Total pages in book: 145
Estimated words: 141385 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 707(@200wpm)___ 566(@250wpm)___ 471(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 141385 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 707(@200wpm)___ 566(@250wpm)___ 471(@300wpm)
I pull back, grinning at her. “I knew my crown drew you in, but who knew it would be my cock that won you over?”
“Who mentioned your cock?” She leans up to kiss me and drags my lower lip between her teeth, and the simple action sends another round of desire to that very body part. “I was thinking about your mouth.”
“Mm.” I capture her mouth with mine, giving her the same treatment she just gave me. She whimpers, and my fingers clench, digging into her. “Come on,” I say before I get too carried away. “I’ll run a bath, and you can relax in it.”
“Are you getting in with me?”
I blink, staring at her.
She simply returns my gaze, fluttering her eyelashes over those irresistible green eyes of hers. “What? It’s a fair question.”
I groan and drop my head back. “I’m not just saying it. You really are going to kill me.”
***
The Sinclair mansion might as well be in Antarctica for all the warmth it gives off.
The pathways of the gardens are all illuminated, but they could be nothing but leafless, dead sticks for all I care. There’s nothing welcoming about this place, no matter how much light creeps through the windows or how many flowering plants crawl their way up the brick walls.
I’ve never paid it much attention.
I’ve never needed to.
But now… my life begins and ends with the woman who despises this place and almost everyone inside it, and because of that, I’m here to deliver a little warning.
One that even the bastard that is William Sinclair will understand.
I knock three times at the front door. A long moment passes before one of them swings open and Marina appears, quickly taking a step back with a gasp.
As if she didn’t know I was coming.
I fight back my smile when she bows and stutters out a loud, “Y-Your Royal Highness!”
The woman can act; that’s for sure.
I’d tell Alec he did well when he chose her if I was inclined to compliment him in the slightest.
“I’m here to see William Sinclair,” I say firmly, ignoring the eyes from the people that have rapidly multiplied in the foyer.
Jesus Christ. It’s past midnight. Why are so many staff working?
“I’m not sure where he is,” Marina says, opening the door wider. “Please, come in. I’ll find out.”
“Thank you.” I step inside as she barks an order at another one of the household maids who quickly scurries off.
And I see it.
The first thing that makes my blood boil.
On the largest wall in the foyer is a life size portrait of William, Rosalyn, and Jasmine. Jasmine is front and centre in a chair with her parents standing behind her, looking almost regal.
It’s reminiscent of a portrait I would take with my parents, one that would be shared as an official image of the Royal Family. Except it’s not quite right—their lifeless eyes stare down at everyone who enters in a cheap imitation, and it’s plain to see that they haven’t been hiding their ambitions at all.
It’s sickening.
No wonder my mother despises them all so.
It’s not the only photo of them, either. Everywhere I look, there are framed pictures of them, but mostly Jasmine. The gaudy entryway is almost a shrine to her and her soulless achievements, and it makes me sick.
If anyone walked in here, they’d not be remiss in believing that the Sinclairs only have one daughter.
There isn’t a trace of Harriet anywhere. Not even one of her hairs. I wouldn’t be surprised to find out that every inch of her DNA has been scrubbed from this place.
I raise my hand to my mouth and glance at the wall of photos of Jasmine. “Is it like this everywhere?”
Marina’s head is still slightly bowed, and she answers my quiet question with a slight, albeit hidden, raise of her thumb.
I can’t bring myself to reply.
I knew it.
Hattie has made it clear that her mother was persona non grata in this household, and given that she herself has been hidden for over two years… What the fuck am I expecting, really?
Even if there’d been any hint of Hattie in this place before, I can only imagine the carnage that ensued to remove it all the moment our engagement was announced.
The maid from earlier runs down the staircase and stops, curtseys towards me, then hurries to Marina’s side to whisper in her ear.
Marina straightens up and clears her throat. “Mr Sinclair is in his office waiting for you. Would you please follow me, Your Royal Highness?”
I nod at her, and she motions for me to fall behind her as she walks. A thousand questions whir in my mind but asking any now will only serve to expose her as the spy she is. As much as it pains me to find out what’s going on in this hellscape, I must wait.