❥SARAH ❥

The first thing I noticed when I woke up was the lack of a particular someone beside me and the lingering scent of sex still thick in the air. The sheets were rumpled, evidence of the night's events scattered across the room. How many times had we gone at it?

I tried to sit up, but the sharp ache between my legs made me hiss and curse under my breath. My entire lower body throbbed, a dull reminder of the intensity we’d shared. I licked my lips, wincing at the slight pain. Had he bitten me? My lips felt swollen, bruised from his rough kisses.

The memories of last night came flooding back, and heat rushed through me again. No, I couldn’t think about how amazing he was, how his touch still seemed to burn on my skin even now. But I couldn’t stop myself from remembering the way he looked at me, the way his fingers worked their magic, sending me to another world. His touch was like fire, and his tongue… God, the way his tongue explored every inch of me, hitting places I never even knew could bring so much pleasure.

I bite my lip, feeling my core throb at the thought. Most of the men I’d been with were just looking for a quick release, barely caring about my satisfaction. But Chris? He had given me something more—something I didn’t think was possible. It was like he took his time, savoring every moment, like a predator enjoying his prey. He knew exactly what to do, how to make me fall apart.

My body betrayed me, clenching with need just thinking about him. The way he had filled me, the way I had shamelessly given him a blowjob in the women’s restroom… God, if Sam knew about that, she’d never let me live it down.

It was like Chris had been waiting, patiently, until I finally gave in to him. And when I did… it had been worth it. But this was a one-time thing. It couldn’t happen again.

Right?

I sighed, running a hand through my hair, frustration rising inside me. I should feel guilty about this, about breaking the contract and sleeping with him, but the only thing I felt was… desire. I craved more of him. My body still hummed with the aftershocks of our time together, and I couldn’t shake the thought of him coming through that door and demanding I get on all fours for him again.

Great. Now I was turning into a sex maniac.

I struggled to get out of bed, my legs weak beneath me as I took slow, careful steps toward the bathroom. I needed to clean up, even though it felt like he had already taken care of that. Did he… did he clean me? The thought sent a rush of heat through me again.

I staggered into the bathroom and caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror, freezing in place. I looked like a disaster. No, worse than a disaster—I looked like I’d just crawled out of a grave. My lips were chewed up, swollen and red, a clear sign of his rough treatment. I didn’t mind the way he kissed me—it was intoxicating and passionate—but seeing the aftermath made me scowl.

My gaze trailed lower, and my breath caught. Hickeys covered my neck, some red, others a deep purple, depending on how hard he had sucked at my skin. And there, on my shoulder, bite marks. What the hell? Was he some kind of wolf in heat?

I couldn’t even stop there. My breasts looked swollen, my nipples raw and sore from where he’d slapped and teased them. The sight of the handprints on my skin made something stir deep inside me, and I quickly forced the thoughts away.

I shook my head and stepped into the shower, letting the hot water wash away the remnants of the night. By the time I stepped out, I felt a little more like myself, though the soreness remained. I glanced at my phone as I towel-dried my hair and noticed a message waiting for me.

“Sorry, love, I had to leave. Had an important meeting. Didn’t know whether to wake you up by kissing your lips or somewhere else… You know the place." He added a thirst emoji." Decided to send a text instead. Might be late. Don’t miss me too much. Call me when you see this.”

“Such a pervert,” I muttered, feeling my cheeks heat up as I read the message again. He made it hard to forget that this was a one-time thing. Even when I had been in relationships, I hadn’t received texts like this. Most of the guys I dated were jerks who didn’t care enough to send anything remotely thoughtful.

I sighed and put my phone down, heading to the wardrobe to throw on something simple—a black bra, matching panties, and a gray gown. The chill in the air was starting to seep into my bones, making me regret leaving the warmth of the bed.

As I applied some makeup, trying to cover the obvious hickeys and the bite marks, I couldn't stop thinking about how different this felt from anything I’d experienced before. It wasn't just the sex—it was the way he looked at me, the way he touched me, like he knew exactly what I needed.

My cheeks flushed as I remembered one particular moment—when he asked me what my favorite color was, and I said it was his eyes. His response to the same question when I asked had left me speechless.

“I’m staring at it too.”

Just thinking about it made me blush. I was still lost in my thoughts when a knock came at the door.

“Come in,” I called, assuming it was just a maid or something. But when the door opened, a bodyguard stepped inside—one I hadn’t seen before.

“Miss Sarah, Thr highness,the Queen would like to see you,” he said, his expression unreadable.

