Page 64 of Royally Arranged

“Don’t.” She tapped my jaw. “No fake smiles. Not for me, you’re better than that.”

My mask slid. I felt naked without it. “You’re right. You deserve more than a bunch of cheap grins. I’m just not used to letting people see me like this.”

Wrapping her arms around me, Nova placed her forehead on my chest. “Being vulnerable, needing people, isn’t easy.” She said it like she knew it personally. Maybe I should have pushed, digging out what she was keeping from me. But ... I couldn’t. Not with her pressed so warmly in my grasp.

Not when she made me feelloved.

I buried my nose into her scalp, breathing her in. “If I say I need you to sit with me at dinner, looking gorgeous, so no one sees the new king dining alone like some sad nobody ...”

“Okay, okay.” Laughing gently, she turned her phone off. “But when I get yelled at, I’m blaming you.”

“I’ll happily accept being the bad guy.”

For Nova, I was starting to think I’d do anything.

The looks aimed at us when we entered the restaurant were intense. People cupped their mouths by their faces, speaking in hushed whispers. Our host tripped over his own feet twice as he led us to our booth in the corner.

Torino had started to change some of its narrative. There were fewer rumors about me and my family. Glen had told me that the people were cautiously optimistic about having a young king and queen. And the wedding photos, especially the ones of me in my tailored suit and Nova in her stunning gown, had gained us some fans.

She’d shown me an Instagram account that posted every picture of us that it had come across. It was creepy, but also ... sort of nice to be so adored.

I sat down, and our server beamed at me. “Let me know if I can get you anything, anythingat all, Your Majesty.”

Cringing, I waited until he was gone to say, “I can’t stand everyone calling me that.”

“Me either,” she admitted. “My sister keeps teasing me about it. ‘Oh, can I run a bath for you,Your Royal Highness.’”

I flashed a grin. “It’s not so awful when you say it.”

Nova considered me, her smirk growing. “Yeah? Want some more impressions?”

“Give me your absolute best.”

She cleared her throat and let her voice fall until it was a velvety purr. “Your Majesty ... myking.”

My cock went rock hard in my pants. The flow of blood was so fast I was light-headed. “That’s something else. When it’s from your lips, I love it.”

She giggled into her napkin, shutting up when the waiter returned to take our order. I didn’t care what I picked. I was really just here to spend time with Nova. I was full from eating her with my eyes. I barely tasted my food when it arrived.

“Oh,” she whispered, blinking rapidly. Her arm curled under the table as she bent forward.

“Are you okay?”

“Just my stomach. I think something in this risotto isn’t sitting right with me.” Pushing herself to her feet, she gave me a shaky smile. Her tan skin had become dull as plaster. “Be right back.”

I half stood, unsure what to do. “Yeah. Okay, just ... call me if you need help.”

Nova barely acknowledged my request, too busy running toward the restroom. Every person in that place watched her go, some slyly, others blatantly. Phones clicked pictures of her fleeing.

Sinking deep in my chair, I twisted my fork in my plate. If she got food poisoning for coming out to dinner with me, I’d feel terrible. Conscious of the onlookers, I drummed my fingers on my thighs. Then the table. I checked my phone, sniffed her risotto, and checked my phone once more.

It came to life in my hands.

Nova:We need to leave.

I was already standing, throwing money onto the table—way more than our bill was. Grabbing her purse, I typed back.

Me:Got it. I’ll meet you at the restroom.

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