by J. J. McAvoy
I didn’t have a question off the top of my head, and him just watching me with his stupid, handsome face was making it harder to think of one, so I glanced to the side, staring at the lights of Seattle.
“Do you like it here?”
“I have not gotten to see it here,” he said, also looking out as well. “I will not get the chance to see it, either.”
“Why?”
“The press,” he reminded me.
For some reason, that really bothered me. “You can’t just stay huddled up at my place or secret dinners like this. You need to get around.”
“That is a freedom I cannot have—at least, not if I want to see it with you,” he said, capturing my attention with a single glance. “I came here not to see the city but to see you. Now that I’ve seen you, I have no desire to see the city alone.” There he went with those lines again.
I picked at my meatball for a bit. “Maybe I will show you around then.”
“I would enjoy that, but we cannot do that, either. At least, not until you commit to marrying me. And I do not want to pressure you.”
I felt the heat in my neck again. “Are you always this sweet, or is it just me?”
“I want to say it is just you, but that would be saying I was rude to other women before, and I do not think that does me any favors.” He snickered.
“How many other women have you used these lines on?” I asked with narrowed eyes.
“How many other men have you tempted like this?” he shot back. And now we had come full circle to the conversation we had both tried to avoid.
Stop. My mind screamed at me, but again, it had been so long.
“A few here and there,” I said, shrugging like I actually had such a good track record. I quickly reached for the wine.
“Ouch, and here, I have not used any of the same lines,” he replied, reaching for his own.
I rolled my eyes. “Sure, you haven’t.”
“It’s true,” he said, and once again, I saw his eyes drop to my chest. “How could I use the same lines if I am trying to get to two different places with a woman.”
“And where were you trying to get with those women?”
“In their bed.”
I coughed into my wine glass, not expecting him to be so blunt about it.
“Forgive me, too much honesty?” The look on his face was a clear mixture of amusement, teasing, and lust.
“No such thing,” I whispered back. If Gale could tease me, I could tease him back. “Though you do know, you just admitted you do not want to end up in my bed.”
“No. I don’t.” He sat back. “I want you to end up in mine.”
“What’s the difference?”
“There is no leaving my bed.”
Holy shit.
I am not in the kiddie pool, anymore.
Chapter 13
We were somehow able to pull ourselves back from any hotter conversations to more safe things, like his favorite color, which was red, and his favorite season, which was autumn. And also, his birthday, which was the day before Valentine’s Day, making me the older one of the two of us. He also talked a lot about Ersovia, sometimes without meaning to. The more he spoke, the more I could see how much he loved it, and the more I kind of wanted to see this beautiful country of grass-covered rolling mountains, flower fields, blue glacial lakes, and hybrid cities. I didn’t know what that meant until he explained. Ersovia was a country where the ancient met the modern. The Royal family, his family, had always tried to balance the future with honoring the past. He spoke, and I listened or laughed. I spoke, he listened and teased me.
It was only when our dinner, the dessert, and the wine were finished that I realize it was almost eleven. We’d been here for three hours, and I still wasn’t ready to go.
“Excuse me, I need to go powder my nose,” I lied, trying to get up.
“Powder your nose?” He shook with laughter as he got up, too.
“I need to use the bathroom, okay? We have been here for hours.”
He smiled, nodding while he stood to wait. Taking my clutch, I was extra careful with my steps, feeling his eyes on my back. It was only when I got into the restroom that I relaxed against the door for a second. My brain was all hazy, and I felt all...tingly. But I wasn’t sure if it was the wine or just me.
Both.
Walking into the stall, I had to become a freaking ninja to make sure I didn’t ruin my dress. I felt so much more aware of everything when I was next to him. Coming out, I washed my hands before checking my phone only to see a single text message from my mother. It appeared to have come through just when I left the house, but, I hadn’t noticed it.
Just be you. Don’t stress. How could he not like you?
I could only think of the ways. But I didn’t want them to come to the front of my mind. Instead, I moved to the other missed message or messages, as well as calls—all of them from Augusta.
Message 1: I don’t like it when we fight. Can we talk?
Message 2: Odette, are you at your place? I have ice cream.
Message 3: I see you are ignoring me, but at least hear me out, okay?
I didn’t want to read the rest. However, just as I was about to put the phone away, it started to flash. I had silenced it earlier, so I didn’t notice the notifications. Of course, it was Augusta calling. She always did this when we fought—called repeatedly and bugged me until I ended up forgiving her.
“Can I help you, Mrs. Washington?” I answered.
“Wow, you are really upset.” She made it sound like all she had done was steal my favorite shirt.
“I’m really busy, Augusta. Please stop blowing up my phone.”
“Busy? With what?”
I opened my mouth to say something but stopped. “It’s none of your business, and I have to go—”
“I paid part of your donations,” she said quickly, and I wasn’t sure if she was trying to help or make me angry.
“Why? Are you hoping I won’t rush off to get married then?”
“Seriously, Odette! What happened to not fighting with each other?”
