Page 81 of The Royal Art of Revenge

It’s just so foreign to me.

But I want to try. I don’t want him to be worried about me, and if I can’t stop it, then surely, I can do something to ease it. Something in his language, something he understands, even if I don’t.

I turn my face until our lips meet. It’s a soft, barely-there brush of our mouths, but it sends a little fizz of something unknown through me.

Ah.

I kissed him.

I really did it.

Finn pulls back and gazes down at me with questions in his eyes.

Uh-oh. Did I mess up? Shouldn’t I have done that? Did he not like it? Was it too presumptuous of me?

My heart thumps in my chest. I know we’ve had sex, but what if he really didn’t like the kiss? Did I go too far? I know the Royal Family doesn’t show affection in public, but this isn’t public, and I just wanted to comfort him like he was me, and oh God, I’ve fucked up.

“Sorry.” The word hurries out of me, barely registering in my brain before it falls from my tongue. “I shouldn’t have done that. I—”

“No.” Gently, he lifts his hand to my face and brushes his thumb across my cheekbone. “You can kiss me whenever you want, Hattie. In fact, I encourage it.”

“Really?”

“Really,” he murmurs and lowers his mouth to mine. This kiss is just as gentle, just as warm, and I lean into him, grabbing fistfuls of his shirt.

Ah.

Yes.

This… This is the sunshine he embodies.

I’m like a moth to a flame, and even though I know it’s dangerous, I’ll fly up and flirt with his fire again and again if it means I can feel this dizzying warmth.

“Come on,” he whispers, barely pulling his lips from mine. “Before I change my mind about letting you go.”

Something blooms inside my chest, and I nod. “I really do have to go.”

“I know.” He kisses the tip of my nose and steps back, putting some space between us. We walk the remaining short distance to the underground garage entrance, and he pulls open the door. “So, I suppose I’ll see you in a week.”

“Yeah. I guess so.” I step through into the garage where Sophia, Marina, and Joe, the usual driver, are all waiting for me by the car.

“Keep Marina close,” he orders. “And if anything happens, tell me. At least tell her—Alec will be able to deal with some things much faster than I can.” He pauses. “And if you notice anyone suspicious around you, check with her.”

“Because Alec has a small security detail on me whenever you don’t?” I ask with a half-smile.

“How did you… You know what? Never mind,” Finn trails off with a shake of his head. “After what I just witnessed, I won’t question you.”

“Good plan.” I pat his chest, and he quickly grabs my hand to kiss it.

His eyes twinkle when our gazes meet. “See you in a week, Hattie.”

“Yeah.” I slide my hand out of his and take a few steps back, unable to stop the small curvature of my lips. “See you in a week, Finn.”

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN – HATTIE

Marina’s gaze cuts into me as we’re driven away from the Kilon estate. I can’t begin to imagine what she’s thinking.

After all, she saw everything that happened in that room.