Once again, she felt a pang of guilt—she’d left the house this morning and somehow forgotten to tell him…
“I wasn’t out having fun today. I just went home for a bit to take care of something. I didn’t mean to leave you behind.” She stole a glance at his striking, sharp-featured face and mumbled her defense, “I thought I’d be back quickly, so I didn’t mention it…”
But the tension in the room didn’t ease one bit.
Suddenly, an idea flashed through her mind. “Oh!” She gasped softly and, with a dramatic flourish, whipped her hand out from behind her back.
A small bouquet of scarlet roses burst into Harrison’s view.
“Darling, I brought you a present!” she announced, her voice brimming with pride as she held it up for him to see.
The bouquet was beautiful—each rose clearly chosen with care. Still, there were only twelve in total, which made it seem a little modest.
Harrison asked, “What’s this?”
“Roses!” she chirped, her cheeks suddenly turning a lovely shade of pink. She looked a bit embarrassed. “I picked out every single one myself. They say twelve roses mean ‘all my love.’”
She held the bouquet even closer to him, voice shy but forthright. “So—darling, I’m giving you all my love!”
Her gaze sparkled, like a sky full of stars—open, sincere, and overflowing with the wholehearted affection of a young woman in love.
Harrison froze.
“Darling?” Anastasia’s heart began to flutter with anxiety as she watched his reaction, the light in her eyes dimming. “You… you don’t like them?”
He finally spoke, his voice rough as he caught her hand just as she tried to pull the bouquet away. “No, I do. I love them—very much.”
Relief washed over Anastasia, and a bright smile broke across her face—
“Ah!”
But before she could even react, he snatched the bouquet from her, and in the next instant, she was pulled forward by a strong force.
Completely unprepared, she stumbled right into his arms.
Their eyes locked.
“Don’t forget what you promised me. There’ll be consequences if you do. Understand?”
“Uh…?” Anastasia still looked a little out of it.
She was so thoroughly kissed, her mind had gone blank.
For a moment, it seemed like she could only babble nonsense.
“You said you like me, that you love me, that you’ll stay by my side. I took every word seriously.” His eyes were black as midnight, his voice edged with danger. “Ana, if you dare forget what you said—”
“I won’t, I won’t!” Anastasia snapped back to attention, shaking her head so fast she barely had to think.
Her answer clearly satisfied Harrison.
He kissed the corner of her mouth, his voice gentle. “Good girl.”
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