I wink. “You don’t know a lot of things.” This is getting too intense, so I lean back on the grass and stare at the cloudy sky. The extra distance between us feels better. Another change of subject could help, too. “So, what are you doing tonight?”
Lincoln lays down beside me, staring up at the same overcast view. There goes my safe zone of extra space. My fingers start twitching again.
The Prince sighs. “Official state dinner. Prince stuff. Boring.”
I turn to him. “You got me out of school. The least I can do is return the favor.” His face angles toward mine. We share a smile. My stomach lurches.
He raises his eyebrows. “What exactly will you do?”
My mouth curls into a Cheshire cat grin. Sure, I’ve had my share of lame master plans in the past. However, the one that’s appeared in my mind is so incredibly awesome, it only needs that final touch of secrecy to make it absolutely perfect. “I have some ideas…But I want it to be a surprise.”
“Fine. Just get us both in big trouble.”
“You got it.” I stare at him for a long moment, then I shake my head. “I can’t believe you’re the same guy I met before.”
“I’m not.” His mouth quirks into a different kind of smile. I blush.
He laces his hands behind his head. “I saw you once before the Ryder ball, you know.”
I roll my eyes. “Sure you did.”
He chuckles. “You were chasing a pack of Doxy demons through the woods by the mansion’s stables, as I recall.”
I shoot him a mischievous grin. When we met at the ball, that’s why he asked me if I visited the Ryder stables. He knew I had a sideline killing Doxies. And why would that have made such an impression on him? One reason only. “I killed the demons first, didn’t I?”
He mock-frowns. “Yes.”
Ooooh, I love it when I win. “Let’s see, now. That means I beat you in jumping the hedge and killing the Doxies. That makes not once, but twice.”
Lincoln quirks his brow. “Is that a challenge, Myla?”
I roll my eyes. “With you? Always.”
In the blink of an eye, he flips his body to rest atop mine. I gasp, feeling his firm muscles press against my soft curves in all the right ways. Warmth gathers in my core. His mouth hovers just above mine. “Are you sure?”
For a second, I consider kneeing him in the groin, jumping to my feet, and running for Nightshade, but only for a second. I’m Myla Lewis, and I do not back down. I can handle this. Friends wrestle and goof around. This is fine. “Sure, I’m sure.”
He raises his hand, sliding his finger down my cheek. Heat pools between my thighs. “I don’t mind the thought of you beating me, Myla.” His arms are braced on either side of my head, his knees straddle either side of my hips. “Not at all.”
I stare at his full mouth. Every cell in my body wants to touch him, kiss him. What the hell is happening to me?
He offers me sneaky smile. “Want to know why that doesn’t bother me?”
A roll of thunder shakes the air. Maybe a storm is coming. Maybe I’ll get blasted into a million bits by lightning. Maybe I could care less. My inner lust demon has kicked to life with a vengeance. I open my mouth, hoping something snarky and cute will come out. Instead, I just nod. Total fail.
Lincoln leans in closer, licks his lips. “I don’t care because…” There’s a moment where I’m sure I’ll get my first kiss. “Because I’m about to beat your ass back to the stables.” Leaping to his feet, he races up to Bastion and mounts his horse.
I jump to my feet, a mixture of sexual heat and rage flowing through me. “You bastard! You lying sneaky evil sonuvabitch bastard!”
Lincoln rears Bastion, the horse balances firmly on his hind legs. “Catch you later.” He winks.
I stomp my foot and shoot him dirty looks, but all the almost-kissing-stuff has me flustered.
Lincoln leads Bastion onto the ground, then glances over his shoulder and grins. Setting his heels into Bastion’s barrel, he takes off at a gallop.
That clears my head in a hurry.
I’m not letting some hottie Prince bastard distract me with nasty talk that totally makes me wonder what he looks like naked. And on that topic, since when do I think about anybody naked? Well, except for Lincoln, whose bare belly must be particularly ripped.
I shake my head from side to side. Focus, Myla.
I race across the open ground and hoist myself onto Nightshade. “Let’s get him, Night.” Before the words are out of my mouth, she’s off at a gallop. I urge her onward, but we soon lose Lincoln and Bastion in the forest. I catch up with them both back at the stables.
The Prince stands by Bastion, an overly-satisfied grin on his full mouth. “Hey, loser.”
I pull Nightshade’s reins so we circle Lincoln and his horse. “Hey, cheater.” You’re never getting away with that Mister Sexy trick again, my friend. I point directly at his nose. “Besides, if I were you, I wouldn’t poke fun at someone who’s about to get you out of an evening of suck.”
“True. And you’re still one up on me, after all.” He bows slightly at the waist.