Read Online Reluctantly Royal by Nichole Chase - Free Book Online Page B

swept over my chest and then back up to my face. Maybe I wasn’t the only one tempted to touch. I hated to admit it, but I had a flare of pride. “I enjoyed hanging out with him.”
    I was surprised to realize I meant it. I never would have thought spending time with a six-year-old would have been enjoyable.
    “Looks like he did too.” She moved away from the door and I followed her into the hallway.
    “Did you get everything settled?”
    “I think so.” She frowned.
    “What’s wrong?” Her expression worried me.
    “Granddad would have hated a large ceremony.” She sighed and headed for the stairs. “But I guess that as a duke there are some things that have to happen.”
    “I don’t blame your grandfather.” I followed behind her. “I would want a small ceremony, not to be made into a production.”
    “I’m starting to think you don’t like any type of production.” She looked at me over her shoulder.
    “Not really, no.” I wasn’t going to lie. “I don’t like being the focus, being the center of attention. It makes me uncomfortable.” I wasn’t going to lie, but I hadn’t intended to tell her so much about me.
    “And yet you agreed to help me with my grandfather’s funeral.” She turned to me at the bottom of the stairs and set the sketch pad on a table. “Why?”
    I stared at her for a minute, enjoying the way her eyes looked up at me, the tilt of her chin, the way her hair cascaded around her shoulders. “I don’t know.”
    Unable to help myself, I reached out and touched her cheek with my fingers. Her pupils dilated and she inhaled softly. With one thumb I traced the dip under her plump bottom lip. Her hand reached up to trace my jaw and she took a step closer to me.
    “You should be running from me as fast as you can.” She whispered the words. “I’m everything you don’t want.”
    “I’m not so sure.”
    “I live for the spotlight, it’s my food.” Her eyes were half lidded as she edged closer to my mouth. “And you’ve seen my family. I’m trouble, Max.”
    Did I care? I wasn’t sure I was capable of making a real decision as her smell wrapped around my senses. The only thing I knew was that I wanted to taste her, to touch her, to press her against my body. To hear her say my name again.
    Dipping my head, I grazed her lips with mine and I was lost. On a sigh, she leaned into me and wrapped her hands around my neck. Tilting her head back, I brought my mouth to hers carefully, softly, tasting. I wanted to deepen the kiss, to hear her moan, to feel the way her body could wrap around mine, but I kept it soft, sweet, and simple. She was in such a hard place, she needed to be protected, treasured by someone.
    And right now, I was that person.

SEVEN
    D ECADENT. T ENDE R. P ERFECT.
    I hadn’t been kissed in so long I’d almost forgotten how wonderful it could be. Or maybe it was just Max. His teasing lips, the soft touch of his hand on my hip, the way he tasted. It was enough to make me forget the stress, the worry, the pain of the day.
    I knew it was wrong. Knew that I was bad for him, but there was something in the way he looked at me, the way he touched me, that killed my reasoning. When I slid my tongue out to touch his bottom lip, his fingers tightened on my hip, his thumb rubbing soft circles just above the top of my jeans. The kiss deepened, our breaths mingling together. I couldn’t help the soft moan when he pulled me to his body; feeling his lean muscles pressed against me was more than I had experienced in years. I let one of my hands run down his chest and around to his back.
    He pulled away from me just a little, his lips kissing me softly once more before looking at me with serious eyes.
    “I’d say I’m sorry, but I’m not.” His deep voice made me want to wrap it around me.
    “Good.” I let my hand run along his jaw softly before falling to my side. “I’m not sorry.”
    That thought was surprising. I didn’t kiss men. But boy was I glad that I