I still couldn’t believe my luck, that the man I’d been watching from afar all night had caught me when I’d slipped, my heel catching on the threshold, sending me directly into his arms. I wasn’t sure what to call it, but it felt a lot likefate.

And maybe that was the line of thinking I couldn’t afford. Not when it would take only steps to pull myself flush against his body. To tilt my head up, and press my lips against his.

I shouldn’t, and yet… I wanted to. Wanted him.

Wanted to know what it would be like, just for one night. Ineeded this. A night of fun. Of letting go. Maybe it wasn’t the worst idea in the world.

Snuggling deeper into his coat, I inhaled his scent. He smelled like… Fuck, I didn’t even know. But he smelled good. All spice andman,and it sent a bolt of lust through me.

“Maybe I should go,” I whispered.Ask me,I thought. Ask me tostay. Because I’m weak, and I can’t say no. Not toyou. Not when you’re looking at me like that.

“Maybe you should stay.”

One foot moved, and then another.

And then I’d done it, my hands clutching his shirt, and all it would take was one press and every hard line of his body would merge with every curve of mine.

He rubbed his finger over my bottom lip. “Princess…”

“Yes?”

“Ask me to kiss you.”

I tilted my head, looking up at him. Wondering how I could say no when he asked like that. Like there was nothing more he wanted, or needed, than to kiss me.

“Kiss me,” I said, a soft breath against the wind.Please.

And then his lips were on mine, a soft press as his hands cupped my cheeks, and the nippy air didn’t matter anymore. Not as I wound my arms around his neck, and that slow, searching kiss turned into something more.

The press of his lips turned hungry, and I gasped as he pushed his tongue into my mouth. Seeking, exploring, and each movement of his tongue against mine relaxed me further against him, until my hands were tugging on the ends of his dark hair, pulling him further down. Like if only I could get closer, could capture more of him, I could find this sensation I was chasing.

Needing, wanting tofeel.

A small whimper left my lips as he pulled away, pressing his forehead against mine as he caught his breath.

“Do you want to come upstairs?” His voice was rough,breathing unsteadily as he watched me. Like he couldn’t get enough. Maybe the one who wasn’t breathing properly was me.

I opened my mouth to sayNo—the proper thing to do—but what came out instead was, “Yes.”

Yes, Iwanted. Wanted him. Maybe even needed him. Needed more than the little touches, the lingering glances.

Why? I wouldn’t normally say yes to this, but with him, something was different. He was kind. Caring.Charming.That nickname wasn’t a lie.

The party was a low simmer as we reentered the house, silently slipping up the staircase with his hand clasped in mine. I was surprised when he didn’t stop on the second floor, instead pulling me up a narrower set of stairs up to the third floor.

There weren’t as many doors up here, and I wondered if this was reserved for the upperclassman, but that thought flickered away as soon as the door to his room was closed.

Charming spun me around, pinning me against the wood of the door with his body. His coat dropped to the floor, and I couldn't bring myself to care, because then his lips were on mine once again.

I barely had enough time to notice the queen-sized bed in the room before my eyes fluttered shut, and I lost myself in the kiss. Whatever we’d shared outside… It had been nothing like this.

He kissed like a manstarved.I’d never had anyone kiss me like this before. He nipped at my bottom lip, and I opened for him.

“Princess,” he groaned, pulling away to catch his breath. “You’re killing me.”

A smile curled over my lips. “What are you going to do about it, huh,Charming?” I toyed with the strap on my shoulder, letting it slide down.

He let out another guttural sound before his lips attached to my throat, sucking against my pulse, and my head hit the door as I moaned,loud.