I smiled. “You have been considering that assessment of me for some time.”
“Yes. I have always had a little childhood crush on you.”
I raised my brow at him. “Really? I could never tell.”
“Ah. That is because I am terribly awkward with women.”
I laughed. “So is your brother. He just does not know any better.”
At that, he busted out laughing in a way I had never seen from him. He had always been so solemn. All I could do was smile at the sight. When he stopped laughing, he turned to me, eyes sparkling.
Cupping my face gently in his hands, he said, “You are incredible.” I closed my eyes, expecting the kiss at any moment, but it didn’t come. Slowly, I opened my eyes and saw he was smiling at me. “No.”
“No?” I asked, confused.
“No. I will not kiss you tonight.”
“But you said –”
“I know what I said.” He released my face and brought my fingers to his lips.
“Do you not want to?”
Linc chuckled. “Oh yes. I do. More than anything.”
“Then – why not? You have my permission. It is nothing I have not seen coming.”
He nodded. “I know. I have known about this night longer than most the other participants, I am sure. Mother told us all about it. I just – If I am your future husband, I want our first kiss to mean something beyond a night of ritual and tradition, see?”
My eyes fluttered. “You are the only one to do this tonight so far. You will probably be the only one all night.”
He smiled. “And that is why I am worthy of you and the Crown. There is more to being King than being King.”
“Time’s up!” Ella shouted.
Chapter 6
It was my turn to be baffled when Linc stood, kissed my hand, hopped the wall, and left. Not long after, Peter came bursting through the archway. I stood up and rushed to his arms. “Oh, Peter. I can’t wait for tonight to be over.”
Peter tilted my chin so he could look at my face. “There’s dried blood on your lip. Did Linc bite you?”
I touched my lip. Sure enough, a little ways inside of my lip was split and there was a spot of dried blood on my lip. I scratched it off. “No. Leo is just an animal, I guess.”
“He bit you? I’m going to kill him.”
“No. It’s my own fault. Brian and Christopher ended up being so different than I thought. I gave Leo the benefit of the doubt and let down my guard.”
“Anyone hurting you is not your fault. You need to tell your father.”
“Of course I’m going to tell Father. That’s the whole point of the evening. I report to him about my interactions with each participant and give him my thoughts on them. Leo is not going to be getting a shining review. He’s a monster and I’d sooner die than marry him or see him wear the Crown.”
Peter quirked a brow. “That’s – a rather intense opinion.”
I sighed. “Let’s not talk about him anymore. Thank you for being concerned for me, though.”
“At least I won’t have to worry about Stephan or Theo.”
“Well, Stephan, at least.”
“What happened with Theo on the dance floor? You looked happy.”
“Yeah. Dancing with him is always fun. It’s just – he was very – flirtatious. It was weird. I am not entirely sure what to expect from him tonight.” I yawned.
“You are so cute when you’re tired.”
“Ella said I was cute when I’m nervous earlier. I hate that I am cute when I want to look angry or fearsome.”
“You’re cute when you’re frustrated, too.”
“Shut up, Peter.”
“Alright.” In one swift move, he pressed his lips against mine. I sighed in relief at the familiar sensation of being in his arms and knowing his heart was mine – at least for the moment. He parted his lips when my mouth opened for a sigh and breathed it in. It was like he was taking away all the negative energy I had stored up from the long evening. Our mouths moved together in a rhythm we knew well. While he had never said in so many words, I knew he loved me. He was only mine as I was only his.
“Time’s up!” Ella shouted.
Hesitantly, he pulled away. “Everything will be alright, Rose. Even if your father doesn’t choose me in the end, or even if I don’t make it, he will be sure an honorable man has your hand. That is the only thing that makes this alright for me.”
“I will only be alright if it is your ring on my finger in four months.”
“I said, ‘Time’s up!’” yelled Ella with annoyance thick in her voice.
Peter chuckled. “Better go. I will see you in a couple days, Rose.” He kissed me briefly one more time and left.
That’s right. They’re all going home tonight for their personal final preparations. Thank God I won’t have to see them again for a month. And thank God I’ll have Peter and Stephan here in a couple days.
I wasn’t sure what “final preparations” meant for the noblemen, but apparently, they did. Father had given them instructions on what they needed to do to prepare for next month. He knew I wanted Peter and Stephan with me for the whole month before the King’s Test began and he begrudgingly let them prepare a month early.
When he indicated they had an unfair advantage by having an extra month with me, I simply reminded him they already had an unfair advantage because of our friendships. I loved it when I was able to sway Father’s opinion during a disagreement; it didn’t happen very often.
