The Broken Vows (The Windsors, #4)

by Catharina Maura

There aren’t many people who I genuinely hate with every fiber of my being—in fact, my list is comprised of only one name: Zane Windsor.

ask, trying to change the topic. Talking about Zane just reminds me of the things I keep trying to forget, the secrets I’ve kept from her. “Do you know what he said to me?”

To say that Zane and I were rivals growing up would be putting it mildly. Perhaps that’s what it started as, back in kindergarten—mere childish rivalry, a natural result of the feud between our families.

Every thought fades away until there’s nothing left but her—my Celestial. She’s back. Finally.

“Haven’t seen her in a while,” Luca adds, frowning. “She went to college in London, didn’t she? How long was she away? Three years?” Five years, two months, and twelve days actually.

“No, Celeste,” I tell her, my heart racing. “You look fucking breathtaking tonight.”

It’s surreal how perfectly she fits against me, and I can’t resist pulling her closer than necessary.

“Because I missed you, my beautiful Celestial. I missed that soft huff that escapes your lips when I annoy you, the way your eyes flash when I outdo you, the way you challenge me to do better.”

“That’s not what you said when you came all over my fingers on prom night, my sweet goddess.”

“I’ll remember those words fondly the next time I’m pushing my cock deep into you, Celeste. When I’ve got you on the brink of an orgasm, my name on your lips, I’ll make you eat those words before I make you beg for more. And you will. You’ll beg, just like you did that night.”

She glares at me, but that hatred I see in her eyes—it’s laced with pure, unadulterated desire. She’s right to say we’re playing a game, the way we always have. What my beautiful Celestial hasn’t quite figured out is that this time, I’m playing for keeps.

Perhaps my hopes were too high, considering you couldn’t even beat his academic records in school.”

The way he kissed me when we were eighteen, my bottom lip between his teeth…the way he parted my legs and licked his lips, desperate for a taste.

She seemed discouraged, and the way she looked at me reminded me of all the times I inadvertently hurt her in my quest to gain her attention in high school.

I’ve waited years for a shot with her—I won’t wait another second, won’t let my own dumb behavior come between us the way it used to.

I can tell by the way you raise your left brow, and the way your pupils dilate just a little. It somehow turns your beautiful eyes a shade darker. You only ever look like this when you’re deeply upset, and something as simple as this proposal couldn’t have been the reason. What happened?”

“You…you were a virgin too?” she whispers, pure shock transforming her face. “Wasn’t that obvious? You were my first, and you ruined me for everyone else.”

“If you want inside knowledge, just ask me directly. Odds are I’ll tell you.”

What would she say if she found out she’s the only one I’ve ever treated this way?

“The observatory and my home office are off-limits. You’re free to use anything else, but those two places will remain locked and off-limits to you.” I

“Truthfully, you’re not worth it.”

He looks so proud, and it does something to me, unwinds a knot in my stomach and leaves me enthralled. For a few moments, I lose myself in memories of him looking at me in a similar way—not quite as innocent as he does

“I love you, and someday, I’m going to make you my wife. That’s a vow, Celeste.” I suppose he kept some vows in the end, just not the most important ones.

hate you with every fiber of my being,”

“It is that simple. All that matters is you both still care. So long as you do, anything is fixable. The real problems don’t start until either of you genuinely stops caring about the other, and from where I’m standing, you’re not at risk of that happening anytime soon.” I

“Look at you,” I whisper, fucking pleased. “You’re so wet for me, baby. You want my cock, don’t you?”

“If you’re going to fuck me, you’d better look at who you’re with, Zane.” My eyes flutter open as I push an inch into her. “It’s always you, crazy girl,” I whisper. “It’s always been you.”

For the first time since she came back, I kiss her the way I used to, back when she used to be mine, and she responds in kind.

Your rationale won’t undo the pain you caused.”

My breath hitches, and everything fades away as she walks in on her father’s arm. My Celestial. She’s like a vision from my wildest dreams, the ones where I get to live in the past just a little longer, and looking at her hurts.

“Can’t you just act like a normal fucking bride for ten fucking seconds? These traditions might not mean a thing to you, but they mean something to me.”

“I get hard for every wet, eager mouth that comes near my cock.”

“Who do you belong to?” I ask, grabbing her hips to keep her in place. If she keeps moving like that, I’ll slip into her before I’m good and ready to, and I’m not done toying with her. “You, Zane,” she instantly tells me, breathing hard. “Only you.”

Maybe it was the way he called me Celestial, or the way he called me his wife. I felt enchanted, desperate to lose myself in him, and I know the feeling was mutual.

“That’s not really any of your business, is it?” My heart lurches, and something dark and twisted settles in my stomach. “It is,” I snap. “I’m your wife.”

“I won’t play these games with you anymore. I can’t, Celeste—I can’t spend the next three years of my life in constant battle.”

“I never have, and I never will. The fact you won’t believe me is what tore us apart in the first place. I’ll never forgive you for what you’ve done, both to us, and to my business.” He reaches for me and pushes a curl behind my ear. “There was a time I’d have done anything for you.” He shakes his head, regret marring his face as he pulls his hand back. “Now I don’t want anything to do with you.”

“We haven’t met,” Celeste says, straightening her spine. “I’m Celeste Windsor, Zane’s wife.”

You leave work before I do, and I don’t see you at home at all.”

“You’re mine, Zane. For the next three years, you’re mine.”

Only you. No matter what phase of our lives we’re in, no matter what’s going on or how much I fucking hate you—I only ever want you.”

“For once, you’re right about something, Celeste.” Curiosity flickers through her eyes, before lust drowns it out when I push into her farther. “I’ve always been yours,”

She blinks at me in confusion, but then the biggest smile transforms her face, and something akin to hope sparkles in her eyes. Fucking hell. I caved. Again. In this battle of wills, I’ll always lose, because it means seeing her smile like that.

I’d felt pathetic, standing there, listening in on a conversation that wasn’t meant for my ears. Every day since, wild theories have occupied my mind.

“What is this?” she whispers, tracing my tattoo with the tip of her fingers. “My biggest regret.”

all these years, all the heartache and pain, I still want her as much as I always have, and this feeling will never go away. It’ll always be her.

I so badly want his words to be true, but if they are, that would mean my best friend lied to me. It isn’t possible—she’d never lie to me only to take her own life.

them. I get why, but they don’t. From their point of view, we broke up in the worst way, and you cut them out of your life despite their best attempts to hold on. They would have, you know? They loved you so much, they’d have stayed friends with you even though you broke my heart because

I’ve become so used to the blame and hatred we throw back and forth that I didn’t think I held the power to hurt her. I didn’t think she cared enough, and I don’t know how I feel about finding out that I was mistaken. She turns away and

“That’s my wife you’re talking about. She’s a member of our family too.”