Chapter 88

Chapter 88 Only a fool would let love go to waste.

A flicker of surprise crossed his face. It almost made her smile. William nodded and she felt her unease drip away from her. Doris grabbed one of her nightgowns from her drawer and went to change. She stared at herself in the mirror and trailed her fingers across the mark he left on her skin all those months ago. It tingled a little as if it knew she was in his presence. Did he know that Melody was never his mate when they kissed? Did he feel the spark with her like Doris had with him? Or did he not even care? She was absolutely insane for even thinking about him in such a way. Beth would lose her mind over it. She had always wanted Doris to end up with a prince—which was still never going to happen-but she had one of the nicer ones in mind for Doris. If Beth knew all the things William and Doris had done on this journey, she would never let Doris live it down. Doris smoothed out her nightgown and pulled her hair up into a low ponytail. When she came out, he was already laying in bed with his shirt off. It shouldn’t have made her heart race as much as it did. She’d seen him like this several times by now and– Doris swallowed and crawled in bed with him. Her eyes followed along the lines of his firm stomach and she had to force herself to look away as she laid on her side. The room was dim, only the fire lit up the area and kept her warm. William turned on his side and wrapped his arms around her body to pull her against him as if she was meant to be there like a piece to his puzzle His hands didn’t lower to uncharted areas, he kept them firm around her to keep her in place. Perhaps he could read her mind and realized how flighty her thoughts were. She didn’t need to worry about falling asleep next to him anymore. It was almost natural. The next morning, Doris woke with her body held sprawled across his own. Her head on his chest, her leg draped over his own. How did she get like this? She could hear the steady beat of his heart and his even breath and she knew he was still asleep. Carefully, she lifted herself off him and laid on her back once more. His hand still gripped her waist, it tightened whenever she moved. Doris chewed on her lip as she stared at him. Her eyes lowered betrayingly low to take in the lines of his stomach and chest. She felt him pull her closer against him and her eyes snapped to his own to see he was wide awake and watching her admire his body. “Oh, William-” He silenced her with a kiss that could have melted her down until she was nothing. His soft lips moved slowly against her own as if they had all the time in the world to discover the other. William’s hand moved up her body at an aching speed until he gripped the side of her face. Doris pressed her hand against his chest and felt how wildly his heart beat beneath her palm. This was wrong “Hello?” Someone pounded on her door. “Will you be quiet? I’m sure they had a rather rough night.” Someone else said. Doris knew instantly it was Enzo. Doris untangled herself from him and went to put on a robe. “Yes?” She called through the door. “I come with information.

Hurry and invite us in before we freeze.” Doris glanced at William but he was already up with his shirt half buttoned. He went to throw open the door to see Eliza and Enzo on the other side. “Good morning, lovers.” Enzo grinned and closed the door behind him. He set down a plate of steaming food and clasped his hands behind his back. “I hope we didn’t interrupt any romantic moments, but I have some information to share.” “On with it.” William mumbled as he picked at the plate. She had to tear herself away from his messy appearance. Why did it always attract her so much more than when he was put together? “Right. Well, I’ve secured your visit with Life Pharmacy, you’ll both leave by tomorrow night along with one of your guards.” Enzo leaned against the wall. “You’re my new hires. A young, poor married couple that is just hoping to make enough to live off of. Your guard can be a sibling or whatever.”

“Will we have different names?” Doris asked. “Yes. Not many people there have ever seen the prince so it won’t be hard if you be careful. Doris, you will go as Isabelle. William, you’ll be James. Your guard can go by Oscar just don’t slip up when you use them. Nobody will look twice at you if you keep your head down.” Doris wrapped her arms around herself. “How long do we have to stay?” “As long as it takes to get the answers you need. Someone is out for William’s head and they won’t stop until they get it.” Enzo cleared his throat and glanced between them. “Just so you know, I won’t be near to help you. If they find out I planted you guys in there to spy on them, it will ruin everything and they will turn on me. It would be best not to mention me at all.” William nodded and ran his fingers though his hair. Doris had to curl her own by her sides to stop herself from reaching out to touch him. Enzo glanced at Eliza. “Doris, I brought Eliza to help you sort out looks for your new identity. William, if you could follow me back to my own cabin, we can work on yours.” William locked eyes with Doris as he nodded. He didn’t take his eyes off of her until he left out the door and into the snow half dressed. She slowly released the breath she was holding “That is quite a man.” Eliza said as she went to close the door. The click pushed her out of her thoughts. She pressed her cold hands against her warm face. “How long has it been going on?” “What do you mean?” Doris asked carefully as she followed Eliza to the drawers. She watched as the woman pulled out sets of clothes and organized them into outfits that were much different than her own taste.

Doris wasn’t sure why it would matter, she doubted anyone would know what William’s maid looked like or what she liked to wear. It was rather pointless to try and hide her identity. Eliza snorted. “I mean between you and the prince. Are you his lady?” “Oh! No, he has a lady. We’re not-anything.” “Oui, I’m not blind. I saw the way you two just stared at each other as if you would let him rip your clothes off right here.” Doris felt as if she was about to pass out. “Are you mad? There’s no way—“ “Hush, my child. Your desires are nothing to be ashamed of. But being a man’s second choice is. You say he has a lady yet he hasn’t mentioned anyone but you the entire time he has been here and his eyes want to only seek you in a crowd. Don’t tell me you’re blind to it all.” 1 “I…” Doris said helplessly. “I don’t know what to say about that. I don’t know what his intentions are for me, but we’re not lovers.” 1 “My dear, I think he has higher standards for you than that.” Eliza pulled out a bag and started to stack the clothes in neatly while Doris uselessly watched. “You can’t fake the way he acts for you. I can sense the bond you have with him, perhaps it’s about time you stop denying yourself of his feelings when everyone else can already see it.”

