Page 28 of Glass Hearts
At this moment, Jett decides it’s the perfect time to barge in and practically tackle Arabella.
Arabella
One moment I am eating amazing petit fours, the next I am being bulldozed over by a gigantic beast. Thankfully, my wineglass was empty. Kip and Bert hide right away.
“New friend! I’m Jett! I love you, do you love me? I think we will be big-time friends—you like my dads? Aren’t they the best? You are the best. Let’s be friends. Is that stew? Did I mention I want to be friends?!”
It appears the large dog is Jett.
“It’s lovely meeting you too, Jett. Yes, we can be friends.” I giggle.
“You understand me! Yes! Will you be my mom? I love my dads, but I like your face. I love you. Will you scratch my belly?”
“Sorry about that, Duchess. Jett doesn’t know many boundaries.”
“It’s okay, Grayer. He just wanted to introduce himself.”
Grayer kisses my shoulder at the same time he tries to get Jett off of me. “I love hearing you say my name,” he whispers in my ear.
Grayer is quite distracting. While the others found it appropriate to wear shirts, it’s my dark prince who is shirtless. He is just too beautiful. His tattoos seem to span his whole torso, along with his arms. And the muscle. It was really hard to focus on eating, one of my many favourite things to do, with a view like that. I think he has caught me gawking a few times, giving me that knowing smirk.
If he is being extra obsessive because he just needs to get me out of his system.. I think I could take one for the team. Then he opens his beautiful mouth and says the most possessive, sweet things, and has me melting for more reasons.
It feels like he sees me as more than just Arabella, the servant or thief.
“Jett, you better not be telling her all our secrets.” Koi pets Jett, now also coming closer to the bed.
“Well, we will leave you be. Jett, let’s go, boy.” Sylas and Archer set to leave. But Grayer and Koi remain on the bed. They turn around and shoot them a look. They are all staring weirdly at each other, silent, until Grayer lies back groaning.
“Fuck. Fine, I will leave,for now.”
They all leave, and I once again hear the door locking.
That was weird.
* * *
Because I had quite the nap, I am wide awake late into the evening. Having tidied up, rearranged the room, paced anxiously, and stared blankly out the window, I’m now overcome with utter boredom. Thankfully, they left the bottle of wine. Perhaps it’s time to christen the bathtub and start that book.
With no soap bubbles or oils, it may be a little lame, but a hot bath is still a hot bath. My muscles had felt quite sore from running away from the princes. I bet they would laugh, knowing that brief run still effected me. Again, probably a simple warm-up for them.
I open “The Duchess and the Rake,” and the irony isn’t lost on me. I pour the last remaining drops of the wine and enjoy the pure bliss as I submerge further into the basin. All I would need is bubbles and maybe more of those little desserts.. The bathtubis big enough, maybe even for a naked prince to join. Then this would be perfect.
I close my eyes and lose myself in the water’s warm embrace, losing track of time within the warm water and lust filled pages.
“Arabelly! The dark prince has snuck into your room from the balcony!”
My eyes snap open as I quickly get out of the tub, the cool air raising goosebumps, and wrap a thick towel around myself.
Sure enough, he is standing right outside the bathroom door as I open it, still shirtless, as if it’s his room.
“Duchess,” he growls. His eyes heat with hunger. I am naked, hidden behind a tiny towel. We stare at each other, and I think he is going to kiss me, until he looks over my shoulder. He shoulders into the space. Noticing the bubble-less bath, empty bottle, glass of wine, and embarrassingly, he picks up my book. He flashes me a devious, dimpled grin that has me clenching my thighs.
I have had way too much wine and read too far into that book for him to look at me like that.
“Would that make me the Rake, Duchess?” I laugh, almost dropping my towel. “I love hearing your laugh.”
“Something tells me the other princes don’t know you are in my room. Why are you here, Prince Grayer?”
