Page 25 of Fractured Heart

Charles uses his large thumb to wipe the cheese away. My lips tingle at his sure, gentle touch and I become aware of how warm his skin feels. I can’t quite suppress a shiver, and Charles smiles knowingly as his eyes seem to turn an even darker shade of black. “So?” he growls.

“So?” I squeak in response.

“The truffles are better than some boring pizza, right Roonie?” he asks.

“Clearly she likes the pizza better, Charles,” Tate snaps from behind me.

Blushing, I look down at my lap. “I—I kind of like them both.”

Chapter 14

“You like them both, huh?” Tate asks hoarsely. His words, coupled with his sexy tenor, flood my body with heat. I blush and look away, but not before I catch Tate and Charles exchanging a meaningful look.

“Try this, Roonie,” Charles suggests. He picks up a stuffed mushroom and holds it up for me to taste.

I part my lips, and Charles gently grazes them with large, warm fingers as he slips the mushroom in my mouth.

My lips tingle at his touch and a burst of earthy flavor explodes on my tongue. The gourmet herbs, expertly-cooked filling, and Charles’s touch are a heady combination. I can’t help but close my eyes to savor it all.

When I finally open them, I find Charles staring at me. He has an odd look in his eyes and something about it—and about him—makes me nervous. I swallow hard and quickly lick the remnants of sauce from my lips. It draws Charles’s gaze and his stare is so intense that my pulse spikes. I get this sudden urge to kiss him and quickly look away.

“Roonie,” Tate murmurs and rotates my barstool to face him. I fully expect him to feed me more food, but he takes my hand instead.

His touch sends tingles up my arm, even as the rest of my body is aware of Charles’s huge form behind me. I shift in my seat uncomfortably and realize just how close both guys are. They crowd me. They make my pulse race and my body tremble with heat.

The exhilarating mix of sensations, from their nearness and the food, threatens to overwhelm me. It’s all suddenly too much and I have this sudden urge to run. I shift my weight, about to slide off the barstool, but then Tate starts to hum.

It’s a familiar tune, the one I was singing in the shower, and I freeze in surprise.

“You could hear me?” I whisper, my face flushing with embarrassment.

“Sound travels in this place,” Tate replies, making me blush even harder. “I really like this song, Roonie.”

Then he leans forward in his bar stool and starts to sing.

He was misunderstood

But so was she.

They were both all alone

In misery.

And then one day their paths crossed

And it was fate.

A love story for all time

Within the castle gates.

No one from the little town

Would understand.

But there in the castle,

Her wish was his command…