He brushed his thumb against her cheek. “What are you saying?”
Her cheeks heated. “I don’tthinkyou’re going to go to a bar and hook up with someone after what happened between us today, but I want you to know, if you did, it would hurt me.” Even the idea of it made her chest tight. “Would it be unfair of me to ask you to stay away from other girls so I have peace of mind while I’m trying to sleep?”
He gave her a crooked smile. “No, it’s not unfair. I’m yours,and do you know what that means?”
She pressed the side of her face to his chest. “What?”
He kissed the top of her head. “You’re mine.”
She grinned into his chest, elated. They were really doing this. “I’m yours.”
Their words hung in the air. With a jolt, she flashed back to Alastair speaking those very same words in the alleyway where they’d broken up, but this couldn’t be more different. Alastair had been pressuring her to stay with him as if he thought he was entitled to her. With Brayden, the words were reassurance. She didn’t have to worry about his loyalty, because he was hers. It would be so easy to stay with him.
But she couldn’t abandon her birthright. Too many people would suffer if she stayed in Clair de Lune and abandoned the Cerulean Party, leaving her father’s seat empty for the foreseeable future. She needed space to think about how she could be with Brayden and still tend to the shit show that was her life in Soleil.
Scarlett forced herself to take a couple of steps away from Brayden and toward the door.
“Can I walk you back to your room?” he asked.
“I’ll be fine,” she said with a small smile. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“All right. Call me if you can’t sleep. Or better yet, just come back.” He raised his eyebrows suggestively.
She pulled him closer, allowing herself a few more seconds of his sweet lips on hers before she forced herself to walk out of his room and back to her wing of the castle.
After she’d showered, she put on a skimpy pair of pink silk pajamas Manon had found somewhere on the Clair de Lune high street while Scarlett was at the Forest Temple. The pajamas were oddly fancy for a spontaneous purchase, but they were gorgeous, clinging to her curves in a pleasing way. Scarlett brushed out herhair, brushed her teeth, and washed her face.
As she lay in bed, she stared up at Nori and thought about what kind of a life she could see with Brayden. Present difficulties in Soleil aside, she could visit Clair de Lune during every recess, assuming Brayden was here during those times. He could visit her if the border law changed. But one of them would eventually have to compromise. Would he be willing to do it? She’d love to live in Clair de Lune, especially if she could visit Soleil regularly, but the idea of abdicating her seat in Parliament filled her with shame. She couldn’t let everyone down.
“Everyone except you and Brayden,” said Nori.“No one should be a priority above you or him.”
True, thought Scarlett.But I care about dropping the border.
Then she thought about Brayden in the mirror and their kiss on the forest path. The way he’d grabbed her and pulled her to him. She was hit so hard with a wave of giddiness that she actually giggled out loud. Brayden washers, after years of longing for him. He’d actually uttered the words “you’re mine” about her. What was shedoingin bed alone on the other side of the castle?
“That’s more like it,” said Nori.“Go surprise him!”
CHAPTER
SEVENTEEN
Scarlett threw back the covers and hurried to cover her pajamas with her trench coat. She stole into the hallway with only a pair of cotton socks on her feet.
Please don’t let anyone see me.
“There was no one out earlier,” Nori reminded her.“You won’t run into anyone.”The comment eased her anxiety over being seen as she hurried to Brayden’s wing.
When she reached his room, she knocked softly. A second later, he opened the door wearing nothing but a pair of black drawstring pants. His eyes lit up as he saw her, and before she could say anything, he had her in his arms. The feel of his bare chest made her breath catch.
“What are you wearing underneath this coat?”
She let out a surprised cry as he picked her up and tossed her onto his bed. “Goddess above, not even a ‘hello’?” she asked with a laugh.
He sprawled out on the bed next to her. “I’m glad you came back. I missed you.”
She smiled as warmth pooled in her at the sight of him next to her. “I missed you too.”
Brayden reached out and touched the collar of her coat. “Areyou going to take this off?”
