Chapter 12
Chapter Twelve
CYPRIEN
The ballroom was nearly overflowing with debutants when I quietly slipped inside.
I thought hanging on the perimeter of the room would be safe, but I couldn’t have been more wrong.
Almost immediately, a swarm of elegantly dressed women swarmed me, cooing over my costume and asking for dances.
Each time I extricated myself from one group, another would descend upon me.
Fortunately, the King’s speech afforded me the opportunity to hide in the shadows.
The room reeked of sweat and desperation.
The moment the speech ended, I snatched a glass of wine from a passing servant and darted into the crowd before I could be spotted again.
The large room was filled to the gills with the rich who were dressed as the most mystical creatures and characters.
I glanced down at myself, grateful that my stepbrothers had destroyed the atrocity that I had cobbled together.
Moreover, I was grateful that I had a Fairy Godparent in my corner because I looked as though I belonged there, rubbing elbows with the kingdom’s finest.
Tipping back the rest of my glass, I happily accepted a refill from a passing server. Not that I was much of a drinker, but the situation seemed to demand liquid courage and the wine was cold and abundant.
After quite a few glasses, I found myself stumbling into a line with several other men.
I wasn’t certain what we were waiting for, but was just intoxicated enough to stand there anyway.
It wasn’t until way too late that I realized we were waiting for a dance with the princess–something I was neither sober enough or interested in doing.
But then the princess was politely smiling at me, fatigue and displeasure evident even in her masquerade costume.
“Your Highness” I only slightly slurred the words and managed to keep my balance when I dipped low in a bow. Offering my hand, I put on the most reassuring smile I could muster. “Would you do me the extraordinary honor of granting me a dance?”
Her smile wavered but surprisingly she took my hand. “Of course, good sir. I would love to.”
Her words were hollow, and my heart ached for her as I led her to the middle of the dance floor
Luck was with me that night. The chosen song was a dance my mother had taught me.
Muscle memory guided my steps, leaving my mind open to focus on other things–such as the miserable mermaid in my arms. “Forgive me, Highness,” I began, only loud enough for her to hear, “but it seems to me that you would rather be anywhere but in this room right now.”
“Oh, no. I’m perfectly happy dancing with charming young fellows such as yourself all night.” Her words said one thing, but the fatigue creasing her eyes said another.
“Far be it from me to disagree with a princess, but I am doing just that,” I said gently. “You are absolutely miserable right now and I am not in the least offended.”
She gave me a hard look, examining my face for any trace of deception.
She must have been satisfied with what she saw because her lips eased into a genuine–yet still tired–smile.
“You are correct, good sir, I hate this. And I will tell you something else: You are a fish out of water here and dancing with me makes you uncomfortable.” My eyes widened, but she only chuckled.
“I feel you are dancing with the wrong royal offspring.”
Had the movements not been so deeply ingrained in my memory, I would have frozen in place. I stumbled over my words, struggling to gather a response to her allegations, even if they were correct. “I–I’m… What I mean is–you don’t know that.”
“I think my brother would enjoy your company.” the princess whispered conspiratorially.
I’m not sure if the song ending was a good or bad thing, but the chords faded away before I could stammer out a response.
We traded bows, and I received another true smile from the princess.
“Thank you, sir. That was a lovely dance.”
The next man in line reached for her hand, and I quickly made my escape.
Soft hands and softer words tried to stop me as I wound my way through the crowd, far too shocked to pay attention to anyone or anything.
I slipped through the first door that I found.
Darkness hid the blush that embarrassment–and the wine–brought to my cheeks, and blissful silence and the cool night air enveloped me.
I could not believe that the princess had seen through me.
What truly caught me off guard, however, was that she implied that her brother, the prince for River’s sake, would be interested in me. Surely I’d misinterpreted that.
With my roiling thoughts twisting my stomach into knots, I stumbled through what appeared to be some sort of garden maze, no destination in mind.
I found myself lost and exhausted all too soon.
