Page 154 of XOXO

“The full name. Am I in trouble?” He laughed, still not moving an inch as she shoved at his muscular chest. Her fingers curled there greedily, absorbing the feel of him, but she also knew that his advisors were waiting for him.

“Down. Stairs.” She pointed toward the door, releasing him.

“Just tell me what the tailor wanted, Cass. That’s all I want to know.”

She sighed, rolling her eyes. “It’s none of your business.”

Irritation flickered in his gaze for the first time since she’d known him. Her heart stuttered in her chest at the look, but she chose to ignore it.

“Tell me.”

The tone was more unusual than the look. He might be a king, but Maximus was the furthest thing from demanding. Swallowing hard, she shook her head.

“It’s really none–”

He crowded her backward until she was pressed against the wall. Her eyes were wide as she stared up at him, their height difference more obvious than ever.

“You’re my business, Cass.” The words were low and intimate and a slow, burning heat filled her veins as she felt the low rumble of a growl in his chest where he was pressed against her. “What did he want?”

“H-he wanted to take me to dinner.” The words were gasped and she watched as his expression got darker.

“And what did you say?” He lifted his hand to her face, cupping her chin and tilting it upward until he could lower his head—their lips almost touching.

“I-I said no.”

His growl was one of pleasure now and she felt her pussy clench around nothing, a trickle of cream slipping down her thigh. His nostrils flared and he tilted his head slightly to run his tusk along her cheek gently.

“Why?”

“I couldn’t miss our tea.” The confession spilled from her lips even though she wished she could hold them back.

His smile was slow—gentle now—and the satisfaction that brimmed in his eyes soothed something inside of her that had been tight with worry.

“Good.” He ran his tusk against her other cheek and then nuzzled their foreheads together lovingly. She was melting under him, lifting herself to press closer to him, but he pulled away. “I’m going to this ridiculous meeting, but I want a slice of your chocolate cake for my sacrifice.”

Her jolly ogre was back, all grins and sunshine. Cassandra didn’t know what had happened in those few moments after he’d walked in to see the tailor—a sweet red-skinned ogre named Jhor—stuttering while talking to her with flowers in his hand. She hadn’t accepted them, of course, but when Maximus had offered a suggestion that one of his winter cloaks needed a stitch at the bottom, poor Jhor had rushed out.

Maximus waved at her over his shoulder, baring his fangs in a beaming smile as he left her behind—a puddle of goo because of him.

What the hell am I going to do?

“I think we should have the option of trading with the orcs,” Maximus sighed, his dulled claws tracing the pattern of lines on her palm. “But I know the people don’t have a high opinion of them.” His strong brow was furrowed and Cassandra found herself reaching up to smooth it out before snatching her hand back.

“I don’t mind you touching me. I actually really like it.” The whispered words made her feel like they were in a bubble of intimacy–a world of their own. He often made her feel like that. As though she was the only one there.

When he said things like that, it made her want more and she knew she shouldn’t. Six short months had passed with their daily tea meeting and she was falling deeper and deeper in love with her king. She knew it was inappropriate. She tried to talk herself out of it daily, but it was so hard being his friend, getting to know him more and more without falling in love with him. It was too easy—he was perfect in all the ways she’d always imagined. And imperfect in the ways that made him uniquely hers.

He snort-laughed with his head thrown back in the most adorable way, broke all of the china accidentally while gesturing too widely with his huge hands and was so stubborn it drove her up a wall. Every single one of his annoying attributes only made her sink deeper. Whenever she walked in to see another broken cup, his best puppy dog eyes already out and ready for her, her expression might look strict and annoyed on the outside, but her heart ached with love for him in her chest.

Cassandra didn’t know how much longer she could hide it from him. Even while she went about her daily duties, he would stop whatever he was doing if she entered the room. It didn’t matter who he was with. He treated her like she was the most important thing to him and it was so difficult to pretend that he wasn’t the same to her.

He lifted the hand he had been tracing to his cheek, rubbing his skin and stubble against her palm, his eyes closing and his long dark lashes sweeping against the deep green of his skin.

“Max.” His name escaped her without thought, but that brought his eyes open, heat simmering in their depths. "I didn't want to go out with Jhor." The words were pulled from her, a confession that she didn't know she needed to make until it spilled from her lips. "In case you wondered."

"I did wonder." He reached forward to tuck a curl of her hair behind her ear. It was an impossible feat and sprung right back in place, but he only smiled at it and twirled it around his finger. "I wondered if you're only spending time with me because I'm making you." He looked away from her, his eyes squeezed shut. "And I never want to do that to you."

She grabbed his hand then, gripping it firmly until he looked at her, hope brimming in his eyes. Deep inside she knew what he needed to hear—even if she wasn't sure she was ready to say it yet.

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