Page 38 of The Marked Princess

Panic gripped Alex's chest as he looked at David askance. “I don't dance.”

“You're Kalo, of course you dance,” David protested, elbowing him in the side. “You just haven't allowed yourself the chance. Now, that princess of yours is in need of a partner. Surely, you wouldn't want to disappoint her?”

Heat shot through his body at the thought of dancing with Josselyn, but he pushed the thought away. “Then why don't you dance with her? I imagine you'd do a much better job of it than I would.”

“I would, but I've already promised the dance to Dahlia.”

Alex found Josselyn, standing beside Lily, laughing over something the girl was saying. It was just a dance, after all, and if it would make her happy... He stood, ignoring the voice in the back of his head that said he was doing it for his own pleasure as much as hers. Striding over to where she stood, he cleared his throat. She turned to face him, and her eyes widened as he held his hand out, his heart pounding against his rib cage.

“Would you care to dance, Your Highness?”

She crossed her arms as she considered his offer, and he began to sweat beneath her scrutiny.

“On one condition.”

He swallowed, waiting. She placed her hand in his, a mischievous twinkle in her eyes. “Call me Josselyn, like you used to.”

He immediately shook his head, ready to argue, but she held up her other hand to silence him. “Just for tonight. That's not too much to ask, is it?” Her voice was confident, but there was a vulnerability in her eyes, as if she feared he'd reject her request. He let out the breath he'd apparently been holding, What harm would it do, really? It was just one night, one dance.

“Dance with me, Josselyn.”

She beamed in response, and he felt his carefully constructed walls crumble around him as he pulled her out onto the floor. David shot him a grin before giving Dahlia his full attention, and the music started, the beat slow and sensual. Lily's voice flowed through the music with an almost hypnotic quality, and it suddenly felt as if it were just him and Josselyn on the floor and everyone else had simply melted away into the music.

His hand lifted, and she moved around him, her eyes locked on his until he couldn't turn his neck any further. He felt the heat from her body as she moved behind him, sparks igniting his skin as she let her free hand trail over his shoulder blades. His eyes found hers once again as she came around his other side, and there was a myriad of emotions warring inside them. Guilt, confusion,... desire...

His hand reached out, claiming her waist and pulling her close. A soft gasp escaped her, the noise drawing his heated gaze down to her parted lips. How many times had he dreamed about those very lips, wondering how they'd feel against his own. She caught her lower lip in her teeth, biting down as her eyes widened under the intensity of his stare.

It was too much. He hooded his eyes, dipping his head as he leaned in closer. He hesitated, close enough now that he could feel Josselyn's breath on his lips. Her eyes fluttered close, and any restraint he still had vanished. He caught her lips with his own, gentle at first, then increasingly insistent as he felt her own lips respond, parting as she allowed him to deepen the kiss. Years of denied passion flowed through them, his hand in her hair, hers coming up to grip the front of his shirt.

And then reality sunk in, as he realized the music had stopped and they weren't alone. He pulled his head back, his breath coming fast and hard as he looked down at Josselyn's flushed face. She blinked, her gaze still hazy with passion. A throat cleared off to the side, and it was if someone had thrown a bucket of cold water over her head, she looked so shocked.

“I... we...” Her eyes darted around the terrace before settling on her hands, which were still clasping his shirt. She pulled them back as if burnt. “I think I need some fresh air,” she mumbled, taking a step back.

“We're already outside.”

What? Why would I say that?That obviously wasn't what she'd meant, but he found he couldn't get his brain to work properly.

She let out a nervous laugh. “So we are.” She took another step back, and gestured toward the house. “I'm just so tired, I can't even think straight, you know? I think I'll just turn in. Big day tomorrow.” She turned, practically running for the house as she called a hasty goodnight to the others, who were all standing around with their mouths hanging open like fish.

Alex stood, rooted to the spot as he watched her make her escape. He didn't even hear David approach until he clapped a hand on his shoulder.

“See? I knew you could dance like a true Kalo. Although it was a bit more passionate than I anticipated.” He chuckled. “You're in deep, now, my friend. Good luck.”

Alex ran his hands through his hair, pulling at the short strands as the events of the last few minutes sunk in. “Did I really just do that? In front of everyone?”

“Also like a true Kalo.”

“Shit.”

“Agreed.”

“You're not the most helpful guy I've ever met, you know that?” He sighed. “I think I'll retire, as well. Like she said, we have a big day tomorrow.” Setting sail, making their way to the duke, who would help her reclaim her castle, anoint her as the reigning queen, and see her married to her fiance, Edmund.

He left the terrace, not bothering to say goodnight to the others. Trudging up the stairs, he managed to find the room assigned to him and fell back on the bed, still fully clothed. He just laid there, staring up at the ceiling for what felt like hours before sleep finally claimed him, only to be awoken moments later by a frantic pounding on his door.

It burst open as he was sitting up, and Lily came stumbling into his room, her eyes wild with panic.

“She's gone, Alex! Josselyn's gone!”