Chapter 15
Kaid’s eyes fluttered open as he took in his surroundings.
He was lying atop a plush purple comforter in a brightly colored room lined with stacks of books.
The oil lamp on the side table flickered as it came close to extinguishing.
And lying on her side next to him was a silhouette of what he thought must be the most beautiful woman he had ever seen, her figure outlined by the flames of the roaring fireplace behind her.
She looked so serene, countering her usual guarded demeanor.
Kaid turned onto his side facing Asta and took in the sight of her. Her ample chest was moving up and down with each breath, her lion’s mane hair was draped on the pillow behind her, and the hem of her dress shifted high enough for Kaid to admire her muscular thighs.
Why? Why must Maren be the eldest of the two?
Asta had made her thoughts of Kaid’s existence clear, anyway, but he still pined for her.
It was like her clear disfavor of him made him want her more.
He had never met a woman so ready to knock him down at any chance she got.
So ready to humble him. What kind of sick game was Knud playing in this castle, anyway? And why did he like it so much?
The princess stirred next to Kaid, as though she sensed his change in consciousness even in her own state of sleep. Her eyes opened slowly, blinking a few times to clear her vision. Shock and regret didn’t overcome her face as Kaid suspected it might.
“I missed guard change,” Kaid gestured to the clock on the mantle.
They had planned for him to sneak out when the guard at the end of the hall switched with another, just in case any of them had a desperate need to make a copper on selling a scandalous story to the papers.
Asta craned her neck to peer at the clock over her shoulder and let out a sigh.
Guessing the exhale was fueled by discontent, Kaid suggested he move to the chaise in the common room.
Asta lazily waved a hand. “You’re stuck in here now, and we were already sleeping. No sense in you having a sore back for the next three days from sleeping on that thing. Just stay here.”
Kaid didn’t know how to respond to that. Didn’t know how to respond to the fact that his heart skipped a beat as her green eyes looked into his, willing him to stay.
He settled down onto the bed further, subconsciously nudging closer to her as he did so. Asta adjusted her lying position as well to be face-to-face.
He knew it wasn’t right, and yet, he couldn’t stop it.
He and Maren were marrying out of obligation.
They hadn’t even discussed the wedding with each other, only with the staff who needed answers—answers to questions that Kaid, quite frankly, gave no fucks about.
Maren was as uninterested as he was, but did that make what he was doing any less wrong?
It was her sister, afterall. So, why didn’t it feel wrong?
Kaid didn’t let the argument in his mind conclude as he reached up and brushed stray hairs from Asta’s face, tucking them behind her ear. Her eyes searched his face and her mouth twisted, the gears of her mind nearly visible as they turned.
Her breathing changed, becoming more shallow. Her gaze was heavy-lidded as she bit her lip and, gods, did he want to be the one biting it instead.
“You’re awful, you know that?” Kaid said, his voice for more husky than he anticipated.
Asta faintly smiled. “You’re not so great yourself, neighbor.”
Ah, neighbor. So she was still convinced nothing would happen if he remained lying in this bed.
Kaid couldn’t stop his next words. “Tell me something you hate about me.”
At first, Asta looked confused. Even a little curious. But she answered, “I hate that you can charm your way out of any situation.”
Kaid knew her answer was part of whatever game they were playing right now. That she was asking him to use those charming abilities on her. He reached up and brushed his thumb across her bottom lip and her breathing hitched, but she remained motionless; frozen.
Kaid whispered only inches from her face. “Now tell me, Princess. Would you hate me more if I kissed you right now?”
Her tongue darted out to lick her lips as she responded, “It would make you my greatest enemy.”
Kaid understood her answer. He dove forward, catching Asta’s mouth with his. She tasted exactly as he had imagined, sharp and strong. Unyielding.
Asta adjusted her position on the bed so she was lying on her back as they breathlessly exchanged one frantic kiss after another.
His tongue grazed the seam of her lips and they parted, allowing their tongues to collide.
Kaid let one hand roam her side as the other held her face.
He stilled for a moment when he realized one of her hands was running through his hair, but continued kissing and caressing her soon after.
Kaid brushed the rolling plains of Asta’s side, every dip and beautiful curve she had. Was he delusional, or was she leaning into his touch?
She let out a faint moan, so quiet that he could tell she was fighting against its escape. She was absolutely leaning into his touch, then.
Their kissing became deeper, each one lasting longer but still just as hard. Gods, he never wanted to let this woman go. She hated him and he fucking loved it.
He let his touch begin slowly tracing Asta’s front, lightly grazing the fabric of her dress and corset.
At first, he brushed her stomach, sometimes letting his touch stray down the path of her thigh then back up.
When Asta didn’t object, his fingers lightly circled her breast. Her back arched against his hand, but Kaid didn’t want to do anything she wasn’t ready for, or anything they both may regret.
Up until this moment, their relationship had been that of unfriendly friends. At least, that was what he had convinced himself. A pair thrown together by a twist of fate, now forced to endure each other for life. They had merely been making the best of a terrible situation.
Well, they were certainly making the best of it now.
Kaid pulled his lips from hers, though it pained him to do so. He needed to see her face, to see her approval of his touch. At first, her eyes were filled with desperation, begging him to return to her, but his hand stilled on her abdomen as he watched her gaze turn to uncertainty.
“Asta,” Kaid whispered.
She blinked a few times, as if being freed from an illusion. She suddenly sprung out of bed.
“What about Maren?” Asta snapped. “What am I to tell my sister?”
Kaid saw the thoughts running through her head, tearing her apart. He had put her in this position because he couldn’t control himself around her.
He stood and made his way to her, but Asta jumped back.
“This night didn’t happen.” Her tone was demanding and cold.
It hurt Kaid to hear her speak to him that way, to know that she wanted to forget this, and his stomach twisted into a tight coil.
But right now, agreeing to forget was the only thing he could offer her.
Though it was torturous, he knew it was the only option for himself, for Asta and Maren, for his father and his kingdom.
“I’ll find a way to my suite unseen,” he said as he left the bedroom.
Kaid grabbed his cloak from the hook near her entryway and began fastening it around himself when the front doors burst open, their handles slamming into the walls behind them.
Gyrial burst in and his golden eyes darted toward Asta’s bedroom door where she stood, covering her mouth.
Of course he shows up. What are the bloody odds? Kaid’s jaw clenched. Even at this ungodly hour, Gyrial still managed to appear and make things worse for him.
Gyrial’s fierce stare turned to Kaid as he growled, “Get out.”
“I’m trying to,” Kaid snapped, “if you would stop barging into places like a charging bull.”
Kaid wasn’t in the mood, and he would pick a fight with anyone right now, especially this specific person. Not that he could win without Halsten at his side, but then again, maybe being beaten into oblivion would make him feel better.
Gyrial grabbed Kaid by the front of his shirt and pinned him to the wall, and Kaid couldn’t help but let out a cold laugh. This whole thing was typical. He was the one who fell for the girl and now he was also the one who would be painted as the villain.
“Stop!” Asta shouted as she ran toward the men. “You,” She pointed at Kaid, “to your suite, now! And Gyrial, to my bedroom.” Her arm flung behind her as she pointed to her bedroom door.
Kaid continued to stare into Gyrial’s eyes, his unhinged laughter echoing through the silent suite. Eventually, Gyrial let go, storming past Asta and disappearing into the bedroom.
She stared at Kaid for a long moment before shaking her head and retreating as well.