“I’m not trying to fight. I’m trying to get off the phone, which I am doing now. Bye,” I said quickly before hanging up. Part of me—the part of me that really wanted to believe that she was just being a good sister—felt bad, but the other part of me couldn’t shake the doubt. It happened, and I needed space. I would talk with her about all of this, just not now.
Flattening my dress and fixing one of my curls, I tried to put a smile on my face. It was too much of a smile and looked I was cringing, so I just gave up and went out. Only to find Gale standing away from our table and closer to the windows, looking out. I wasn’t sure what he was staring at until I focused more on the actual view and not his back and the bottom of his neck right above the collar.
Get it together, Odette. I walked up to the table to drop off my stuff before going to stand beside him to get a closer look.
“It snows early here,” he said beside me. “Normally, in Ersovia, it does not snow until almost or right after Christmas.”
“It doesn’t snow that often here, either. It’s the first snowfall of the season. It’s beautiful,” I said, leaning toward the glass.
“Why is winter your favorite season?” he asked me.
I glanced up at him and met his gaze, which was now completely focused on me. His body even turned from the windows.
“You read that from my file?”
“Yes, but it did not tell me why.”
I tried to think of how to explain it. “It feels magical, and you see the best in people.”
“When they are frozen?”
“No. Remember earlier when you said I look at the end?”
He nodded.
“That is what winter is, the end of the year, and with that, people change. People look back at what they went through and want to go out with a bang. People are hopeful for the new year, new chances and new beginnings. Everyone makes a wish for some
thing at Christmas. Everyone has a New Year’s resolution and tell themselves they can, and they will, by any means, do it. Winter is like a shot of adrenaline, and we can do anything.”
“Okay, but then right as winter is coming to an end, the adrenaline wears off, and people realize they are not much better off than last year.”
I glared at him. “Are you just trying to rain all over my explanation? That was good. You could have used that in poetry.”
“Far too cheesy.” He grinned, and I just knocked elbows with him, causing him to laugh.
I wanted to ignore him, but he offered me his hand. I looked at him, not sure what he wanted.
“Dance with me.”
“Dance?” Where did that come from?
“You said it was the first snowfall. We should celebrate it and end our night on a high note, right?” he explained. “Or would you like to end it with powdering your nose.”
“You make me want to kick you. You know that?” I snapped.
“You are not the only one.” He snickered and brought his hand closer. “Come on, what could it hurt?”
“I could step on your toes. These shoes are starting to kill me.”
He glanced down at my feet. “Then take them off.”
He said it like, duh. And it was kind of funny. Taking his hand and holding onto him, I stepped out of them and shrank by four and a half inches. Once free from my feet prisons, he led me away from the window.
“Gale, there’s no music.” I laughed.
“Am I supposed to provide that, too?” He sighed dramatically. “Very well. Your wish is my command.” He stopped and snapped his fingers.
My head tilted at the classical piano music now streaming into the restaurant, as well as the lights dimming. Had he planned this when I went to the bathroom or from the very start? I focused on him, seeing the proud smirk he had on his face.
“Impressed?” he questioned, placing my other hand on his shoulder and his hand on my waist.
“Yes, but also a bit curious where you learned how to seduce a woman like this,” I asked as he led our dance.
“Seduce?”
“Yes, seduce. I feel like you are pulling me into your web, Prince Gale,” I said as we turned.
He leaned into it. “Do not be pulled—fall into it.”
“The harder you try, for some reason, the harder I want to fight to deny you,” I whispered, leaning closer to him, too. But I held up my head defiantly. “I won’t let you win me over quickly.”
“The worst thing you can do is give a man challenge, Ms. Wyntor.” When he spun me in, he held me closer and whispered into my ear, “It just makes us want to try harder.”
“Then try all you want,” I said and spun out of his arms. However, when I faced him again, his hand on my waist drew me closer until there was barely any space between us.
“With pleasure,” he answered softly. “I will take you out every night if I have to.”
“I won’t come. I do have a life. I cannot come out with you every night.”
“True,” he said, still grinning. “Let’s see. What can I do? Oh, how about I send you a letter every day you don’t see me. I’ll send more flowers, too.”
I rolled my eyes. “That’s—”
“I might even try out my poetry on you...then gifts...then maybe, if all else fails, I will stand outside your window with a large radio above my head.”
I couldn’t help it. I laughed, imagining him with a large 80s stereo outside my house, trying to get my attention.
“And if that doesn’t work?” I asked.
“You really are the most cold-hearted woman in all the world.”
“I told you—”
“But still, I won’t give up because global warming will be on my side.” He grinned wide.
“Oh, my God! You are so...lame.” I giggled, shaking us both. However, I froze when he reached up and brushed my hair from the side of my face. There was that heat again.
“I did not think you could get prettier, and then you laugh, and I am left dumbfounded and in awe,” he whispered, lifting my chin.
My breath caught in my throat as I stared into those blue-green, kryptonite eyes, and I let the seconds go by as we looked at each other. His gaze dropped to my lips, and when he leaned in, I pressed my finger against his lips. His gaze refocused on mine.
