Page 37 of The Rejected King
“So that same prince, Prince Charming, falls for Sleeping Beauty, Snow White, and Cinderella?”
“No!” Emree groaned. “It’s a different guy, but they’re all equally charming.”
“I don’t think so. I thinkCharmingis two-timing Sleeping Beauty and Snow White because they sleep too much. He’ll stick with Cinderella, though.”
“I never should have given you that book.” Emree laughed. “You’re ruining it for me.”
“I’m just joking.” Davin’s slowed, angling his body to face Emree fully. “I really liked it.”
Her smiling eyes faded into something more meaningful, and he didn’t want the moment to end. He wanted more time with her.
“There’s something I’d like to show you.” He nodded in the opposite direction. “That is, if you’re not too busy?”
Her eyes widened like she was pleasantly surprised, then she looked around as if she could get in trouble for saying yes. She cleared her throat. “Of course, Your Majesty.”
“Davin,” he corrected, but the vigorous shake of Emree’s head told him he wasn’t going to win this battle. He was the king, no matter how much he wished Emree would see him for himself. He gestured to his left and held out his free hand.
Emree stared at his outstretched hand for a long moment. Finally, she lightly placed her fingers in his as if his skin were poisoned. Still, even that gentle touch was enough to send a jolt of electricity through Davin. He clasped his fingers over hers and pulled her away from the foyer, twirling her under his arm like they were on the dance floor. He released her hand and gestured in front of him. “After you, my lady.”
They crossed through a circular sitting room in silence to a door on the opposite end. Davin held the door for Emree and waited as she went past. He closed his eyes, breathing in her vanilla scent. Then he remembered himself, and his eyes shot open. If he wanted to spend time with Miss Dutson as a friend, there needed to be some ground rules.
Breathing in her scent was not allowed.
“Is this the library?” she asked, looking around the room.
“It is.” Davin trailed behind her as she walked through the rows of books.
She turned around, smiling at him with sparkling eyes. “I’ve been dying to come in here, but I haven’t had the time.”
“Am I working you too much?” he asked. For some reason, Davin felt all sorts of concern for Emree—concern that he shouldn’t be feeling.
That was another rule. Friendly concern was okay, but protective concern crossed the line.
Emree shook her head. “No, I like the work.”
He continued to follow her down each row as her fingers softly touched the spines of the books. “I want to help you with your dream of starting a book exchange,” he said.
“You do?” She suddenly stopped, facing him, almost making Davin bump into her.
He looked down into her dark eyes—eyes full of questions and wonder. He glanced away, forcing himself to focus on the closest book spine as if it were the most fascinating thing he had ever seen.
“Your book exchange is a good idea. I’d like to help if you’ll let me.” He chanced a look at her.
She bit her bottom lip, but she still wasn’t able to hide her beaming smile. “I don’t know what to say.” Her eyes shone back at him with appreciation.
Davin wondered what other things he could do to create that same expression on Emree’s face. He’d like to see it every day if he could.
She was different. She didn’t expect anything from him, and in return, she wasn’t trying to impress him. They were both themselves around the other. Comfortable and real. His eyes dropped to her lips, and he wondered what it would be like to kiss her again.
No.
Wondering about kissing AND kissing were definitely against the rules.
Emree took a step back, moving her eyes to the shelf at her side. Did she know that he had been thinking about kissing her? He inwardly groaned as he studied Emree’s profile, her soft cheek, her slender neck, her delicate collar bone. Maybe hewasa weirdo with a neck fetish. He had to stop thinking about all the ways Miss Dutson was attractive. He rubbed his eyes, letting his hand slide down his face and eventually drop.
“I’d like to donate two hundred books from the castle library to your cause,” he said, proud of the way he had gotten himself back on track.
Her shocked face whipped around, and she gasped in delight. “What?” She clutched his arms, jumping up and down. The force of her unexpected hold made Davin step back a little to gain his balance. “Are you serious?”
