Total pages in book: 27
Estimated words: 26177 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 131(@200wpm)___ 105(@250wpm)___ 87(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 26177 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 131(@200wpm)___ 105(@250wpm)___ 87(@300wpm)
Offended, I narrowed my eyes. “I have sweats, you know!”
“Are they designer?” He teased, the right side of his mouth lifted in a half smile.
I parted my lips, ready to lie, instead I just pointed at him. “It’s protocol to only wear the best.”
“Oh, okay.” He reached for the clothes back.
I clutched them to my chest. “Don’t you dare.”
He held up his hands. “Fine.”
I stormed toward the bathroom, head held high, clicked the door shut and dropped the clothes onto the floor. The bathroom was massive with floor to ceiling wooden floors, a gorgeous claw bathtub in the middle, and was that a sauna in the corner? Curious, I went over to it and opened the wooden door.
“Unbelievable, it’s like they built Frozen up in this cabin.”
“You okay in there?” He called from the door.
“Yep, yes, great, just having trouble taking off my pantyhose.”
“I could rip them if you want.” He offered.
I stumbled against the counter and nearly collided with the floor to ceiling mirror next to it. “No need, I think I know how to wiggle my ass out of them.”
He burst out laughing.
I gasped and covered my mouth. “I mean, you know what I mean.”
“Tsk, tsk, a princess should never curse in public.”
“We aren’t in public!” I reminded him.
“My apologies, you’re correct, this is in fact as private as it gets for us, I think.” Oh, sweet God. I did not need that reminder. Why was I suddenly flushed? I stared at myself in the mirror, mascara was trickling down my heated cheeks, I no longer had the perfect eye makeup on and my lips were a natural pale pink.
Get a grip, get a grip. “Be right out!”
I quickly got out of my clothes and neatly folded them, then threw the sweater over my body, it nearly fell to my knees.
I smiled in the mirror. I kind of liked this look and the pants would probably be too big, plus I had my blanket. Talk about unprincesslike behavior, plus he was the one that said I couldn’t seduce or maybe that was just in my head.
Not that I was seducing him.
I would never.
But teasing what he’ll never have sounded kind of wicked and nice, and I’d been too good for too long. See? He brought out the worst in me! Maybe it was because I was tired, out of sorts, desperate, but I made the choice in that moment. Hadn’t Frederick said to get to know Zautland? Well, this was my chance to prove to myself and everyone else how wrong this arranged marriage was.
I pulled open the door, taking the pants and my clothes with me. He wasn’t facing me, but pouring two glasses of wine facing the kitchen. “Dinner’s ready.” He took a sip of wine and turned, then promptly spit it out all over the ground and started choking. “Sorry, wrong tube.”
“Never seen a woman’s legs before? I’m disappointed.”
His eyes were lazy then, so heavy lidded as he stared me down. “Can’t say that I’ve seen legs like that, no.” He shook his head. “You must ride well.” He paused while my eyes widened in shock, wait why were my cheeks heating up again? “No, no, not like no, I meant horses, because you ride English and you race, on the horse, in a saddle, wearing boots.”
I laughed behind my hand. “Yes, Zautland, I ride well.”
Maybe this was a bad idea.
His fingertips grazed mine when he handed me the wine, I almost dropped the glass when he smiled down at me. “Cheers to riding.”
A shiver ran down my body.
Our glasses clinked as the storm rolled outside. I couldn’t look away from his chiseled jaw, he was at least six inches taller than me, if not more. “So…” I cleared my throat to fill the silence. “What masterpiece have you prepared?”
“Still working on sandwiches, but figured you were starving, so I set out the breads, cheeses, and fruits.”
“You made a charcuterie board in under ten minutes?” I nodded and held up my glass. “I approve of all forms of olives, cheese, crackers, and appetizers.”
He snorted. “If you didn’t and asked for a toothpick so you could gnaw on a green olive for an hour, we’d have an issue. I mean, unless it was from a martini that I could approve of.”
I laughed into my wine glass. “I once went to school with a girl who used to swear she only ate three pieces of lettuce a day and five pickles in order to fit into one of her coronation gowns.”
He rolled his eyes, walked around the table, and poured me more wine. “Women and their incessant need to impress one another, claiming they’re trying to impress men when really we just want a good non stilted conversation, something to hold on to when we’re in bed and someone who knows how to smile.”