Page 51 of Marrying a Prince

Memories of this morning rushed back to her, and her throat felt dry. There had been so many moments where she'd wondered if he was finally going to say what his gaze had been telling her, but it had been to no avail. He was shut up tighter than a ship. She was beginning to wonder if it had all been her imagination, or if Leo was just fighting what was happening between them.

Fed up with sitting around trying to decipher Leo's actions, she pushed an escaping curl behind her ear and stood. Work seemed like the best solution for a wandering mind.

Grabbing the breakfast plates, she brought them into the kitchen and set them next to the sink. After they were washed, she moved on to the prep dishes and then to the counters and table.

She swept the floor, then dusted her hands off as she glanced outside. Leo was helping Bernardo move some hay from behind the shed over to the barn. The mid-morning sun was heating up the air. Leo's t-shirt was dark with sweat.

She wondered what Mrs. DeLuca would think if she saw her son right now. She'd probably faint from shock. The Crown Prince of Caro, helping a common man with his chores.

Marianna leaned against the counter and watched him, mesmerized by his movements. How could he doubt that he would be a good ruler? He was kind and didn't think of himself as above anyone. He was humble and…sexy.

Okay, so that last one wasn't a requirement to rule a country—but it didn't hurt. Not when his tan skin barely contained the muscles underneath. Her fingers tingled as she wondered what it might feel like to touch them.

Clearing her throat, she turned her attention back to how great of a king he would become. Whoever this Ermes was, he had nothing on Leo. It was what he was born to do. Marianna could see it. As plain as the nose on her face.

She just needed to figure out a way to get Leo to see it. Then they could pack up and head back to the castle. He needed to learn to stand up to his mom and all the people who thought that they could control him.

Marianna had her share of people who believed that about her. Who believed that they could act however they wanted and she'd just go along with it.

A burning feeling grew in her gut. She was tired of being walked on. She was tired of rolling over. Samson was going to be the last guy who had any power over her. She was going to take charge of her destiny. Starting today.

And starting with the prince.

Before she chickened out, she marched out onto the back porch and across the lawn. Leo was talking to Bernardo. They were laughing about something, but Marianna didn't care. She walked up to him and grabbed his hand. "Come with me," she said.

Leo hesitated, but then allowed her to drag him across the field until they were hidden behind the barn. The soft lowing of cattle could be heard from the field just behind them. Fear gripped her chest, but she pushed it down. Strength. She was going to be strong.

Turning, she met Leo's gaze with as much confidence as she could muster.

"Everything okay?" he asked.

She nodded. Her gaze slipped down to his lips. "Kiss me," she whispered. Great. Such confidence. She was off to an amazing start.

Leo's smile faltered. "What?" he asked, leaning in.

Whoops. This had been a major mistake. What was she thinking? Marching out here and demanding that the prince kiss her. Man, she was an idiot.

She pinched her lips shut and turned. "My mistake."

His hand surrounded her arm, halting her retreat. He tugged gently as if asking her to turn around. "Marianna," he said. His voice had turned husky. Just him saying her name made her knees weak.

Mustering her remaining strength, she forced a relaxed expression and turned, meeting his gaze head-on. "Yeah?"

He quirked an eyebrow. "Did you ask me to kiss you?" It might have been her imagination, but she swore she saw him inch closer to her.

Her heart fluttered in response. "Um, no." She scoffed.

He studied her. "Are you sure? I'm pretty sure you said, ‘kiss me.’"

Nope, it hadn't been her imagination—he had moved closer. Now, he was reaching up and brushing a curl behind her ear. Tingles erupted across her skin from his touch.

"I—um—" Words were not coming to her. It might have been because she couldn't form coherent thoughts in her mind. All she could focus on was how close Leo's lips were to her own. The way he was looking at her as if she was everything he’d ever wanted.

"Because I want to kiss you." He leaned closer.

Her heart took off galloping in her chest. She felt dizzy and excited at the same time. Leo wanted to kiss her? Had she just imagined that?

"You do?" Her voice sounded far away.

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