he said, as they walked.
Pol y was thril ed that he wanted her opinion.
“It was amazing.”
“Is that al you have to say about it? Just amazing? Wasn’t it greater than that?”
Pol y raced to think of better adjectives.
“It was magnificent. The best I’ve ever heard.”
Sergei nodded his head with something like approval.
“I know,” he final y said. “It was one of my better performances.”
Pol y raced to think of something else to say to him, some excuse for them to spend time together. She walked quickly, trying to catch up.
“I was hoping…” she began, “I was hoping that we could celebrate your performance.”
Sergei suddenly stopped, turned and faced her. His blazing eyes seemed to stare right into her.
There was a long silence.
“What did you have in mind?” he asked.
Pol y thought. She real y hadn’t had anything planned. She had just been desperately looking for an excuse to spend more time with him.
She shrugged. “I don’t know,” she said hesitantly.
He stared at her for what felt like forever, and final y, he sighed, as if resolved.
“Very wel then,” he said. “You can fol ow me to my room, if you wish.”
Pol y stood there, her heart pounding, overwhelmed with excitement. Had she heard correctly?
Sergei turned and walked away, and she hurried to catch up.
“I’d like that,” she said, as she walked. “Very much.”
CHAPTER THIRTY ONE
Sam couldn’t get over the concert. He had never heard classical music before, and he couldn’t get over that guy’s voice. The guy seemed like kind of a jerk, but he had to hand it to him: he real y could sing.
More importantly, his night with Kendra had been amazing.
She hadn’t stopped cuddling up to him the whole night. He never knew what to expect with her: she was hot and cold. It seemed that once she’d gotten sight of Caitlin, she’d become super territorial and possessive. She barely left his side since.
He didn’t mind. He felt like she was total y into him, and nothing made him happier. He felt completely glued to her side.
As soon as the concert ended, she’d taken his hand and led him out the room, away from al the people—and he hadn’t resisted. She didn’t want to stick around and talk to the singer. She wanted him to herself. And she clearly had plans for them for the night. With a mischievous smile, she led him away, and he had been thril ed.
She led him down a back hal way, through a huge chamber, and up a flight of steps.
“You haven’t seen my room yet,” Kendra said with a smile.
“It’s the grandest in the palace, except maybe for Marie’s.
Of course, it should be.”
Sam couldn’t wait. He thought back to his time with her, after horseback riding, and how amazing it had been.
They ascended another flight of marble steps, and a servant opened a set of double doors for them, and then, as they entered, closed it behind them.
They barely got a few feet, when she turned and began tearing off his clothes.
She covered his face and neck in kisses, and he reciprocated, caught up in her whirlwind of passion.
“Sam,” she whispered in his ear, as she pul ed off his shirt.
“Wil you do something for me?”
Sam could hardly think straight.
“Yes,” he said, kissing her neck.
“Anything?” she asked.
He nodded, as he kissed her.
“I want to be with you forever,” she said, kissing his neck.
“So do I,” Sam said, and he meant it. He’d never been so obsessed with a girl. He couldn’t help thinking back to his time with Samantha. That had been intense, too. But nothing like this. She was the whole package for him. In fact, if he were given the choice to marry her on the spot, to spend his whole life with her, he would do it.
“I know how we can spend forever together,” she said.
“How?” he asked her, between kisses.
She pul ed her head back, took his face in her hands, and stared at him. Her aqua eyes transfixed his.
“You can turn me,” she said.
Sam was shocked at her request. Immediately, he sensed that would be forbidden. That if he did it, he would be an outcast. That they would both be on their own. He remembered the one rule he had been given when first introduced to this place—and he certainly didn’t want to break it.
On the other hand, it seemed so natural, like the perfect way for them to be together, forever.
And it was what she wanted—and she was the one asking for it.
“I…”