Stephan arrived just as quickly as Peter did. He looked nervous, which I thought was strange. We had known each other for so long, there was no reason for him to be nervous. He cleared his throat. “Um. Hey. Rose.” He stammered out.
I had already taken my seat on the sofa swing again and was gently swinging it. “Hello, Stephan.”
He put a finger in his collar and pulled on it like it was choking him. “Just undo the top button,” I suggested. “There’s no need to feel uncomfortable.”
He chuckled dryly as if to say “Too late,” but undid it anyway. I patted the empty space next to me and he came over and sat down. Rather than take my hand like I expected, he folded his hands in front of him and looked down.
“Are you alright?” I asked him.
“Uh. Yes. Fine.”
“You know, earlier you said a woman is never fine if she says she’s fine. I can say the same for you.”
“Huh. Touché.”
“So…”
“So what?”
“Stephan!”
“Alright, alright, alright. I’m nervous.”
“Why are you nervous? It’s just me. We’ve known each other forever.”
“That’s why I’m nervous.” He turned to face me and took my hands. “I’m not really sure how to do this, Rose. We’ve been friends for so long. You’ve been like a sister to me and now – now I have to try to woo you.”
“Woo me?”
He smirked. “For lack of another phrase.”
“Well, I would think that should make you feel confident.”
He quirked a brow. “Why?”
“Because you know me. You know my likes and dislikes. You know the way I want to rule; we’ve had that discussion plenty of times. You know the types of things I’m looking for in a husband.”
“I do?”
I stopped swinging and turned to face him. “It’s not something we’ve talked about, but I’m sure you can easily figure it out based on how well you know me.”
“Hmm.” He looked up with his eyes, but not his head, and pursed his lips. “Like you want someone handsome?”
I smiled. “It’s not necessary, but that’s not a concern anyway. All of my suitors are handsome. Think deeper.”
He scooted a little closer. That’s when it hit me. My best friend was going to kiss me. Tonight. What would I think of that?
“Clearly, you need someone intelligent. Someone who can keep up with you in discussion.” I nodded. “Someone who can ma
ke you laugh when you’re sad. Calm you when your short temper flares. Reason with you when you are being unreasonable, but not offend you in the process.”
I tried to be offended, but knew my short temper and stubbornness were shortfalls of mine. My smile was still on.
“You need someone who knows your deepest desires and longs to fulfill them. Who looks at you like you are not just the Princess of Arboria, but the Queen of his heart.” With each reason, his voice was quieter and he brought his face closer to mine.
“You need someone gentle.” He placed his palm on my cheek. “But passionate.” He wrapped his other arm around my waist and pulled me close. All I could do was nod. My mouth had dried completely out.
“You need someone who is looking at being King as secondary to being your husband; a man who will love you more than anything or anyone.” The hand on my cheek traced down to my upper back. He was good. I had no idea where it had come from. To my knowledge, he had never had a girlfriend.
He moved his gaze from mine down to my lips, then back to my eyes. The nervousness had returned in his expression and for a moment, I thought he wasn’t going to kiss me. I exhaled, not realizing I had been holding my breath and that’s when he took the opportunity to close the gap and kiss me.
He was inexperienced, but there was so much meaning behind his kiss, it didn’t even matter. I brought my hands up behind him and pulled myself closer to him. I didn’t know what had come over me. I was in love with Peter, right? There was nothing romantic between Stephan and me. Right?
When I ran my fingers through his hair, he groaned and parted his lips. His kiss became demanding and passionate and it was like we couldn’t get close enough to each other. I thought I heard someone shouting, but it was muffled against my rapid heartbeat thumping in my ears.
However, he must have heard it because he pulled away, breathing fast. At some point, I had closed my eyes and they stayed closed even when the kiss was over.
“I said, ‘Time’s up!’ Really, Rose. Peter and Stephan have enough of an unfair advantage as it is!” Ella yelled.
Stephan whispered against my still open mouth, “Am I right?”
My eyes fluttered open and I saw he was smiling in a way I had never seen on him before. “Yes,” I breathed.
“ROSE!” Ella shouted louder than her previous two commands.
Stephan released me and my limp body fell back against the arm of the sofa. “I’m coming, Ella! Got a little turned around in the maze!” he yelled. “See you in a couple days,” he said quietly to me as he got up and left.
“Yeah, right!” Ella shouted at him in response.
What was that?!
Chapter 7
Because Theo took the longest of all the men to arrive, I had plenty of time to consider what in God’s green earth had just happened with Stephan.
