An Unlikely Alliance by Rachel van Dyken Page A

encouraged him to dig his hands
into the thick locks.
    He chanced opening his eyes, and then wished
he wouldn't have. She was precious—his—perfect. All his.
    Royce still couldn't believe that Evelyn's
father had agreed to the match so quickly, partly because her
reputation would have been ruined, but Royce liked to think that he
and Mr. De Jarlias had an understanding. The understanding being
that Royce was head over heels in love with his daughter.
    Possession like none he had ever experienced
in his life pounded into him as his body ached to touch hers. To
show her his passion—his love.
    The way the firelight danced across her face
nearly did him in. Grasping at her body, taking care not to break
her, he lifted her onto the bed, covering her with his form as his
jacket was pushed off his shoulders by her delicate hands.
    Never had a woman's hands felt as warm and
possessive as Evelyn's.
    He prayed this moment would be sealed into
his memory forever; then as she kissed innocently along his jaw he
knew it would. How could something so perfect ever be lost in his
memory?
    "I love you," he said, voice hoarse.
    Evelyn smiled. "And I love you."
    Royce met her forehead with his own and
closed his eyes. A soft thump was heard in the distance. "Did you
hear that?"
    Evelyn nodded her head and pulled back.
"Someone's just outside our door, I think?"
    Royce motioned for Evelyn to stand back as
he opened the door to their bedroom and peered down the hall. His
mother had left the entire house to them for their wedding night,
which he was more than pleased about.
    And then he saw someone hurry down the
hall.
    "Halt!" he cried, then realized that people
didn't really say that anymore. Must be the excitement of being
with Evelyn. Alone. At last. It was drawing him towards
madness.
    The person in question turned around and
glared.
    "Mr. De Jarlias?"
    "Daddy?" Evelyn peered around the corner of
the door.
    "Stuart," a hushed whisper was heard at the
end of the hall and than a giggle "Stuart, hurry up. We don't want
to get caught."
    Royce cleared his throat and glared at Mr.
De Jarlias as his mother appeared through the adjoining
hallway.
    "Just what are your intentions with my
mother, Mr. De Jarlias?" Royce's voice held a hint of humor.
    Evelyn's father had the good sense to blush
as he looked at Royce's mother then back at his accuser. "About
that."
    "You really were courting one another,
weren't you?" Evelyn's eyes widened in shock as her father looked
to the floor.
    "Guess we have a lot to discuss later," he
said, finally meeting Royce's amused gaze.
    Royce pulled Evelyn into a tight hug. "Well,
at least you're keeping it all in the family."
    "Royce McArthur!" His mother's voice could
have shattered mirrors, it was so loud.
    He lifted his eyebrow sending her a silent
message of "Calling the kettle black, aren't we?"
    "We were just packing up something before
going to…" his mother looked to Evelyn's father for help. He
shrugged and let out a hearty laugh before walking over to where
she stood. "I asked your mother to stay at the De Jarlias house
while you two honeymooned."
    "Chaperoned?" Royce asked.
    His mother opened her mouth to say
something. Mr. De Jarlias answered before she had the chance.
"Naturally."
    "Good," Royce said.
    "Fine," Mr. De Jarlias barked back.
    An awkward silence ensued as all guilty
parties looked around. Then everyone began talking at once.
    "—Must be off, early day tomorrow."
    "—Let me just grab my suitcase then."
    "—It is, after all, our wedding night."
    And then finally, a resounding, "Good
night."
    As Royce shook his head and ushered Evelyn
back inside the room, he heard both parents mumbling something
about being chaperoned as they bounded down the stairs.
    "So, I guess you want to gloat now?" Evelyn
said as she sat on the bed.
    "Gloat?"
    "Yes. After all, you were the suspicious
one. Remember, it started our entire whirlwind romance."
    Royce grinned wolfishly at his wife. "And
it's for that reason