The Luna Choosing Game

Chapter 0343

“I’m here.” Nicholas walked to her, hugged her, and then joined in her game. I followed, eager for any moment of normalcy, no matter how fleeting.

Later, I followed Nicholas to the guest room he was using. We hadn’t finished our. conversation.

As we crossed the threshold and closed the door behind us, I expected him to start arguing again. Instead, he pulled me into his arms and k*ssed me.

The k*ss stole my breath, and my thoughts, away. For a long moment, I was in a land of bliss and contentment, surrounded by warmth and the man I admired.

Too soon, it ended. Anything short of forever would have been too soon.

“I’m worried about you,” he whispered.

My heart ached. “I’m worried about you, too.”

“About me?”

“I saw the flyers. Even Julian was upset. Things are bad, Nick. You can’t keep that from me.’

“I don’t mean to,” Nicholas said. “But Piper, I wasn’t lying before. As prince, my life is always in danger. There are always threats.”

“Not dropped from airplanes.”

“No.” Nicholas sighed. “That’s not as common.”

“Nick, if anything were to happen to you…

“Stop that thought right there,” he said. “I’m here.” He took my wrist in his and brought my hand to his chest, palm flat over his beating heart. “Feel that?”

I did. The steady, sure pulse of his heart.

“I’m alive, Piper. And so are you.”

His eyes were earnest gold. The flecks of green within them shimmered in the red-orange light of sunset outside the windows.

“The threats on my life don’t scare me half so much as the thought that Jane might try to take you from me,” he said.

“She can try,” I said, feeling braver now. Bolder. I could feel his heart, and mine fell into rhythm. “She won’t succeed.”

Steady. Strong.

One.

“Nick…”

Nicholas inched closer to me. He cupped one of my cheeks with his hand. Closing my eyes, I leaned into him.

“Tell me what you want from me, Piper. Whatever it is, I will give it to you.”

I licked my lips. Fear ebbed, and in its place swelled a burning desire. I knew what I wanted. but I was too nervous to voice it. I wanted to hear his thoughts. Hear his commands.

That always made everything so much easier.

“What do you want?” I asked.

He inched forward and simultaneously pushed me back until I bumped against the wall. Then he came in closer, pinning me there.

“I want you, Piper, I want to taste you. And touch you.” He lowered his mouth to my ear. His voice dropped low, husky. “I want to have you writhing, beneath me. I want to have you beg for more, and when I finally give it to you, I want you to scream.”

I pressed my thighs hard together, to give some relief to the ache in my core.