Dinner and having an actual conversation with Arelyn were as pleasant as it got on a train. He’d like a more private scenario to all of this, but for now, this had to be enough.

  Kayden grinned when she told him she wanted to know more about him. “What do you want to know?”

  Lyn chuckled. “It’s not an inquisition or a test. I just want to talk more, to feel more comfortable with you. I want to know what makes you happy, what makes you smile.”

  “Beautiful women make me smile. Smart women make me happy,” he said without missing a beat. “What about you?”

  Of course, Arelyn was Arelyn and instead of answering his question, she started a story. Something about stew and cooking and having family over, which was about a hundred people, or at least it sounded like it. When she got to the point of how they’d told stories to each other and went on telling stories in her story, he zoned out. His thoughts went to more important things, like solving the healthcare crisis in his country. Because figuring out how not to have so many sick people was a bit more urgent than uncle whoever’s fireplace accident, or whatever she was currently talking about. It had the word fireplace in it and he’d heard the word uncle too.

  Uncle. Kayden sighed. He also needed to find ways to give more funding to his uncle so he could renovate the Academy. The Eight wouldn’t be happy with him. It was a delicate and dangerous dance between the crown and the eight richest houses. One wrong step could have dire consequences he couldn’t allow right now.

  Then she laughed, bringing his attention back to the table. It was a rich laugh, one that came from her heart and he wanted to hear it again.

  She looked at him and said, “You’re right about something else. My favorite memories are when talking was involved. I am a chatty one.” She winked at him.

  He tilted his head. “I told you you love to talk.”

  Lyn snorted, “Saying I told you so is never the way to get on the good side of a woman. You may want to remember that.”

  Kayden laughed. “One of the privileges of being a king is that I can say whatever I want and whenever I want without facing the consequences. But for you, I’ll keep that in mind.”

  Knowing that he didn’t want to talk about anything more serious, he said, “Once you’re in my cabin you can ask more personal questions.”

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  Lyn took a fortifying breath and said, “I don’t think I’m ready for that, Kayden.”

  “We can go to your cabin too, but mine is larger.” Well, it was the bed that was a tiny bit bigger, but she didn’t need to know that.

  She chuckled without mirth. “It’s not that, it’s just.” She stopped, as if she’d lost her ability to find words which was interesting considering how much she’d talked already. He was about to ask her what it was when she said, “I know you’re a man of your word, Kayden, I’m not ready to be alone in a room with you.” She seemed to hold her breath, as if she was afraid of how he’d react.

  “You didn’t have an issue with it last night.” Arelyn stiffened slightly and he lifted his hands in defense. “I won’t force it. I’ll admire your body from across the table for now and leave the rest to my imagination.”

  The imagination that ran wild since they’d met. He knew her sounds already, thanks to her chatter, gasps of fear, and moans of delight. Lyn was a very vocal person, but he wanted more. Hearing her moans, gasps, and screams of pleasure as her desire ran wild under his hands and lips would have to happen sooner rather than later.

  Kayden stood. “I hope you don’t mind if I walk you back to your cabin.”

  Arelyn got to her feet slowly. “I don’t mind.” She hesitated again, then turned to walk ahead of him since there wasn’t enough room for them to walk side by side.

  At her door, she looked at him and gave him a small smile. “Thank you for understanding.”

  Kayden smiled with a hint of danger and promise in his eyes. “A parting gift for my understanding?” He put his hand on the door, next to Lyn’s head, and leaned closer. “I want to kiss you, see if there’s a way to make you so dizzy that you won’t find words.”

  Her body tightened slightly, her heart rate picked up and a shiver ran down her spine at his words. She turned her head to look at him. Eyes slightly wide with fear or arousal, he couldn’t tell, except she didn’t meet his gaze. She licked her lips as she stared at his lips. He could tell that she wanted to kiss him.

  As if she just realized what she’d been doing, she looked up at him nervously. “Kayden, I…” There was desire in her look but a hint of fear in her tone.

  Gently, he ran his thumb on her bottom lip, following the move with his eyes before looking into her eyes. He didn’t like the mixed signals, but he also couldn’t pull away. He should. That would be the right thing to do. The noble thing. But he wasn’t a good man, and he liked to play with fire.

  Slowly, giving her time to pull away or stop him, he pressed his lips against hers. It wasn’t more than a brush of lips, light like butterfly’s wings, and lasted for only a second. He’d gotten a taste and he wanted more. But not tonight.

  “See you in the morning, Arelyn.” He pulled away and forced himself to take a step back. “We’ll revisit this idea another time.”

  With that, he turned away. One more moment with Lyn would make him lose all the self-control he had. And because there was fear in her, he couldn’t allow to push her more. That mockery of a kiss was more than enough. Before he locked himself into his cabin, he heard her whisper, “Good night, Kayden”.