can’t have it again.”
My heart barreled against my chest as he did that thing where he ran his thumb gently over my lips, across my jawline, back to my lips. I sort of loved that. I would probably give up my firstborn child if we could just stay in this spot all night doing that.
I was going to lose every last bit of resolve I had. I blinked a few times.
“What about our questions?” Yes, the questions. We should definitely go back to the questions. I said the first thing that occurred to me. “Do you, uh, have any hidden talents?”
His eyes looked hooded and sensual. “I think I’ve already shown you part of my special talent.”
Holy crap.
Again with the amused expression. “But I also play piano and am decent at dancing. Not the nightclub kind. Real partner dancing.”
“I’ve never done that before.” This entire experience was becoming full of things I’d never done before.
“I would love to show you.” Was he talking about the dancing or the other thing? “And you? What talents do you keep hidden from the world?”
He wanted me to think of what talents I had when my mind had turned into a vast Nico-induced wasteland. Only one thing popped into my head.
I pushed against him, and he let me go, stepping aside. I hopped down and went over to the fridge. I hoped he couldn’t see how my hands shook while I pulled the door open. The cold air soothed my flushed skin. I thought I had noticed . . . there.
I brought out a container of fresh cherries and popped the top open. I walked over to the opposite side of the island so that we had it between us. “I learned how to do this at the one slumber party I went to in junior high.”
Breaking off the stem, I put it into my mouth. He looked fascinated, putting both hands on the counter to lean in my direction. It took longer than I expected it to because it had been so long since I’d last done it. Factoring in Nico’s hungry gaze did not help things either.
Finally, I fished the stem out and put it on my palm, holding it out for him. “I can tie them into knots with my tongue.”
I felt proud of myself right up until he groaned, shaking his head. “Katerina, do you have any idea what that does to a hot-blooded Latin man?”
“How fortunate for me then that you are Monterran,” I said, echoing back his words to me when we first met.
As he placed the phrase I’d just used, he started to laugh and I joined in, the physical moment broken between us, but a new, fragile, emotional one starting in its place.
Despite my inexperience, even I knew that I had been flirting with danger. I put the stem down on the counter. I also knew I couldn’t push him too far and expect him to still respect my requirement. It was time for me to go back to my room. By myself. I put the cherries away.
“Okay then. Good night.” I got to the door of the kitchen when I heard him say something.
“Next time, choose the gelato instead of ice cream. Gelato is infinitely superior.”
Next time. Like there would be a next time of this. I would lie in my bed and starve myself every night before he’d get a repeat of tonight. I would go down into those dungeons and find some manacles and chain myself to my bed before this would happen again. I just nodded, like I agreed.
“Do you need me to help you find your way back?”
“Nope!” I barked. “I’m totally capable of going back to my room.” I hated when he looked at me that way—like he totally understood me and knew exactly what I was thinking and he thought it was funny.
Thankfully, he let me go without another word.
I woke up to blinding sun as a short, balding, serious-looking man in a well-tailored suit threw the curtains open. I held my hands in front of my eyes to block the light out. “What’s happening?”
“You need to wake up, signorina . Your flight to Paris will be leaving soon.”
What the what? “Flight to Paris?”
“His Royal Highness is the guest of honor at a charity ball in
My heart barreled against my chest as he did that thing where he ran his thumb gently over my lips, across my jawline, back to my lips. I sort of loved that. I would probably give up my firstborn child if we could just stay in this spot all night doing that.
I was going to lose every last bit of resolve I had. I blinked a few times.
“What about our questions?” Yes, the questions. We should definitely go back to the questions. I said the first thing that occurred to me. “Do you, uh, have any hidden talents?”
His eyes looked hooded and sensual. “I think I’ve already shown you part of my special talent.”
Holy crap.
Again with the amused expression. “But I also play piano and am decent at dancing. Not the nightclub kind. Real partner dancing.”
“I’ve never done that before.” This entire experience was becoming full of things I’d never done before.
“I would love to show you.” Was he talking about the dancing or the other thing? “And you? What talents do you keep hidden from the world?”
He wanted me to think of what talents I had when my mind had turned into a vast Nico-induced wasteland. Only one thing popped into my head.
I pushed against him, and he let me go, stepping aside. I hopped down and went over to the fridge. I hoped he couldn’t see how my hands shook while I pulled the door open. The cold air soothed my flushed skin. I thought I had noticed . . . there.
I brought out a container of fresh cherries and popped the top open. I walked over to the opposite side of the island so that we had it between us. “I learned how to do this at the one slumber party I went to in junior high.”
Breaking off the stem, I put it into my mouth. He looked fascinated, putting both hands on the counter to lean in my direction. It took longer than I expected it to because it had been so long since I’d last done it. Factoring in Nico’s hungry gaze did not help things either.
Finally, I fished the stem out and put it on my palm, holding it out for him. “I can tie them into knots with my tongue.”
I felt proud of myself right up until he groaned, shaking his head. “Katerina, do you have any idea what that does to a hot-blooded Latin man?”
“How fortunate for me then that you are Monterran,” I said, echoing back his words to me when we first met.
As he placed the phrase I’d just used, he started to laugh and I joined in, the physical moment broken between us, but a new, fragile, emotional one starting in its place.
Despite my inexperience, even I knew that I had been flirting with danger. I put the stem down on the counter. I also knew I couldn’t push him too far and expect him to still respect my requirement. It was time for me to go back to my room. By myself. I put the cherries away.
“Okay then. Good night.” I got to the door of the kitchen when I heard him say something.
“Next time, choose the gelato instead of ice cream. Gelato is infinitely superior.”
Next time. Like there would be a next time of this. I would lie in my bed and starve myself every night before he’d get a repeat of tonight. I would go down into those dungeons and find some manacles and chain myself to my bed before this would happen again. I just nodded, like I agreed.
“Do you need me to help you find your way back?”
“Nope!” I barked. “I’m totally capable of going back to my room.” I hated when he looked at me that way—like he totally understood me and knew exactly what I was thinking and he thought it was funny.
Thankfully, he let me go without another word.
I woke up to blinding sun as a short, balding, serious-looking man in a well-tailored suit threw the curtains open. I held my hands in front of my eyes to block the light out. “What’s happening?”
“You need to wake up, signorina . Your flight to Paris will be leaving soon.”
What the what? “Flight to Paris?”
“His Royal Highness is the guest of honor at a charity ball in
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