Page 93 of Until the Stars Fall

“Oh, are you worried you’re going to fall in love with me, Your Highness?”

That question sobered him up quickly, and something I didn’t recognize flashed in his eyes.

I fumbled with my words, trying to backpedal as quickly as I could. “Never mind. So you want to set a boundary on kisses then.”

He nodded but said nothing. The shadow still hadn’t cleared from his expression.

We were quickly running out of time before dinner, and I still needed to change into my dress, so I lifted one hand in the air and began raising a finger for each thing I listed. “Kisses on the cheek, forehead, and hand are fair game for me. But”—I lifted my other hand and spoke as I raised more fingers—“neck, shoulder, collarbone, and anywhere lower…”

“Understood,” he said, chuckling nervously. “And lips?”

Instinctively my eyes lowered to his parted lips. His tongue darted out to wet them, and my mind went rogue, imagining what they would taste like. I cleared my throat, which had gone suddenly dry.

“I don’t think that would be a good idea.”

When I looked up at him again, he was smirking at me. My neck and cheeks began to warm in anticipation of whatever teasing remark he was about to make, but he only said, “Agreed. Now, we should probably talk about what to expect at this dinner.”

Grimacing, I stood. “Would you be able to talk while I dress? I’d hate to make us late to my first dinner.”

His eyes darkened a touch. “So no kissing on the lips, but you’ll allow me to watch you dress? Seems rather odd.”

I rolled my eyes as I turned away and headed into the other room. Waving a hand over my shoulder, I beckoned for him to follow. “I can hear you just fine from behind the screen.”

Once I was safely concealed in the corner, I began to strip off my pants and shirt, folding them neatly and setting them onto the small table next to me.

“So? Are you going to talk, Wolfie? Or did you get distracted by the thought of me naked behind this flimsy partition?” When he didn’t respond, I dared to peek around the screen.

Connor leaned casually against the door frame, his arms folded in front of him. The troubled look in his eyes returned.

“I thought you needed to get dressed,” he said, not turning to face me, and I quickly retreated behind the screen. “You should know that my father and brother both know the truth.”

I froze, holding the maroon dress barely up over my hips. “Oh?”

“Brennan accused me of planning this all along, which was absurd.”

“And the king?” I asked nervously.

“He insisted it had to be a ruse, couldn’t fathom that it could be real.”

“Ouch,” I whispered, slipping my arms into the delicate sleeves.

“I wouldn’t take it personally, Sapphire,” he said quietly. “But I did have to convince him this plan had merit.”

Reaching around my back, I started fastening the buttons that ran up from my waist. I winced as I attempted to stretch my arms to secure the last of them. Stars, I couldn’t go to dinner with my dress half-buttoned, and we didn’t have time to call for Gretchen to help.

“Connor?”

“Yes, Sapphire?”

Sheepishly, I stepped out. My face heated at the way his eyes roved over me. Turning, I pulled my hair over my shoulder to reveal the final buttons I needed help with.

“Could you…?”

I cursed my racing heart as he slowly walked toward me. This was nothing. It wasn’t like I was asking him to help me bathe. I wasn’t even indecent; every part of me was covered. It was just a few measly buttons. Yet that didn’t stop my breath from catching when his fingers whispered across my back.

Stars, pull yourself together, Lieke.Before he gets the wrong idea.

CHAPTER 45

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