“I knew I liked you,” the prince says with a wink.
I preen under his smile, feeling warm all over. The fluttering I had felt earlier begins to move farther down.
He gestures to a white leather sofa sitting perpendicular to an intricately carved fireplace and facingone of the larger windows with a stunning picture of the cathedral lit up in the night, looming over the Ardsmure River. The moon sparkles on the water, and the city noises are dampened from our height.
We sip our whiskey. It’s a bourbon, probably a pretty expensive one by the rich color and smooth flavor. Once again, our silence is easy, like we can simply be together, comfortable in each other’s space without needing to fill it. But the conversation we had started earlier in the day also needs finishing, before I lose my nerve.
I toy with the cuff of my overlong sweater sleeve and tap my big toe inside my shoe. “So, back on what we were talking about on the train.”
“Yes, I believe you were propositioning me.”
My mouth drops open, and I let out something like a croak. “I-I was not propositioning you!”
His laugh rumbles from deep in his chest, warm and inviting. “Aurelia, don’t look so incredulous. I’m just teasing.”
I huff a sigh. “Okay, yeah, right. God, I’m being so uncool about all this, aren’t I?”
He sets his whiskey down on the coffee table in front of the couch and takes my free hand in both of his. The gesture was a comfort this afternoon and again tonight; a simple touch from this man makes breathing easier. My heart still thrums in my chest, but not for nerves anymore.
“Seeing people, getting to know them. It’ssupposed to be fun, Aurelia.” His tone is light but sure. “You strike me as someone who has had very little fun.”
I can’t control the rather uncouth snort that slips out, and a blush creeps up my cheeks.
“I’ll take that as a yes.” His blue eyes practically glow as we sit hand in hand, so close together and alone in his hotel room.
“It would be fair to say fun has always been low on the to-do list.” I got my first part-time job at fourteen, then picked up a second at sixteen when I realized exactly how expensive college was. When I decided to move to Emarvia, Aunt Sarah had insisted on helping me pay for university, but I refused and took a campus job instead. It’s safe to say my work/life balance has been way off kilter for the last decade.
“Frankly, it’s been very low on mine lately, as well,” the prince admits. He begins tracing circles on the back of my hand with his thumb, his focus still intent on me. “But I do enjoy certain leisurely activities with people, and I would like to share some of those with you, too.”
I bite my lip. I think I’m following where this is going. “I get the sense we’re not just talking about soccer—sorry, football.”
“That wasn’t what you were talking about on the train earlier.”
I drop my gaze to our clasped hands. I can’t believe the words that are coming out of my mouth. “No. No, I wasn’t. I’m just not exactly sure…” Itrail off, not knowing how to ask for the things I’m not exactly sure about.
“Aurelia.” His voice is soft, that same husky sound that made me weak the night before. “Can I ask you a very direct question?”
I nod, still not making eye contact.
“Have you ever had sex with a man?”
My whole body tenses, and I jump up from the couch, almost spilling my whiskey in the process. “Your Highness, I’m not?—”
He holds up his hands in surrender. “No. Aurelia, that’s not what I’m getting at. I’m not trying to have sex with you.”
“Good, cause that is off the table.” I cross my hands in an X pattern. This was a terrible idea from the start. I should get out of here before I get in any deeper. I thought I was ready; thought I could put Jaston and Louisiana and all that mess behind me. But then the prince just goes and says the word ‘sex’, and flight mode kicks in strong. I start creeping sideways towards the door.
“It’s not even on the table for me.”
That stops me short. I blink, looking him in the eyes again. “It’s not?”
“No,” he says gently, standing and coming to face me again.
Having him in my space does little to calm the hammering in my chest, but his soft expression and calm words work wonders to subdue my sympathetic nervous system. That and the cologne that smells likesomeone managed to bottle a walk in the woods at dawn.
“Take another sip of that.” He gestures to the drink still in my hand. “And take a few breaths, okay?”
I nod, doing as he says and allowing my nerves to simmer down as much as I can. The air is so charged around us.
