Page 33 of Royal Surrogate 2

He nods, then finally starts to build a plate for himself. And that’s when I see it—he’s nervous.

“I mean it,” I tell him. “I’ve never been on a date like this before.”

“Good.” He still has that easy charm about him, is still pretending he knows exactly what he’s doing, but I can see his little tells—and it just endears him to me even more.

“You know,” he says as he spreads a bit of honey on a scone, “When you first mentioned libraries, I wasn’t sure I understood the appeal. I understood why you liked them, of course, but for myself, I…” He shrugs. “Now that I’m here, with you, I think I’m starting to understand.”

“This is a particularly spectacular library,” I agree. “And yes, I know I’m biased, but I’ve always thought libraries were pretty sexy.”

His eyes glint. “How so?”

“It’s not just because I love books—though obviously that plays a huge part in it. But I don’t know…something about how quiet and dignified they are. It kind of makes me want to…” My cheeks blaze as my words trail off.

But Caspar leans forward, heat in his eyes. “Makes you want to…?”

“You’re really going to make me say it?” When his grin widens, I sigh and say, “Maybe it’s the forbidden aspect of it, but I’ve always had this fantasy of like, sneaking away to some secluded corner and…” I trail off again, feeling suddenly squirmy.

Caspar’s eyes have gone very dark, and he reaches out, his hand closing over mine. “Well, if you want to live out your fantasy…”

“This is supposed to be a first date,” I remind him.

“True.” He sobers a little, withdrawing his hand, but the heat still burns in his eyes.

And now that the idea has been planted, I can’t get it out of my head, either. I shove another piece of bread in my mouth, but all I can think about is the heat pooling between my thighs. Or the way Caspar’s eyes watch my every movement, making my skin prickle with desire.

What am I doing? Yes, I want to start over, do things right this time…but I also spent way too long denying my body what it wanted. And I’m tired of it.

I stand up abruptly.

“Five minutes,” I say.

Caspar blinks. “What?”

“Give me five minutes,” I tell him, leaning down and letting my desire show on my face. “And then, if you can find me, you can do whatever you want with me.”

His mouth falls open, and before he can say a word, I twirl away and disappear among the bookshelves.

CHAPTER 26

Caspar

Renae is gone before I can process what she’s said. Did she just invite me to chase after her through the halls of the Royal Library to have my way with her?

My cock aches at the thought, and I pop a grape into my mouth as I wait the aforementioned five minutes. She’s offered to let me have my way with her, but she can’t possibly know all the fantasies I’ve had.

Good god, I cannot wait to share those with her…I hadn’t realized how much I had been suppressing these last several months—how badly I’ve wanted her. And in how many ways.

I check my watch. Considering how difficult it’s going to be for me to find her in the vast halls of this place, I decide to give myself a head start.

Where would I hide if I were Renae?If it were me, I wouldn’t hide at all. I’d head for the lobby with the plush, oversized sofas and strip naked, waiting for her there.

I half-way consider doing just that, allowing her to find me, but then think better of it. I know enough about Renae’s stubbornness to know she’d only laugh at me and deny my sorry self the pleasure of her.

Though, the way she looked at me before she left the balcony, I have my doubts that she is feeling any less aroused than I am at the moment.

I search nearby, looking down the long aisles of books, winding my way through just in case she’s hiding behind a corner or in one of the many alcoves.

But she isn’t in any of the aisles.

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