Page 25 of Gilded Locks

“I’m standing perfectly still.”

“You know that’s not what I meant. You’ve been running since you got here.”

“You wouldn’t understand.”

“Then help me understand.” He rounded the counter, his hands framing her face with surprising gentleness. “We invited you to stay. Do you think that’s a common occurrence?”

“I wouldn’t know.”

“It’s not. Trust me. Why are you so reluctant to let us take care of you?”

“You act like your offer is without condition.”

“So what? Have you even asked yourself if the conditions are good or bad?” He waved an arm out, encompassing all the luxury that surrounded them. “You would want for nothing. Every craving, every thirst, every desire would be met. You would be safe from whatever has you on edge.”

“In exchange for what?” she snapped. “There’s a cost to surrender that men know nothing about.”

He stilled as if she struck him. “Not all men.” His thumb reverently traced the curve of her cheekbone. “Your desires would be met in exchange for letting us.”

“That still doesn’t answer my questsion. Letting you what?”

“Do whatever we want. It’s that simple. We’d have you, protect you?—”

“Fuck me?”

He smirked. “I know you’re a brave girl, little thief.” When she stiffened, he pressed a finger to her full lips. “Brave enough to risk your life for freedom.”

She wasn’t free if she didn’t have free will. Sometimes, she felt cursed by fate. Certain other women had easy, normal lives with none of the suffering she’d known. “Why me?”

“You chose us.”

“No, why am I the only woman—as you claim—to get an invitation like this?”

He didn’t answer right away. After drawing in a deep, slow breath, he explained, “The winters are long on the side of Kassel. None of us take issue with isolation or the cold, and we entertain whenever possible, but this is different. This isn’t for them, it’s for us.”

“Them?”

He grinned, but his smile didn’t reach his telling blue eyes. “The ones we entertain. You aren’t for them.” His thumb traced the arch of her cheekbone again. “Just us.”

“The three of you.” He had to see how intimidated that would be to a woman in her position, of her size.

“You won’t break.”

“Maybe I’m already broken.”

His soft chuckle was warm, soothing something inside of her with that misleading sense of safety. “I don’t think so.” He glanced down at her body. “You’re small but hardy. Who’s to say this arrangement won’t also benefit you? See what it feels like to shut off your worry for a while. We’ll protect you, Mary.”

Her lashes lifted. It was the first time he called her Mary. But her satisfaction wasn’t about finally fooling him. It was because she liked the sound of her name on his lips. Until she remembered it wasn’t her name. He wasn’t saying Mari as in Marigold. He was calling her by a stranger’s name. And part of her was disappointed he was falling for the lie.

“I’m not brave,” she whispered. “I’m a coward. Running away instead of fighting.”

“Running takes courage, too.” He leaned close enough that she could see silver flecks in his ice-blue eyes. “And courage is never without fear, printsessa. Run toward something that scares you. Run into the unknown with us.”

Her lips tightened, but she was getting tired of shielding her emotions. “You’re very good at this. Did they put you with me on purpose?”

“I’m here with you because I wanted to be alone with you.” This time, there was no playfulness in his voice. “You see, printsessa, I’ve gotten used to getting what I want.”

Her hips jolted forward, and a startled squeak escaped her throat as he cupped her bare ass possessively.