3 “I just think everyone might be wrong. I’m worried he will try to use me and discard me like he’s done to so many other women at the palace.” 2 It was the first time she admitted it out loud, but it was true. What if he threw her away the second he was done using her body? Eliza stopped for a moment and turned to look at her. “I’ve seen many awful men run around to use a woman like a toy. I’ve never seen one look at someone the way William looks at you. Even if he is too proud to admit he has feelings, it’s plain as day on his face.” Doris sighed. “I don’t know.” “It’s okay not to know, to be unsure. You don’t have to give him the time of day if you don’t want to. But I can see the way you look at him too. You both hold a light for the other and it’s hard to deny it, isn’t it?” Doris swallowed and nodded. “Only a fool would let love go to waste. So I suggest you don’t make a fool of yourself.” prince at all, but he was just as handsome as always. The dark stubble on his jaw had grown out the past few days. She imagined what it would feel like to have it on her skin—then quickly wiped away those thoughts. “You look great.” Doris said with a small smile. His eyes raked her frame and she suddenly wished she had all of her oversized sweaters back so she had something to hide under. Once they left the camp, she knew she would throw one on again. There was no point to change her style anyway when she wasn’t the one they were looking for. All she was was a useless maid in their eyes. He said nothing to her compliment as he slid off his jacket.

“We won’t leave until after dinner when it’s the darkest. Enzo said it would be best so no one looks too closely.” “Okay.” Doris nervously picked at her nails as he walked closer to her. He reached out to still her nervous hands. “I’ve been thinking about a lot of things.” “As usual.” He said, the side of his mouth lifted slightly. Her blood pulsed loudly beneath his touch. Doris sighed and laughed a little. “I just—I was thinking about you and—“ “Don’t do a thing like that.” He whispered. His eyes flickered to her mouth and she tried to force out all the dirty thoughts from her mind. “You’ll only complicate it.” “I thought you hated me.” Doris said as she looked down at their hands. She could feel his warm breath on her forehead. “I should hate you, shouldn’t I?” “Do you?” Doris swallowed and shook her head no. He took her face in his hands and lifted her face to look up at his. “I don’t either.” 2 It was like a cord had snapped inside her. He pulled her against him and kissed her roughly as if he couldn’t wait another minute. His fingers tangled in her hair as he lifted her up to wrap her around his waist. She gripped onto his shoulders and pressed her body against his. He groaned and carried her over to the bed and nothing inside Doris wanted him to stop. She wanted this, she wanted every piece of him and she was tired of forcing herself to believe otherwise. 1 He dropped her on the bed and fell with her. His mouth desperately found hers again after they were separated. Doris arched her body up against his and allowed him access inside her mouth.

Their tongues tangled, she gripped her fingers through his hair and wanted to memorize the way his body felt pressed up against hers. She wanted to capture this moment forever. His mouth left her own to kiss down her neck. She gasped as he lingered over the mark he’d left on her skin. He had to pull away the fabric of her sweater, but he found it just fine. “My mate.” He groaned. Fire burned through every inch of her, she knew her wolf hadn’t exaggerated. It was like sparks passed between their bodies but wanted more. She wanted to feel his skin against her own with such an intensity, she didn’t feel an ounce of shame for it but she knew she would later. Doris hesitated for a second before she started to unbutton the top of his shirt. He leaned up further to look down at her with a question in his eyes. He didn’t have to say a word, she knew what he was thinking. Heat flamed her cheeks. “I-I’ve never…” William silenced her with a kiss and gripped her hand to let her continue. He leaned up once it was all unbuttoned and slowly took it off as he watched her. She bit her lip and for once allowed her eyes to take in the sight of him. She knew he was fit, but she didn’t realize how perfectly sculpted he was. He had just the right amount of muscles, she trailed her fingers across his skin slowly just to feel them. His arms caged her in against the bed. “I…can you go first?” Doris whispered. He looked confused for a moment until he caught her staring at his pants. She didn’t want to be the first one completely naked, she didn’t think she could handle that He reached down to grab her hands and place them on the hem of his pants.

Her fingers shook a little as she unbuttoned them and he slid them off along with his undergarments. She swallowed her gasp when she saw the length of him. It was the first time she had ever seen a man so…

bare. She didn’t realize he was that… big. Would it hurt? No one had ever told her much about sex or what to expect, she’d only ever read about it in books. His large hand stroked himself. Doris squirmed beneath him when she heard his deep and throaty moan. He took her hand and let her hand feel him.

The instant she touched him, he groaned loud enough to make her want to clench her thighs from how much her arousal pooled between her legs. Her hand hesitantly stroked him as she saw him do. He gripped the end of her sweater and pulled it off over her head without a second thought. He helped her wiggle out of her tight pants and soon she laid beneath him almost completely bare. She was surprised her undergarments didn’t burn off from how heated his gaze was. His fingers toyed with the hem of her panties and she knew he was holding himself back from shredding them into pieces. “Is this what you want?” He asked, his voice rough. 4