Page 96 of The Promised Prince
“Of course not.”
“Then dance with her.” His manipulation turned into a challenge.
Trev swallowed hard, reaching for Renna’s hand. “My lady?”
She nodded, cautiously putting her feather-like fingers on his.
They walked across the swirled marble in silence, bodies tense. The song had already begun—another slow song, of course. Trev swung her around to face him, their eyes meeting. She looked as scared as he felt. He placed his arm around her, his hand on her bare back. The feel of her skin burned into his touch. Their movements were guarded and stiff, both of them trying to keep the tension between them in check. They didn’t speak, just glided through the crowded dance floor robotically. Other couples swayed close by, not knowing the agony inside of Trev. For surely, this was agony. To have Renna in his arms, but not be able to truly hold her, feel her.
An accidental bump from a couple nearby forced him to step closer to her.
“Excuse us, Your Highness,” the man chirped before steering his partner away.
Renna’s breath caught, and she leaned in just a fraction, as if momentarily forgetting that distance between them was their only means of self-preservation. Trev briefly closed his eyes and breathed in her perfume, a light citrus scent that was now his favorite smell. Her head melted into the closeness of his cheek, allowing him to whisper in her ear, “You look beautiful tonight.”
She didn’t pull away.
He tightened his arm around her back in a more intimate way. The movement closed the gap between them even more.
She sucked in the air around her.
“I’ve wondered all night what it would feel like to dance with you, to hold you.” He could feel strands of her hair on his lips as he whispered in her ear.
“Please,” she whimpered, shying away from his touch.
“Sorry.” He remembered himself and the room full of people.
They spun around the dance floor in a choking silence until finally, Trev laughed to himself. “I’ve never wanted to hold or hug something so bad in my life. I feel actual pain in my chest as real as any gunshot wound—a tangible, physical pain.”
“Stop saying things like that.” Renna pulled away even more, the space like a cold breeze against his skin.
“I just think it’s crazy. Don’t you? To feel physical pain because I can’t hug you or touch you.” He turned his head toward hers, the tip of his nose barely touching her cheek. “Do you feel the pain too?”
There was an audible swallow before she inched her face away from his.
“That was a stupid question,” he continued. “I know you feel pain. I know I hurt you.”
Renna breathed heavily against him. “I can’t—”
“I need to explain about the other night.”
Her body stiffened even more.
He hated to be the reason for her distress. “I just want you to know that I never—”
“I can’t do this.” She pulled away from his grasp like she was desperate to escape. If the look in her eyes was any indication, shewasdesperate to escape.
35
Renna
Renna couldn’t breathe. The tight dress suffocated and squeezed her. Feelings for Trev exploded within, her skin the only thing holding them inside. She hurried for the stairs, Trev’s stunned expression in her wake.
Joniss grabbed her arm, stopping her. “I think you just proved me right.”
She yanked out of his grasp, climbing the stairs as fast as her stupid dress would allow. Someone scrambled behind her, following. Picking up her pace, she made it to the top of the stairs and headed for the second-floor sitting room.
“Renna!” Trev called down the hall, piercing her heart. She kept moving.
