Page 126 of The Stolen Princess
“Have you practiced it in front of a mirror?” she asked.
His lips turned upward into one of his cocky smiles. “Nah, I got this.”
“Okay,” Myka nodded. “I’m ready for it.”
Drake smiled. “You’re a handful, Mykaleen Adler, but I kind of like that about you. I like how at any given moment of the day, I don’t know what you’ll do or say next. You’re funny, and sometimes you don’t even try—it’s just natural. You don’t pretend to be something you’re not. You’re unapologetically yourself in the best way. I like that you’re brave and bold and daring. And,” he paused, “I like how you don’t need me to rescue you, but you’ll let me anyway.” He shook his head. “I know you’re way out of my league and that you deserve someone better than me, but I can’t help it. I love you. I love your craziness, and your goodness, and your strength.” His hands moved to her cheeks. “I’ve missed you so much. I haven’t been myself since we’ve been apart. It’s like I can’t live without you, and I don’twantto live without you. You’re worth every price I’ll have to pay, everything I’ll have to give up, every plan that is now wrecked. It’s worth it.You’reworth it.”
Myka leaned her forehead against his, smiling bigger than she ever had in her whole life. “That was a good speech,” she said. “Like, really good. Are you sure you didn’t practice it in the mirror?”
Drake pulled back so she could see his glimmering eyes. “Thatwas from the heart.”
“Well, anything I say now will just sound stupid.”
“I know.” He shrugged. “Compared to that, your ‘I love you’ speech will be mediocre at best.”
“Who says I love you?” she asked, raising her brows.
His lips curled into a smile. “I bet you do.”
She tilted her head. “You’re good at bets.”
“I’ve had some practice.”
“Okay, you win,” she smiled. “I love you.”
He laughed. “That’s it? That’s the speech? You’re not even going to try to say something romantic like I did?”
She shook her head. “Your ego is already so big.”
He laughed again. “You really know how to bring a man to his knees, don’t you?”
“If you must know,” she said, “I think you are the most incredible man I’ve ever met. I love how confident you are. How you fight for everything that is good. You hold yourself to a high standard. It’s impressive. You’re a great listener and friend. I feel like I can tell you anything, and you’ll be there for me in whatever way I need. You’re kind…even to prisoners.” Drake grimaced, making Myka smile. “You’re a gentleman even when I don’t want you to be, you’re an excellent kisser, and you are extremely handsome, like next level stuff.”
Drake’s smile widened.
“Was that romantic enough for you?” she asked.
He nodded, slowly pulling her closer. Desire was written across his face, and Myka hoped it never went away. She hoped Drake looked at her like that for the rest of her life—that this fire between them burned hot enough to last. He glanced at her mouth and she tilted her head up, expecting his lips on hers, but instead they hovered close, torturing her with anticipation.
What was this control he possessed?
His lips brushed against hers, skimming the smooth curves of her mouth before they took them completely. The kiss was slow and satisfying. Meaningful and charged with endearment. Every sensation inside of her body met together for the softest and most exquisite explosion of her life. Her hands trembled against his chest and she felt his heartbeat transfer from his body to hers, beating all the way down to her toes.
Happiness, love, desire, and passion swirled inside of her as his lips continued to move with hers. The feelings were strong like she hadn’t had access to their full potential before this moment. Her fingers glided through his hair at his neck, pulling him closer, intensifying the kiss between them. His hands pulled her to him, kissing her like he never intended to let her go.
But he did let go.
“Myka Adler, where did you learn to kiss like that?” he asked through rough breaths.
She smiled. “Old ’n Slow Winslow.”
Drake pulled apart from her, laughing. “Thank you for that visual. That was the bucket of ice-cold water I needed.”
Her arms reached out, tugging him back to her. “I was kidding!”
His hands brushed her hair back from her face, and his nose scrunched. “You’re kind of strange.”
The corner of her mouth lifted. “In a good way or a bad way?”
