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“God is most definitely a woman,” Rory says easily, as though it’s a simple fact, stretching out his long legs. “Though I suppose that doesn’t necessitate that she isn’t also a perv.”
Luke gives a small, philosophical hum. “I don’t know, I think it’s more of anit. Like a substance embedded within everything in the natural world. What do you think, Jessa? Jessa?” He pulls away from me for a moment, gazing at my struck expression. “Are you okay?”
“Can we change the subject?” I bite my lip, staring anxiously at Luke. “I don’t want to tempt fate or gods or whoever is listening. Things are bad enough out there withoutaskingfor trouble.”
“Oh, you sweet one, bless you,” Luke murmurs, and he grabs me into a full-body hug. I sink into it wonderingly, my hands sliding up the soft brush of Luke’s hair, and breathe in the citrus-sharp scent of him.
Luke breaks away slightly, glancing at the black words stamped onto my chest, his lips lifting at the corner. “A bold look indeed.” He gives me a crooked grin, downing the last of his mimosa before placing it on the pew behind us. “You know, if I were brave enough, my shirt would read ‘ActualCriminal’.” And he flashes such a bright, sparkling, breathtaking grin that I just don’t understand how anyone could champion Benji when Luke is right here being so radiant and pure.
“Who knew future kings could be so Zen about the destruction o’ constitutional monarchy?” Finlay asks, still sounding hurt.
Luke rolls his eyes. “I was never going to be king. Let’s face it. Our secret is out, and it would have happened sooner or later as I came of age. You were nothing more than a catalyst, that’s all. But no, please do insist that you’re the victim here.”
“And it’s all downhill from heeere,” Danny murmurs in sing-song. “Can someone shut them up, please?”
I take Luke’s hand in mine, drawing his attention away from Finlay, and then, feeling braver than before, position myself on his lap. His eyes shoot to my face in an instant, dark and flashing with hunger, before slowly trailing down the curve of my neck and the adamant words inked across my chest. It drags another crooked smile out of him.
His erection blooms beneath me. I go still. I sense Rory watching me with interest from the side.
In a quiet voice, Luke says, “They’re saying they’re going to take me away tonight.”
Rory turns to him sharply. “What?”
Luke sighs. “I’m not seeing anyone. I’m not learning anything. I’m just being shunted around from room to room. I’m aburdenon the university, and their overworked security team’s already on ultra-high alert. Lecturers are refusing to meet with me in case they catch, I don’t know,monarchy fever.”
“More like in case they get caught by the Antiro lot and hounded out of their jobs,” Rory rationalizes grimly.
“That, too. Perhaps it’s better for everyone if I return to Lochkelvin.” Luke shrugs. “I feel safer there. And it’s not as if I’d be missing much. I know there’s a function tonight but naturally I’m unable to attend. I’d just be confined to my hotel room, counting down the hours.”
“If you’re goin’ back, I’ll go wi’ ye. I’ve had enough o’ this place.”
Luke shakes his head. “No.”
“Ye need someone else wi’ ye,” Finlay insists. “Whit if ye get held up by, I dunno, bandits?”
“I don’t thinkbanditsare likely in this day and age,” Luke drawls.
“Okay, well, whitever, the point is, if needs be, I’ll stab some fucker tae avenge ye.”
Luke’s lips flicker slightly. He takes my hand in his, brushing his lips over my knuckles, and gazes beyond me at Finlay, who’s still crouching in the distance beneath the altar. “That may be the kindest thing you’ve ever said to me.”
“I mean it.”
“I know you do. You mean everything you say and say everything you mean. To live without the existence of a filter is an entirely exhausting personality trait, you do realize.” He inclines his head in Finlay’s direction and adds in a quiet tone, “Thank you. Despite anything I may have expressed to the contrary this afternoon, your presence tonight would be most welcome.”
“Likewise,” Finlay agrees huffily, and a truce of sorts is established.
Luke’s erection has not yet abated. I roll my hips teasingly over his hard length. He blows out a heated breath, his eyes flicking up to meet mine, his pupils deep and black and glittering.
I lower my mouth to his full lips, feeling daring, feeling rebellious, as I remember where weare. Luke kisses me back in a way that grinds the world to a halt, as though we exist in a small peaceful pocket outside of time, his tongue twining slowly against mine in a serene, sultry dance.
“Now,” Rory says lightly beside us, his gray eyes pale and sparkling, “you mentioned something about a hotel room?”
