Page 49 of Fit for a King

“I thought the red tie would make a bold statement for your agenda today with the black,” he said, moving over to where the clothes were hanging to brush an imaginary piece of lint off the sleeve of the jacket. “Does that work to your satisfaction, sir?”

Noah had always done an immaculate job of choosing my wardrobe for me in his time here, but seeing the red and the black together only made me think of Alejandro’s outfit last night, and I shook my head.

“Thank you, but I’d prefer the blue today.”

He didn’t betray any emotion to that, simply nodded and said, “Of course, sir,” before taking the hanger down and heading back to the closet. A moment later, he returned and held up the navy suit, and I nodded.

“Much better. Thank you.”

“My pleasure, sir.”

Now that wasn’t something I needed to think about right then—his pleasure.

My gaze traveled down to the curve of his ass in those perfectly tailored pants as he hung the suit up, but then his eyes lifted, meeting mine in the full-length mirror. He’d caught that I’d been admiring him, even after he’d told me nothing could happen between us.

Logically, I knew that. Following through when Noah was in the same room, though, breathing the same air, was proving difficult.

He dropped his gaze, reaching for the watch he’d chosen and taking it back to the collection before choosing another. As he started to head back to the bureau, I motioned for him with two fingers.

Noah moved to stand opposite me, politely looking past my shoulder, in that way that drove me insane.

“Ah, the Audemars Piguet. A very nice choice,” I said, and raised my arm.

Noah looked down to my wrist and laid the watch flat before smoothing his fingers around the band to fasten it. “I agree. The craftsmanship is flawless.”

“So are you.” The words were out of my mouth before I could hold them back. When Noah’s fingers paused on the clasp and he finally raised his eyes to mine, I saw a flicker of emotion. “Did you sleep well?”

“No, sir.” He slicked his tongue over his lower lip and finished putting on my watch. “I had a restless night.”

“I’m sorry to hear that.”

Noah let go of my arm and moved back a step. “It’s okay. It’ll pass.”

“Will it?” I said.

“It has to.”

I wanted to curse at his ever-present logic when it was taking every ounce of restraint I had to keep the distance between us.

“I know you think⁠—”

“I know that,” Noah corrected me.

I touched my wrist where his fingers had just been and shook my head. “But what if it didn’t have to?”

“Sir?”

“I’m the king.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Why can’t I change the rules?”

Noah’s eyes widened. “Because…because the country needs this union.”

I nodded, knowing he was right, but still… “What about what I need?”

He swallowed and shifted his eyes away from me.