Page 56 of Fit for a King

He didn’t have even a hair out of place, which meant he’d at least found a mirror to make himself presentable—unlike myself. I could still taste him on my lips, and I had to force myself not to look at him, because Gabriel’s eyes were darting between us. My brother was piecing it all together. He was like a goddamn bloodhound, sniffing out all the evidence until he solved whatever mystery needed unfolding.

“Actually, Noah, would you mind pouring me a glass while you’re here?” he said. “I’m parched.”

“Of course, sir. Would you like one as well, Your Majesty?”

“No,” I said, but my voice came out strained. I cleared my throat and tried again. “No, but thank you, Noah.”

Noah poured the scotch into a glass and handed it to Gabriel. My twin took a deep inhale, making a show of it before humming to himself.

“What is that delicious scent you’re wearing?” he asked, smiling at Noah. “You always smell so good. Warm. Cozy. A little bit woodsy.”

I stilled. If I could’ve strangled him with my bare hands, I would’ve, because he was enjoying this way too much.

Noah, though, didn’t seem to catch on, because why would he? He didn’t know the prince was a royal pain in the ass.

Yet.

“Thank you, sir,” he said.

“You’re quite welcome, but I should be the one thanking you.”

“Sir?”

Gabriel glanced over his shoulder to wink at me before turning back to Noah. “It’s just that my brother is incredibly lucky to be so thoroughly attended to. I can’t imagine our father’s old footman being quite so attuned to Nicholas’s needs.”

Noah’s face gave nothing away, but his shoulders straightened slightly. “It’s a pleasure to serve, Your Highness.”

“Indeed.” Gabriel took a sip of his drink, while I reined in my violent urges—at least until Noah was out of the room.

His gaze shifted to me. “Is there anything I can do for you?”

He was so beautiful, with more color in his cheeks than usual. I could think of a long list of things he could do for and to me, but right now we both needed to play our parts, so I shook my head.

“Thank you, but we’re heading out now,” I said.

Noah bowed his head again. “Have a good dinner, Your Majesty. Your Highness.”

Then he left with a swiftness that told me he’d felt the weird tension in the room. As the door clicked shut behind him, I cursed.

Gabriel relaxed back in the chair and sipped on his drink, his blue eyes sparkling. I fought the urge to murder him and spun on my heel to grab a fresh jacket out of my closet.

“You call him Noah now,” he said as I slid into the jacket.

Shit. So I did.

I didn’t look at him, just straightened my collar. “So do you.”

“Yes, but I’m on a first-name basis with most of the staff. You’re not.”

When I turned around, Gabriel had moved, standing only a few feet away. He cocked his head as he studied me.

It was no use hiding, not when my twin knew me better than I knew myself most of the time, and it was the first time I wished we weren’t tethered in such a way. I really couldn’t keep secrets, not even from him.

Could I?

“Nicholas,” he said, his voice quieter now, “are you falling for him?”

“No. No, of course not.”