I’m twenty-eight years old and ready for a physical relationship. More than ready. But is that the reason I want to accept Noah’s offer? Of course not.
I want to spend my life with Noah. I want to share breakfasts and birthdays with him. I want to be together for all the good and heartbreaking moments, and I know without a doubt he’s the only person I wanted two nights ago while I was imploding.
“No.” I search his eyes. “There are a thousand reasons why I want you.”
“I love you,” he says solemnly. “I want to be your emergency contact, and I want you to be mine. I want to exchange rings and vows. I want us to beus, forever, lawfully. And yes, I want to sleep with you. Preferably soon.”
I try to bite back a grin, but I fail. “Emergency contacts have never sounded so romantic.”
He laughs, looking more determined by the minute. “We’ve been thrown together at every turn, getting a taste of what life could be like. And I like it. I more than like it—I love it. Let’s fill out the paperwork and exchange vows. After all this chaos is over, we’ll have a reception back home.”
“Your sister is going to freak out when she discovers we got married before her.”
He leans in to kiss me, smiling. “We won’t tell her until after her wedding.”
This is madness.
But I don’t care.
“Let’s do it,” I say, exhilarated. “Let’s get married.”
21
“Hey,don’t freak out, but Noah and I are getting married today,” I say to Olivia, glad she answered her phone.
The line is silent for several seconds. Finally, she says, “You’re what?”
“We’re getting married. Cassian is going to perform the ceremony in a couple of minutes.”
“You’re in Miami, not Vegas.”
“That’s why we’re doing it on a beach and not a casino.”
“Piper!” she hisses.
“Okay, listen. Apparently, I’m not in Cassian’s line. I belong to this other vampire prince, and he’s kind of unstable. Noah and Cassian are worried he might use me to coerce Cassian into turning down the nomination.”
“I thought they were using Sophia for that.”
“Oh yeah, we got her back yesterday.”
“How does this wedding protect you?”
“If I marry Cassian’s heir, I get to join his line. Like, there’s not a backup for the duke, but there are backup princes.” I laugh, nervous as heck. “Or princesses. They stopped discriminating against women about fifty years ago, according to Sophia. Girl power, right?”
“Pip, you’re babbling.”
“I think I’m going to throw up,” I admit in a whisper.
“If you don’t want this, then don’t do it. Surely, there’s another way to protect you from the crazy prince.”
“Idowant this.” I walk a little further down the beach, eyeing Cassian, Noah, and Sophia. “I want it more than anything. But I feel like I’ve diabolically trapped Noah into it.”
“Was it your idea?”
“No.”
“Is he acting edgy?”
