Page 165 of Reign

My eyes flutter, and I hate myself a little for it.

“If you want to leave, say anaranjada.”

A laugh slips out before I can stop it. “At dinner?”

“Anywhere.”

“And then what?”

“We leave.”

“My brothers are going to accept that?”

“I’ll have an emergency.”

I stare at him.

An emergency.

He says it like creating one would take him less effort than buttoning a jacket.

It probably would.

I can’t stop the smirk forming, despite everything. “What kind of emergency?”

“Something believable.”

“That’s not an answer.”

“It’s the only one you need.”

“You’d fake an emergency because I panicked at dinner?”

“No.” His thumb moves slowly beneath my hair. “I’d create one because you asked me to take you home.”

The words land too softly.

He says it like creating an emergency for me would be the simplest thing in the world.

My throat tightens.

I look away first.

His thumb moves again, slow and steady.

“Are you ready?” he asks.

“No.”

“Do you need another minute?”

“No.”

I pause.

Then his mouth almost smiles. “That makes perfect sense.”

“Don’t be annoying. I’m emotionally compromised.”