“Stop already.”
“You’re blushing.”
He rolled onto his back and pulled her beside him, running his fingers through her curls.
“And when did you plan on telling me you were the Man in the Iron Mask I met at that masquerade ball?”
His fingers stopped.You knew this was coming.
“Oh.”
She chuckled. “Yeah. Oh.”
“I thought you might figure it out once you met my brothers.”
“I figured it out before then.”
He propped himself up on one elbow. “You did?”
“Yes, I was just waiting for you to tell me. Why didn’t you?”
He groaned, falling back onto the bed and gazing up at the ceiling. “It was embarrassing.”
“Why did you do it? I mean, why didn’t you let me know it was you?”
“Would you have danced with me if I had?”
He watched her think about it.
“Maybe. If you asked me. But I would have been surprised if you asked me. I would have been surprised at your coming up to me at all. I mean, after those DMs.”
“I know.” He swallowed and picked up her hand, running his fingers over the birthmark and tattoo. “Is the birthmark from your brother?”
“Maybe. But I don’t really know. I think of it as being from him. It looks like a handprint. You’re the only person who’s seen that.”
He turned onto his side so that he could see her, slipping his fingers in between hers and holding her hand against his chest.
You’re going to have to talk about this at some point. She knows it too. So just get it over with already.
“Ceci, what do you think about this—what we’re doing and the racing? We never talk about it.”
She edged closer so that their interwoven hands were up against her chest too. Her body was soft and warm, but he felt a thread of tension.
“Anker and I are so close in points. Either one of us could win the trophy. When I win a race, even if he makes the podium, it’s like you and he lose.”
“And when he and I win, you lose.”
“Yes.”
“You aren’t thinking about those stupid rumors?”
Rumors had begun to circulate, suggesting that Ceci was secretly undermining the Blue Jet team and Anker to help Clarke. He supposed even those who’d been skeptical about their relationship had now begun to think that it might be real.
“Don’t they bother you?” he asked.
She sighed. “Yes. But what can we do about them? Stop seeing each other?”
He let go of her hand and clutched her waist, pulling her into him. “No! Is that what you want?”
