Page 40

She’d raced to help someone who’d been robbed. She’d been keen on showing me how wonderful this country was. Nova had shared her secret spot with me ... and she’d graced me with a kiss so explosive it had erased every other pair of lips I’d touched from history.

It was too soon to tell Nova why I was growing obsessed with her.

Telling someone like Darla was impossible.

“I really don’t know,” I said, shrugging absently.

“You don’tknow?” she laughed cruelly. “I’m losing to my sister and you can’t even explain why.”

“This isn’t a competition.”

“Yes it is!” In the hallway her loud voice was enhanced. “Tell me her secret. Did she make you feel bad for her? Did she guilt you, going all, ‘Woe is me’?”

I went very still. “It sounds like you don’t know your sister very well.”

“Believe me,” she snorted, “I know her better than you do.”

“Hey,” a voice said behind me. I pivoted, seeing Nova was standing nearby. Her face was puzzled; she looked from me to Darla. “What’s going on here?”

Darla rolled her eyes. “Nothing. Good night.” She slammed her door, and I clenched my teeth at the awful sound.

Facing Nova, I gave a half shrug. “I think your sister might be—what’s the word—kind of a bitch?”

She was still staring at the door. Nova was dressed in a robe as Darla had been, but it was thick cotton, white, and not at all revealing. Itstillmade my stomach do a flip. “Thorne, why are you in the east wing?”

“Can I say, ‘Because I missed you already’? Or is that too much?”

Nova smiled, tucking her hair behind her ear. “What’s the real reason?”

Chuckling warmly, I offered her the box. “This is yours. It was left in my room by accident.”

Her eyes opened wide. “Did you look inside?” she asked anxiously.

Remembering the sexy lingerie, I breathed in raggedly. “I didn’t mean to peek. I’m not sorry I did, though.” Pressing forward, I stood over her. I could smell jasmine soap from her recent shower. “Do you know how hot it is to realize what you’ll be wearing under your dress tomorrow?”

I was close enough to see the dip at the base of her throat flutter. “Do you like what I picked?”

“I fucking love it, Nova.”

Chewing at the edge of her lip, she took the box from me. “I wanted to surprise you.”

My hand cupped her cheek as I backed her against the castle wall. The hallway was dead around us. “You already have,” I whispered.

She trembled under my touch. Fuck, she made me feel sopowerful. Trailing my lips on hers, I leaned back a few centimeters, enough so she couldn’t kiss me. Her frustrated groan scraped in my skull, it left me breathless, my cock jumping angrily in my pants.

I nipped the sensitive flesh behind her ear. Nova whimpered—threatening to undo all the control I had left. Gathering myself, I leaned away. Her skin was smooth and free of makeup, free of everything but the little bite mark I’d left on her throat. She seemed so vulnerable.

A flash of something wicked danced through my cells. I peeled open the box and tugged out the panties. Nova was frozen as she watched. “I like surprises,” I said, twisting the lace around my fingers. It vanished into my pocket. “But I like having my directions followed, too.” I brushed the box over her chest; she gasped, hugging it, taking it from me. “Tomorrow, don’t wear anything under your dress.”

“That’s ... What if someone sees?”

“Don’t let them,” I laughed. “In fact, you better not let a single person catch a glimpse of that sweet pussy of yours. It’s formy eyes only.”

Her voice came out high and breathy. “You’re impossible.” Hugging the box, she half slid against the wall. Then, with one final look at me—a single, arousal-filled glance that made my shaft thicken—Nova entered her room.

She hadn’t said she’d follow my directions.

She didn’t need to.