Page 28 of To Catch a Prince

“I could have been changing,sir.”

“Your sister assured me you weren’t. And, don’t worry, men know nothing of these things, so I’m certainly not here to advise you on which…” his eyes went to the right, of course, immediately settling on the things she intended to get. Theunderwear.

Vincent lost his ability to speak for a time. He straightened his spine. She did her best tonotblush or break eyecontact.

“You could ruin a man, witch,” he accused. “I’m told you’re being difficult aboutchoosingand all that. Let it be known that whatever you discard, I’ll have packed up and brought to your rooms.” Talia narrowed her eyes, about to tell him that it was quite ridiculous, as some of the clothes hadn’t suited her. “Raquiel is quite faithless, you’ll find. She’ll tell me exactly what you wanted. Let’s save everyone some time and just get whateversuited.”

She glared. Then, she sighed. “I can’t even pretend to be annoyed. I just hate being a charitycase.”

Indebted to her sister’s cousin-in-law.

Vincent sighed. “Fine. Then you’ll work it off, so tospeak.”

Did he just imply he wanted her to work on her back for clothes? Her temper flared at the mere suggestion. Before she started shouting, he cursed. “By my scales, you’re downright impossible to please. I’m doing you a favor, and if you’re not comfortable with taking without giving in return, you’ll do me one. Nothing indecent. When I get you naked and panting under me, it won’t be because youoweme,witch.”

“When!”

He just shrugged. Oh, the cheek of theman.

“Fine. Let us hear what you want ofme.”

“I want you,” said he, “to take tea with my mother and tell her that I’m courtingyou.”

Seconds passed. She wondered for a time if he’d just confirm that it was all a big joke, but Vincent remained silent, waiting for ananswer.

“Why?”

“Because she and my father, are curious about you. That way, her curiosity will be satisfied and she’ll leave us to our affairs, one wouldhope.”

That made no sense, to her, at least. She saidso.

“I don’t getit.”

“You don’t need to. All you need to do is agree to meet my family, so that when they hear of my spending so much time with you, they don’t attempt to kidnapyou.”

She lifted a brow. “You do intend to spend time with me,then?”

“Yes, Talia. Ido.”

She didn’t ask why again, this time. It seemed that, incredible as it sounded, given the fact that she loved nothing as much as getting on his nerves, her Pretty Man might actually likeher.

She found herself attempting to change thesubject.

“What is it like?” she asked. He lifted a brow. “You know,flying.”

Vincent’s expression grew dim, losing his natural spark. Finally, he said, “I don’t shift,witch.”

Oh.

“Not every dragondoes.”

“Of course,” said she. She knew that, and she shouldn’t have assumed, because now the easy conversation had turned awkward. What was she supposed to say? That it was alright? Everything she could think to say would have made her intrusion so muchworse.

“I did, once, though. And from what I recall, flying wasexhilarating.”

“Once?” she asked, her interestpiqued.

Vincent tilted his head. “I can almost see the question marks above your forehead. Yes, I shifted once, a long time before you were even born. I was but a child and a friend was in danger. My dragon burst out and neither of us were much in control. He burned our enemies, along withher.”

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