Chapter 11
ARCHIE
There's something indescribable about the way it feels to be sitting across a table from Lottie and know exactly how this kind of date is going to end.
It's not even about the sex, though that is pretty great, but the way she makes me feel when I'm around her.
I know she's aware that I'm a prince, but every time we spend time together, there's something deep in my soul that tells me she sees past that.
Maybe that's why we're able to build a mate bond.
The ability to see beyond the surface that everyone else sees and notice the real me.
She pushes her fork through the surface of her chocolate cake and takes a bite, letting out a soft hum. "That's better than sex."
I laugh. "Then I need to try harder."
Her eyes widen, and a hint of panic sets in. "That's not what I meant."
"I know," I assure her. "Can I try some?"
She pushes the plate towards me, and I use my own fork to get some.
A disappointed expression crosses her face.
"What?" I ask curiously.
She clears her throat. "I half expected you to use your tail."
My lips quirk up into a smile. "You do like it when I do that."
It's hard not to feel good when she has such a response to something that's quite simple for me.
"It's fun," she mumbles.
"I'd like to think so," I respond, looking down and seeing the cake, remembering that I'm supposed to be trying it.
Her gaze bores into me as I lift the fork to my mouth. The way she watches makes me respond instantly. It's not just because she's looking at me, it's the way she makes it clear that she's thinking of something very specific.
"You know what, you're right," I muse. "That is better than sex."
Lottie huffs.
I grin at her. "I'm teasing,"
Amusement crosses her face, and she pulls the cake back towards her. I eat my own dessert, but I don't really taste it. I'm too caught up in watching her.
Our plates are cleared away almost as soon as we're done.
"Do you want to head straight back, or do you want to go somewhere else first?" I ask, leaning across the table and trying to decide which I want myself. I think the answer is that I don't mind so long as I get to spend time with her.
"Did you have somewhere in mind?" She asks curiously.
"There's a nice walk down by the beach. And an ice cream shop."
She groans. "As much as I love ice cream, I don't think I could possibly eat anything else right now."
"That's why we take the walk first," I say.
"Didn't we just have dessert?"
"A walk would mean a chance to regain your appetite so you can have an entire banana split."
"I wouldn't order that even if I were hungry. Between that and your sister's love of hot dogs, I'm slightly concerned about what they're serving you in the demon court."
"Not hot dogs and banana splits. That's what makes them so good," I respond. "Well, banana splits are good. Hot dogs aren't."
"Neither of them are great." She pulls a face, though I can tell she's not being entirely serious in her response.
I lean across the table, wishing we'd already left the restaurant so I could be closer to her. "So, what would you get?"
"Hmm, that's a good question." And it would be a lot easier to answer if I hadn't just had a three-course meal."
"You've still got to know a favourite," I protest.
"I'm the changes-my-mind-based-on-how-I'm-feeling kind of person."
"Ah."
"Surely you're not always in the mood for a banana split?"
I shrug. "I've not had enough of them to know. Maybe I would get sick of them eventually. But I doubt it."
"Well, if you feel that strongly about banana splits, then we can go on a date to get one at some point," she suggests. "Though I was hoping that our next date could be somewhere private." The way she looks at me leaves nothing to the imagination.
"Is that so?" I lean in, while I stretch out my tail under the table and brush it against her leg.
She lets out a small gasp, even though I'm only touching her knee. "You can't do that here."
I raise an eyebrow. "If you want me to stop..."
"There are people around."
"None of them are paying us any attention," I respond.
"Your bodyguard is," she murmurs, glancing over to the next table where my bodyguard is waiting for us to finish eating. "I didn't even realise you had one until tonight. I've never seen him before."
I let out a sigh despite myself. "My parents agreed that Sophia and I didn't have to have a bodyguard inside the academy because Rosewood has a good security plan, but if we leave the grounds, we have to be accompanied."
"Oh." She glances over at my bodyguard again. "I don't remember seeing him at the magi-tag."
"He was there. But he did most of his work before we arrived."
"Do you get tired of it?"
I think about her question for a moment. "I've never really known any different," I admit. "There have been bodyguards around for my entire life, though I didn't always have my own. But I have enjoyed being able to live a more normal life at Rosewood."
She nods, a thoughtful expression crossing her face.
"We can plan our dates so he doesn't have to come in the future if it makes you uncomfortable," I say quickly.
"Won't that restrict us on what we can do?"
"Well, yes. We'll have to stay within the academy, but I'm sure we can figure something out."
"No, it's fine," she assures me. "Maybe for our next date, we can stay in the academy, but it's also okay for us to venture out. If I'm your mate, then I'm going to have to get used to it." There's a little bit of hesitance in her voice, but the fact that she's clearly thinking about it is enough.
Lottie and our mate bond are my future, every moment I spend with her makes me more certain of that.