THORN'S IN MY HEART

she was about to meet. She'd never laid eyes on him before, but she was determined to take him down a peg. As sh

ed like a demigod, and for a moment, she forgot to breathe. But her admiration was quickly replaced by annoya

ne else's actions, but she couldn't shake the image of him holding someone else close. Her mi

ight, she was supposed to be the one taking his hard thrus

o see who it was, and her eyes widened in shock. It was him – the Charming prince the same strang

her plams possesively as he asked the

the pounding of her heart. It was as if time had

cinating? She felt like she was floating on air, her senses heightened. The sound of

proposed to her? And what did it mean for their future together? The questions swirled in her mind, but s

Wyn?"Her mind repl

on her palm firm but not painful. His voice-deep, smooth, and dripping with that same arrogance she'd heard yesterday-was now softened by something she couldn't quite place. Was

irst time yesterday, who she'd sworn was the epitome of arrogance, who she'd co

he was tempted to throw herself at him, tell him yes, that's she's ready to be his, but anot

withdrew her hands from his. "What the hell do you thin

g presence that had made her both furious and inexplicably drawn to him yes

ns-confusion, disbelief, and, to her own frustration, a flicker of curiosity. "You'r

er reject him, all he had remembered no women had dared rejected him, but she did it, she said it to his face. Calming himself, he felt he

ngue? I call that an assult ? You can't just grab someone's

posite hers. "I've apologized, Miss. Why are you still upse

o you think you're doing, taking that sea

still on his lips, as he mumbled th

the image of him pressed against a woman in the alley, his hand gripping her thigh, his lips traili

keep you waiting, and sorry again for my ea

the dude from the...."She paused, taking her eyes off

alvern Archer. That's me, and

asn't the reaction he typically got from women. Because whenever he's around girls he doesn'

ss, brought a dish ,in tray right in front o

ked, giving the waiteress his own orde

use of you?" she asked, her tone

le boldness he had tried to gather up in front of this lady...or girl. "

unexpected came up," he stammered, sur

ere apology," she retorte

trapped and uneasy. No woman had ever spoken to him li

" he managed to ask. "Why are yo

asked, her tone firm, as she

t this rate he thinks it's high time he let her know wha

eally look at me. What do you see?" she

her beauty – her long hair, sparkling eyes, small round face, and curves that cau

what you're getting

re you?" s

ed discussing their age. Still, he wanted to

sh, she cut him off. "I'

mal title?" he whispe

nothing," Wynter said angrily. "Now, I'm telling you – what

ack. "Predatory? How

the audacity to ask me how much I c

ll seeing yourself as a teenager, but I'm only

ising. "I came to give you a stern warning: not every wo

er was palpable."She looks adorable wh

g. "Do you find this amusing

ghtly," Malvern replied. "My mind was

headed to the counter. "Where are yo

to the cashier, and paid her

pay the bil

wait for you to pay," Wynter hiss

u doing all this?" he asked, tryi

to him. "You

and I apologize. I didn't mean it."He apologized immediately, still

s she walked away. Malvern followed

can

g him off. "Next time you lay your filthy hands o

Never had he been treated this way by a