Page 10

I sit by the window, half watching the snow fall outside, and half focusing on putting the final touches to my present for Arthur. I wish it had been done before I arrived in Falhaven, but I want it to be perfect, and that has delayed some of my stitching.

I pull back my embroidery hoop and look at what I've done so far. I should add some snowflakes, especially after today.

I reach up to touch my lips, feeling the tingle that comes with the memory of kissing Arthur for the first time. I know that it's impatient of me to think so, but I'm hoping I'll get an opportunity to do it again soon.

A knock sounds on my sitting room door, taking me by surprise. "Come in," I call.

Maria steps inside and curtsies. "Prince Arthur is here to see you, Your Highness."

"At this time?" Dinner has already been served, and I thought we'd said goodnight already.

"I can tell him you've retired for the evening if you'd like."

"No, please don't. Show him in," I say.

She nods and disappears to do as I suggest. I don't think my aunt will still be awake, so it will be easy for her not to intrude while I'm with Arthur. Which is good as far as I'm concerned, because I have every intention of kissing him again.

I set aside my embroidery just as the door opens and Arthur steps inside. I make my way over to him, realising that I'm not really sure how to initiate the kiss I want. I'm not used to this kind of thing.

He seems to realise what I'm doing, and leans in to press his lips against mine, kissing me a little deeper than I anticipated, and igniting something within me that I've only felt when alone in my bed.

We break apart, and I reach up to trace the planes of his face with my fingers, glad I'm not wearing gloves this time.

"I didn't expect to see you this late," I say.

"I can go if you'd like."

"No," I respond firmly.

"Veronica reminded me that the villagers are going to be setting off some fireworks tonight, I thought you'd like to watch."

"From the village?" I ask, glancing towards the window.

"No, from the balcony."

"There's a balcony?"

He holds out his hand, and I take it, wrapping my fingers tightly around his as he draws me out of the room and into the receiving room. He heads over to two large windows and swings them open, revealing a balcony. Cold air rushes in, but I'm too focused on what's outside to truly notice.

"I had no idea that was there."

"I didn't think much about it," he admits. "It being winter."

"Ah, yes, I suppose that makes sense." I follow him outside and lean against the stone balustrade so I can look down at the village below. A bonfire rages in the centre square and I can hear the shouts of the villagers as they celebrate.

Arthur steps closer and puts an arm around me, I lean back into him, amazed at how comfortable it feels for the two of us to be like this.

"It looks wonderful," I say.

"We can go back if you want," he murmurs, his breath tickling my ear in a pleasant way.

"Maybe tomorrow," I say. "It's been a long day."

"That's fair. My father had me working hard once we got back from our ride too."

"What were you doing?" I ask, twisting slightly so that I can see his face.

"Going over some of the details of the trade deal between us and Rajaad," he responds. "We're hoping to increase the trade for spices."

"Ah. I look forward to trying more of their food, it was delicious when we had some at the fair."

"The spices are popular here, we cook with them a lot at banquets. Though to hear Evie talk about it, we're doing it all wrong."

I laugh. "Your sister has a lot of opinions about food."

"It's mostly about things she can bake rather than food in general. Cakes, biscuits, bread, that kind of thing. But yes, she has a lot of opinions." There's a note of affection in his voice. It's clear to me just how much love there is between the members of the Royal Family here in Falhaven.

I run my hand over his arm, the affectionate touch coming more easily than I'd ever imagined it would. I knew that I liked Arthur as a person, but this is something more. It's like it's woken up a part of me that I didn't know existed.

"What are you thinking?" Arthur asks.

"About you," I respond.

"I'm not complaining about that."

I laugh and turn around in his arms, enjoying the way it feels for his hand to trail across my waist. "I don't have words to describe how you make me feel," I whisper.

"That feeling is mutual." He reaches out and brushes a strand of hair out of my face. "I thought your letters made me fall in love with you, but now that I have you here, I realise that barely even scratches the surface of how I feel."

"Arthur..." I reach up to touch his face.

"Yes?"

I don't have any words to say. Not that he hasn't already said. I go up on my toes and press a kiss against his lips. There's only light pressure at first, just like some of our other kisses, but then the urge to kiss him deeper comes over me.

