Page 79 of Bitter Prince

Irushed out of class and made my way through the hallways to the exit door. The bullies hadn’t bothered me since Amon confronted them, but certain habits were hard to break. Sometimes being the youngest in the class really sucked. Two years’ difference wasn’t that major, but over the course of my twelve years of schooling, it seemed to be big enough.

They either considered me a geek or a freak. I was neither. The truth was that I studied my ass off in high school so I could graduate at the same time as Phoenix. I didn’t want to be separated from her for two years. It was as much for my sake as it was for hers. We just worked better together.

My gaze flitted to the road, and my heart sank to my feet in the absence of a certain slick motorbike. I hadn’t seen Amon in four days. He had some out-of-town business to take care of, and just like my father, he was secretive about it. Considering the Leone family was part of the Omertà, it wasn’t surprising, but four days was a lifetime to a girl in love.

I rushed down the steps and across the street when I heard my name.

Glancing over my shoulder, I spotted a silver Audi. My heart stilled and so did my feet when I noticed a tall figure leaning against it, his hands in his pockets. His black hair gleamed blue in the sun.

I didn’t think, I just reacted.

My bag slipped from my shoulder and hit the pavement. My pulse pounded in my throat and a smile spread on my lips. My feet were running before my brain could register it.

He pulled his hands out of his pockets and I jumped into his arms, wrapping my legs around his waist and nuzzling into his neck.

“You’re back,” I beamed, pressing my face deeper to breathe him in and peppering him with kisses.

He chuckled roughly. “Happy to see me, cinnamon girl?”

God, he smelled so good. Felt so right.

“I am,” I breathed. “I missed you.”

He slid his hand into my hair and pulled it back as if he needed to see the truth in my eyes.

“You missed me?” he asked, his eyes burning into me. I nodded. “We texted every day,” he pointed out, the tone of his voice slightly raspy.

“It’s not the same,” I said slowly, worried that maybe I was showing too much, giving away too much. Except, I didn’t know how to be any different. I wanted to show him and give him everything.

I slid down his body to stand on solid ground, but when I went to take a step back, his grip tightened. His one hand came to my throat and he gripped it, tilting my head up to see my eyes.

Light and dark. Blue and black. Soft and hard.

“I missed you too,” he said softly and his mouth found mine for a kiss that could easily break my heart. It wasn’t rough; it wasn’t desperate. He kissed me deeply and gently, almost as if I were something precious to him.

He groaned in satisfaction, his tongue dancing with mine.

I pulled back breathlessly to say, “I can’t wait until my eighteenth birthday.”

He raised a brow and chuckled. “We can and we will.” I grumbled something unintelligible and he lowered his head, brushing the tip of his nose against mine. “We’re young. We don’t have to rush.”

I blew an exasperated breath.

“Only a non-virgin would claim that.” When he stilled, I felt a flush creep up my neck and into my cheeks.

His grip on the nape of my neck tightened. “Virgin,” he repeated slowly.

I rolled my eyes. “You knew.” He had to. I assumed that was the reason he wanted to wait until I was eighteen. “Didn’t you?” I whispered hesitantly.

“Shit, Reina.” His forehead came to rest on mine. “How in the fuck—” He took a deep breath in and then slowly exhaled. “I didn’t expect an almost-eighteen-year-old virgin in today’s world.”

“Is that bad?” I breathed.

“No, my cinnamon girl,” he murmured, his lips brushing against mine. “Just unexpected.” I fought a smile, threatening to melt right here on the hot Paris sidewalk.

I pressed my face against his chest, bathing in his smell. “I know you said not to”—I raised my head and met this gaze—“but I’m falling in love with you. I can’t stop it.”

He made a noise of satisfaction and his face broke out into a dazzling grin. He leaned down and nuzzled my neck as tenderness soaked in, warming me from the inside out. He grazed his mouth over the line of my jaw before taking my mouth in a soft kiss.