“From the flowers, the letter, the dinner, the dance, and what I’m sure would be a great kiss, I can see you are good at this, Your Highness. So good, I almost want to kiss you, too...but I’m not. I agreed to dinner, nothing more...so...” I dropped my finger and took a step back, letting go of his hands. “Thank you for dinner, and have a good night.”
Walking around him, I got my stuff to leave.
“Rejected today, but tomorrow is a new day,” he said from behind me.
“I have a show tomorrow. So, I won’t be seeing you.”
“Then the day after that.”
I shrugged from at the top of the stairs. “Maybe. Maybe not.”
Without another word, I walked down the winding staircase, hoping to make my exit as cool and quick as possible. The real reason I stopped him was that I was worried if I did kiss him, I would be the one unable to stop.
NOVEMBER 2
Tonight, despite my complete honesty, despite all of my efforts, Odette rejected me. I do not even know what to say. This has never happened to me before. It was clear that she was attracted to me. It was clear she was enjoying our time together. She even loved the roses. She had them in her hair, and what a vision she was with them. Everything went perfectly; even the heavens seemed to be on my side as the first snowfall of the year came down. And yet still, she rejected me. I am frustrated. But a part me is also amused by her evident desire to deny herself what she clearly wants. And now, because I am petty and dislike this feeling so much, all bets are off.
No matter what happens, no matter what it takes, I swear, I will make Odette Wyntor fall completely, utterly, and madly in love with me. So much so, she will not be able to deny herself or me again!
Tossing down the pen, I closed the book before lying back onto the couch. We had been back for almost half an hour, and I was still fuming. I did not understand Odette at all. If she had a good time, why did she look so resolved to walk away? Why did she seem so proud of herself for leaving me standing there like a deer-eyed idiot?
ZZZhzzzz
I sat up, trying to find the source of whoever was snoring.
ZZZhzzzz
There was Wolfgang, sitting on the kitchen stool, though the rest of him was tilted over, snoring loudly with his mouth hanging open.
“Wolfgang!” Iskandar snapped, slamming his book closed.
I had not noticed him sitting beside me in the other chair, but apparently, there he was. Wolfgang jumped up off the stool with his eyes wide, arms at his side, like he was still in the academy. He looked to his left and then his right, clearly confused, before realizing where we were.
“Your Highness! I’m so—”
“Iskandar, I’m going to bed,” I said, rising off the couch, taking my journal with me.
“Goodnight, sir.” He nodded in response, but I could see him shooting Wolfgang an annoyed glare.
“Do not lecture him. We all need the rest.”
“I will not. Do you have a time you wish to wake up tomorrow?” Iskandar stated back formally.
I shook my head as I walked up the stairs. “No, just wake me up when you do...actually, no, after Wolfgang does. I need to think of what to do next.”
“Goodnight, Your Highness,” Wolfgang said, and just before I opened the door to the room, I heard a hard smack
I glanced back down to see Wolfgang rubbing the back of his head.
I bit my lip to keep from laughing. I told Iskandar not to lecture him, so I guess all he could do was smack him. It was not that serious, but then again, to someone like Iskandar, the duty of palace guards and royal aids was a serious one. You do not sleep until they sleep.
<
br /> Putting my journal on the nightstand, I took off my shoes first, and when I did, I thought of her feet, and the look of pleasure on her face when she had slipped off her heels. Which then led me to think of how her body felt in my hands. Yes, I touched it through the fabric, but still, feeling her as we danced was...something. She smelled like warm vanilla and roses, and I wanted to know if that smell was just the actual rose or if my face were at the nape of her neck, would I smell it there, too?
“Go to sleep, Gale,” I begged myself, falling onto the bed, trying to close my eyes.
But seriously, why the hell did she reject me?
But sleep did not come. Sighing, I tossed and turned only to hear my cell phone vibrate on the side table. Thinking it could be Odette, I reached for it far too eagerly, but sadly, it was not.
“How was the date?” my brother asked the moment I answered.
“It’s actually still going, and you are interrupting,” I lied.
“You are aware that Iskandar notified me when it was over.”
My jaw cracked to the side. “Do you not have enough to do, Arthur?
“Yes, but I will always make time for you, little brother.” He chuckled.
“It is not necessary, big brother. Please stop using my bodyguard as a spy.”
“The date, did it go well?” he asked clearly, not agreeing to stop.
“Can I go back to bed now?”
“That bad?”
“It was fine!” I snapped, causing him to snicker into the phone. I fought the urge to hang up directly. “Arthur, I’m exhausted. I’m going to—”
“Pout and kick your feet because she did not fall into your arms like every other woman, and you have to actually work for her to care.”
“I am not asking her to fall at my feet...wait, how did you know she didn’t fall at my—are you serious? You had Iskandar listen in and report the whole night? Or did you have a camera set up to watch? That is disturbing and abuse.”
“Stop being ridiculous. I do not need a spy to figure out you are upset that she doesn’t fawn over you. I know because if she had fallen for your charms, you’d be bragging about it right now.”