Twisted Games (Twisted, #2)

by Ana Huang

To all the girls who said fuck Prince Charming, give me a scarred knight.

Men. They always ruined it by opening their mouths.

Jules sighed. “Tell your man he’s hot as hell but a total buzzkill.” “He’s not my man. He’s my bodyguard.” I lowered my voice, but I thought I saw Rhys pause for a millisecond before he resumed polishing his knife. “Even worse. He’s running your life and you’re not getting any dick from it.” “Jules.” “You know it’s true.” Another sigh. “Fine, I get it. We’ll miss you, but we’ll catch up when we’re back.”

Rhys’s glare intensified. “He’s wearing shoe lifts. He deserves to be threatened.”

It took all my self-control not to knock all his teeth out. “Say the word, and I can make it look like an accident,” I said after Andreas was out of earshot.

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

“I have to say, I’m impressed,” Alex drawled. “I didn’t think you had it in you. Maybe you’ll make a good queen after all.” Of course he thought good leadership rested on manipulation and deceit. His favorite philosopher was probably Machiavelli.

You were still mine.” I curled my hand around the back of her neck while keeping my thumb on her lip. “Mine to fight with. Mine to protect. Mine to fuck.” My voice dropped. “Mine to love.” Bridget sucked in an audible breath. “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.” It was the same request I’d made at the hospital, but this time, Bridget didn’t break our gaze as she asked, “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. I exhaled sharply her words sank into my soul, filling cracks I hadn’t known existed.

“YOU CAN’T SIT BY A QUEEN’S SIDE IF YOU DON’T KNOW which fork to use. You’ll embarrass yourself at state functions.” Andreas crossed his arms over his chest. “Did you not look at the diagram I sent you?” “They’re. All. Forks,” I bit out. “They serve the same function.”

“You might make a good Prince Consort after all.” Andreas wiped his mouth with a napkin and checked the clock. “If you’ll excuse me, I have a call with an old friend from Oxford. Don’t destroy the kitchen while I’m gone.” “Good to hear. You know how I live for your approval,” I deadpanned. “I do.” He clapped me on the shoulder on his way out, and my annoyance ratcheted up another notch. I couldn’t believe I shared DNA with that guy. When I turned back to Bridget, she was trying, and failing, to suppress a smile. “What’s so funny?” “You and Andreas. You bicker like Nik and I do.” Her smile widened at the incomprehension on my face. “You bicker like siblings.” Siblings. It didn’t hit me until that moment. I’d known Andreas was my brother, but he was my brother. A real, albeit annoying, one I saw regularly. We argued all the time, but maybe that was just what siblings did, like Bridget said. I wouldn’t know. I’d been alone all my life…until now. My stomach swooped with the oddest sensation. “I still don’t trust him fully,” I said.

I took a deep breath. “Bridget, will you marry me?” The question hadn’t fully left my mouth before Bridget threw her arms around me and kissed me. “Yes. Yes, yes, a thousand times yes!”

I love everything about their relationship! I love everything about his proposal! But this reply is basic and completely overused that makes me cringe every time I read it!!!