Caius softly closed the door behind him as he noticed she was asleep. The door made a soft click and she stirred, turning slightly, but Rose didn’t wake up. It wasn’t until she stopped moving again that he realized he had held his breath. He didn’t know why he was being quiet.
He walked closer, and he could see Rose’s face now. The candle that lay on the bedside table flickered as a light breeze ca through the open window. The glow landed on her face, and Caius hovered as he stood beside the bed and just stared.
Her breathing was steady, her long lashes rested gently on her cheeks. Her red hair was spread all over the pillow, and there were a few strands on her face.
Caius moved before he thought about it. He sat on the bed and brushed the strands of hair away from her face. Her freckles littered her cheeks and the bridge of her nose. Caius had to fight the urge to trace a finger over them or rub the back of his palm against the side of her face.
She was dressed in nightclothes, the sa type she wore to see him. The light clothes frad her shape as she slept and as he moved closer, he realized she slled heavenly. Caius took a deep breath as his eyes trailed down her body. He grabbed the sheets and squeezed them before returning his attention to her face. It was either that or he might reach for her.
She was sleeping so peacefully, her breathing steady, and not a single frown appeared on her face. It almost felt like a cri to wake her up. Caius’s face softened as he realized it was quiet—there was no sound in his head—and he was content just watching her sleep.
He lifted a hand to touch her face but quickly brought it down, worried that anything he did might break this mont.
Suddenly, Rose’s eyes flew open, as though she sensed soone was staring at her while she slept. Her eyes blinked in confusion as she looked up at him. Then, when she recognized him, she bolted upright in horror.
"Your Majesty," Rose cried as she moved to a sitting position.
Her eyes widened in gut-wrenching horror and panic as she realized she had fallen asleep instead of going to the crown prince’s room as she had been instructed.
After the sisters had helped her get ready, she had quickly dismissed them and decided to stay in her room for so alone ti before heading to the crown prince’s chambers. Clearly, she never went there and had fallen asleep instead.
Caius’s brows furrowed as she called him. There was panic in her expression, and she looked scared. He couldn’t help but notice she hadn’t been scared until she realized it was him.
"I am sorry," Rose started to say. "I didn’t an to not go to your bedchambers. I fell asleep," she tried to explain.
She looked around, glancing toward the door. She hadn’t even heard him co in. How could she have fallen asleep so easily? After the events of the night, she had been exhausted and especially relieved to be in her room without ever running into the Queen.
The Queen was one of the reasons she didn’t want to spend another mont in the dress. It was too risky, and Rose didn’t think there was a limit to what the Queen could do to her. For sothing so disrespectful, the Queen might demand her head—even though it was not her fault.
"I can see that," Caius said coldly as his eyes studied her face. "I recall telling Thomas to put you in my bedchambers."
"This isn’t his fault," Rose quickly said. "I didn’t want to..." She paused, unsure of how to explain herself. "I wanted to clean up."
Caius lifted her chin. Rose’s eyes t his briefly, but she quickly looked away. It felt a little too intense—almost like she was laid bare for him to see all of her. Why was he in her room? If he had noticed she wasn’t in his bedchambers, he could have sent for her. He didn’t have to co here himself.
There was an overbearing presence to Caius, especially when he was this close. She could sll the wine on him—but that wasn’t the only thing, there was also a familiar intoxicating scent. And it didn’t help that he had called for her tonight. Sothing told her it wasn’t to play chess.
Rose’s breath hitched as he just held her chin in place. She could tell he hadn’t looked away from her face even once. He noticed even the slightest movent she made.
Her throat suddenly felt dry, and her body started to grow warm—even the little breeze that slipped in through the windows didn’t help. Rose almost punched herself as a flash from the day before appeared in her head. Her hands were against the door and the crown prince was behind her.
"What are you thinking about?"
It was like being hit with a log of wood. Rose jerked her head up, finally eting his eyes. She shut them imdiately, worried that her eyes might show him exactly what she had been thinking about.
Caius chuckled at her reaction, and his face moved closer. "It’s a sha," he whispered, his lips grazing her lips. "I wanted to take the dress off you myself."
Rose’s eyes flew open just as the crown prince took her lips in a gentle kiss. Caius teased her with his lips before slowly pushing his tongue into her mouth.
Rose gave in, kissing him. He grunted into her lips, and she could hear the deep breath he took just before he deepened the kiss. He pushed her against the bed until she was lying on her back.
A hand locked one of her hands on the bed while the other moved to her chest grabbing her bosom and he gently squeezed. He rubbed against her nipple poking through the silk dress, and Rose lifted her back off the bed as she moaned against his lips.
His lips silenced her moans, and his hard chest against hers was more exhilarating than crushing. Rose squird under him, unsure of what she wanted—unsure of whether she should even accept it.
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