Page 10 of Glass Hearts
“My, you are forward, my prince, but aren’t you worried about my precious virtue?” Cue eye-roll. Though I could see myself getting tangled in the sheets with Grayer. He is the sweetest poison that has probably broken many, many hearts across all of Velora and the Isle’s. To him, I am just another conquest that piqued his interest temporarily.
I internally sigh with relief as I feel the weight of Kip & Bert in my clutch. It’s getting harder to breathe being so close to all his raw magnetism.
His eyes darken, getting closer to me so we are chest to chest. I can feel his hard muscles as he bends to get closer to my ear. I hear him breathe in my scent before whispering, “You don’t look like the type to worry about virtue, Duchess. Especially showing up in this delectable dress. My brothers and I are looking for wives. Are you looking for an exceptional fuck or a husband, my Duchess?”
I push Grayer away with the same hand still on his chest. Just so I can breathe once more. His crass, upfront question shockingly makes me feel weak in the knees instead of the appall I should probably be feeling. Two can play this little game.
“My prince, I am not looking for a husband. But I am also not looking for aquick fuck. I won’t fall on my knees because you are a prince. I would want you, my dark prince, on your knees to worshipme.”
I wink and walk away. He grabs my wrist, but before he can say anything, a councilman interrupts. “Prince Grayer, someone requests to introduce you to Miss…”
Extracting my wrist, I make my escape before he can turn back to me. One down, three to go.
I need another champagne after meeting with the Fire Prince. Just like his affinity, he has me feeling all hot and overheated.
Before I can reach the bar, I feel large hands grab my elbow, pulling me back into the shadows. That’s when my eyes meet the icy grey of the Prince of Wind, Archer. This close, I can see the blue specks in his eyes, though he looks at me hard and calculating. Not much is known of his Isles or the man. Ice and danger seem to have formed him into a recluse.
“Duchess Carmella. I overheard you with my brother. What game are you playing?” His accusing eyes assess me.
“Eavesdropping? That seems beneath a prince, no?” I question as I feel my familiars make their same mission to the Air Prince.
“It isn’t beneath me when it comes to my brothers. An attractive woman may lure them, but I am not falling for your game.”
“And what do you suppose is my game, Your Grace?”
“You want in on the next selection round. I know you are trying to goad Grayer into choosing you; he wears his lust on his sleeve, and you found an easy mark. But you feel like trouble. I know all the lording lands. Yet why, my darling, have I never heard of the Hinterlands?” He cocks his head to the side as if he has caught his prey. “We don’t want any slippery females; we need future queens, and I can assure you, you would make an unsavory wife, let alone queen.”
Ouch.
“Seems you may have missed a few lands in your research, I suppose.” I point my finger at his chest and close the distance between us as I catch my accomplices completing their end of the mission. I try not to let his cruel words affect me. “Maybe I am trouble orunsavoury, my Prince. But the hardness in your pants and the feel of your eyes taking in my body say otherwise. Don’t put me on your roster for the next round. I don’t want to be a wife, even to attractive, uptight princes. Perhaps you shouldn’t assume my intentions. You are coming to me, corneringme. Can’t a girl enjoy an event without an ulterior motive?”
I can tell he wants to say more, to stop me from leaving. But I pull away all the same. Grabbing a glass of champagne from the server walking by, I continue to make my escape as a gaggle of potential brides swarm him to grab his attention. He expertly evades them and disappears, looking angrier than in his original attempt to confront me.
“Arabelly, you make this look so easy and make our jobs a piece of cake to grab the glass pendants. You enrapture them! Though the necklaces feel kind of weird. Super shiny, though. I think we are going to need a big block of cheese for payment. All this work is making me super hungry.”
“You there!” Before I can reply to my friends, another large hand grabs at my waist. My champagne glass tips at the jostling movement and spills half on the floor. Thankfully, I evaded my dress. Seriously, can’t a girl stalk her prey without being manhandled? As I turn around, I realize the princes just want to make this SUPER easy for me.Looks like we caught the fish.
“I beg your pardon, miss?” Prince Koi creases his eyebrows in agitation. Shit, I must have said that out loud.
“Your name—it’s like the pretty fish.” This turns his frown into a gorgeous, dimpled, devious smile.
“Ahh, so you think I am pretty, Sunshine?”
“Duchess Carmella, not sunshine,” I flirt back, giving him my hand to kiss. “Though perhaps your golden demeanour could influence me. Why is it I have seemed to catch the eye of most of the princes this evening? Hmm? Maybe a girl just wants to drink champagne and eat in peace.” I wink with a smirk, grabbing a hors d’oeuvre that a server walks by with. He watches with rapt attention as I eat the weird mushroom-looking bite, making the moment almost feel erotic. His eyes stay trained on my lips for a half-second longer before meeting mine once more.
He grabs my hips to pull me even closer once I finish my little snack. Placing my hand on his chest, I can feel his heart beating rapidly at my touch. Interesting.
“It seems you have, though I can assure you I am the best one.” His warm smile turns sinful, just like his brother. “People may think all the charm went to my half-brother. We both can make ladies scream with pleasure, sure. But I make ladies want to stay.” His sweet promises sound tempting. But just like his half-brother, he breaks hearts just as much, if not more. Ladies thinking that they had met a sweet potential husband to dote on them, only to be sent to the curb. None of the princes are the settling-down type, if I were to listen to the rumours.
“Why do you need to find wives?” I ask the question that has been on my mind all night even though I feel Kip and Bert back in my clutch. None of the princes seem to be too pleased about needing to find a wife.
“Politics. The council wants to unite the Isles with the rest of Velora. But I probably shouldn’t be telling you this. Shit.” He bashfully rakes his hand through his golden tresses, his other arm still circling my waist.
“We got a few more of those balloon things, and he also had quite a few gold coins in his pocket. I know we deviated, but it looked like he had something in his pocket, so we went for it.”I don a genuine smile, sending a thought of gratitude to Kip & Bert.
“You have a gorgeous smile. I think you should take that mask off so I can see just how beautiful you are, Sunshine. Maybe kiss those luscious lips, if you would allow me?” Clearly, he has kept that ironic nickname.The ShadowbeingSunshine? Lo will get a laugh out of that.
“Hmm. I could, but that would defeat the purpose of this ball and the anonymity. Like I told the other princes. I am not here for marriage. Nor a quick fuck either. Maybe next time. Now be a good princeling and release my hips so I can head to the ladies’ room.”
