Page 50 of Night's Fall
I’d noticed the female standing in the light coming out of an opened door on a building when we landed.AsIalighted,Ialso noticedAlekseilift his chin to acknowledge her.
But as he would tuck me at his side with my hand in his elbow again,Istopped him by curling toward his front and putting my other one to his chest.
I slid my teeth over my lower lip whenIencountered the hard muscle under his light-blue, custom-made button down, but whenIlifted my gaze to his,Isaw his head bent, his attention aimed at my hand.
I quickly took it away.
Even more quickly, he caught it and brought it back, opening his hand over the back of mine to spread it across his shirt, and finally, his gaze captured mine.
“I am not a priceless work of art,” he said low.
“I know, but?—”
“You may touch me.”
My skin started to tingle. “Thankyou, but?—”
“You seem hesitant with me.I’ma prince of this realm,Laura, butI’llnot ever simply be that to you.”
Gods, he was so sweet.
“You don’t have to use deference with me,” he continued. “Evenwhen you must show it to others, we’ll know what we have between us.”
So.Danged.Sweet.
And he was right.I’dbeen distant.Maybeeven…
DearHecate…
Testing him.
I felt badly he’d noticed, and it obviously bothered him.
ButIdidn’t trust this.
Who could blame me?I’dnever had anything so amazing.
That wasn’t something to share on the first date either.
“Don’t worry,”Ijoked. “I’llget used to being courted by a mega-hot shifter and eventually stop thinking you’ll go up in a puff of smoke ifItouch you.”
His lips twitched, his face softened, both specialAleksei-style gifts he gave me before he stated, “I’llbe off-planet for three days.Thisannoys me becauseI’llbe quite busy, andIwon’t have much time to connect with you.YourfriendCatla’sshowing is during that time, andIwon’t be here to escort you.”
Oh man,Catwould be bummed at that.Havingthe prince there would be a huge coup for her.
I thought this soIwouldn’t think about how upsetIwas that he wouldn’t be there to escort me.Iwas a little scared about us going public (okay, full disclosure,a lotscared), and the timing of the showing seemed really soon.
But we’d been in each other’s presence for mere hours, and the level of how dismayedIwas not only that we wouldn’t be going to the showing together, but that he’d be gone for three days, was, well…seriouslydismaying.
“That’s okay,”Ilied. “I’mused to going to things alone.ButIwanted to say?—”
“I would ask you to come with me on my trip, but asI’llbe busy,Ifear it’d be boring for you.”
I’d been off-planet once.Duringa shoot for a vid titledTheOtherSideof theSun.Itwas a sappy romance couched in an action-adventure.Thehero died.Theaudience was incensed.
But my costumes got good reviews.
WhenIwas there,Ididn’t have a lot of time to explore, andI’dalways wishedIhad.Off-planet travel was expensive, andIdidn’t know whenI’dget another chance.
