Page 73 of The Reluctant Heir

He stands from his desk and makes his way closer to me. “You’re being stupid, Madeline.”

Madeline.

Not Princess Madeline.

I know when he drops the titles he means business.

“You are gorgeous—supermodel gorgeous,” he says. “And you’re charming, even more charming than a full blooded succubus. Sometimes I find it hard to be your advisor because it’s difficult to focus around you. You’re really beautiful and it’s distracting.”

“It is?” My eyes widen in surprise at his confession.

“I thought it was obvious.” He rubs a hand on the back of his neck. “I’ve been a little jealous of all the guys taking you out, which is ridiculous. I know you can never be mine.”

Kaine is attracted to me?

And he’s beenjealous?

How did I not realize this? Even now that he’s said it, I’m having a hard time believing it. He’s never acted in any way that would possibly make me think he’s into me likethat.

I look at Kaine, his glacier blue eyes have yet to look away from me as I process his words.

Kaine is attractive. I’ve always known that. But I’ve never seen him as anything more than my annoying advisor. But him admitting his attraction for me and boldly telling me that he has a crush on me… it’s kind of hot. I’ve never had a guy be so bold. At least, not a supernatural. I’ve had plenty of human guys hit on me, but I always knew it was my magic making them talk like that.

Kaine obviously can’t be a marriage candidate, but what if he could be?

I’m not ready for marriage. Not to any candidate. But how am I supposed to know if he could be somebody I could spend my life with? I haven’t had enough time with any of the guys to know for sure.

Feeling bold, I lean forward and press my lips against Kaine’s. He’s completely stiff at first, but after only a moment of hesitation, he kisses me back.

Kaine, the same guy who has made me miserable since the moment I arrived,kissesme. I almost pull back from shock but he firmly wraps his arms around me, holding me against him.

Andwow, this boy can kiss.

My heart races faster and butterflies tickle my stomach as Kaine skillfully and enthusiastically kisses me. He tangles his fingers in my hair, and he holds the other hand lightly on my lower back. He holds me like I’m the most precious thing in the world and I’m not quite sure what to make of it.

Kaine isn’t a romantic. He’s moody on days that end in ‘y.’ Not to mention, he’s my advisor, which is really just an over glorified way of saying he’s my babysitter. This is the guy who accused me of murdering my brother.

But just as abruptly as he started kissing me, he pulls back and puts at least four feet of space between us.

“You can’t kiss me,” Kaine demands, his face a light shade of pink.

“But I just did.” I put my hands on my hips. “And you kissed me back, so it’s not like you have a lot of room to argue with me.”

His pink face darkens to an almost shade of red. “I shouldn’t have. Because, I will repeat, we cannot kiss.”

I don’t bother arguing that we obviouslycankiss, seeing as we just did.

Kaine runs his fingers through his hair, letting out an exasperated sigh. “Look, Madeline…PrincessMadeline.” He gives me a very stern look as he uses my title. “You have to marry a royal.”

“What if I’d rather choose you?” I ask.

“You want to choose me?”

I think about his question.

Do I?

The truth is, I’m not sure. Maybe I would, if given the time to decide. All I know is, that less than two weeks isn’t enough time for me to pick out a husband.

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