Soon, he would leave. He’d probably never see her again. Besides, who was he to think he was deserving of love, and all that came with it?
Dinner was wonderful.. Adalia placed roasted meats and vegetables on the table before him and the aromas caused Matthias’s mouth to water instantly. Butter melted on top of a pile of steaming peas and carrots, and a small white dish that contained mint sauce sat beside them, ready to drizzle over the meat.
He filled his plate to the brim and savoured every single bit like it was his last. He’d never tasted such flavours before. “This is incredible,” he said.
Adalia laughed. “It’s just meat and vegetables.”
He smiled, shaking his head. “And the wine is excellent too,” he pressed.
“Oh, did you need more?” Adalia rose from the table and reached for the wine bottle sitting on the bench, and moved to fill his cup.
Matthias stopped her, and she looked at him with confusion.
“My turn,” was all he said.
Adalia sat back down, and Matthias refilled her glass before filling to his own. Pouring wine for him may bring back unwanted memories and the last thing he needed . . . no wanted, was for her to look at him like he was his father.
They continued to eat until the prince couldn’t bear the silence any longer. “Any regret so far?” he mused quietly.
Sipping her wine, her gaze hovering just above the rim, Adalia smiled. Playfulness dancing in her eyes. “Not yet . . . but it’s only been a few hours.”
Chuckling softly, Matthias reached for his glass. “Give it time.”
“Do you plan on doing something that will make me regret asking you here?” Adalia asked as she placed her glass back down.
“If I’m honest, I would love to do many things, but all of them would require your approval.”
Gripping his wine, Matthias fought against the urge to reach across the table to softly kiss the sweet, innocent woman before him. His brazen words flushed her face, and it shook him to the core. If he didn’t take a cold bath, soon, it would be obvious to the entire world how this woman made his body react.
Adalia didn’t respond, but her gaze remained locked on his, as if she was quietly contemplating him.
Needing to break eye contact, Matthias glanced at the clock that sat on the fireplace mantle in the living room. Nikolas still hadn’t returned.
“Let me help you with the dishes,” he offered as Adalia stacked the plates.
She shook her head and smiled. “It’s fine, I can manage.”
Adalia placed some dishes in the sink and turned back to him. “Would you like to freshen up?” she asked.
A bath sounded wonderful. “Only if it’s not too much trouble?” he replied as he ran a hand along the back of his neck.
“It’s no trouble at all,” Adalia added softly as she moved off. She came back with a large green towel. “Washroom is just through there. If you need anything, don’t call out because I’m certainly not coming in. Oh, and there is some coconut soap in the cupboard’s drawer.”
Matthias took the towel and his fingers brushed hers, sending an electric shock up his arm, a powerful reminder of what it had been like kissing her. She must have felt it too, because she pulled back swiftly. Colour flooding her face once again.
“If you change your mind, you know where to find me,” he joked as he walked towards the bathroom, not waiting to hear her response.
When he emerged half an hour later drying his hair, dressed in fresh clothing, and feeling like a new person, Matthias found Adalia curled up on the single seater in the living room with a recipe book on her lap. The kitchen was spotless, and the fire crackled with fresh logs.
“Thank you for that, and for dinner.” He moved across the room to sit on the larger lounge chair when he noticed she’d placed blankets, sheets, and a pillow out for him. “And thank you for these. I can just as easily sleep on the lounge without all the blankets though. I don’t want to be a bother.”
How would this all work? How long would he be sleeping on her lounge? And what of her brother? Would he approve of a Thorn sleeping in his house? Surely it would only be for a day or two. Then Matthias would make other arrangements. Maybe he could make a deal with the king to reside in the Asher mountain range in The Grey in District Two. Was that even a possibility? If it was, Matthias doubted anyone would bother him there.
Adalia shook her head. “It’s more than fine. I’m going to bed now. I hope you’ll be okay here. If you hear noises later, it will just be Nikolas coming home. Pay him no mind. I promise he won’t kill you in your sleep.”
The look Adalia gave him pulled a grin from his lips and he raised his brow. “I’m not worried about him trying to kill me. I think it’s you I need to be frightened of.”
Adalia smirked at him. “Goodnight, beast. Keep one eye open.”
