I’m not sure what to say, but my cheeks heat up. “I was hiding,” I admit, fidgeting with the tulle on my dress.
“Why?” He takes a step towards me. His voice is deep, and it feels like it rolls across my skin.
I lift my hand and touch my hair, making sure nothing has come loose. I want to seem confident, too, so I try to play it cool. I shrug, and the motion makes a bejeweled strap slide down my shoulder. “I didn’t fit in, and people were staring at me.”
“I was staring at you. I didn’t notice the others. I couldn’t pull my eyes away from you to even bother.” He takes another few steps towards me, and I smile up at him.
“You like my dress? I made it,” I admit, and his smile grows even bigger.
“You made it?”
I nod.
“Watch.” I do a spin, and the tulle fluffs out.
“You have on sneakers?” he says while studying me. Then he motions for me to twirl again. And I do.
“I thought if I danced the dress would look extra pretty. When I tried to dance at home in heels, it didn’t work so well and I almost hurt myself. So sneakers it was.” I drop my head, looking at me feet. It’s just another reminder of why I don’t fit around here.
“You want to dance?” he asks touching my chin, making me look up at him.
“I don’t want to dance out there.”
“Then we’ll dance right here.” He pulls a phone out of his pocket and presses a few buttons. Music fills the room, and I smile.
He grabs me, pulling me into him, and I suddenly realize why women wear heels. Even more so if you’re going to dance with someone as big as this man.
“Slip your shoes off.”
“You don’t like them?” I made sure they matched. Simple white sneakers. I even made laces out of the same tulle I used on the dress.
“They are perfect. Just like you. But I want you closer to me while we dance.”
I hurriedly slip them off my feet, never leaving his embrace, and kick them away. In one quick movement he picks me up a little then places me on his feet. I have no idea what’s happening, but it’s perfect. More than perfect.
“I know you can’t twirl like this, but I needed to feel you against me. From the moment I saw you walk into that ballroom tonight I’ve been captivated.”
My breath catches as he starts to move us to the music. I let go of his warm hand that was engulfing mine to wrap it around his neck. He has to lean down a little to let me do it. I get lost in the moment, enjoying the feel of this unknown man. I don’t even know his name, but I don’t care at this moment.
“You smell like—”
“Cotton candy,” I finish for him. “It’s my lipstick.”
“Hmm.” He leans in closer, his mouth but a breath from mine. “I think I’ll have a taste for myself.”
Then suddenly his mouth descends on mine.
Chapter 2
Karim
I couldn’t stop myself, and I didn’t want to. I needed her.
Tonight I’ve been forced to choose a wife. I’m past the point of putting it off, and the royals won’t have it any longer. I’m King, but there must be an heir. The compromise was that they would throw a ball and allow all the eligible princess to parade around and let me choose one. It’s like picking a horse at a farm. It’s less than appealing. I didn’t want to come. Dread had weighed heavy on me, making my mood dark.
I’ve presided over the kingdom for years, ever since my parents passed away when I was young. I’ve had advisors for most of that time, but I took over the throne officially when I turned twenty-one. Now it’s eight years later and I’m being pressured to marry.
I know it’s time, but I’ve always believed that when I met the one, I would marry. But as the years go by I’m convinced that the love my parents had was rare. It may seem weak for a man to dream of such things, but I had envisioned my wife to be one who loved me as much as I loved her. That she would stand at my side. Be the one person I confided in.
My dreams of true love died away slowly over the years, so I decided to go ahead and pick a wife and be done with it. I wanted to appease everyone in the kingdom by securing our future, and I needed to be the leader they expect. So tonight was for the people. I was going to suck it up and do my duty, hopefully making the best of a bad situation. But not one person had caught my eye. Every time I looked at a woman, my stomach clenched with dread.
Then, she walked in.