Page 20 of Back to Claim His Crown
‘Seeing my scars?’
‘There aren’t that many scars. It was more your muscles that I found fascinating.’
He stared at her, his jaw dropping.
‘I’ve decided that not only am I going to be selfish, I’m going to behonest,’ she said, even as she fought her way through another atrocious blush. ‘Speak freely. Let it be known what my thoughts are. No more trying to stay silent and perform prettily like a perfect princess.’
He pressed his lips together, but she saw them twitch.
‘So, yes, you’ve got an amazing body,’ she declared defiantly—her mouth running away with her again before her brain thought better. ‘You didn’t just recover your physical fitness. You maxed out. You’re likebuilt.’
‘If this is yet another attempt to seduce me—’
‘For the final time, I donotwant to marry you,’ she replied hotly. ‘Or anyone, actually. I’m done with that.’ The more honest she was, the easier it became. ‘But I like looking at you. Feel free to strut about in not very much as often as you like.’
‘You seem to think I’m here to serve your every request.’ He laughed again. ‘Thank you for giving me permission to do as I like in my own palace. Sadly for you, however, it is too cold.’
She giggled and lifted her fork in acknowledgement that he’d just won that round.
‘This is really delicious,’ she said. ‘I can see why it was your mother’s favourite.’
Unable to stop herself, she prattled on, half hoping she might make him smile some more. But while she yapped, he ate—lots—and that pleased her more than anything. He relaxed so much he even sprawled back in the seat.
‘We don’t dine together at home,’ she informed him. ‘I read. Dinner is often just a sandwich. So all this...’ She gestured to the laden dishes. ‘Amazing. Only now I’ve gorged myself to the point of discomfort. I believe it’s known as emotional eating. Feeding the void inside.’
‘Void?’ he echoed drily.
‘The lack of love from my family. The lack of purpose in my life.’ Mock dolefully, she helped herself to another slice of the rich caramel apple tart just because she could. ‘This gives me sweet courage. I’m not afraid of you. Or your silence.’
‘And yet it seems you can’t stand silence yourself. You have a need to fill it. Incessantly.’
‘You mean I’m annoying?’
‘No. I mean you’re talkative.’ His lips twitched again.
‘I’ll have you know it’s hard work maintaining a conversation all by oneself,’ she said with spirit. ‘You’re the one who joined me for dinner. If you wanted to eat in silence you should have taken a tray to your room.’
He sipped his wine and leaned back even more, that elusive smile playing at the corners of his mouth. ‘You’re saying I’m an impolite host?’
‘I’m saying you’re impenetrable. Fortress King Lucian.’ For a moment she thought she’d gone too far. ‘You’re probably tired though, to be fair. Got a lot on your mind.’
‘Oh, no, only a little on my mind,’ he countered drily. ‘So please, if you wish to converse, let us converse. What would you like to discuss?’
She met his gaze, all but dying of curiosity about so manyintimatethings. Utterly inappropriate things—like why was he as sexually inexperienced as she?
‘Can you not think of anything?’ he pressed when she didn’t immediately reply. ‘When you’ve been such a chatterbox until now?’
Still she could only think of intimate things. Hot things. And now her face was even hotter.
‘Are you bored and lonely?’ His smile was positively evil. ‘Perhaps it’s time for you to move on to your next phase in life.Awayfrom the palace.’
‘Icanbe quiet,’ she declared, hardly about to concede defeat. She still had nowhere to go and nothing to get there with. ‘I just need a good book.’
He blinked then a wide smile spread over his face. ‘Then for heaven’s sake let us find you one.’ He pushed back from the table. ‘Come on.’
‘Now? Where?’ She had to skip every few steps to keep up with him as he strode through the wing. ‘What are we doing?’ she puffed. ‘A HIIT workout to burn off the caramel apple calories?’
He shot her an amused glance but checked the length of his strides. Finally, he opened a door and gave his customary security search look inside before standing back for her to enter.
