Page 38 of Royal Secret

The kiss is a soft question and a firm answer all at once. It speaks of apologies, of longing, and of new beginnings. Our breath mingles, our hearts sync, and the worries about lineage and duty momentarily dissolve. There’s just Courtney and Jakob — two people beneath a canopy of stars, daring to dream beyond the lives they were born into.

As we part, my heart thunders against my rib cage, echoing through the silence of the night. The city below us sleeps, oblivious to the walls crumbling down, to the silent wishes being cast into the sky. And for now, that’s okay, because up here, we’re untouchable, and maybe, just maybe, the wish I’ve clung to is already taking flight.

“Wow,” I breathe out, stealing a glance at the lips that were pressed against mine just a moment ago.

“More than wow,” Jakob says, his voice low. “Courtney, I know this might seem sudden, but I’m falling for you.”

His words send a wave of warmth cascading through me, melting away the icy tendrils of doubt. The future is an uncharted map, dotted with potential pitfalls, but at this moment, with his confession hanging between us, I feel a profound sense of peace.

“Well,” I say, allowing myself to linger in the possibility ofus. “I’m scared, but… I’m falling too.”

We stand here, wrapped in each other’s gaze, until the chime of the clock from a distant tower calls us back to the passage of time. Jakob offers his hand, and I take it, our fingers lacing together as we step inside the now-empty restaurant.

“Now what?” he asks.

I bite into a smile. “Can we go somewhere? Somewhere we can be alone?”

His chest rises, and I hear his breath hitch. “My apartment. I stay there when I want to get away from the palace.”

“Sounds perfect.”

“It’s a bachelor pad,” he chuckles. “But I would love to show it to you.”

We say goodnight to the staff and exit the building, and he leads me to his car that is parked out front. The drive back into the city and through its streets feels different now; every turn, every cobblestone seems to carry a piece of our story.

He parks in a private garage, and we walk into a lobby that’s more luxurious than any place I’ve ever called home. The elevator ride to the top floor is quick, a silent ascent punctuated only by our intertwined fingers and shared anticipation.

When the doors open, Jakob guides me into his private sanctuary. It’s vast, with windows that offer a panoramic view of the city. Nighttime Bergovia is a tapestry of light and shadow, enchanting and alive.

“Wow,” I say again, stepping closer to the glass, drawn by the view.

“Like it?” he asks, coming up behind me, his hands resting gently on my shoulders.

“It’s beautiful,” I reply, leaning back into his embrace. “A fitting retreat for a prince.”

“Tonight,” he murmurs near my ear, “it’s just a man showing a woman his favorite view, hoping she likes it.”

I turn to face him, lost in the sincerity of his words, in the truth that perhaps love could be the bridge over the moat that has been dug between us.

“What do you like to do when you’re here?” I trail my fingers down his strong chest.

He grins. “Honestly? Listen to music.”

“What sort of music?” I smile back.

“I can show you.”

He pulls out his phone and selects a song. Soft melodies flow from the speakers, something sweet and slow, a song that seems to capture the very essence of the moment. He extends his hand, and I take it, allowing him to draw me into the center of the living room.

“May I have this dance?” he asks, a playful formality in his voice.

“Of course,” I reply, my heart picking up its pace, not just from the closeness but from the anticipation of what this dance might symbolize.

He leads with a gentle confidence, one arm securely around my waist, the other holding my hand. We move together in time with the music, a slow waltz that carries us across the polished floor. The world beyond his apartment fades until there’s nothing but the two of us, swaying in a rhythm that feels as old as time and as new as the feelings blossoming in my chest.

I lay my head on his shoulder, breathing in the scent of him. My fingers brush against the fabric of his jacket, the texture grounding me in the reality that this is not a dream, but a tangible, heart-stopping moment with a man who has stepped out of a fairy tale and into my life.

The doubts that had been pulling at the edges of my mind begin to quiet as we continue to dance. With each step, I feel more anchored in the present, letting go of the uncertainties about our future. Jakob’s heartbeat is steady against my ear, a testament to the calmness that flows off of him.

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