Page 108 of The Winter Princess
“Worth it?” I ask.
“Mm.” He murmurs, lacing our hands together. His thumb turns the simple gold band on my finger. He pauses byThe Battle of Durmstein, tugging me to a halt. “You wanted to know what my favorite thing at the museum was.”
“Ages ago, and you wouldn’t tell me.”
“I couldn’t tell you.” He nods atThe Winter Princess. “I restored it last year. Do you know how much you look alike?”
We lean up against Director Knauss’s hateful benches, due to be ripped out as soon as Rik gets the funding.
“People think he’s rescuing her with that kiss,” he says.
“He is. He woke her up.”
Oskar shakes his head, pointing to the rim of gold on the horizon. “It’s almost sunset. He would never have made it back to safety if she didn’t rescue him back.” He slides an arm around my waist and pulls me close.
“Are you going to ask?” he says at last.
“It doesn’t matter if you didn’t pass,” I say. “You have your job. You’re married to a citizen.”
I see the corner of his smile and he reaches into his breast pocket, handing over a piece of paper. “I passed.”
I exhale, and he leans over, lips pressing a lazy line of kisses against the side of my neck where he knows I like them. “I thought you said it didn’t matter.”
I plow my hand through his dark hair, reading off his results. “It’s one less thing for my mother to fret about. Between me, Clara’s lawsuit against the paparazzi, and Alma’s broken engagement—”
He lifts his head. “What? Broken engagement?”
“You were studying, and I didn’t want to distract you.”
He frowns. “You’ve been distracting me all week.”
I shouldn’t smile at a time like this, but the way he says that makes me want to do unspeakable things.
“Pietor was caught…um…recycling plastics with an Italian bikini model. Alma seems to be taking it well but we’re not supposed to say anything about it yet.”
Oskar leans back, regarding me. “Lawsuits, elopements, broken engagements…. It’s one thing right after another with you Wolffes.”
I tug his tie, bringing his lips close to mine. “Welcome to the family.”
