Page 46 of Broken Prince

I was not sure what came over me, maybe it was just how hot he looked all wet, his clothes stuck to his skin, showing his impressive muscles.

I reached up, stood on my tiptoes, and grabbed his face, pulling him down to me, locking my lips with his on a chaste kiss.

He froze as my lips touched his and he didn’t move until I broke the kiss.

“Thank you,” I said again, blushing under the craziness of my actions.

He cleared his throat, took a step back, and then a second as if he were escaping a wild animal.

I looked at him, both mortified by my actions and hurt by the rejection, before spinning around and running upstairs to the security of my bedroom.

God, what got into me?

Chapter Thirteen

CASSIE

I took a deep breath and looked at myself in the mirror once more, trying to settle my stomach.

A birthday dinner between friends. That’s all it was and yet, I couldn’t calm my nerves.

I had ordered a new dress for the occasion and did my hair and makeup even better than I’d done for prom.

I wasn’t sure what was going to happen but it would be the first time I saw him after the kiss on Thursday night. It had been chaste and sprung by gratitude—at least that was what I kept telling myself.

Then why did you use so much effort?a little voice taunted me.

He had not said anything. He had messaged me a couple of times on Friday to tell me he was ordering dinner for the birthday and also to be down by eight p.m., but after then, complete radio silence.

I shook my head and rushed downstairs before I could change my mind.

The small library had a ‘Happy 21st’ banner above the fireplace. There was also some food and a small cake on the table as well as a bottle of champagne and a couple of gifts wrapped in silver at the back of the table.

Dom was leaning against the fireplace in light-blue jeans and a cream V-neck cardigan that I had to admit looked amazing against his olive skin.

“Hi?” I sighed, why did it sound like a question? I was just taken aback by Luca’s absence. Maybe he was still in setup mode. I was a little early.

“Birthday girl!” Dom beamed before coming toward me and hugging me. “How does it feel to be able to drink?” he asked once he let me go.

I shrugged.

“I got you the best stuff there is. We’ll do it responsibly,” he added with a cheeky grin.

I looked around once more as if Luca would just appear in a dark corner.

“Where’s Luca?”

“Ah, yes. He got held up.” He scratched the back of his neck, visibly uncomfortable. “He told me to apologize and to wish you a happy birthday.”

Saying I was offended and hurt was an understatement. I’d never taken Luca Montanari for an avoider and he gave me his word.

I shook my head as anger filled my chest as hot as coal. He didn’t even bother sending me a note himself.

“No.” I swirled around and exited the room.

Dom caught my wrist just as I was about to go upstairs.

“Where are you going?”

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