Twisted Games (Twisted, #2)

by Ana Huang

“By the way, princess, the book is upside down.”

“Life is a war zone, princess. The sooner you understand that, the safer you’ll be.”

I was a princess, he was my bodyguard. I was twenty-two, he was thirty-two. It was wrong, but I couldn’t stop.

“I suggest you stop lookin’ at me like that, princess,” I said, my voice lethally soft. “Unless you plan on doing something about it.”

Even when you’re not there, you’re everywhere. In my head, in my lungs, in my fucking soul.

“Perhaps…” Rhys’s touch skimmed down my neck and over the curve of my shoulder. I shivered, my skin blossoming with a thousand more goosebumps. “I was always meant to find my way to you.”

I was a rule follower by nature. It was how I’d survived most of my life. But for Bridget, I would break every rule in the book.

Bridget von Ascheberg was mine and mine alone. It didn’t matter that she wasn’t mine to take. I was taking her anyway, and if I could tattoo myself onto her skin, bury myself into her heart, and etch myself onto her soul, I would.

“Remember. In public, you’re my princess, but in private, you’re my whore.”

“Trust me, princess. I would rather end my own life than ask you to do anything that might hurt you.”

“You belong to me. I don’t give a fuck what the law or anyone else says. You are mine. Understand?”

“I love it when you dance. But only with me.” He placed his free hand on the small of my back. “You don’t dance.” “Only with you.” The burn intensified. “Careful, Mr. Larsen, or I’ll think you actually like me.” His mouth curled into a grin. “Baby, we’re way beyond like.”

“I don’t need a happily ever after. I need to be by your side. I need you happy and healthy and safe. Goddammit Bridget, I need you. In any way I can have you.”

“I’m not leaving you. If you’re in Eldorra, I’m in Eldorra. If you’re in Antarctica, the Sahara, or the middle of the fucking ocean, I’m there. I’m as much yours as you are mine, princess, and a law isn’t keeping me away. I don’t care what a piece of paper says. I’ll burn down the entire fucking Parliament if I have to.”

“In Costa Rica, you asked if I’d ever been in love. I said no.” I lowered my head until our foreheads touched and her lips were scant inches from mine. “Ask me again.”

“Have you ever been in love, Mr. Larsen?” “Only once.” I slid my hand up from her neck to the back of her head, cupping it. “And you, princess. Have you ever been in love?” “Only once,” she whispered.

And I realized…it’s not that I didn’t believe in love before. It’s that I was saving it all for you.”

“But someone once told me we always end up where we’re meant to be, and this is where I’m meant to be. With you.”