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She had no idea. But she wanted to see him, wanted to be with him.
A knock on her door made her jump. She hadn’t known if Derek would come for her or not. She hurried to slide into the high heeled shoes she’d set out and across the suite, flinging the door open.
Derek was dressed in a gray suit that set off his dark coloring and blue eyes. Those eyes feasted on her face, and he murmured, “Never has a more beautiful sight greeted me at a door.”
Ellery threw caution to the wind, wrapped her arms around his neck, arched up, and kissed him.
Because of her reluctance around men, she’d only kissed a few boys as a teenager and a few men throughout her adult years, so she didn’t have much to compare her first kiss with Derek to. It didn’t matter because Derek eagerly returned the kiss, and she knew no kiss could ever compare.
His lips were warm, insistent, and full. His arms wrapped her up tight and she was cocooned in his strength and depth of feeling for her. Nothing and nobody could hurt her with Derek holding her close. None of her past worries and insecurities mattered. In Derek’s arms, she was more than enough, and the love she felt from him and for him swirled through the interchange. She imagined if she opened her eyes, sparklers of light would be shooting around the doorway and into the hall and back into her suite.
All worries were thrown out the huge castle windows, and she was certain in that moment—she loved Derek. She wanted to keep kissing him, love him, figure out how they could be together coming from different worlds, and trust him to patiently stay by her side.
Footsteps sounded, followed by an amused, “I thought I made it clear not to make me feel worse about my single status, illustrious twin of mine.”
Ellery pulled back from the kiss and gazed into Derek’s blue eyes. He kept her close and ground out in a throaty voice, “Let me throttle mycharmingtwin and then we’ll skip dinner and continue this.”
Grinning, Ellery said, “That sounds delightful. Who cares about food when I can kiss the ninja prince all evening?”
She was teasing but serious. To her, Derek was not some ninja prince. To her, he was everything.
“I hate to be the interrupter of incredible-looking kissing, and the bearer of bad news, but you two can’t skip dinner,” Malik said.
“Who says?” Ellery gave him an impertinent look, still clinging to Derek and encircled in his arms, exactly where she’d always wanted to be. Could it be the spot she stayed? What would that look like? Giving up her independence to love a man? Moving to Augustine and leaving her mom? Those thoughts made her cringe and she loosened her grip a bit.
“The king. It’s a mandatory family dinner, and if I’d crashed one of the Porsches, I wouldn’t want to get on his bad side.”
Ellery stiffened.
“Malik.” Derek’s voice was sharp. “Don’t.”
“I was just kidding.” Malik held up his hands. “Sorry. Skip dinner and make out. I would if I could.” He saluted them and walked on.
Derek heaved a breath. “Sometimes it’s heavy with him.”
“It’s fine. I know he was teasing.” She pulled back. “We should probably get to dinner.”
“It’s not mandatory.” He cocked an eyebrow. “But I know they’d all love to have us there. I’ve been gone for too long.”
“I know.” She smiled—bravely, she hoped.
“After dinner, can we … talk?”
“Does talk mean actually talk or just kiss for a very long time?”
“Both.”
Her stomach tumbled. Would she need to reveal all her deep, dark secrets? His kiss had made her feel so treasured and safe. Could she love Derek, trust him, open her heart and let a man in?
He extended his hand. She didn’t hesitate to place her hand in his. He wrapped it up with his strong fingers, gave her a lingering look and tender smile, and led her down the hallway. Placing her hand in his, trusting a man. Could that actually happen for her?
Maybe. If it was Derek.
CHAPTERTWELVE
Derek enjoyed the time with his family, but he could hardly wait to get Ellery alone. She’d shocked him by kissing him like that—shocked him in the best possible way. He loved her kisses, loved her. Would she open up to him about why she was so reluctant? Tell him about her past? Would she love him and agree to marry him and move to Augustine? It was asking a lot, but her mom and aunt could come. There was plenty of room in the castle or the village or Traverse or any of the other villages or cities. He could build them all a massive cabin in the mountains like Curt and Aliya had done if they wanted.
All he knew was he needed Ellery, and he needed his family and country. What if he had to choose like Steffan had? That was a dark thought that earned him a concerned look from Ellery. He must’ve been too quiet in his stewing. He rejoined the conversation. It was interesting how even with Ellery, the family was careful not to say anything about Hattie or much about Steffan. Would Ray and Jensen sneak them into the country and the castle tomorrow? He hoped so. He’d love to see Steffan and meet the infamous Hattie Ballard. She sounded like a perfect match for his brother and a brave and intriguing woman.
