He could take her to the ambassador’s townhouse. It wasn’t far from here, but then Ivar might try and meddle, or worse, think Erich was sincerely going to consider marriage. The alternative was one of the many nearby inns. If he bought her a room for the night, then she could return to the palace come morning, and he’d find Fritz and salvage this ill-planned evening. Just one more short detour, then he’d be back on track.
“There’s no use in wondering. Let’s find somewhere to take shelter before curfew. Or else we’ll end up in a cell together.” Erich nodded toward the guard moving ever closer.
“Has that happened to you before?” Liane asked.
“There was once this fiery redhead who thought I was a criminal…” Erich teased.
A flush rose to her cheeks.
“It’s getting late, and the inns will be packed.” She marched away, and despite the urgency of the situation, Erich chuckled to himself as he followed her.
They headed back the way they’d come, stopping at inns closest to the palace, but each one they tried was full. With days remaining before the Sun Ceremony, the inns were bursting at the seams, and there weren’t any beds. Minutes ticked by, and with each rejection, Erich felt the noose tightening around his neck. Maybe they’d wait a few minutes after curfew, to ensure the roads were clear. Maybe Fritz hadn’t set off a diversion already… maybe not all hope was lost.
After numerous failed attempts, they were near the end of Palace Street, where the inns were shabbier but not as bad as the Velvet District. The grizzled innkeeper who greeted them was covered in scars. Not exactly a luxurious establishment but shelter was shelter, he supposed. And they had one room available, unlike every other inn they’d tried.
The innkeeper took his time removing the keys from the hook, and Erich tapped his foot impatiently as he waited to escort her up to the room. He’d see her inside, say his goodbyes and run like the wind back toward the palace.It might not be too late, he told himself.
The room was at the end of the hall, and a suspicious dark stain stretched from the bottom of the door to the carpet. Erich tried not to think about what it was as he opened the door. It was tiny. A small single bed took up half the space, and a leaning nightstand sat beneath a calcium-crusted window. Liane stepped inside and wrinkled her nose but voiced no complaints. Not exactly accommodations befitting a princess. But at least one step up from a cold jail cell floor.
“You’ll be safe here until morning,” Erich said and held out the key for her to take.
“You’re not staying?” She blinked at him in confusion.
“There’s only one bed. It wouldn’t be appropriate. I’ll head back to the embassy—” His words were cut off by the echoing bong of the final curfew bell. Walk out now, and he’d be rounded up by City Watch. Not that he was concerned about that. He’d already planned on staying out past curfew. The problem was, Liane didn’t know that. He hesitated in the doorway; his reasonable explanation dashed.
“Looks like you’re stuck here with me.” She turned to face him, and there was something in her gaze, fear and hurt, that he couldn’t turn away from.
Erich closed the door behind him. Damn fool that he was. He’d stay just a little while until she’d settled. A few more minutes couldn’t hurt, could it?
Luzie was goingto kill Liane. About then, guards would be combing the palace in search of her, and when they realized she was missing, she’d really be in trouble. It could be worse; she could have been arrested. Arms wrapped around her torso, Liane stood in the center of the room. If she stretched out her fingertips, they would touch both walls, and brush against the corded muscles of Erich’s arm. No. Best not to let her thoughts stray in that direction.
Searching for something to focus on and seeking a diversion, but no matter what she did, her attention kept returning to Erich. And how could it not? His presence seemed to fill the space. It always did, but now there was much more of it and less space between them. But with his back to her, she was free to study his broad shoulders, muscled torso, and taut rear. Liquid heat pooled in her stomach, and the hairs on the back of her arms stood on end. Turning, he caught her staring, and her face burned with the rest of her, and she spun away, embarrassed.
“Do I make you uncomfortable?” he asked.
Yes. No. Yes...Her eyes flicked up to meet his smoldering gaze, which sent a tingle racing down to her toes. But not in the way he meant.
“No!” she said a bit too loudly, then clearing her throat, she said, “What gave you that impression?”
“You look strung tight as a bow string. If it would put you at ease, I can sleep out in the hall.”
“That won’t be necessary,” Liane said, a little too quickly, waving her hands in front of her. To stop herself from doing it more and look like a mad fool, she slammed them down at her sides. It was not that she intended to seduce him; that would be a disaster. But she didn’t want to be alone, and she couldn’t deny her attraction to him… the entire night had been a disaster.
Her and Erich’s relationship wasn’t real, but it was his strong arms that braced her when her world crumbled around her. She didn’t want to think about Ludwig, and it was easier to forget if she were distracted, conveniently, a very tempting one was watching her intently.
Clearing her throat, she said, “Wine?” She hoped, offering up the cheap wine sitting next to stale bread and sweating cheese, might be enough to calm her nerves.
“I’ll pass,” he said with a crooked grin.
“Bit of a wine snob, aren’t you?” she teased to dissipate the rolling tension that swelled between them.
“Let’s say I have particular tastes.” His gaze flicked over her, brushing past her exposed collar, igniting a scorching heat that pulsed through her veins.
She wanted to sit down, but the room lacked chairs, and the only place to sit was the bed. If she sat down, would that give him the wrong signal, or the right one?Then Erich sat down first, removing the debate entirely.
“Would you like to sit as well? I promise I don’t bite.” He patted the mattress next to him.
She imagined his teeth grazing her skin, nipping, sucking. No.Get those thoughts out of your head, Liane chided herself. It’d been too long since she’d taken a lover. That was why her thoughts had turned lustful…