My eyes widened. The Queen? What did she want with me?

I nodded, trying to hide the sudden wave of anxiety that hit me. But the guard didn’t leave. He just stood there, waiting.

“She would like to see you now.”

“N-Now?” I stammered, and he nodded again.

Well, shit. This couldn’t be good. With a deep breath, I pulled myself together, following him out of the room, even though my heart was pounding in my chest.

The thought of calling Alex to tell her that her mother wanted to see me briefly crossed my mind, but I pushed it aside.

I should be able to handle this on my own—it was expected, after all. I couldn’t hide in my room for the entirety of the contract. That would hardly prove I was serious about this.

“You can do this,” I whispered to myself as the guard led me toward a secluded riverside. I had never noticed this part of the castle before. Then again, I hadn’t ventured beyond the places necessary for the contract.

It was breathtaking. The flowers were arranged in precise patterns, and the sun reflected off the river, making the water sparkle like diamonds. I was so caught up in the beauty of it all that I didn’t realize the guard had stopped until I saw the Queen standing before me.

Chris definitely got his looks from his mother.

“Your Highness,” the guard bowed deeply. I hesitated, unsure if I should bow too. Instead, I offered a clumsy curtsy and lowered my head slightly. “I have brought Miss Sarah, Your Highness.”

The Queen regarded me with a cool, scrutinizing gaze—completely different from the calm façade she’d worn at the dinner table. In fact, she almost looked disgusted.

“You may leave,” she said to the guard, who bowed once more before disappearing. Her attention returned to me. “I hear you didn’t eat this morning. Don't you know its a must to have breakfast early here.”

“Oh, I’m sorry—”

“I don’t know how things are done in the city, but as my son’s future bride, I expect more… decency.” Her eyes roamed from my toes to my head with thinly veiled disdain.

Decency? When had I ever acted indecently?

To say I was speechless would be an understatement. Whatever positive impression I’d had of her vanished. This was who Chris and Alex had grown up with?

“Am I clear?” she asked, her brow raised, irritated by my silence.

“Yes, Your Highness.” It was all I could manage, my voice slightly shaky. This was new territory for me. How could I express myself without coming across as disrespectful? I still had three months to go, and I’d only been here for three weeks. Getting on her bad side could get me kicked out.

“Good,” she said, her posture rigid and poised in a way that made me feel like a clumsy outsider. “I want to have a brief chat.” Her tone made it clear this wasn’t a request.

I nodded, hoping this conversation would be over quickly.

“Tomorrow, you’ll be formally introduced to the press as Christopher’s future wife.”

A wave of nausea hit me, and I instinctively reached for the engagement ring on my finger—the one Chris had given me. I hadn’t taken it off since arriving here, though I couldn’t figure out why. Maybe it was because it was pure diamond, and I wasn’t ready to deal with losing something that expensive.

You know the real reason. You just don’t want to admit it.

I refused to acknowledge it, even to myself. I wasn’t ready for any kind of commitment, not while my life was a mess. And if I was being honest, I wouldn’t be ready for years, maybe longer.

“So I’ve heard,” I said with a forced smile, though my body felt weak and my empty stomach rumbled. I kept my face neutral, determined not to let the hunger show.

“Then you must know,” she continued, her smirk growing, “you need to play the part. Otherwise, everyone will realize you’re nothing but a fake.” Her words hit me like ice water, and I felt my eyes widen in shock. “Oh, come on. Don’t tell me Chris hasn’t informed you that I was the one who insisted he find a bride—at least until he locates his brother?”

I remained silent, struggling to process what she’d just revealed.

She seemed to relish my discomfort. “But I must say, I’m rather disappointed in him. Out of all the options and places, he chose a commoner rather than his betrothed.”

“B-betrothed?” I stammered, the word catching in my throat.

She nodded, humming in confirmation. “Yes, though I understand their relationship has been... strained since their falling out. I thought it had been resolved. But then I saw you instead of her.” She sighed dramatically, as if it were all some grand inconvenience. “Oh well. I suppose he didn’t want to bring his true bride here, not while my other son is missing. So, he settled for less. Such a good son I have, don’t you think?”

Her words stung, every syllable laced with venom.

It felt like a slap, the sting of her disdain seeping into my skin. I tried to mask the shock that must have flashed across my face, but it was impossible to hold back entirely. Settled for less? My throat tightened as the weight of her words pressed down on me. The queen’s expression remained so calm, so indifferent, as if this was just another conversation for her—a casual dissection of my worth, or lack thereof.

