Slowly, Julian moved his arm forward, placing his hand onto my shoulder instead. In my head, I commanded myself, Don’t go stiff. Don’t go stiff. Don’t go stiff. If I cared for Julian romantically, I would be pleased by this clear sign of ownership and affection. So I tried to play the part and s
Maybe it was instinct, my body’s natural reaction when being kissed by the man I so deeply cared for. Or maybe it was habit, borne from so many shared kisses in our younger days, or since being reunited. Whatever the reason, when Nicholas kissed me, my entire body seemed to come alive. As if the
He growled a little. “Good.” Then he did it again. I dropped my head back. It hit the wall with a thud. This exposed my neck, and Nicholas dove forward, latching himself onto the newly exposed skin. The marks he’d made before were fading. He sought to renew them now, suckling and nipping at the
For a long moment, I was totally stunned. Then, I moved at once, covering my kiss-swollen red lips with my hand. Nicholas came around to stand in front of me, blocking me from the camera’s view. He looked much more put together than I felt. Nathan gave him a curious look as the cameras moved in
If I missed it, Nicholas would undoubtedly take the cuff and make his own plans. He’d exclude me, giving me some excuse about protection, while selflessly throwing himself into the same danger I’d face. I couldn’t let him do that. So I looped my arm with Julian’s and let him lead me to the sitti
The night of the event, I could barely contain my nerves as Charlotte helped me into my golden dress. It turned out beautifully, each layer complimenting the next. Pastel yellow, then warm creamy orange, and finally a shimmering golden that sparkled when I shifted my skirts. Charlotte nodded, plea
Jane would never be able to hurt us again. A soft knock sounded on the door. Then the guard calls through, “It’s Prince Julian.” “Let him in,” I call back. I brushed a few hairs back from Elva’s face, gave her another quick kiss, then went to face my destiny. Maybe that was too dramatic. For n
When I looked back up at Nicholas, he was still staring at me. Maybe he would have stared forever, I didn’t know. But then Olivia appeared near his arm. She touched his forearm and he had to look down at her. She wore a dress the color of the ocean, fluid, with white trim. Nicholas wore a matchi