When I happened upon a gazebo with soft, inviting cushions, I didn’t hesitate to climb up the stairs and flop down onto the biggest, fluffiest one.
Seeming to forget where I was, I laid my head down and let my eyes slip shut.
ALARIC
Each simpering fool I was forced to dance with was somehow worse than the one before her.
I knew I wouldn’t be thinking so unkindly of them if the circumstances were different, but I was feeling hateful.
Not that I let on that I was having a miserable time–my father wouldn’t have tolerated that.
At one point, I saw my gladiator dancing with my sister and my spirits dipped even further.
It was bad enough that I couldn’t have Cyprien.
Having this new interest be out of my reach as well just added insult to injury.
After far too long with one girl or the other hanging off me, Father declared an intermission.
While he was speaking to some duke or dignitary my sister made her way over to me, a conspiratorial look in her eyes.
“I danced with the loveliest young man earlier, but alas, I fear that I am not his type. He slipped out through the garden doors after we danced. I would be happy to distract Father if you would like to go check on him.” She winked tiredly and smiled.
“Maybe one of us can make something of tonight.”
I looked at her for a long moment and finished my wine. “Was he dressed as a gladiator by chance?” I tried to sound casual, but I’d failed–Lydia was too in tune to me.
“Why, yes, he was indeed.” She gestured at me to go, then made quick work of distracting our father.
With everyone busy with food and drink, I easily slipped into the night.
What was infinitely harder was finding the gladiator in our garden maze.
I turned every corner and backtracked several times before finding him dozing in the gazebo settled in the middle of the maze.
My footsteps were silent as I crept up on him and reached for his mask.
Some sound must have betrayed me, because his eyes snapped open and he scrambled to his feet.
“Your highness! What are you doing out here?” he asked, emotions flickering over his gorgeous eyes. He covered his mouth, no doubt realizing that he’d spoken in a way that was less than respectful. “What I meant to say was that it must be unsafe out here without any guards.”
I couldn’t help but laugh. A deep belly laugh that had me unable to catch my breath. The gladiator looked so taken aback that it only made me more hysterical, so much so that I had to sit down. “I’m sorry. Sit, please. My sister sent me out here to find you.”
“Your sister?” he muttered, taking a seat too far away from me. “Oh! The princess! Yes, I had quite a lovely dance with her. Such a graceful and considerate young woman. I must admit that I am not certain why she would send you after me.”
The lie almost fell too easily off his lips.
What’s more, he was fully aware that I knew he was lying, so I decided to give him a good shock.
I leaned toward him, crawling onto all fours and ever so casually said, “For a good fuck, I’d imagine.
” My gladiator tried to back away, but I caught him by his armor. “Tell me you don’t want it.”
Frozen on the precipice, he looked at me, fear and lust warring in his eyes.
“I wish I could tell you that, it would be easier, but I cannot lie to you.” He licked his lips and glanced away, returning his attention to me with a fire in his eyes I’d never witnessed in anyone before.
“I do want it, I want you. Even if it’s treason. Charge and sentence me tonight.”
I chuckled darkly. “No one else ever has to know. We are all alone out here, in the dark. My most trusted guard is stationed at the door.”
I crawled over the cushions, laying Cyprien down as my body stretched over his.
When my hips ground against him, he threaded his fingers through my hair and tugged, crashing our mouths together in a collision of lips and tongues that I would remember for the rest of my days and nights.
Almost all thoughts of Cyprien were forgotten.
With just one kiss, this man ignited that same fire.
Even with masks over our faces, he kissed with a fervent passion, tongue mapping out the darkest corners of my mouth.
My erection throbbed against its cage, and I growled in frustration.
The gladiator didn’t seem to notice, too caught up in sucking on my tongue.
I fed a hand between us, feeling that he was just as hard as I was.
He moaned into my mouth and bucked against my hand.
Fuck, he was so responsive… I pulled away from him, he tried to follow me but I stopped him with one hand against his chest plate.
“Strip and get on your hands and knees.”