“Right. Just kissing.” His eyes were ablaze as they bore into mine.
“I don’t want you to stop kissing me. Not yet.”
“Alright. Not yet.” He sank into a plush velvet settee and pulled me onto his lap.
My arms wrapped around the back of his neck while he claimed my throat with his mouth, the warmth of his tongue and the heat of his breath branding my flesh.
As he left his mark on me, my fingers explored his hair. I shifted my body so that my chest was pressed against his, and my legs were wrapped around his torso, eliciting a low moan from him that hummed against my pulse. I was suddenly very aware of the length of him grazing my ass. It ignited a wave of carnal need that spread throughout my entire body, and by the time his lips found mine again, the place between my thighs was aching with want.
“We should stop,” he said, voice thick with lust.
“We should,” I agreed breathlessly.
Our lips had other plans.
As he conquered my mouth, his hand roamed my thigh. Divine goddess, I wanted him to touch me. But that could wait. Right now, I needed to hear those three little words.
“Wait,” I said, tearing my lips away from his. “What were you going to say outside?”
He cocked his head as if in a daze. “Outside?”
I ran my fingers through his hair. “You were going to tell me how you feel about me?”
He looked at me through hooded eyes. “I was… I was going to say…”
“Yes?” My heart accelerated.This is it!
He opened his mouth to speak and then… the sound of a throat clearing made me jolt.
“Your Highness, forgive the interruption,” said a deep male voice.
With haste, I rolled off of His Highness, completely flustered and beyond annoyed.
We looked up to find a fully-armed soldier—a high ranking officer based on the insignia on his uniform—accompanied by a servant. They both looked deeply uncomfortable. At least we all had that in common.
“What is it, Henrik?” Though he looked disheveled, Tarben sounded murderous as he addressed the officer.
“We’ve had word from the border. A skirmish has broken out between our forces and some radicals from Vicaster. We must depart without delay to contain the situation before it escalates further.” He had the good sense to look apologetic when he spoke, but that did little to settle the anger bubbling away at my insides.
Tarben swore loudly. “Leave us. I will join you shortly.”
“Yes, Your Highness.” They bowed and briskly departed.
“Why would Vicaster attack your troops?” I asked, my words clipped. If we were to be so inconveniently interrupted, I deserved to know why. “I thought relations between your kingdoms were friendly.”
He dragged a hand through his hair. “They are. This attack is the work of a small, unauthorized faction—rebels—aggrieved by Solvardunn’s refusal to join the conflict.”
I wasn’t fond of the thought of Tarben engaging in any sort of conflict, no matter the size of the opposition. “It sounds dangerous.”
“It’s nothing we can’t handle. We’ll put an end to their efforts soon enough.” He shrugged. The confidence in his voice did nothing to put me at ease. “For now,” he looked regretful, “I’dbetter get going.”
I huffed a sigh, but accepted his hand, allowing him to lift me off the settee.
“Please don’t be upset,” he said, sensing the shift in my mood.
I folded my arms and looked away. “I’m not upset.” My entire body was rigid with frustration. He’d come so close to admitting his feelings, and now? Now I would have to wait until he returned from the border, if he even returned in time. Still, sulking about it would get me nowhere with the prince. Inhaling deeply through my nose, I forced myself to meet his gaze. “I’m only worried for your safety,” I said, astonished to find it was one of the most truthful things I’d said to him all evening.
His expression softened as he stroked my cheek with his thumb. “I don’t want you to fret,” he said in a gentle voice. “We’ll be perfectly fine, and I’ll send word as soon as the dust has cleared.”
