Page 16 of The Thief
Chapter Four
Scarlett sat on the window seat of her bedroom when she heard the clamoring of hooves on the cobblestones of the bridge. She looked out the window and saw a trio of riders approaching the castle, lined up single file on the bridge. When they rode up into the drive, Scarlett recognized Ronald and Ragan, the men who had delivered the letter from Everett to her. The third man she did not recognize, but she was relatively certain that the blond-haired man riding with them was indeed their employer.
Why he rode on a horse and not in a carriage was a passing thought for her.
She watched Bard come out with three stable boys to meet the gentlemen. Bard shook Ronald and Ragan’s hands and then when introduced to Everett, he bowed slightly, surprise coming to his face when Everett reached out and shook his hand.
A prince shaking the hand of a servant was very odd and very rare.
Everett Dormhnall was Prince of Dewberdeen, a small island next to Malachite Expanse that had been there for hundreds of years. Dewberdeen was ruled as an independent country from the islands by King Ethan Dormhnall. He had signed a peace treaty with Scarlett’s grandfather when he had become King of Dewberdeen. Each time a king was crowned in Dewberdeen, they signed a treaty with the ruler of Ciomodors Garden and they each ruled their islands in peace.
It was rumored that Ethan had a daughter as well, but people didn’t know her name or what she looked like. According to Art, Ethan was married and did have a daughter as well as Everett.
The men disappeared into the castle and Scarlett sat at her vanity, checking on her hair to keep her busy while she waited for someone to get her.
She knew that she was going to be requested since it was she who asked for the meeting in the first place. She wondered if he was here to speak directly to her, or to her and Alastair. She looked in the mirror but instead of seeing her reflection, she saw Alastair’s face.
The last few days had passed without any more physical contact between them. Scarlett would never admit to this but she really wanted more. That kiss had awakened something in her and she wasn’t sure what it was.
Scarlett thought she might have scared him off with their last argument but when he thought she wasn’t looking, his eyes would heat and he would stare at her.
There were times when she would exaggerate her movements and Scarlett would inwardly chuckle as he was visible affected by it. Just knowing he was watching her made her very warm inside.
Her thoughts were interrupted by a knock at the door.
She stood and straightened her dress, walking over to the door and pulling it open. Her surprise showed on her face as she looked directly into Alastair’s eyes.
“Your Grace, I didn’t expect to see you. What can I do for you?” she said, curtsying small.
He returned her curtsy with a bow and said as he straightened, “You have a visitor. Prince Everett Dormhnall is here to see you. Bard was busy taking care of an errand of his and Melody is off today so I came and got you myself.”
She looked at him, still a little bit surprised to see him at her door.
“Do you need a moment?” he asked.
She shook her head. “I’m ready,” she said, stepping out of the bedroom and shutting the door behind her.
Once she was in the hallway, she realized that it became very crowded in the space next to her door, as Alastair had not moved. Her breasts were almost touching his chest, and that thought made her heart race. Her breathing became rapid and erratic and she wondered if he was feeling the same.
She stepped up to him and put her hands on his chest, making him groan.
Scarlett got the answer to her question when she felt Alastair’s heart racing beneath her hands. She looked up into his beautiful green eyes and she sighed, stepping closer and pressing her body to his. Alastair stood still as Scarlett put her hands on his chest and stepped close to him, pressing her breasts against his chest.
He growled low as she stared at him with her amber eyes, the desire she felt made her eyes darken. He pulled her fully into his arms and slipped his hands down her body, tracing the curves of her body with his palms. He pressed her back fully against the door with his body and leaned down, sealing her gasp behind her lips with his.
She stood there for a moment, letting him kiss her and then came to life.
She returned his kiss with equal fervor and grabbed handfuls of his shirt, clenching the fabric tightly between her fingers.
He slipped his hands around her waist, arching her back and pressing her breasts even more firmly against him, the heat from the contact making him wish there were no clothes between them. The feel of her large soft breasts made him groan into her mouth, the sound making her jump.
She pulled back from his mouth and banged her head on the door, making Alastair laugh.
Scarlett looked at him with a scowl on her face and he said, “I’m sorry. I know I shouldn’t be laughing, but it was an accident.”
She didn’t stop scowling, but it did soften a bit.
He cleared his throat and took a step back, his hands slipping away from her waist, leaving her feeling like she had lost a protective blanket that surrounded her.
