Chapter 14

14

When the mice ran up our bodies, using us as their path to the clock, I ignored them because, sure enough, when the clock struck one, they ran down. However, I didn’t go immediately back to sleep because a sexy Knight decided to hickory dickory my dock, and I can’t say that I minded. Actually, I came really hard.

Our morning nookie happened in the shower, and we’d just finished when Hannah knocked. Given our sopping-wet heads and dewy skin, there was no hiding what happened. Then again, the great big hickey on my neck kind of gave it away.

A much more relaxed Levi dropped a kiss on my lips and a murmured, “I’ll be back soon as I can,” before he left me in Hannah’s care.

“So, you and the boss, eh?” she drawled with a smirk.

I wrinkled my nose. “You don’t approve?”

“Oh, I approve. That man needed to get laid, and quite honestly, you’re better than the usual one-night-stand skanks he goes for.”

My mouth rounded. “That’s not nice.”

“Actually, it’s a compliment,” she added. “You’re the first woman I’ve ever seen him spend the night with. Also, the first one he’s ever kept around afterwards.”

“For now,” I murmured. “After all, he has no choice but to be close to me because of the job he was assigned.”

Hannah snorted. “Levi is choosing to be near you. Otherwise, you’d be in a different room.”

“He thinks I’m in danger.”

“If that were true, then he would have us bunking together. I have two beds, too,” Hannah stated.

He’d lied? “What? He told me you only had a single.”

For some reason, my reply had her guffawing. “I didn’t think the boss had it in him to be sly to get a woman alone. About time someone tied him in knots.”

“You think he likes me?” I mean I should think he did; after all, we’d become lovers. However, I couldn’t forget my initial qualms about him. About how our differences made us an impossible match. Then again, they did say opposites attract.

“He more than likes you, honey. The man is utterly besotted.”

A thought that warmed me through and through.

“What’s on the agenda today?” Hannah asked.

“Killian’s got some meetings this morning, but we thought we’d try and get rid of a few more potentials before the ball tomorrow.”

“I don’t know that there’s any point. The list grew again overnight.”

“More Cinderellas?” I ogled her. The number already gathered proved unprecedented.

“Yeah, they’re pouring out of the woodwork.”

I rubbed my forehead. “The ball is going to be a nightmare.”

“I’m thinking more like the aftermath will be. They’re all going to be dropping shoes in front of Killian. And if he doesn’t choose one, who knows what will happen? We’re going to have to be on high alert for assassination from disgruntled potentials. I also wouldn’t rule out a kidnapping, but most likely, we’ll have a riot.”

I’d not actually thought that far ahead. Would things get ugly if he didn’t select a bride? “Poor Killian.”

“It might be possible to avert disaster. I’m thinking maybe the ball would be the perfect place for you to announce a fake engagement. Hit them all at once.”

“That seems dangerous. You saw what happened yesterday with that woman who suddenly turned witch.”

“That kind of shit might still happen if the prince leaves that ball without being engaged.”

My lips turned down. “I hate this curse.”

“We all do, honey.”

I eyed her. “Think Levi would go for it?”

“Nope.” Hannah shook her head. “I think he will rant and rave and bluster.”

“Because it’s a dangerous idea.”

“More like he’ll be insanely jealous. I’ve never seen a man so tense. Every time you cooed at Killian I thought he’d crush his own hand he fisted it so tight.”

“Let me think about it.” While I found myself basking in Levi’s possessiveness, I wanted to help Killian. At the same time, I couldn’t ignore how it bothered Levi when I pretended affection for another.

“You have until the ball to figure it out. In the meantime, I’m bored, and since we can’t go outside, I say we hit the pool for a swim.”

“Levi will throw a hissy fit if I leave this room.”

“His orders were to not leave the hotel and to stick close to me. He didn’t actually say it had to be in this particular spot,” Hannah cajoled, finding a loophole.

A swim would be nice. “I don’t have a suit.”

“I have a spare. It might be a little big, but it will just be the two of us. Gerome will make sure of that.”

I couldn’t resist a change of scenery and pace. In short order, I wore the one-piece swimsuit borrowed from Hannah, which hung a tad loose. As promised, the pool area, smelling heavily of chlorine, had been cleared and Gerome stood watch.

“Last one in has to marry the prince,” Hannah chirped, diving right in.

I took more time, dipping a toe in the shallow end, the water not exactly warm. I submersed my feet first then slowly walked down the steps until the water hit my hips.

While Hannah splashed and flipped, playing like a dolphin, I chose to do a more sedate front stroke. Arms moving in a slow windmill. Feet fluttering. Face in water, sideways to breathe.

With each lap, I felt my tension easing. Only another day and a half to go. Once the ball ended, the prince would head back to his country, I’d return to my desk at the bureau, and Levi… I didn’t know what would happen with him.

Would we still see each other?

Date?

Or would he see it as his chance to move on to his next conquest?

Something brushed by my foot. I glanced down, expecting to see Hannah, only the suddenly murky water didn’t show anything.

“What’s up with the water?” I asked as I began to move toward Hannah, who stood on the pool deck, toweling off.

Oddly, she didn’t reply.

I began to stroke for the side when, once more, something passed by my leg. Most likely another fish. I hoped. I tried to not think about the rhyme featuring a crocodile.

My fingers clasped the edge of the pool, and I pulled to haul myself out. My upper body and hips cleared the water, but before I could fully emerge, a yank on my ankle pulled me under!

I flailed and kicked, trying to reach for the surface, but whatever had a firm grip on my leg didn’t relent.

Despite the pool only being about fifteen feet at its deepest part, I sank farther. Far enough my lungs began to strain and spots danced behind my closed lids.

Whatever held me wasn’t letting go, and as darkness grabbed me tight, I heard a voice whisper, Are you worthy?