54. CHAPTER FORTY-NINE
CHAPTER FORTY-NINE
VERONICA
Ianxiously pace the length of my room.
Gareth is in frantic disarray. He hasn’t stopped staring out the window, as if he is coming up with a plan to get us out of the palace. Right now, I think both of us would like to be as far away from Hawthorn as humanly possible.
Sebastian announced his affair with me to not only the kingdom, but to all royals from afar.
He placed a target on his head, on mine.
Sure, I don’t believe I could be picked out amongst the many who work for the Baros family, but still.
One good look at me and anyone would figure it out.
The others are proper in their own way. Even with all of the time I have spent here, I’m still far from it.
What’s that saying? ‘You can take the girl out of the village, but you can’t take the village out of the girl.’
I wasn’t born for royal life. I was born to run free, through patches of beautiful flowers, with bare feet and wild hair.
That is who I am. Who I will always be.
“If we duck and roll, I don’t think we would die, jumping from this height.” Gareth’s voice redirects my panic.
I turn to him, halting my pacing. He has the window open, hands gripping either side of the frame to peer below. While I admire his desire to keep us safe, he’s a complete idiot.
“We will die. I’m the farthest thing from graceful, Gare.” I blanch, pursing my lips while lifting my hands to my cheeks. They’re warm to the touch, probably flushed if I looked in a mirror.
Gareth turns to me, his blue eyes wide with panic. “Well, Vee, I am going to need you to figure it the fuck out before we are both killed by sundown.”
My eyebrow rises, and I blink slowly. Killed?
“Gare, we aren’t going to die…” I say slowly, unsure of my own words.
“News flash, Veronica, you had an affair with the King.” His arms fly up over his head in exasperation. “You oggled Sebastian's ass and now we are thoroughly fucked!”
He has a point, I know he does. My neck was not made for a noose.
The door clicks open, both of us whipping around to face it. Gareth shuffles behind me, the window frame creaking and I assume he’s gripping it again. If he jumps, he’s on his own, I’ll take my chances trying to talk my way out of death if needed.
Sebastian emerges from the other side of the door, Georgina trails in right after.
I have to pause at the sight of him. His eyes are so large, so full of…
happiness. The lop-sided grin pulling high on his cheeks is blinding.
This is my Sebastian. He’s right here, standing in front of me, aged and perfect.
“Ronni—umph,” I surge forward. Crashing into his chest, earning a soft grunt in response.
His arms encircle me tightly, Sebastian holds me to his chest with a warmth I’ve never known.
Tears soak through the shoulder of his uniform as they fall freely down my cheeks.
My fingers thread through his short chestnut hair, tugging him as close as possible until I’m practically climbing his tall frame.
My feet lift from the ground as Sebastian scoops me up, one arm sliding under my knees as he pulls me into his chest. My hands move to his cheeks, guiding his face until our lips collide.
He kisses me with a hunger that ignites every nerve inside my body.
Our teeth clash, desperation filling the kiss.
It’s been so long. So long.
“Hello? We are still here!” Gareth shouts, but Sebastian doesn’t allow our lips to part.
I follow Sebastian’s tongue, chasing it with my own. He’s panting, our chests rising and falling in a rhythm of their own. Slaps of shoes on the floor are drowned out by Sebastian’s groans into my mouth. The door slams shut, I catch the grumbled ‘unbelievable’ from Gareth as it closes.
The mattress catches my fall, I sink into it as Sebastian crawls over me hastily.
His body rests on top of mine and I welcome the weight happily.
Our hearts slam together, their vibrations ricocheting off the other.
Neither of us speak, allowing the words needed to be said to silently pass through the touch of our lips.
I press my mouth harder to his. Forever?
Sebastian’s hands slide to my jaw, cupping it as he presses back. Forever.