Page 36 of Fit for a King

“You’re a quick learner,” I said as his hand automatically moved back to my shoulder.

He chuckled as I continued to sweep us around the room. “Is that your way of saying I’m not terrible?”

“It’s my way of saying you show…great potential.”

That really made him laugh. “In other words, I haven’t stomped your feet to death.”

I shook my head and drew us to a stop in the middle of the ballroom. But when I should’ve let him go, I instead tightened my hold.

“In other words, you continue to surprise me at every turn, Noah Bennett.”

His chest rose and fell as he looked up at me, his eyes sparkling with delight. “Maybe I just had a good partner?”

“Of that, there’s no doubt.”

“Of course.”

“But I think there’s more to it than that. Dancing comes from the heart and soul, and your joy shows in your smile right now. It’s beautiful.”

Noah’s eyes widened a fraction, and I thought I’d overstepped until he worried his lower lip and whispered, “My smile or my joy?”

There was no mistaking what he was asking, and I knew if I answered, so much would change between us. But if I were honest, it had started to change from the day I’d sat down at the mahjong table.

“You,” I told him, and let go of his hand to run the backs of my fingers down his cheek. “You are beautiful.”

Noah leaned into the touch, and as he closed his eyes, I whispered, “Noah…”

His eyes quickly snapped open and he took a step back, turning away and moving out of my arms to walk back over to where the place cards were stacked up. He hit stop on the music, sending the vast room into a dead silence.

I felt the loss of him as I watched him straighten the stacks, back to the diplomatic footman, no longer just Noah.

I should’ve left it at that, walked right out of the room so we could both pretend this had never happened, but for some reason I found my feet moving toward him instead.

He didn’t look up, and I wondered if I’d just made a huge mistake. I hadn’t read this wrong, had I? There was an obvious attraction, I’d seen it and felt it, and it was something I knew we should both deny. Nothing could happen here, I knew that, but…

Why did it feel so right when he was in my arms?

But then a thought hit me, one that made my stomach twist. There was an obvious power imbalance here. Noah hadn’t reciprocated just because he thought I wanted him to, right?

“I haven’t overstepped here, have I?” I asked, watching his face carefully for any sign I’d made him uncomfortable.

Noah’s head snapped up. “Of course not, sir.”

“Nicholas.”

He opened his mouth then shut it again, shaking his head. “You’re the king. You deserve nothing but my respect. Sir. I can’t address you so informally.” He gathered up the remaining place cards, and I moved closer, rounding the table.

“Noah,” I said, waiting for him to look up. When he didn’t, I added, “Look at me.”

He didn’t deny the direct order, and this time when his eyes met mine, I saw exactly what he’d been trying to hide. It wasn’t fear or regret swirling in his beautiful hazel gaze, and it eased the knot in my stomach.

“You have my permission to speak freely. Tell me what’s on your mind,” I said. “Please.”

I saw the way he chewed his lip and stared down at the table, like he was having an inner debate over whether to do just that.

But since I’d known him, he’d never been one to bite his tongue, and eventually he sighed and said, “For one thing, it’s that you have to give me permission to speak freely. That’s not something I can do in my position.”

There was more just waiting to burst off his tongue. “And?”