"Betrothed?" I repeated, my voice low, almost strangled. It felt like a sharp hook had lodged in my chest, pulling tighter with every breath I took.

She hummed again, watching me carefully. "Yes, his betrothed. They had an arrangement, but you know how men can be when they're… distracted." She waved a delicate hand in the air, as if swatting away a minor annoyance. "But enough of that. I don’t expect you to understand the complexities of such matters. After all, you weren’t raised for this life, were you?"

Her eyes lingered on my engagement ring, her gaze filled with thinly veiled condescension. My fingers itched to cover it, to shield it from her judgment, but I forced my hands to remain still. Instead, I clenched them behind my back, feeling my nails dig into my palms.

“I didn’t know about any of this,” I said, my voice steadier than I felt inside. “But that doesn’t mean I won’t do my part. I agreed to this, and I’ll see it through.”

The queen raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed. "I suppose you will," she said softly, almost to herself. "But remember, this isn’t a game. The press tomorrow… they can make or break you. One wrong move, one slip of the tongue, and you’ll be the laughingstock of the entire kingdom." Her smile was cold, sharp, like the edge of a blade. "And my son won’t be able to protect you from that."

I swallowed hard, the lump in my throat thickening. Every part of me screamed to walk away, to escape this suffocating moment, but I couldn’t. Not now. Not with so much at stake.

Her gaze softened just slightly, but it was more in the way a predator relaxes after the kill. "You are playing a dangerous game, Sarah. But for your sake… I hope you survive it."

I managed a stiff nod, my heart hammering against my ribs. The queen rose from her seat gracefully, her dress flowing like water around her. Without another word, she turned and walked away, leaving me standing there, trembling in the afternoon sunlight, alone with my thoughts.

I took a deep breath, willing my body to stop shaking. I felt like I was about to collapse from hunger and exhaustion, but I needed to pull myself together. I couldn’t let her see that she had gotten under my skin.

"Commoner," I muttered under my breath, the word tasting bitter on my tongue.

I couldn't stop the queen's words from sinking in, no matter how hard I tried. The wounds had already been cut, and they were bleeding. She had just told me where I stood—what my place was in all of this.

He was already engaged to someone else. So why...?

I sighed, turning away from the river and walking aimlessly. A guard appeared, informing me that lunch was ready. It must be afternoon by now, though I barely registered the time passing. How could I think about eating when the queen had just hit me with the brutal truth?

Their world and mine were leagues apart, and I'd been too blinded by Chris’s touch to see it. Tomorrow, the announcement would serve only to appease the public, to distract them from the ongoing search for Prince Elliot. And once he was found, I’d be tossed aside, discarded like an afterthought.

At least I'd leave with some money. Enough to get by, to take care of my needs—but it wouldn’t give me what I truly wanted.

But what did I even want?

Had I seriously believed something real could come from one night? That was absurd. This was Christopher Knight we were talking about. A man who could have any woman with a snap of his fingers.

Who's to say he wasn’t already with someone else, laughing about how he finally bedded the "stubborn woman"?

The thought made my stomach twist, my hands clenching at my sides. I needed to be smart. I needed to stop being foolish and romanticizing this situation. There was no way a man like Chris would devote himself to me, not after just one night.

He probably wasn't thinking of me at all.

My mind spiraled, the negativity swirling faster and faster. The more I tried to rationalize it, the deeper I sank into my own doubts and fears. I didn’t even notice when someone approached from behind until strong arms gently wrapped around my waist. The scent of familiar cologne filled my senses, washing away every toxic thought from mere moments ago.

"Hey love." Chris whispered softly in my ear as my body stiffened.

"I missed you," Chris murmured, his voice low and velvety as he rested his chin on my shoulder. His lips brushed against the sensitive spot on my neck, sending a shiver through me. My body betrayed me, instantly relaxing into his embrace as if I had no control over it.

A slow, satisfied grin curled against my skin, his mouth barely moving as he spoke again, "Did you miss me?"

Yes, I thought, I missed you more than I expected.

The war in my mind went quiet. His presence, his warmth—it silenced the storm raging inside me. I didn’t want to admit how much I had longed for this, how desperately I had missed him, even when I knew I shouldn’t. But here, in his arms, all of the pain and confusion seemed to dissolve.

For a moment, I allowed myself to melt into him, my heart betraying the logical defenses I had tried to build. The warmth of his body pressed against mine felt like the only thing real in a world that had suddenly become so foreign and cold.

I closed my eyes, surrendering to the fleeting peace he gave me, even if I knew it wouldn’t last.

Oh God. What has he done to me?