Being four years older than me, Stephan remembered meeting me; I had been two and he was six. According to him, we were immediately inseparable. He didn’t have any younger siblings, though he had always wanted one, so he was enthralled with me. He played with me and held my hand if we had to go anywhere. When their visits would end and he had to go home, I cried – so he said.
That was what was so confusing. He had always treated me as a younger sister and I had always loved him as an older brother. The thought of him kissing me had actually disgusted me earlier because of those feelings. But then, after the kiss, I had no idea know what to feel. It was like I unexpectedly felt for him what I felt for Peter and that petrified me.
When Theo arrived, I was still limply laying on the sofa.
Theo laughed. “I know it took me a while, but did you really get that bored?”
I shook myself out of my thoughts and smiled at him. “Just tired. It has been a long day.”
“Come here, Miriam,” Theo requested with a curling index finger.
Though I was tired, and more than a little miffed at the gesture, I did as he asked because I knew I would be able to go to bed when his time was up. He took one of my hands and placed it on his shoulder, wrapped one arm around my waist, took my other hand in his and held it to his chest. “Let us dance,” he said softly.
I smiled as he pulled me flush against him. “There is no music, Theo.”
“We do not need music,” he said as he began to slowly sway in a rhythm he set. “Roots, Miriam. You are so beautiful. I have always thought so, but – there is something special about you tonight.”
I felt my face turn red and moved my gaze from his eyes to his chest. “Thank you.” I turned my head and lay my cheek against him. I was so tired. His heartbeat was steady; he didn’t seem to be nervous at all. I sighed in relief. As far as I was concerned, it was a sure sign he wouldn’t be up to anything like Leo had been.
“I am sorry it has taken so long for me to get you alone,” Theo murmured.
I tried not to frown as I looked back up at him. “What do you mean?”
He stopped moving and released my hand to entwine his fingers together at my lower back. He smirked. “You know.”
I narrowed my eyes not unkindly. “Pretend I do not know. Enlighten me.”
He began swaying again; only now, he was backing me up toward the sofa swing. “I have held you in my arms so many times on the dance floor – more times than I can count – but the opportunity to do so beyond the dance floor has never presented itself.”
“I did not realize you were interested in me beyond the dance floor.”
“Who would not be? Look at you. Aside from your incredible beauty, you are graceful and famously kind.”
I put my cheek back against his chest. “Please, Theo. You flatter me.” The back of my knees hit the swing and buckled underneath me. “Graceful, huh?”
He laughed as I sat down and he lowered himself next to me, not releasing me from his hold. “I am only stating the truth. I will always be honest with you, Miriam.”
Then he kissed me. I was grateful it was the end of obligatory kisses for the King’s Test. Outside of the evening, I would never have to kiss any of them again. And I had every intention of using my kisses judiciously in the future.
He moved his lips against mine, then moved to trace my jawline with them. One of his hands moved to my upper back and he groaned as he pulled me closer and began to kiss my throat. I was stunned still that he would do this, but it felt like his time would be up at any moment, so I didn’t stop him, not even when I felt his tongue slide up the side of my neck and his teeth nibble at my ear.
However, when his hand gripped the zipper on the back of my dress and began to pull it down, I said, “Theo, no.”
He ignored me and kissed my collarbone as he continued to pull at my zipper. More insistently, I said, “Theo, stop” and twisted my arm behind myself and placed my hand over his to stop the motion.
He stopped, but whispered in my ear, “Come on, Miriam. I know you want it.”
I furrowed my brow. “What is it, exactly, that I want?”
“You know,” he continued to whisper. “What do you say I meet you up in your suite when my time is up and I will show you how I could please you as your King?” He nipped my ear again.
“I think maybe your time is up, Theo,” I said when he started kissing my neck again, but he just nestled himself in closer and I felt his smile on my neck.
“Patience. I promise I will be there tonight.”
Seriously? Do I have to spell it out?
“No. You will not.”
That did it. He stopped what he was doing and looked at me confused. “There is no need to be shy with me, Miriam. I know you are probably a virgin. I will be gentle with you.” My eyes widened. I jumped off the sofa and strode out without looking back.
I passed Ella as she was making her way down the glass hallway. “Rose, what are you doing out here? I haven’t said anything about your time being up yet. You’re supposed to spend the same amount of time with each man. You still have another minute.”
I pointed back t
o the garden. “I am not going back in there with that – that – that – pervert!”
Then, her eyes widened. “Pervert? Count Theodore?!”
“YES!” I shouted at her. “Father will understand if I don’t spend his one last minute with him.”
“No. I’m sorry, but you have to go back in there. I’ll stand right here and call when the minute is up. Just yell when you make it back there.”
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