Royal Ruse - Emma Lea Page 0,37

was awkward and weird, and I really wanted to know if it would be different if we kissed again. Kind of like an experiment. I could definitely kiss Lucas for science. I wanted to know if all these confusing feelings that had grown exponentially bigger these past few weeks would make a difference to how we kissed.

I was going to do it. I hesitated for just a moment before I moved, but before I could press my lips to his, the sound of silverware tapping against crystal filled the air.

Lucas jumped away from me like I had scalded him and I sucked in a breath at the loss of his body heat.

“Gather around friends,” Maya said, raising her voice above the din of the crowd. “We want to get the formal part of the evening over and then we can all get back to celebrating.”

I ground my teeth together and sucked in a breath as I straightened my shoulders. Maybe after the ‘formal part’ Lucas and I could steal a bottle of champagne and disappear for the rest of the night.

“Lucas, where are you darling?” Maya called before spotting him. “There you are. Come up here and bring the lovely Francesca with you.”

Lucas nodded at his mother before turning and offering his elbow to me. I took it, avoiding his eyes. Had he even been aware of how close I was to kissing him not two seconds ago? I didn’t want to see ignorance in his eyes, so it was better not to even look.

“Doesn’t Francesca look divine tonight, ladies and gentleman,” Maya crooned as Lucas and I walked toward where she was standing. “The dress is the creation of a new and up-and-coming designer I’m personally mentoring. Shasti is a fabulous designer I was so fortunate to meet at a recent charity event and I expect every single one of you ladies to check out her online store.”

God, Maya couldn’t give it a rest even for her son’s engagement party. It had to be exhausting to be so ‘on’ all the time. I’d only had a slight taste of it and it exhausted me. I didn’t know where Maya got the energy.

“Ah, here they are,” Maya beamed at us.

Lucas’ cheeks flamed and his jaw was tight as he endured the attention of the crowd. I squeezed his arm in support and his eyes shot to me. Something warm swirled in their chocolate depths and I swallowed thickly. Maybe he knew exactly what I’d planned to do just a moment before. Maybe he’d wanted it too.

“Aren’t they adorable?” Maya gushed. “It wouldn’t be an engagement party without a kiss now would it?”

“What?” I whispered, looking at Maya and then Lucas.

Lucas’ eyes were wide, and I thought he might pass out. I couldn’t let that happen. I didn’t come this far and do all the many things I’d done along the way to have it all fall down around our ears because our very public kiss was awkward and unbelievable.

I took a breath and plastered a smile on my face as I turned to Lucas. He searched my eyes, and I knew he saw my determination in them. He drew himself up, smiled softly at me and then cupped my face. I hadn’t expected him to take charge. I thought I would have to be the one to guide this kiss. I thought…

Every thought left my head as his lips descended onto mine. He was gentle at first, his lips soft, questioning. I gripped his lapels, and it was as if I gave him the permission he was waiting for. The kiss went from zero to a hundred in two seconds flat. The rest of the world fell away as he kissed me and I tumbled into the abyss. I never wanted it to end.

Chapter 10

Lucas

I was trying to work…okay, not work. Effie had pretty much fired me from Andino Raïda, at least for the time being. I could get my job back if I wanted it, but I was secretly hoping I wouldn’t want it. As nervous as I was about going to Kalopsia and meeting with the king and being out of my comfort zone, there was also a subtle, almost hidden, part of me that was excited about this adventure. Let’s face it, I was not an adventurous person, but this whole situation had sparked something in me and I wanted to make a good impression on the king. I was even giving myself permission to daydream about