Page 85 of If The Crown Fits
But Cai took me by the wrists and wrapped my arms around his neck. I may have underestimated him in more ways than one. That perhaps the Prince of Norrandale was in fact a force to be reckoned with, in his own unpredictable way. I allowed my fingers to rest where hints of blond hair made their appearance at the nape of his neck and Cai managed to pull me closer.
I was hot and cold all at once, goosebumps forming on my arms.
Being kissed by Cai wasn’t what I expected... it was better. And despite my better judgement, I pulled him closer, allowing his mouth to claim mine as if some hidden part of me belonged to him, always had.
But I didn’t think about that feeling. I pushed it away instead and concentrated on the warmth of his hands that traced my body like it was a work of art. Cai made a sound in the back of his throat and I sucked in a breath before pulling back and resting my forehead against his.
“This is a very good example of a very bad idea.”
He gave me an unsatisfied glance.
“I’m serious. Once this is over, you’ll go back to Norrandale and I’ll still be a bandit.”
“It doesn’t have to be that way.”
“You speak as if the truth is fiction, Cai. You and I both know you have to marry someone of noble blood and that I was made to be alone.”
His mouth travelled to my cheek, where he pressed a butterfly of a kiss. “You still proved my point.”
“So?” I attempted to ignore his lips and roll my eyes.
“So you owe me one.”
“I saved your life back at Woodsbrook Manor. That makes us even.”
His lips moved to my other cheek for another kiss. “You betrayed me and stole my personal property. That makes us uneven.”
“You lied about your past.”
“You lost a duel against me and you said the winner gets a favour from the loser.”
“What exactly is it that you want?” A dangerous question.
“Everything will change once this is over, but we don’t have to end this until then. All I’m asking for is your honesty.”
He knew the way my heart twisted inside when he looked at me like that. Because he felt it too.
“No more lies?” I wasn’t entirely convinced. No matter how much I wanted to grab his face and kiss him again.
“No more lies,” he confirmed. “You will give me a chance until this is over and we can go our separate ways. That is if you can stay away from me.”
“Don’t flatter yourself,” I said. “I still won’t be in love with you by the end of this.”
“You can try and tell yourself whatever you please.” He smirked. “But you’re already half in love with me.” He took my hand and bent down, gently pressing a kiss to my knuckles. “Your Highness,” he teased before turning away, and I watched his shoulders disappear into the leaves.
I shook off whatever unfamiliarity had overcome me. I needed to go to my uncle’s cabin, where our next clan meeting would be held.
When I got there, everyone else seemed to be waiting inside, making small talk or engaging in light debate.
“Glad you decided to show up,” my uncle remarked as I closed the door, but I fully ignored him. I hadn’t forgiven Uncle Arthur for our previous conversation.
“What happens now?” I asked no one in particular, stepping up to the table and surveying the map of the kingdom. I spotted the border of Norrandale and lingered on it for a moment too long.
“The next step is the aristocrats.”
Chapter 24
The Road to the Levington Estate
