well here. But she loved this place. We’d sit right here when I was a child, and she would make me tell her all my problems.”
He smiles, and my heart thumps harder in my chest. Arix is beautiful, and every smirk and wicked grin he sends my way gives me butterflies. But the simple, sad smile, the fondness in his eyes when he speaks of his mom…
This is the real Arix.
“She sounds like an amazing mom.” I hope the jealousy I feel at the thought of growing up with a mom like her isn’t evident in my voice.
Arix removes his arm from across the top of the bench and throws it around my shoulders. “She was.”
“Do you mind if I ask what happened to your parents?”
“They were murdered.”
My mouth drops open. I expected some kind of accident. For some reason, foul play hadn’t crossed my mind.
I glance at him, and he pulls me closer. He’s not looking at me, and I reach out, placing my hand on his knee.
He turns his head, gazing down at me. “A little higher, beauty.”
I scowl at him, removing my hand. “I was being supportive.”
Surprise flashes across his face, as if he’s not used to anyone offering him comfort. The thought makes me sad for him, and I don’t protest when he drags me closer, using his other hand to grab my wrist and pressing his lips to my palm.
“Do you know who killed them?”
He shakes his head. “To this day, I am working to discover who could have done such a thing. Unfortunately, a court as large as my parents’ had multiple suspects. I have my own suspicions, but my father would expect me to only act once I have proof.”
His lips twist at that, and my throat tightens. I’m guessing he’d like to round up all his suspects and torture the information out of them. But he’s still attempting to honor his dad.
I shiver as he strokes the sensitive skin along my wrist, and he smiles. The bastard knows exactly what he does to me.
He studies my face. “Why do you want to go back to your planet so badly?”
I shrug. “It’s home.”
He leans down and picks a flower before handing it to me, and I smile, inhaling the light fragrance.
“Earth isn’t perfect, that’s for sure. In a lot of ways, it’s a goddamned shitshow. It’s full of wars and hunger and death. With a big ol’ helping of inequality and sadness. Just when you think you’re winning the game, the rules change and you’re suddenly losing.”
Arix tilts his head, and I smile.
“But it’s beautiful too, with sights that make you pinch yourself they’re so incredible. There’s hope around every corner. People who care about each other. People who sacrifice for others. But most importantly, it’s ours.”
He studies my face for a long moment and then nods. “I understand. My kingdom has its faults, and while I try to improve it every day, it will always be a work in progress. But if someone were to take it from me, I would not rest until I had taken it back. My father would expect nothing less.”
“I guess we have more in common than I thought.”
He grins, his eyes sharpening on my face. Then he lowers his head, giving me plenty of time to stop him, but I don’t, allowing him to cover my mouth with his.
His lips are firm and hot, and he uses the arm around my shoulders to hold me in place as he plunders my mouth. My thighs tense, and I gasp as my body goes languid and soft against him.
He slowly pulls away, and my heart stutters at the lust written all over his face.
“Come to my rooms after dinner,” he murmurs. “And let me show you how much more we have in common.”
I open my mouth, but we both turn at the sound of someone clomping through the bushes.
“They went in this direction,” a low voice says, and Arix tenses, immediately pulling me to my feet and striding toward the intruder. He’s practically dragging me at this point, but I get it.
This is his sanctuary, and he sure doesn’t want others to know about it.
It’s Tridi who’s striding along the forest path, two guards in tow. He looks surprised when we appear from within the forest, and I clear my throat.
“I saw the cutest furry animal and insisted we get closer,” I laugh, batting my lashes for good measure. “His Majesty was kind enough to help me.”
Tridi nods,