I pull my knees to my chest and force myself to look anywhere else. “How could you stand to wear themallday today? Aren’t your eyes burning?”
“You build up to it. I can wear them comfortably for about twelve hours. But tomorrow, I may have to settle for these. I forgot to pack a backup pair. My right contact ripped as I was taking it out.”
“They’re a good look on you.”
“Thanks,” he says quietly.
The telly program has begun again. Catchy pop music plays and an announcer with an overly enthusiastic voice comes on. Five new contests are introduced for the next round of the game show. “So I may have this wrong, but I think they have to navigate an obstacle course?—”
“Alice,” Art interrupts.
I pull my legs in tighter to my body and stare at the pristine white sheet, my chest tightening. “Yes?”
“What happened in the car tonight?”
There’s a woodpecker drilling its beak into my ribs. All I hear is the constant, rapid thud, thud, thud. My breathing increases. I’ve already ruined our friendship. I doubt anything I say can salvage it. I might as well come clean with him. The truth is something he values.
I continue staring at the sheet as my cheeks burn lava-hot. “I kissed you,” I whisper.
“Yes. I know you did,” he says slowly, his expression unreadable.
“I’m so, so, so sorry. I know I was in the wrong and shouldn’t have done it.” I look away and begin drawing a few circles on the bed. “You’ve worked hard to get where you are and to be promoted to the rank of a royal protection officer. I’m aware of just how many hoops you’ve had to jump through. The security office only takes one out of every fifty people who apply. I never meant to put all that at risk.”
“Alice . . .”
“I was foolish. I let my emotions get the better of me. I knew you were off-limits, and I’ve tried hard to repress how I feel about you. But nothing has worked. Even when I was on dates with other men, all I could think about was you.”
“Alice . . .”
I lower my head even more. “Tonight, when you were right there, and you looked so handsome in your tux, I couldn’t stand it any longer. It was like a feral animal was inside of me. I gave in to it and kissed you and?—”
“Alice!” Art’s voice is finally strong enough to get my attention. I hear the sound of the bedsprings moving. Footsteps approach and he settles himself next to me, his legs barely brushing against mine as the bed shifts. He takes a hand and slowly runs it up my arm to my face, causing me to quiver from his light touch. His big hand stops at my chin and tilts it up. Our gazes are locked.
“What you didwashighly inappropriate. And yes, it broke all the rules. But the truth is... I wanted it.” His admission comes out raw.
“What?” I sputter, freezing with shock.
“You’re not the only one who’s been fighting aninternal war with their feelings. For the past few weeks, I’ve suffered in silence as I’ve watched you go out on dates with other men. It’s been pure torture and made me moodier than normal. Sorry if I’ve been a grouch. It’s just that all I’ve wanted to do is steal you away from the blokes you were with and take you out on a proper date with me.”
So that’s why he was so grumpy. He wanted me to be on a date with him! He was jealous! My pulse picks up. I look into his eyes, wide and full of desire. They remind me of a tiger who’s been silently watching and stalking its prey from behind a carpet of grass. I swallow hard. He feels the same about me as I do about him.
“The hardest part about this job is that we’re discouraged from developing any personal relationship with our charges. But ask anyone in the protection division and they’ll tell you it’s nearly impossible to followthatprotocol. As I’ve spent time with you and gotten to know you, I’ve come to learn that you have such a beautiful, gentle spirit. You’re the kind of woman I’ve always dreamed about finding, but unfortunately can never have because of the rules.”
I can’t believe what I’m hearing. “Forget the rules. Forget the job. Right now, I’m just Alice and you’re Art. We’re two people who have been starving to show one another exactly how they feel. So let’s stop wasting time. Kiss me,” I demand.
In an instant, Art cups my cheeks. “As you wish,” he whispers, and presses his lips to mine, demanding access. I let out a content sigh at hearing Westley’s famous line fromThe Princess Bride.I run my hands through his hair, sinking them into the back of his neck. He smells so good, like a mixture of a gingerbread latte and honey.
I’m filled with an adrenaline rush. My body is hot and alive. I kiss Art right back with greedy, primal need.
I move my hands down his neck to his back. Through the thin fabric of his T-shirt, I feel all the rock-hard muscles underneath, running my hands over the defined ridges. Art pulls me into him, so our chests are touching. Heat is radiating off his body too. If there were any ice around, we’d melt it before it came within a ten-kilometer radius of us.
When we finally surface for air, we’re both breathing heavily. My lips are swollen, and my body is humming in delight. I’ve nevereverkissed a man like that! And I don’t know if anything will ever top it.
His eyes are locked on to mine. “You, my beautiful Alice, are full of surprises.” He runs a hand down the side of my face and tilts my chin up. My body quivers. This time he places a softer, gentler kiss on my lips.
“You know how to make a girl feel special.”
“Only you. You’re the one I’ve been waiting for.”
