Page 45 of Modern Romance November 2024 5-8

If he didn’t want her to hear it from Grace...

Sahir made himself say it.

‘The new wing of the palace is where I shall reside...’

He felt her jolt again, saw the raising of her head from his chest, and then he heard her question.

‘When?’

‘When I am King.’

CHAPTER SIX

‘KING?’VIOLETSTARTEDto laugh.

Sahir didn’t.

Her eyes were wide open now and she actually sat up. ‘So, you’re a prince?’

‘The Crown Prince.’

‘Crikey.’

‘A few hours from now I have a function to attend, then I fly back to Janana later that night.’

‘Oh.’ She stared at him. ‘I honestly don’t know what to say.’

‘I am just trying to explain that I have to leave and why I—’

She put a hand to his mouth. ‘You don’t have to explain the next part.’

‘What next part?’

‘That I’m a very unsuitable date for a future king.’

‘You’d be a wonderful date, but...’

Unsuitable in ways she could not begin to comprehend.

He had told her more than he’d ever told any other woman, and he already felt close to her in ways the laws strictly dictated he avoid, but... ‘I’m needed back home.’

‘I get it. Well...’ She frowned. ‘Of course, I don’t...’

Violet turned on the light.

‘What are you doing?’

‘I knew there was something.’

She didn’t sound daunted or overwhelmed. Truly just thrilled to have spent the night with him.

‘Something?’ Sahir checked.

‘You’re so formal...’ She pinched his nipple. ‘When you’re not being sexy.’

He caught her wrist and held it there, and looked up at those blue eyes smiling down at him.

And nothing—not a thing—had changed.

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