Page 92 of The King's Maiden

I didn’t like it, but it wasn’t going to stop me.

“Well, I still don’t feel right about it. Can we just give it some more time?”

I wanted to say no and demand he have his way with me right then. But I couldn’t do it. So, I just nodded and tried not to take his response as another rejection.

He didn’t completely refuse me. He only asked to wait.

“Yeah, that’s fine. We don’t have to rush.”

He breathed a sigh of relief and did his best to smile at me, leaning forward to brush his lips against my temple. It was quick and unexpected—like he hadn’t really thought about it.

That made me feel a different sort of way inside. And it forced me to wonder if maybe he wasn’t completely wrong about holding off. But I refused to entertain that idea for long.

Rising from the bed, he tipped my chin up to look at him. “I’ll be back late tonight. Sleepinthe bed, stubborn girl.”

“Wait, you’re leaving?”

I cursed the part of me wanting him to stay and the part without any self-control that let my needy question slip out.

“All the Knights have to go to the Round Tableau to prepare for tomorrow’s party.”

Before I could respond, he left me on the bed and started gathering his things around the room. He had told me about the party the other day, and I remembered Elaine mentioning it. But in the midst of all the orgasms, I’d filed it away underUnimportant Details.

But now, it meant we were thirteen days into the first challenge, and I had to say I regretted that first week of stubbornly refusing orgasms. Even if the reason I had held out became more of a concerning possibility by the day.

Since I couldn’t change the past, I refocused on the future.

Throughout The Quest, Camelot Court held a party every thirteen days. He said it gave everyone a chance to spend time together, since it was easy to get lost in the bedrooms.

I couldn’t say there were too many people I wanted to see—a few I preferred to avoid entirely. But Landon said it also gave everyone a chance to unwind and have fun. I was most curious to see Landon outside his comfort zone, removed from his usual habitat and partying. Whatever that looked like. I couldn’t really picture it.

Maybe he’d finally let his hair down.

Maybe he’d stop doing the honorable thing all the time and fuck my brains out.

A girl could hope.

Chapter Twenty-Six

QUINN

Landon got back after midnight, and the subject of my pesky virginity didn’t come up again. He showered quickly and went to bed, and I slept on the chaise even though he’d offered again for me to join him if I’d be more comfortable.

The next morning, I woke up tense and agitated, finding Landon already dressed in a pair of black track pants and a fitted black shirt and looking fresh as a fucking daisy.

He slipped his feet into his sneakers before glancing toward where I slept. He smiled when he saw I was awake, and I stamped down the butterflies that took flight in my stomach.

“Oh, good. I didn’t think I would catch you before I left.”

He rose from the edge of the bed, stretching his arm over his head in a way that bared and tightened the muscles of his waist. I averted my gaze to the mattress, but that didn’t help one bit. It only filled my brain with memories of last night and flooded my cheeks with warmth.

I scrubbed at my face with both hands, as if wiping the sleep from my eyes.

“I’m heading out for a run.” He pulled his wallet out of his back pocket and removed a card from the front slot before setting it down on his desk. Walking over to me, he held it out to me. “The party is tonight. I have your dress, but use this for anything else you need.”

I stared at it like it was a venomous snake ready to bite me. When I didn’t move to take it from him, he set it on my lap. He patted it on my thigh before withdrawing his hand.

“The Maidens usually go get their hair and nails done during the day. Or you can go out to eat or buy, um, accessories or whatever.” He scratched behind his ear. “Just be back by five.”

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