Charmed By The Mountain Prince(31)

Why would I want to be a lone ranger when this princess could be my partner in crime?

“Well, Princess, I must say you look really cute in those clothes.”

She gives me a sidelong glance, and a slight smile emerges from the corner of her mouth. We aren’t through here. “Oh yeah?”

“Iris, I mean it. You look fucking fantastic. I know this morning we got off on the wrong foot—”

“Wrong foot?” Her head swivels so fast, her eyes ablaze and locked on mine. She’s not letting me off the hook easily.

And maybe that’s the exact sort of woman I need. A woman who won’t take any bullshit. Who says it like it is.

“Garrick, that was not the wrong foot. That was a full-on fight.”

“Okay,” I say, raising my hands in defeat. “A full-on fight. And I’m sorry for that.”

She meets my gaze. “You mean that? You’re sorry?”

“I am sorry.”

“How sorry?”

“Sorry enough that I’m willing to make a few concessions to make our living situation less tense.”

“Concessions? Jesus, Garrick. I’m your wife.”

“Exactly.”

“As your wife I want more than a concession. I want your—”

She stops herself mid-sentence, looks at her hands, then clasps them tightly, pulling them into her lap. Her cheeks flush and she looks embarrassed.

“What is it?” I ask, as gently as I can manage. “What do you want?”

Iris shakes her head, and I see a trace of tears in the corner of her eyes. Damn it, the last thing I want to do is make my wife cry.

“Listen, when I said concessions I wasn’t trying to be an asshole. I have a few ideas of how we can compromise, is all. What you said this morning made a lot of sense. We should have some electricity in our place. And we should get a refrigerator. Maybe even a proper stove. That way you can cook our meals.”

Iris looks at me, jaw-dropped.

“What did I say now?” I ask, incredulous, pushing away my plate of food untouched.

“So I can cook you your meals?” she balks. “That’s what I’m here for? That’s what you want from me?”

“Hell, no. There’s a lot more I want from you. I think you gave me a pretty good hint of what you’re capable of in the bathroom.”

“Garrick, I’m a princess,” she whisper-yells. “And you know what? All women are princesses for that matter. All wives are. All partners are. And to think I’m here just to suck your cock and make you dinner? God. If you see me….”

She shakes her head, a blurry of tears filling her eyes. She must realize that there are people all around us, because she lowers her voice and speaks through gritted teeth.

“If you see me just as a thing to have, instead of a person to have and to hold ... someone to cherish ... I don’t see how this is going to work.”

“Iris,” I say reaching for her, realizing too late how fucking insane I sounded.

But it’s too late. She’s stepped off the stool and headed to the door.

Kurt may not have heard the entire domestic exchange, but he’s got the gist of it. He shoots me a raised eyebrow, shakes his head. “Prince Charming, you have some work to do.”





19





I wipe tears from my eyes as I leave the bar. I’m embarrassed—and not because I wanted to exude some sort of perfection. Not in the least.

I may be a princess, but I’m far from perfect.

I run as fast as I can and duck into a side street, crouching behind a dumpster where, in the least ladylike way, I cry my heart out.

I got uncomfortable at the bar, mostly because I realized Garrett doesn’t feel the way for me that I feel for him. I feel attracted to him sure, but more than that, I feel a connection to him. When his hands hold me, when his eyes meet mine, it feels like we’re connected on a level deeper than the physical.

It feels like we’re connected, and it feels like love. There are glimpses where I think he truly sees me, truly understands me. Then the moment passes and his stubbornness gets in the way of anything real.

I’m embarrassed because I was so close to telling him that yes, I truly am falling for him.

But I know he isn’t falling for me.

I’m just the person he wants to order around the cabin.

Back in Elexia, when I sat with Dahlia and packed my clothes, she told me I needed to brace myself for the worst-case scenario—worst-case scenario being that Garrick doesn’t want to be married to me. I told myself that wasn’t even a real option.

Of course I want my husband to want me. Sure, it’s an arranged marriage, but I have this naïve desire to be swept off my feet and carried away to a romantic happily-ever-after. Full-on unicorn rides into the sunset.