Catastrophic Attraction - Eve Langlais Page 0,20
opposite Titan, on Roark’s right hand. She had a clean line of sight to the princess.
She’d not brought her empty plate, but the king had some bacon on his, though it was damp looking as if he’d poured something on it. It didn’t stop her from grabbing a piece, despite knowing the rudeness of it. She wanted to see how he’d react.
She put the sticky strip of bacon in her mouth. Something sweet hit her tongue along with the salt. She moaned.
Who knew chewing could be pure bliss? Titan appeared annoyed, probably because Roark didn’t pay him any mind. His gaze appeared intent on Casey’s lips.
Titan cleared his throat. “You never answered. Can I borrow her?”
The king might not have replied before, but he’d apparently been listening because he said, “Yes. You may have Charlotte for the morning, as I’ve other plans for Casey.”
“Care to run those plans by me first?” She arched a brow and stole another piece off his plate. What had he drizzled on the bacon to make it sticky and delicious?
“You professed a desire to speak to those I’d captured. Or did you change your mind?” Roark snared the last piece of bacon and ate it.
How wrong was it to have to physically hold herself back from snatching it and eating it herself? Casey flicked her gaze at Titan. “She doesn’t leave your side until I return to take over.”
“If Titan can’t, I’ll mind Charlie.” The soft offer from the guard behind the king drew her gaze.
Up close, the woman was even prettier. Didn’t make her capable. Casey eyed the sword at her side, the gun on the other hip. Could she actually use them? “No one watches Charlotte unless they’ve been vetted by me, meaning I’ll need to see your skills first.”
The guard bristled at the implication. “I can protect her.”
“Then you’ll have no problem proving it. This afternoon. You and anyone else you are thinking of having around the princess.” She directed the last to Roark.
“Does that include me?” the king drawled.
“Yes.”
His eyes damn well sparkled, and his lips curved. “I can’t wait.”
Shortly after, she watched Charlotte skipping off by Titan’s side, Anita trailing behind them but not before sending her a dark look. Other people had spared them curious glances but kept their thoughts to themselves. A good thing. Twitchy didn’t even start to describe her current state with so many eyes on her, and just as many on the king. How annoying to suffer that kind of attention all the time. Then again, perhaps he was the type to bask in it.
As they left the dining area, Roark felt a need to talk. About bacon of all things. “I take it that was your first time eating bacon.”
“What gave it away?”
“The foodgasm you enjoyed. It was hard to miss.”
“A food what?”
A wicked smile emerged as he explained. “A term used for extreme enjoyment when eating.”
“I didn’t know such a thing was possible,” she mumbled.
“Given you obviously have a sensitive palate, we’ll have to see what kind of meals our chef can prepare.”
“You want to do it on purpose?” She arched a brow.
“If you’d only seen your face…” he murmured. As he strode, he grabbed a cloak someone handed him and swung it around his shoulders. It was then she realized they’d been walking toward the castle entrance, which was one little door set within a big one.
“Where are you taking me?”
“To see Liandra as you requested.”
“I just need a location.”
“I’d prefer to show you.”
“Don’t you have to be a king?” Surely, he had better things to do than act as a guide.
“Being a king involves the people seeing me amongst them.”
“Whereas my job requires them to not notice. Having them all throw themselves to the ground playing to your vanity won’t accomplish that.”
His brows drew together in annoyance. “I don’t make anyone bow.”
“You might not make them, but they do it anyway.” She’d seen it. People couldn’t seem to help offering gestures of obeisance—or was it respect? She began to see what Titan had tried to explain about the loyalty these people had to their king.
“If you’re asking to move about unseen, then it is easy enough to arrange.” He stepped to the side once they exited—onto an actual drawbridge, the kind that could be raised. He pulled the hood of the cloak over his head and turned away. When he faced her again, he’d changed into someone else. Different colored eyes and hair. Even a beard covered his jaw.
It startled her