Chatper 330


    Chapter 0330


    After bringing the cookies to Elva and spending some time with her, I set out again, this time in search


    of Nichs.


    My intentions were dual purpose. I wanted to speak with him as Julian suggested, as well as check on


    his wounds. He was a fast healer, but his bruises were many. I’d rest easier when I could see him


    healed with my own eyes.


    After checking where he was staying with Mark, I located the correct guest room. The door was already


    open, Nichs was sitting inside at a desk, reading through some papers. A line of worry creased the


    center of his brow.


    I knocked and he nced up from his paperwork. Immediately, that worry line vanished.


    “Piper.”


    “May Ie in?”


    “Please.” He stood up from behind the desk.


    I entered the room and closed the door behind me. “I was hoping to check on your bruises.”


    “I’m doing much better.” He began to roll up his sleeves.


    I came closer to see. Some of the bruises were still there, but they were more faded then they had


    been thest time I’d inspected them. After another day, they’d probably disappear entirely.


    Relief flooded through me so much that I slumped where I stood. Nichs, worried, stepped closer as


    Content bel0ngs to N?vel(D)r/a/ma.Org.


    if to catch me from falling. I wasn’t going to fall, though I sort of wished I was, just to be in his arms


    again.


    “This isn’t the only reason I came here,” I said.


    He lifted a brow. “No?”


    I pressed my lips hard together. I didn’t really know how to begin this discussion. I supposed the best


    way over was through, though, so I pushed forward, albeit somewhat clumsily.


    “I have to kiss Julian.”


    Nichs straightened. His arms went rigid at his sides. His jaw clenched.


    “Things are moreplicated now. The producers are making demands. I had thought we could just


    hold hands or something,” I said, “But they want more intimacy. And with the King keeping track now…


    I don’t think there’s a way around it. I have to kiss him.”


    “I’ve known that from the start, Piper,” Nichs said.


    +15 BONUS


    “You have?”


    He gave a curt nod. “I have been trying to… contain my jealousy. I know I have no right to it.”


    I swallowed hard. My heart thundered in my ears. “You’re jealous?” I knew it, but to hear him say it…


    “Yes,” he said instantly, with more force than strictly necessary.


    I stepped closer to him. I licked my lips. I’d applied lip balm since my date with Julian. My lips weren’t


    chapped anymore.


    “Kissing Julian feels dishonest,” I said. “I would much rather be kissing someone else.”


    “Oh?” Nichs asks. His lip twitches, an almost smile. “And who would that be?”


    He knew very well who I’d rather be kissing, but I appreciated the game. It felt fun, to be flirted with by


    the man I held such affection for.


    “Maybe I should show you,” I said, sliding closer to him. I was right in front of him now. I ced my


    hand on his chest.


    “You had better,” Nichs said. “That way I know exactly who you mean.”


    I hummed as I pressed up onto my toes, closing the distance between our mouths. At once, he


    gathered me into his arms, pulling me closer, as close as could be.


    Nichol s’s lips are soft yet insistent. He takes control of the kiss at once, and I’m blissfully at


    his mercy.


    I hum into his mouth. He growls into mine.


    His kiss is iming, marking my lips as he had my neck. The producers had smirked when they saw


    the bruises there. They had assumed Julian had left them, and Julian was eager to let them think so.


    He’d made a point of touching my neck a lot while we had been together.


    Nichs put his mouth over them now, refreshing them.


    “Oh, Nick,” I sighed. I could happy live in this moment alone if I had the power to stop time.


    Hepped at each mark, soothing the pleasure pain he’d caused. I wished he could mar my entire body


    with those same love bites. Maybe someday we would have the time.


    No. I condemned those selfish thoughts. Nichs and I shouldn’t be overly intimate, for the sake of his


    future bride if not for my heart alone. If weid together, and then were forced to part… That moment


    would haunt me the rest of my life.


    I didn’t know if I was strong enough to survive it.


    With the marks refreshed, Nichs dropped his forehead onto my shoulder.


    7/4


    +15 BONUS


    “I hate the thought of you kissing him, but I know why you have to,” he said. “I wish more than anything


    that you didn’t have to. But for the good of the kingdom…” 1


    He squeezed me in his embrace. I nced back at his desk, at the papers there. Were they some kind


    of report? He likely knew about the increase in protestors.


    “Are things worse than they look?” I asked. They already looked pretty bad.


    “Yes,” he said. “If they weren’t… If this wasn’t absolutely necessary…


    He lifted his head to gaze down into my eyes.


    “Julian is going to try to take you from me.”


    I blinked. “No. He knows we are only ying pretend.”


    “Maybe,” Nichs said. “But…” His voice lowered, rough and se xy. “When he tries anything … When


    he kisses you… I want you to remember one thing.”


    A shiver trembled pleasantly up my spine. “What’s that?”


    “This.” He kissed me again.


    My eyelids fluttered closed, and I fell into the feel of him once more. My heart warmed in delight.


    “Tell me when it happens,” he said against my lips. “So I know when not to watch the broadcast. I know


    it has to happen, but I don’t want to see it.”


    “I promise,” I said.


    His mouth covered mine once more. He turned me and pressed me up against the wall. I gripped at his


    shoulders with both hands. His hands trailed from my backside around my hips. His grip was strong. I


    wanted him to push me up the wall and keep me there.


    He growled against me like he just might.


    But then a knock sounded on the door.


    “Ignore it,” he said, then bit my bottom lip.


    “Ah!” I gasped.


    His hand flitted up and covered my breast through my clothes.


    “Nick…”


    The knock came again, louder. This time, a voice followed it, “Prince Nichs!”


    That was Mark’s voice. Shouldn’t he be with Elva?


    Nichs stepped back from me at once. He dropped both hands to my waist, steadying me as


    3/4


    +15 BONUS


    My legs felt weak, and not just from that kiss. For Mark to be here meant something had to be wrong.


    But what?


    “Mark,” Nichs called out. “Come in.”


    As the door opened, Mark hurried through. Nichs kept his hands on my waist. Mark already knew


    about us. He didn’t so much as bat an eye at our closeness.


    However, his usuallyposed face was twisted with concern.


    “Piper, thank G od, you are here too,” he said.


    “Mark?” I asked. “What is it? What’s wrong?”


    He took a breath.


    I tried to prepare myself, but nothing could stop the fear that shot through me at hearing the


    words he finally said.


    “Elva has a fever.”