prompting her to give a slight cough as she stood up as well. "It was nice meeting you, Your Majesty," she curtsied awkwardly, stumbling a bit, but I managed to catch her waist in time before anyone noticed.

"As it was for me, Miss Sarah," Father replied, and without wasting any time, I led her out of the room.

Once we were outside, Sarah removed my hand from her waist and subtly distanced herself from me. I would have chuckled, but we were still surrounded by guards, so I leaned closer to her ear, my lips brushing against her cheek. "Better behave, Sarah. We're still in public. You can unleash your anger on me once we're in my room."

She scoffed softly. "What makes you think I'm going to your room?"

"Maybe because you'd like to strangle me for pulling that stunt," My voice grew deeper as I slid my hand back to her waist, the touch feeling right, as if she truly belonged to me.

As if she were mine.

"Besides, I believe I have some answers to satisfy your curious mind," I fell silent, and she did as well, until we reached my room.

I opened the door, allowing her to enter. She didn't say anything, not even a 'thank you,' before stepping inside.

What kind of girl had Alex hired?

I sighed, knowing that these three months with her would be tumultuous.

And strangely enough, I didn't think I would mind.

"So," she trailed off as I discarded my suit onto the bed, "do you happen to have any drinks around here?"

I raised an eyebrow. "Wasn't the wine enough for you?" I asked, unbuttoning my shirt and slipping off my shoe.

"You know what I mean. I need a 'real drink'," she emphasized, but I didn't want to give in. I knew exactly what she wanted, but making her say it aloud was too entertaining.

"Fine," she sighed, looking frustrated with my stubbornness. She mumbled something, probably cursing me out, before continuing, "I need alcohol or a beer. Just something strong."

"Outta girl," I grinned, earning an eye roll from her. Somehow, she managed to look cute even when she was being annoying.

I walked over to a nearby drawer and opened it, revealing the stash of drinks I had hidden from my guards. Father had instructed them to confiscate any beverage other than the lousy wine I had earlier.

"Vodka or tequila?" I showcased the bottles to her as I walked back, her still in shock at how I had managed to hide them. "I suppose tequila will do for you," I placed the bottle in her hand and made my way to the sofa.

"No glass?" she asked.

"It's a new one. Just drink from the bottle," I sighed, relaxing my body on the sofa. Crossing my legs, I opened the whiskey bottle and took a gulp, relishing the smooth, rich taste as it slid down my throat. Finally, I took a deep breath.

I noticed she seemed uncomfortable in her outfit, and I wouldn't mind helping her out of it, but I didn't feel like getting a bruise from her tonight. "You can change your outfit and come back, you know? I noticed you were struggling to breathe in it," I mentioned, taking another sip.

She chuckled, leaning against the nearest wall. "You're quite observant."

"I have to be. It's what I've been trained to do since…"

"I know. Since your brother disappeared," Sympathy filled her gaze, and it wasn't a look that suited her. "I mean, it must have been tough being thrust into the role of the future king right after they announced his disappearance," she continued, sensing my reluctance to speak.

I remained silent, and her nervousness grew evident. I noticed her eyes shifting away from mine, fiddling with the bottle. She then opened it and took a sip of tequila.

"It's been two weeks, right?" she asked.

"Huh?"

I shifted my posture, lowering my leg and sitting up straighter. I looked down at the bottle, contemplating whether it was a good idea to continue talking.

But as I had said before;fuck that.

"The news said it had been two weeks since his disappearance, right?" She nodded slowly, her hands clutching the bottle of tequila as her eyes eagerly awaited my next words.

"It's not two weeks, Sarah. It's been two years since he vanished."