Page 67 of Falling Princess

Lorcan seemed to know it. He drew me fractionally closer. Still keeping a bit of space between our bodies, in a marginal nod to propriety. I sighed and slid my hand up his arm to his shoulder. The music shifted into a slower tempo. We’re not quite slow dancing, but we’re not, not-dancing, either. His lips brushed my ear. I shivered.

“Do you want me to cut his hand off?”

It’s no idle offer. I touched his jaw with my fingertips and rose up on tiptoe to get close enough to shout over the music.

“For the sake of Auralia’s international reputation, no.”

Someone shoved past us. I lost my balance and fell hard against his chest. Lorcan’s arms tightened around my waist. I couldn’t breathe.

Raina had better not have witnessed this. She’d be hurt and angry. She might tell my father. If he found out, Lorcan would get sent back to his hometown.

It’s one thing to be perpetually screwing up my own reputation. It’s not okay for me to besmirch Lorcan’s. Especially since my father could have him condemned for touching me. Not just banished back to Tenáho. Publicly hung. Put to death in the Colosseum if he wanted to be truly medieval about it.

Yet I didn’t want to let go of him. I inhaled as deeply as I could—my lungs were constricted from too much bottled-up emotion—and snaked my arm around his neck. Lorcan startled.

“Okay?”

“Yes.” His arms tightened around my waist. I dropped my head onto his shoulder and sighed. He smoothed my hair down my back. My eyes drifted shut. It’s so comforting to be held. I want more, but Ineedthis.

Too soon, the song ended.

Reluctantly, I pulled away. I’m sure he was only indulging me, going above and beyond in his duties to provide reassurance when I needed it. There are no real feelings on his side. How could there be, when I’ve been so ungrateful? When I couldn’t even restrain myself for the duration of a single song, knowing the trouble that being caught together could cause?

“Lorcan, I—” I swallowed. “Thank you for watching over me. And for the dance.”

Lorcan’s arm became an iron bar at my waist, stopping me. Startled, I glanced up. It’s dark in the room with only flashing LED lights darting over us, but I can see every detail of his face. Our gazes locked.

His hand came to my jaw, thumb in front of my ear, fingers splayed along the back of my head. For one wild, thrilling moment, I thought he might kiss me. I licked my lips in anticipation. His eyes flicked to my mouth and then back up, pupils dilated, hair sticking damply to his temples. I had one hand on his low back, pressing forward slightly. The narrow span of his waist became permanently imprinted in my mind.

“I feel it too, Princess.”

He traced my upper lip with his thumb. I closed my parted mouth against the pad and felt his slight shudder. Lightning sizzled along my nerves. Weakness in my knees.I can’t.Wecan’t.Yet I was not imagining the attraction. It’s white-hot on my side and the fact that he’s forbidden fruit only made me want him more.I want his hands on my body. I want him naked beneath me. I want his mouth on me, devouring.I want it so much I ache on a cellular level.

My crush is my problem to handle. I wish it were on anyone else. Clearly, forced proximity does things to people.

Me. It’s doing things to me.

Summer can’t come soon enough.

* * *

The following Monday, Raina, Scarlett, Lorcan and I were on our way to class when we passed a guy with a sharp jawline and bright blond hair. I vaguely recognized him from around campus. One of the popular athletes.

His entire right arm was in a cast, supported in a sling.

He glanced at me, then at Lorcan. Stopped in his tracks. His eyes widened as if in fear. Warily, he ducked his head and veered down a different hallway.

“What was that about?” I asked Scarlett. I’m about as intimidating as dandelion fluff.

“Dunno. Attacked in the parking lot early on Sunday morning.”

I gasped. “A robbery?”

Here? On campus? With all the security at Royals, it doesn’t seem possible. Besides, what does that have to do with me?

Scarlett looked at Lorcan, who remained his usual impassive self. “Nothing was stolen.”

“His hand was broken—four fingers, smashed—along with his ulna, and his shoulder was dislocated, too. Nasty injuries.” Raina shook her head. “Poor guy.”

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