Total pages in book: 192
Estimated words: 192810 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 964(@200wpm)___ 771(@250wpm)___ 643(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 192810 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 964(@200wpm)___ 771(@250wpm)___ 643(@300wpm)
“Aleksei introduced me to Chateau LeBrand a few days ago. Your food was better,” I replied with total honesty.
After I said that, he swooped me into the side of his bulky body with his arm around my shoulders, turned to Aleksei and declared, “You can’t have her, seeing as I’m in love with her.”
Aleksei just made a point to stare at his arm around my shoulders, which meant Sirk chuckled good-naturedly and let me go.
He sat down and ate dessert with us, whereupon Aleksei—continuing to exhibit his prevailing tendencies of being a gentlemale and oftentimes sweet—pulled me into the conversation by talking about the vids I’d worked on.
Sirk wasn’t a screen or display kind of male, but he had seen Sheets, because pretty much everyone of majority age had seen it. And he commended me on my ability to design great underwear.
The food was amazing. Sirk was gregarious and hilarious and welcoming. The famous stained glass in the windows was a work of art. And being one of a select few people in four realms to experience a ride in a JetPanther was a thrill.
But the dinner had been a male and female getting to know each other (okay, it was the female getting to know the male more than the other way around, but I hadn’t had a brief about him).
It was tremendously enjoyable. Aleksei was approachable, forthcoming, attentive.
But it was normal.
Which made it exceptional.
I wasn’t out to dinner with Prince Aleksei, the True Heir.
I was out with Aleksei, who had friends he let smack his face teasingly, brothers who annoyed him because they were no longer young, but they seemed dedicated to acting like bros for eternity, and opinions he didn’t mind voicing.
He flew wide around the Palace, and I straight up pressed my nose to the skyscreen at my side in order not to lose sight of its graceful lines, heart-skipping size and architectural beauty, all of it lit, so Nocturn could always see the entirety of its stately grace, sitting high on its hill, day or night.
I’d just never seen it that close.
Far away, it was striking.
Up close, it was stunning.
He aimed us toward some buildings on the east side of the island, down the hill from the Palace. Buildings that were also old and attractive, but it was clear they had a more utilitarian purpose.
After we landed, as he did when we arrived at the restaurant, Aleksei contained me in the craft until he could help me out of it (and truly, I needed his help, my heels were high, and the JetPanther slung low) by keeping my door closed until he was out and around the craft at my door.
I’d noticed the female standing in the light coming out of an opened door on a building when we landed. As I alighted, I also noticed Aleksei lift his chin to acknowledge her.
But as he would tuck me at his side with my hand in his elbow again, I stopped him by curling toward his front and putting my other one to his chest.
I slid my teeth over my lower lip when I encountered the hard muscle under his light-blue, custom-made button down, but when I lifted my gaze to his, I saw his head bent, his attention aimed at my hand.
I quickly took it away.
Even more quickly, he caught it and brought it back, opening his hand over the back of mine to spread it across his shirt, and finally, his gaze captured mine.
“I am not a priceless work of art,” he said low.
“I know, but—”
“You may touch me.”
My skin started to tingle. “Thank you, but—”
“You seem hesitant with me. I’m a prince of this realm, Laura, but I’ll not ever simply be that to you.”
Gods, he was so sweet.
“You don’t have to use deference with me,” he continued. “Even when you must show it to others, we’ll know what we have between us.”
So. Danged. Sweet.
And he was right. I’d been distant. Maybe even…
Dear Hecate…
Testing him.
I felt badly he’d noticed, and it obviously bothered him.
But I didn’t trust this.
Who could blame me? I’d never had anything so amazing.
That wasn’t something to share on the first date either.
“Don’t worry,” I joked. “I’ll get used to being courted by a mega-hot shifter and eventually stop thinking you’ll go up in a puff of smoke if I touch you.”
His lips twitched, his face softened, both special Aleksei-style gifts he gave me before he stated, “I’ll be off-planet for three days. This annoys me because I’ll be quite busy, and I won’t have much time to connect with you. Your friend Catla’s showing is during that time, and I won’t be here to escort you.”
Oh man, Cat would be bummed at that. Having the prince there would be a huge coup for her.
I thought this so I wouldn’t think about how upset I was that he wouldn’t be there to escort me. I was a little scared about us going public (okay, full disclosure, a lot scared), and the timing of the showing seemed really soon.