I immediately start to panic. “But…but I don’t want to go. I want to stay here with you.” I rush to him and fist the front of his shirt in my hands. I’ve gotten comfortable with Luke in the short time I’ve been with him. I truly believe he only wants to protect me. If I go to my father, I don’t know what will happen. “Please. You can’t let them trade me.” Then there’s Oliver. Will I be forced to marry him? To spend my life with a man I don’t want to be with? I shiver thinking about it.
His hands grip my shoulders. “I won’t let them take you from me. This I vow. Not now, not ever. Not when I’ve only just found you.”
I bury my face in his shoulder. His arms wrap around me, holding me close. I was foolish to think I was having a good night. My morning was great, because I met Luke. Then, bam! Shit hit the fan. I get freed from the dungeon and have a nice night with him and bam! Shit all over again.
“Maybe we can still keep you here. If my father had completely made up his mind he would have you taken away, and you’d be on your way to King Pine. There’s something he wants. The question is what?”
“I have nothing to offer,” I mumble into his shoulder. “All I’ve brought with me is my bag and the measly contents inside.”
“You don’t have any special abilities?”
I lift my head in surprise. “Seriously? Don’t you think if I did, I would be a little more confident right now? Besides, it’s not like I’m a witch or something and can cast spells.”
He chuckles. “Witches aren’t real. They’re from stories we tell children.”
“Uh huh. I didn’t think dragons were real either, yet they are. I’m not ruling anything out.”
“Come. Let’s get you cleaned up and changed. You’ve had a difficult day and tomorrow could be worse.” That’s comforting. Worse. Tomorrow could be worse. Great. Can’t wait.
He walks over to the table and retrieves my bag. Together we walk up the stairs to a large loft. There’s a door off to one side that I assume is the bathroom. On one wall is a large, four-poster, cherry wooden bed. There is black damask fabric hanging from the wooden top that’s tied off on one side. The other is sealed in darkness. There is a matching nightstand on either side, with a lamp sitting atop each. On the opposite wall is a large wardrobe, but other than that the room is bare. Minimal.
He hands me my bag. “Here. Go clean up and warm yourself. Your skin is still cold from our flight. The bathroom is through there.” He points in the direction of the other door in the room. “The water will take a moment to heat, but it will warm up nicely. Take as long as you need.”
I nod, then remember I don’t have any pajamas. “I didn’t bring anything to sleep in,” I admit shyly.
“That’s okay,” he says with a smile. Walking over to the wardrobe, he opens it, and pulls out a large, short-sleeved, navy shirt. “This should do well.” He hands it to me and I immediately note how buttery soft the fabric feels.
“Thank you.”
I turn and walk to the bathroom. Gently closing the door behind me, I rest my back against it and take a few deep breaths. I’m worried about what’s going to happen tomorrow. I could be shipped off to my father and never see Luke again, never see my home again. Tears sting my eyes, but I refuse to let them fall. I will be strong. Whatever happens I will stand and fight for what I want. King or not, I’m a princess here and that has to count for something.
Taking a few more breaths, I look around the bathroom. There’s a simple porcelain sink on my left that sits on top of a dark wooden cabinet. There’s a tub with a showerhead. I’m a little surprised to see the shower. I thought there would only be a tub, but then again, what do I know of a prince’s bathroom? I would have thought he’d be with his family in the main part of the castle.
I undress quickly while the water heats and step under the warm spray. It doesn’t take long to clean and wash my hair with what he has along the shower wall. Stepping out of the tub, I dry off, and slip into the soft shirt Luke gave me. I bring the fabric to my nose and inhale. It has a woodsy smell, just as his home did when I first entered it. Nothing like the awful smell of the dungeon I was in.
Finding a comb below the sink, I spend far too long trying to get the knots from my hair. Flying did a number on it. Using the towel one more time, I scrunch my hair, and drape the towel over the tub to dry.
I locate a toothbrush under the sink that appears new. Hooray for the small things! I didn’t even think to pack one. Next time I travel to a far off land, I’ll remember to pack the essentials.
Rooting through my bag, I find and throw on a pair of underwear, but decide to forgo the bra. I may be sleeping in a prince’s home, but I’m not going to spend the night with an uncomfortable underwire jabbing me in the boob while I sleep.
I grip the handle of the door, but hesitate. Luke is out there waiting for me. What will happen now? Where will I sleep? Could he possibly want to share a bed? He mentioned before about wanting me in his arms. The thought of sleeping beside him causes my stomach to flutter. I shouldn’t be nervous. I’ve slept with other men before. No, they weren’t princes, however I didn’t know I was a princess either. I can do this. I’m a woman who craves a man; it’s that simple or that complicated.
I exit the bathroom and find Luke sitting on the side of the bed with his head in his heads. Upon hearing the door open, he lifts his head and lets his eyes roam over my body. The shirt is long enough to cover my ass, but just barely. A slow blush creeps over my face while he takes his time raking me from head to toe with his gaze.
He stands slowly and makes his way toward me. I can’t move. I’m frozen in place by the intense look on his face, like he wants to devour me. He stops before me and leans in to brush a kiss across my lips. He’s gone before I can savor the contact. I turn in time to watch the bathroom door close gently.
Letting out a breath, I place my bag on the bed and remember that I left the skeleton key in my jeans, which I balled up and threw inside before I took a shower. I remove the key and take out the pewter box. I’m about to place it back inside when a little voice in my head tells me not to. Instead, I remember there’s a small hidden compartment on the inside of the backpack. It’s used to hide money when you travel. Reaching around within, I locate the small pocket and gently slip the key inside. Hopefully, it will remain safe there.
I move my bag to the floor near Luke’s wardrobe and look around, not sure what to do with myself. I’d love to slip into bed, but it’s not mine, and I don’t know where I’ll be sleeping. Finally deciding, I sit down on the edge of the bed and wait for Luke to finish in the shower.
Running my fingers through my hair out of nervousness, I remember I stashed hair ties in all of my bags at one point and know there are some in the backpack. At least there’s that.