The Prince's Bride (Part 1) - J.J. McAvoy Page 0,55
by as we looked at each other. His gaze dropped to my lips, and when he leaned in, I pressed my finger against his lips. His gaze refocused on mine.
“From the flowers, the letter, the dinner, the dance, and what I’m sure would be a great kiss, I can see you are good at this, Your Highness. So good, I almost want to kiss you, too...but I’m not. I agreed to dinner, nothing more...so...” I dropped my finger and took a step back, letting go of his hands. “Thank you for dinner, and have a good night.”
Walking around him, I got my stuff to leave.
“Rejected today, but tomorrow is a new day,” he said from behind me.
“I have a show tomorrow. So, I won’t be seeing you.”
“Then the day after that.”
I shrugged from at the top of the stairs. “Maybe. Maybe not.”
Without another word, I walked down the winding staircase, hoping to make my exit as cool and quick as possible. The real reason I stopped him was that I was worried if I did kiss him, I would be the one unable to stop.
NOVEMBER 2
Tonight, despite my complete honesty, despite all of my efforts, Odette rejected me. I do not even know what to say. This has never happened to me before. It was clear that she was attracted to me. It was clear she was enjoying our time together. She even loved the roses. She had them in her hair, and what a vision she was with them. Everything went perfectly; even the heavens seemed to be on my side as the first snowfall of the year came down. And yet still, she rejected me. I am frustrated. But a part me is also amused by her evident desire to deny herself what she clearly wants. And now, because I am petty and dislike this feeling so much, all bets are off.
No matter what happens, no matter what it takes, I swear, I will make Odette Wyntor fall completely, utterly, and madly in love with me. So much so, she will not be able to deny herself or me again!
Tossing down the pen, I closed the book before lying back onto the couch. We had been back for almost half an hour, and I was still fuming. I did not understand Odette at all. If she had a good time, why did she look so resolved to walk away? Why did she seem so proud of herself for leaving me standing there like a deer-eyed idiot?
ZZZhzzzz
I sat up, trying to find the source of whoever was snoring.
ZZZhzzzz
There was Wolfgang, sitting on the kitchen stool, though the rest of him was tilted over, snoring loudly with his mouth hanging open.
“Wolfgang!” Iskandar snapped, slamming his book closed.
I had not noticed him sitting beside me in the other chair, but apparently, there he was. Wolfgang jumped up off the stool with his eyes wide, arms at his side, like he was still in the academy. He looked to his left and then his right, clearly confused, before realizing where we were.
“Your Highness! I’m so—”
“Iskandar, I’m going to bed,” I said, rising off the couch, taking my journal with me.
“Goodnight, sir.” He nodded in response, but I could see him shooting Wolfgang an annoyed glare.
“Do not lecture him. We all need the rest.”
“I will not. Do you have a time you wish to wake up tomorrow?” Iskandar stated back formally.
I shook my head as I walked up the stairs. “No, just wake me up when you do...actually, no, after Wolfgang does. I need to think of what to do next.”
“Goodnight, Your Highness,” Wolfgang said, and just before I opened the door to the room, I heard a hard smack
I glanced back down to see Wolfgang rubbing the back of his head.
I bit my lip to keep from laughing. I told Iskandar not to lecture him, so I guess all he could do was smack him. It was not that serious, but then again, to someone like Iskandar, the duty of palace guards and royal aids was a serious one. You do not sleep until they sleep.
Putting my journal on the nightstand, I took off my shoes first, and when I did, I thought of her feet, and the look of pleasure on her face when she had slipped off her heels. Which then led me to think of how her body felt in my hands. Yes, I touched it through the fabric, but still, feeling her as we danced was...something. She smelled