Page 37 of Markets & Mooncakes

"Maybe next time." He does the same with his marshmallow. "Ready to try it?"

"Yes." I take a bite, the sweetness exploding in my mouth. It doesn't really taste of much except for that, but I have to admit that the combination of textures is fun, with the crunchy biscuit, the silky chocolate, and the soft gooey marshmallow. "That's really good," I say before taking another bite.

"It is," he agrees.

"But not one to serve Mama."

He laughs. "This wasn't on my list of things to give her."

"Though Ernest would love it," I say, thinking of my youngest brother. He's only eleven, and does like to have fun.

"There are a lot more marshmallows. I can make some more biscuits and send them to the Prince."

"I think he'd like that." I lick my fingers and reach for another marshmallow, putting it on my toasting fork and holding it out into the fire.

I look over at Nate, admiring the way the warm yellow glow of the fire illuminates his handsome features. There's something about this moment that makes it feel stolen from the world around us, and it's special for it. We've sat in my rooms before, it's not even that long since we did it, but this is different. Night is closing in around us, and no one knows we're here.

It's just for us, and I don't want it to end.

Chapter 16

The tray of marshmallows and biscuits is long abandoned, and Ember has retaken her place in the fire. She's curled up tightly and looks as if she's going to sleep for hours. Which she's probably going to, especially after the feast Nate brought for her. The fire has died down too, making the room much darker. But it's not the cold kind of dark. It feels comforting, like the world outside no longer exists.

I'm not sure how it happened, but Nate is sitting with his back propped against the wall, while my head is in his lap. His fingers run through my hair, which has long since been loosened from the braid that Betsy did for me. I'm filled with warmth, and not just from the fire. Being here with him like this is just even better than baking in the kitchen, or any of the other time we spend together.

"I should go," Nate says softly as he brushes my hair out of my face.

"What? Already?"

He laughs. "You know that it's past midnight?"

"It is?" I twist around and look up at the clock on the mantelpiece and feel disappointment travel through me. "Oh."

"And as much as I love spending time with you, I also need to sleep. As do you."

I let out a sigh. "But I like it here." I reach up to touch his face.

"I like it here too," he agrees softly.

"What if you stayed?" I blurt out without even thinking about whether it's a good idea. All I know is that I want it, and that it means that this moment won't end.

"Stayed?"

I swallow hard. "With me. Tonight. In my bed." My heart is racing as I suggest it. "Not to do anything, just to sleep."

He swallows hard. "You want me to?"

"Yes. I don't want you to leave. I don't want to have to go from this to going to bed alone." I don't even know how I feel when I've never shared my bed with anyone before, I just know that after tonight, it's going to feel empty if I go to it without him, and that's not something that I want.

"Yes." The word is so soft that I can barely hear it.

I sit up, my hair falling over my face as I do. "Yes?"

He laughs. "Yes. If you're sure."

I nod. "Very."

"I don't have to share with Ember, do I?"