Page 153 of XOXO

When the meeting was over and everyone left, she turned to glare at him. "I can't believe you did that."

"What did I do?" He shrugged as if he was completely innocent, but he couldn't keep that mischievous grin off his perfect, gorgeous, stupid face.

"You made me sit in the queen's throne in the middle of a meeting that wasn't my place to be in."

With each word, his smile was becoming a frown. "There are no places here, Cass. You can sit wherever the hell you want to sit. Just because–"

"I can't." She shook her head sharply, biting her lip to stop the tears as she scrambled away from him, nearing the colossal doors. "You can't keep doing this. I'm only a refugee here. I'm human and I just work in the palace. I don't belong here."

His eyes went dark and stormy as he stood, moving closer and crowding her against the door. "You belong here every bit as much as I do. As anyone does. It's bullshit that you don't think that. This is your home and you love it and its people more than any ogre I know. Stop putting yourself down and realize that the only person who sees you that way is yourself. I–" He stopped himself, his hand freezing where it had been about to cup her cheek. "I have to go."

She hurried out of his way while he slammed the doors open, making her wince.

Cassandra hesitated outside of the king's study, her fist raised to knock, when the doors opened on their own. Maximus stood on the other side, his lips curved in a contrite smile.

"Hi."

Relief filled her, allowing her to feel like she could breathe for the first time since he'd left the meeting room. He wasn't angry with her.

"Hi." She beamed up at him and she watched him relax in increments. "I brought tea."

His usual grin was back, his cheerful disposition hard to keep away. "Thank the Gods. I can't go a night without it."

She laughed, moving over to the sofa that was fast becoming their preferred spot, positioning the tray so she could reach it easily. "You barely drink any. I thought you hated it if I'm being honest."

"It takes some getting used to." He shrugged, moving to sit next to her. "But it isn't the tea that I appreciate anyway."

She stilled, not sure she was ready to hear the rest of his words but her stupid heart clawed at her anyway. Cassandra looked up at him from under her lashes while she poured herself a cup.

"I can't go a night without talking to you." He was looking at her as though he was trying to tell her something important, but she was too focused on how fast her heart was beating in her chest.

"My favorite is jasmine." She nodded toward the teapot. "If you don't mind it."

He sighed, reaching out to take the cup from her, placing his lips exactly where hers had been moments before. "Jasmine it is, from now on."

She smiled at him, so grateful he'd let her change the subject. At the same time, watching him lick his lips had her feeling overheated. He was like a magnet to her, pulling her in and she was exhausted from fighting the pull.

She moved closer to him and he sat very still until she rested her head against his colossal shoulder. The warmth that radiated from him had her relaxing at once. "Is this okay?"

He didn't hesitate, pulling her closer until their sides were pressed together and his face was buried in her curls. "Very okay."

She was tucked safely into the comfort of his arms and it was as if she was finally where she was meant to be. "I've always wanted to do this." She ran her fingers down the muscular span of his arm.

He nuzzled into her hair and pressed a kiss to her head. "I'm at your service whenever you'd like, Cass."

"My own personal pillow?" She snuggled closer, striving to feel as much of his body as she could. Realization made her freeze, her face turning up to look at him. "As… friends, of course."

His fangs were bared in a grin as he snorted out a laugh. "Yes. Friends for now."

Cassandra tried to ignore the for now part of his statement, going back to just enjoying being in his arms.

Chapter Four

“ Max,” Cassandra hissed, tugging at his robes, struggling to get him to move toward the door. “You’ll be late!” No matter how hard she tried, she wasn’t able to even budge him. He was a huge male, and he wasn’t being helpful, smiling down at her.

“I don’t care. I’m not going until you tell me what I want to know.”

“Maximus Magnus Zadrurk, if you don’t get down there, I’ll–”

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