Page 71 of Vicious Kingdom

Instead, I blinked hard at the library.

“I like to read,” she explained, sensing my astonishment.

She wandered to a door that I guessed was a closet. I moved closer but paused to glance over the titles. There was a wide array. Every wall was concealed behind floor-to-ceiling bookcases.

“Leonard? Can you, um, help me?” Annaliese called.

I found her in the closet, struggling with her dress. Her arm was bent as she tugged and twisted.

“The zipper’s caught.” Her eyes lifted, and I found myself falling into the pools of blue.

Drawn by her presence, I inched forward. “Turn around.” The words were gravel, sticking to my throat.

The zipper was stuck.

Deciding the thing was beyond saving, I gripped both sides and pulled. The teeth ripped. Bare skin showed beneath.

I let out a staggered rasp—so beautiful.

A man possessed, I couldn’t stop myself. I brushed the tips of my fingers down her spine.

Her shiver was delicious. My groin tightened painfully.

“So, um, I found out tonight that we’re getting married,” she whispered.

That was one way to put it.

“They said you’ve known all week?” she pressed, turning and clutching the material to her chest.

I frowned at the protective gesture. “You’re saying you didn’t know?”

Annaliese shook her head, strands of hair shifting where they’d escaped her styling. “Dad thought it would be a surprise this way, but my guess is he didn’t want to give me time to escape.”

A powerful emotion flared at the suggestion. I decided right then and there that this was, in fact, happening. Any lingering doubt vanished. She was going to be mine. I took two steps forward, pressing our bodies together.

“There’s no escaping this, Anna.”

She smiled—she fucking smiled. “I have no intentions of running away.”

“You should. You should run far away.” I slid my hand up her arm, feeling the gooseflesh prickling on her skin.

“And break whatever deal you have with Dad? That would be cruel.”

Fuck him. I hated that he was part of whatever this thing was. I bent over her, and she tipped her face up to me. So trusting, so sweet.

“I’m sorry for the way things ended at the lake,” I murmured.

Annaliese nodded. “Thank you, but I understand.”

No, you don’t.Because I didn’t understand it myself.

“Take it off.” At my command, she dropped the remains of the dress.

I stifled a groan.

Annaliese stood there, in my arms, with nothing on save the white, lacy panties.

“Why did you agree to this, Leo—Leonard?” She fumbled over my name.