Lucky Charm (Reverse Fairytales Book 2)(9)

“We don’t expect you to cook,” said Sarina, pointing it out, “but it’s there if you want to. The fridge is stocked with cold drinks and chocolate.”

It put our palace to shame. My whole bedroom at home wasn’t much bigger than the bed here.

“I’ll leave you be,” she continued. “I know you must be exhausted from your journey. I’ll have someone bring up your bags and then you can have a nap until dinnertime. I’ve organized a small family dinner tonight. I didn’t think you’d want such a fuss after traveling so far. Tomorrow, we’ll do the big visit thing and invite the press. I’ve also invited some people for a ball. It’s going to be wonderful. Is there anything else I can get you?”

“No, thank you. This is superb. I think I’m just going to have a bath in that wonderful bathtub.”

“Press the button on the side,” she whispered, “bubbles!”

After she left, I ran the bath. It was so large that I had to wait twenty minutes for it to fill to the top and when it had, I jumped in. Water splashed all over the sides into drains in the tiled floor. I pressed the button and jets of bubbles percolated around me.

Small, matching bottles of bath creams and lotions and bubble bath stood on a tiled shelf to the side of me. I added some of the bubble bath which immediately turned into a mountain of foam. By the time I’d found the switch to turn the jets off, there was at least a foot of foam on the surface.

“That looks like fun!”

I squealed and looked up. Luca was standing there with a big grin on his face.

“You should have knocked! I’m in the bath.”

“I see that you’re in the bath. I brought your bags up.”

“Ok, thanks. Can you leave them in the bedroom.”

“Are you ok? You seem on edge.”

How could I tell him that I was on edge? When we’d first started dating, I’d looked forward to his kisses, his touch; but recently, everything had become much more urgent. His kisses were no longer just kisses to him, but a prelude to something else. Something else that I couldn’t give him. At least, not yet. He’d never seen me naked, and even though I was completely covered in foam, I still felt extremely exposed.

“I’m fine,” I covered, trying to sound nonchalant. “I was just wondering if we should dress up for tonight. Your mother said it was an informal dinner.”

“I’m sure that whatever you choose to wear, you’ll look as stunning as always.”He moved closer, and as he stepped, I involuntarily moved back. He noticed my hesitation, and I saw his spine straighten. “Wear the navy blue dress. You look great in that.” He took another look over the foam and left. I heard the outer door click as he left the apartment.

What was wrong with me? He was my fiancé, my chosen life partner. I’d craved his intimacy once, but now that it was real, I was scared, and I didn’t know why.

When Elise had told me all about how good it was to be with Leo, I’d been jealous that I had to wait for so long. She’d waited for her wedding night, but her wedding night had come so much sooner than mine. Maybe she’d been scared before just like I was and just hadn’t told me?

I felt so mixed up. I wanted Luca. He was beautiful and attentive and everything a girl could dream off; and yet, when it came to reality, I shied away from him.

“I need to reach out to him!” I said to myself, jumping out of the tub. “I need to show him that he’s wanted.”

I needed to go to his room tonight. No one would have to know and who cared if they found out? We were going to be married soon enough.

Once I’d made up my mind, I felt better about my decision. It was as if deciding it had taken some of the pressure off.

I pulled on my navy blue dress and tried to coax my hair into something resembling hair rather than a rat’s nest. I applied a little lipstick and mascara, all the time wishing Xavi and her team were here to help me. When I was, at least, halfway presentable, I made my way down to the main part of the palace. I had to ask a guard for directions, and he took me to the royal dining room. It was much smaller than the banqueting suite at my palace, but I guessed this room was reserved for family meals. I had no doubt that there was a massive hall for parties somewhere in the palace.

Luca was already there as where his parents. There was also a handsome man that could only be Luca’s older brother. Next to him sat the most exotically beautiful woman I’d ever met, with long dark brown hair and beguiling brown eyes. Next to her were two young boys who looked just like her. Luca’s sister-in-law and nephews I presumed. Luca stood and guided me to the only empty seat with a place setting at the table. Luca sat next to me, and I had one of his nephews sitting opposite. I gave the little boy a smile, and he stuck his tongue out at me. As he was only about four, I quickly did the same, and he grinned back.

I was just about to do the same to his elder brother when one of the waiters behind him caught my eye. My heart jumped into my throat, and I gasped. Behind the little boy stood the one person I’d not ever expected to see again. It was Cynder.





Cynder


His eyes flicked up, and he noticed me at the same time that I noticed him. I saw his eyes go wide and light up, before the spark went out and he looked away, staring straight forward in front of him like the other waiters, waiting for their orders.