Page 269 of Reign

“Because I ate the fruit I specifically said I shouldn’t have every morning?”

“Because you sat down without arguing.”

“I’m conserving my strength.”

“For what?”

“I haven’t decided yet.”

“I look forward to finding out.”

He smiles against my temple before offering me two blueberries.

I take them automatically.

Terrible.

I return to the dress, lowering the neckline before adding another layer beneath the skirt. Luciano watches the pencil move across the page while his thumb traces an idle path along my waist.

The design has been sitting in my head since yesterday, but it looks different now that I’m working through it.

Better.

I shade one side of the bodice, then pause.

The question I’ve been carrying for a while returns.

Luciano notices my hesitation.

“What is it?”

“Nothing.”

“Elena.”

I add another line to the skirt.

It’s crooked.

I erase it.

“Do you remember the glitter I found on your shirt?”

His hand stills against my waist.

“I remember your investigation.”

“It was a reasonable inquiry.”

“You constructed an entire migration pattern for one piece of glitter.”

“That isn’t relevant.”

“It feels relevant.”

I set the pencil down.

“When was the last time you were with someone who wasn’t me?”