Playing For Her Heart - Megan Erickson Page 0,3

satin fabric of her corset, listen to her heartbeat.

He led Sari to a small restaurant that had been set up near the Aric’s Revenge stage. He glanced around but now that the presentation was over, the area was less crowded and he didn’t see anyone he knew.

The inside of the restaurant had been made to look like a medieval tavern. Faux stone covered the walls, and the lighting was dim with electric sconces on the wall, which flickered to look like real firelight. A gas fireplace lit up the corner, a bearskin rug on the floor in front of it. There was an aisle down the center with large rectangular wooden tables on each side, about five deep, with benches for sitting.

The acoustics were terrible, but it settled Grant into the role, making him feel like he’d just completed his mission and was now dining with his spoils: Sari.

Grant ordered them some red wine and hot beef sandwiches. Sari sat with her legs crossed, the garter holding her dagger visible on one pale thigh. He wanted to drop to his knees under the table and shove his face between her legs, but he needed to have some modicum of decorum. This wasn’t actually the Middle Ages.

Plus, he didn’t know what she wanted. Flirting didn’t mean she was going to get naked for him.

Her lashes were incredibly long, and he wondered if they were fake or real. His daughter, Sydney, had never been into makeup and was only getting started now that her high school friends were encouraging her. So Grant didn’t know what to look for with these things. All he knew was that Sari was gorgeous. Stunningly so. Her shoulders were bare and slender. She wore an iron cuff on her biceps in the shape of a dragon. He had the sudden desire to see her calves, ankles, and feet hidden in her knee-high boots.

Grant had always been able to fall back on his charm. He flirted shamelessly with anyone with a pulse. But this woman tied up his tongue in knots. He took a sip of wine to lubricate it.

“Should I call you Sari or…”

She blinked slowly over the rim of her pewter cup. “Sari’s fine.”

Why did that make his dick hard? “Guess I’ll remain Breck then.”

The sandwiches were placed in front of them by a winking wench. Grant grinned back, and Sari laughed.

Grant poked at his sandwich, which oozed juice as it sat on a wooden trencher. They had cloth napkins but no silverware. He took a bite and savored the seasoned meat. “Tell me about where you’re from.”

He watched the tip of her tongue slip past those red lips and swipe at a bit of juice that had escaped out of the corner of her mouth. “Well, as you know, I’m a Princess.”

Grant grinned, glad this was still the game. “I do, your Majesty.”

“Your highness,” she sniffed.

He stifled a snort at her offended frown. “Apologies.”

She brushed her hair behind her shoulder. “Avaria is quite beautiful, you know, with…” Her voice faltered as she said, “butterflies and singing birds.”

He dug his fingers into his thigh so he didn’t burst into laughter. “You don’t say. Butterflies and singing birds. Paradise, it sounds like.”

“And meadows and lakes.”

“Why, of course.”

She licked her lips again, and they quirked at the corners, like she was trying to hold in a smile. “So when I was betrothed to an evil man in the neighboring kingdom, which was obviously dark and scary with no butterflies and singing birds…”

He nodded emphatically.

“I ran away. When I was finally captured, my betrothed had died. So my brothers sold me into slavery as punishment.”

“Horrible and cruel.”

“Indeed,” she said, sipping her wine.

“But I saved you,” he pointed out.

“Well, I had planned to save myself. You just beat me to it. Just like back with Doc Ock.”

Feisty, this one. “Hmm.”

She leaned closer, her chest almost brushing the top of her now-empty plate. “But, I-I guess I need to repay you, Breck. For saving me.”

Now they were talking. He so wanted payment. “And how do you plan to do so?”

“Well, I…” She looked uncertain, but it was an act, he could tell. “I don’t have any money. No land or titles anymore. But…” She leaned even closer and he met her halfway, so close he could feel her hot breath on his lips. Those lashes might have brushed his own cheeks if he was any closer. “I have my body, Breck. I can repay you with that.”

He was so fucking hard