Page 37 of A Heart Too Tender

“I must apologize again. That was entirely my fault.”

Colette shook her head. “It wasn’t entirely your fault. I could have prevented it, as well.”

She was breathtaking and yet it felt easier to breathe around her.

“How? I was the one who tripped you up?”

“Maybe … I let you trip me.”

As we hummed the song to an end I pulled her even closer, and she looked up into my eyes. I wanted to kiss her, and by the way her eyes flicked to my lips, she wanted to kiss me too.

I stroked my thumb across her bottom lip, the one she often bit down on when she was thinking, as my other arm went low around her back holding her to me.

We had done this three times before, and yet, my pulse raced and my blood heated in response like it had every time before. When her eyes fluttered closed, the spell wove around me, pulling me to her.

My lips lightly brushed hers and I knew, in that fleeting moment, that she was the one.

Her lips pressed against mine, her hand finding its way to the nape of my neck. I angled her face up allowing her lips to part and my tongue to sweep inside. She tasted of fresh berries, and sunrises, and of every second of my future.

I could finally tell her the truth.

As I pulled away, her eyes blinked open and she took a step back. “Julian,” she breathed, pressing a hand to her mouth.

“I need to tell you the truth,” I felt my skin begin to itch. “I am Prince August.”