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Sienna

F eeling more secure in Wyatt's arms than I've ever felt in my life, I decide it's time to come clean about my life and a future we can't have together.

"Wyatt, I need to tell you about my life. It's complicated." I take a deep breath as I trace the contours of his chest with my fingers, trying to commit everything about him to my memory for those long, lonely years ahead of me. "My real name is Sienna Greystoke, not Sienna Grey. I come from an extremely wealthy family. My father is Senator Samuel Greystoke. I'm promised to a family friend's son in return for political support." He doesn't flinch as I tell him my story, only holds me tighter, running his hand over my shoulder.

"I needed time to process my life, so with the help of my younger sister Selena, I ran away to find myself for a few days. Then I ended up here, with a new job and a sexy lumberjack bodyguard. Those days turned into weeks, then into months. But now my sister is in danger of having to take over my fate if I don't return to my normal life and agree to be Artie's wife."

"I see." Is all he says, making me wonder if I only imagined the instant connection we had.

Did I just jump from one man who doesn't care about me to another?

Attempting to shift out of his arms and put some distance between us, I push away from him. Instead of letting me go, he holds me tighter until I relax back into his arms.

"Marrying Artie is the last thing I want to do, especially now that I've met you." I continue, deciding to open up my heart to him, even if it means he'll break it. "You're kind, protective, and loving — the perfect man for any woman, just not me." My heart drops at my confession. "It doesn't matter anyway. I don't have a choice in life. I was born into a life to be used as a pawn—not out of love." Even though I've always known that, speaking the words out loud is like a dagger to my soul.

He's been silent for way too long, making me wonder if he ever had feelings for me.

I silently curse myself—of course, he has feelings for me. You don't uproot your whole life for two months to spend every day with someone you hardly know.

"So, what you're saying is your father is marrying you off to this Artie guy for what? Money? Political power?"

Blinking back the tears, I nod. Wyatt must think I'm a horrible person from an awful family. Which he's half right about.

"I should go." I make a weak attempt to push out of his arms again, only to be pulled in closer.

"First, you're not going anywhere. I told you once you gave yourself to me, you were mine forever. Second, your father won't mind having me as a son-in-law.