Page 64 of Royal Fling
Although, being able to kiss—not just touch him for a fleeting moment—would make this night the best out of all.
Sixteen
August
We left the gala shortly after, and by the time we got back to the house, the moon was shining bright, the crickets were hard at work trilling, as were the mosquitoes.
I didn’t want tonight to end. I didn’t want this weekend to end, and it had barely started. In all the years I’d used this house, I’d never felt so free out here, and it was a wonderful feeling.
And having Luke here with me was just the cherry on top.
No, that was wrong. He wasn’t just a desirable addition. He was the main feature. The reason why I could feel like that out here.
“Are you tired?” I asked him, catching him mid-yawn.
He shook his head. I smiled and took his hand.
“Let’s go,” I said.
“Where?”
Instead of answering, I led him away from the front door and around the house, setting us both on the paved path that led to the private beach on the other side of the house.
Along the path, the stone slabs turned to sand and the smell of the salty sea infiltrated my nostrils.
I kicked my shoes off, pulled my socks off, and sank my toes into the cool sand, before letting go of Luke’s hand to run to the shore.
The cold Mediterranean water cuffed my feet, chilling my entire body. I turned around to find Luke taking his shoes and socks off too and running toward me.
He extended his hand for me, and I grabbed it, pulling him into my arms with a strong tug that almost made us topple over and then wrapped both arms around him.
“Are you okay, August?” he asked.
“I’ve never been better,” I replied and reconciled our lips.
I’d missed their flavor during the gala. I’d missed the way they fired up my body, the way his body made my heart race, and the way his gaze left scars on my skin
I dragged my hands up to his shoulder blades, the nape of his neck, until they nestled on either side of his face, squeezing, stroking, bringing him closer to me. I just wanted to meld him into my body. I wanted him to be with me all the time. I didn’t just want stolen moments in the dark. I didn’t want to keep him in the shadows. I wanted to show him off to the entire world.
Tonight had proven just how much I wanted him by my side, how much I needed him to keep me sane.
“You were incredible tonight,” I told him, pulling away long enough to speak.
“No, I wasn’t. No one cared about me out there.”
“I did.”
He smirked and rolled his eyes. “You don’t count, silly.”
“Why not? Am I not important enough?”
“Oh you’re plenty important, Your Highness. But you’re also adorable and different.”
“Funny,” I said. “I could describe you in the same words.”
“Huh! I’m no highness, but I sure am different. I don’t know about cute, though,” he replied.
“Oh, trust me, Lucas Karagiannis. You’re plenty cute. And sexy. And hot. And adorable. And I could go on until I run out of English words to describe you,” I told him.
