I stood very still, confused and surprised both by the very presence of Julian’s lips on my cheek as well as the tenderness of the affection he was showing me. Julian had always struck me as something of a playboy, and while I understood that much of how he acted was an act, he never seemed to c
I was exhausted but I complied, changing into a simple dress and then heading downstairs. When I saw Susie standing in the back of the room, I immediately went to her side. Most of the girls assumed Nathan was soon to announce the next event for the competition, and so there was much speculation
“I’ve told the guards everything I know,” Lilliana said. “They’ll be watching you. Joseph himself just assured me of it.” I shook my head. I had no idea what she was up to this time, but I was tired of the schemes and lies. How many manipulative games would I have to endure during this competition
Julian and I were on a couch in a sitting room, looking at each other. Julian had made himself comfortable, bringing on knee up onto the cushion so he could more easily face me. I was sitting very still with my hands in my lap. I was still embarrassed about what had earlier happened with Nicholas.
I tried to get into the moment, imagining Terry saying something like that to me. The softness in Julian’s eyes kept me from falling to far into the fantasy. I cleared my throat. “Don’t you find the trends of modern fashion tiresome? Not to mention wasteful. Why should I throw away a perfectly goo
At the banquet that night, I sat beside Julian same as always, but other than the most basic of greetings, we had not spoken to each other. “Hello, Piper.” “Hello, Prince Julian.” Fortunately, Veronica and Tiffany seemed fine with talking with Julian in my stead, and Julian himself made no att
“I can see you worrying,” Julian whispered to me. “You shouldn’t. You’d be stunning in anything.” A light blush filled my cheeks. I glanced away, embarrassed. Farther down the table, Nicholas watched us, his mouth pressed into a hard line. After the banquet, Julian led me to Nicholas’s rooms,
We made it five steps out into the hallway before Nicholas started asking questions. “Did something happen?” he asked. I didn’t want to lie to him, so I shrugged. “Nothing big.” “Nothing big is still something.” With my hand on his arm, Nicholas dictated how fast and slow we walked. He slowe