ia. No surprises. No wandering off. And

sat upright on the edge of the velvet chaise lounge in the sitting room, fingers

Anything else, Your Highness? Should I curts

es. You're here for appearances, noth

had felt the weight of invisible eyes. Cameras hidden behind frames, staff who rarely spoke

s at ten, etiquette training at twelve, supervised walks at two, dinner at seven, lights out

ever been good at

er about, past the locked doorways and antique paintings. Her footsteps were silent against marble. Then s

, echoing off the high ceilings. She closed her eyes and l

no wan

unreadable, voice laced with threat. He stepped in s

s," she countered. "This is east. Las

falling over her hands. "The rules are no

se you can't control the past, so you're choking the p

sire. He was close enough for her to smell his cologne. Close enough to

orrow to decide if you're going to coop

ide the piano, music sti

towering room of mahogany shelves and ancient books. It

r could s

the dim light, leaning against the b

st thinking the

tep. Two. Each one deliber

eally. Why did you come back

ed. "You as

ontract. That's n

d inches away, eyes fixed on her mouth, then he

ga

like he'd

"Why are you so afraid of touching

. "Because it's e

top pretending you don't feel anyth

. She had never seen him unraveled not like this

ings, Georgia. Not w

fire had flickered a moment ago had van

"Say it. Say wh

ecause when I touch you, I remember w

her back pressed to the bookshelf, her bod

al room dressed in satin. No photographs. No color. Just beige

d, staring at the

A small box bene

e wore the night they almost made love. Five years ago. She li

mory s

She traced her fingers along his jaw, and he kissed her like he'd been starving. Her back hit the wall. H

shed her away. T

d. Without

She wasn't sure if the tears were from missing him or from mi

icked towar

ame th

nt. But it s

eston Clay. In sweatpants, barefoot, eyes

wake you," he sa

did

t. Then his gaze fell to the

nsed. "You

"Why did y

e stre

Not close enough to touch

uldn't forget

red in the quie

heart racing. "The

raid that if I wait any longer...

anothe

sto

urned

ght, Ge

the only piece of him she had left, the air thi