I give in to it. Maybe I wouldn't have done when I first came to Falhaven, but I've been here long enough to know that things aren't the way my mother described them to me.

More than that, I know I'm safe with Arthur.

It's not just because I already know he's going to be my husband, it's more than that.

It's how he's made me feel in the time we've spent together.

His hand splays against my lower back, pulling me closer. I trail my hand over his face and down his neck, feeling the collar of his shirt beneath my fingers. I want to feel more of his skin, even if I don't know what that really means.

"Arthur," I murmur against his lips.

"Yes?" He pulls back so he can look at my face.

"I've never wanted this before."

"Wanted what?"

I frown and consider how I'm feeling. "I don't really have words for it. But I can show you?"

He raises an eyebrow. "All right."

I chew on my bottom lip and lower my hand until it's at the neck of his shirt. The warm skin of his throat is just under my fingers, making me want to explore further.

Arthur's breath catches in his throat, but he holds very still, almost too still. "Sola..."

I swallow hard. "Can I?" I touch the ties of his shirt.

He nods, watching me intently with his deep blue eyes, the ones that always seem so full of thoughts and emotions.

My actions are fumbly as I undo the ties at his neck, pulling open his shirt.

It doesn't reveal much skin, especially as he's still wearing a waistcoat that's blocking me from doing much more.

I consider it for a moment, both nervous and bold at the same time.

I'm not really sure what I'm doing, I just know that I want to.

I slide my hand further down until I'm at the waistcoat and slowly push the silk-covered buttons through the buttonhole. My heart races and my mouth is a little dry as I manage to get each of them done. I push the fabric off Arthur's shoulders, letting it fall away from him.

"Sola." His voice cracks as he says my name.

"Yes?"

He leans in and captures my lips with his, kissing me far more deeply than I expect. Deeper than we've ever kissed before. There's a need in it, and something awakens in the pit of my stomach, desperate to get out and not knowing how.

With his waistcoat on the ground, it's easier to work with his shirt, and I tug at it until it pulls free. My fingers brush against the warm skin of his stomach and he sucks in a breath, even through our kiss.

"Tell me what you want," he murmurs, leaning his forehead against mine.

"To touch," I respond. "To be touched."

"Where?"

"I don't know."

He chuckles. "I'm not sure that's helpful."

"I don't know, Artie, this is the first time I've really wanted to do something like this."

"Then we can go slow," he promises.

"Have...you...?"

"No."

I pull back and look at him. "But you've told me that the Falhaven rules about being alone together aren't as enforced as those in Someil."

"Clearly," he responds, gesturing around us. "And yes, I'm not saying that I didn't have the opportunity. I'm saying that I've never been in a situation where I wanted to. I've been in love with you for years. Why would I want to sleep with someone else?"

A thrill goes through me at the admission that he loves me. I know it from his letters, but hearing him say the words out loud for the first time is something else. It holds a deeper meaning, especially with everything that's already passed between us.

"I don't think that would stop some people."

"I'm not some people, Sola. I love you, I don't want anyone but you."

Emotions well up within me and I don't really know what to do with them.

At a loss for any other ideas, I step forwards and kiss him, trying to convey everything I'm feeling in the gesture.

I need him to know how much his words mean to me.

To know he's loved me for so long, and that he's chosen to remain faithful to a relationship that was just in letters, means the world to me.

"I love you too," I whisper.

A loud bang cuts through our conversation, and we both jump, only to laugh as the first firework lights up the sky.

"I forgot about them already," I admit. "They're amazing."

"They're from Shengda," he says. "I've never seen anything like them from anywhere else."

Bright lights fill the sky along with a few more bangs. The lights sparkle like stars even as they shimmer and fall to the ground. It feels a lot like I do, and perfect for the moment I'm sharing with Arthur. Except that I don't want this to end.

"Arthur?" I whisper.

"Mmm?"

"You don't have to leave after the fireworks, do you?"

"Not if you don't want me to," he says. "But if you do at any point, just say the word."

"Stay," I respond, nestling myself back into his arms and watching the remaining fireworks. But no matter what I do, I can't stop thinking about how it felt to touch his bare skin, and wonder how long it's going to be until I can do that again.