"He still doesn't get that much of a say in who I date. And when mate bonds are involved, it's a whole different situation."
I swallow hard. I know he's right. Mate bonds do change things. They're recognised throughout the realms, and they have to be honoured by others. To some extent, it's not going to matter what his parents think.
"I'm not going to let anyone stop us from being together," he says firmly, reaching out to take my hand in his. "Not even my father."
I'm not really sure how to respond to that, especially when his gaze is boring into me and making it clear that he means every word. I should be scared about how serious he's being, but I can't help but like it.
"I'm sorry, I shouldn't say things like that yet," he says, looking away.
"You don't have to be sorry, Archie," I promise, smoothing my thumb over the back of his hand. "It's just a lot to take in. I like being with you, and I want that more. It's more that this isn't what I expected when I came to Rosewood."
"Me neither."
I trail my fingers up his arm. "I do like it though. I want more of this. With you, just to be clear."
He chuckles. "I would hope not with anyone else."
"No. I've never felt anything like what I did the first day we met."
"Not even with the dragon you were flirting with?"
I snort. "I was not flirting with him. I'll show you flirting."
"Oh, really?" He lifts his tail and uses it to push my hair behind my ear.
I suck in a breath, feeling my whole body tingle. Not just at the contact, but at the reminder of just how much control he has over his tail.
I reach out to touch it, smoothing my hand down the smooth, deep purple skin of his tail and up to the slightly pointed end. His breathing turns shallow in response.
"I'm going to need a break from you touching me like that," he murmurs. "Or we won't be able to go further."
I raise an eyebrow. "Is your tail really that sensitive?"
"Not normally. But no one's really touched it like you do. It's a new thing for me. It's making it hard to think."
My mouth goes dry at the implication. It's a weirdly powerful feeling to think that I have this kind of power over someone. Especially a demon prince.
I removed my hand from his tail, wanting to respect his boundaries even if there's a part of me which is tempted to keep going and push him further. Instead, I look down at the box of chocolates still sitting on the bed. A selection of small purple cone-shaped sweets catches my eye, and I frown.
"What are these?" I ask as I point at them?
"They're Hell Noses."
I blink a few times. "What?"
He shrugs. "That's what we call them. They're traditional in the demon court. Mum always sends some for Sophia, but she must have figured you'd never tried them and sent some in our box too."
"That doesn't tell me what they are," I point out.
"You could try one and see?" He grins at me in a way that makes me worry this is going to be like the fire rum Sophia likes.
"Or you could tell me what I'm putting in my mouth, and then I will. You did just call it a nose."
"Fair point. It isn't the most appetising name. But they're delicious. It's a raspberry jelly type sweet in a hard candy case."
"Oh, that sounds tasty." I pick one up, trying to push the name of the sweet out of my mind. Couldn't they think of anything more appetising to name it?
Then again, sugar mice were one of my favourite childhood treats, and it's not like they're named any better.
