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And I’m not going to think about him calling me Princess.
Even though I was lost in my story—right at the part when thescarred knight throws his wife over his shoulder after she shouts that she doesn’t love him anymore—I still heard the way he said it.
Princess.
I’ve been called it before. Quite a bit, actually, because of my family’s wealth. But it’s never sounded like that. Like… a compliment.
Completely composed—on the outside—I look up at the man who’s still reading my book. “Would you care to switch?”
Whiskey-colored eyes glance at me over the top of the device, then he goes back to reading. “In a minute.”
In. A minute.
“I’m sorry, what?” I can’t have heard him correctly.
“Shush.” The man shushes me.
He, honest to god, shushes me.
My mouth drops open.
His eyes dart to my lips, then back to the story.
I watch as the edge of his mouth pulls up.
This man thinks he’s being cute.
But when I take in the rest of his face, it’s clear this man is beyond cute.
His facial hair is too thick to be cute. His cocky little smirk is too confident to be cute.
His hair, the same rich brown as his beard, is too sweat soaked to be cute.
Top to bottom, this specimen is too fucking manly to be cute.
I shift to try to stand, but he’s in the way, so I can’t.
The man, still reading, makes a noise in his throat and raises his brows.
Okay, that’s enough.
But before I can reach up and take my book from him, he turns and sits on the bench next to me. So close that our arms touch.
His skin is warm against mine. And I should pull away.
I should, but I can’t. Because having this stranger so close,this close, is doing something to my senses.
My core clenches as a wave of desire rolls through me. And the hummingbird that resides inside my ribcage flutters to life. Shaken out of stasis by this man.
The message is clear. I need to get away before my body betrays me further.
I reach for my book.
But as I reach, he shifts the device to his far hand and stretches his arm out, holding the book out of my reach.
I turn toward him, not caring that my knees bump into his thigh. “Are you serious?”
The man turns his head to face me, our noses only inches apart.
