Page 34 of Dark Princess Emerging
Morelle's throaty giggle did not help matters.
Adjusting himself, Brandon cracked the door open, finding Ogidu standing in the hallway.
The Odu bowed. "Apologies for disturbing you, Master Brandon. The Clan Mother wanted me to inform you that dinner will be served shortly after Master Ell-rom and Mistress Jasmine arrive from the clinic. Master Kian, Mistress Syssi, and young Mistress Allegra will be joining us as well. The Clan Mother asked me to convey that dinner would be served at six o'clock in the evening."
"Thank you, Ogidu."
"You are most welcome, Master." The Odu bowed again and turned on his heel.
When Brandon closed the door, Morelle clapped her hands. "I'm so happy that Allegra is coming. I adore that little girl."
Brandon's heart squeezed at her obvious delight.
The image of Morelle with a child of her own—their own—flashed through his mind, but he quickly pushed it away. It was far too soon for such thoughts, no matter how appealing they might be.
When he returned to the couch, Morelle was sprawled over it, but she scooted aside, pressing herself against the pillows and making room for him to sit beside her.
He sat down, took her hand, and kissed the back of it. "You should follow Annani's advice and take a nap before dinner."
Morelle's eyelids drooped, but she fought to keep her eyes open. "I'm tired, but I'm also overexcited. I don't think I can sleep."
"Do you want me to tell you a bedtime story?"
A smile curved her kiss-swollen lips. "Yes, please. Something happy. Something about love winning against all odds."
Brandon smiled, thinking for a moment. "Let me tell you about ancient Rome, where a Vestal Virgin named Tuccia fell in love with a soldier..."
As he wove the tale, he felt Morelle's breathing become slower, and he continued the story even after he was sure she'd fallen asleep, his voice dropping to a gentle murmur.
She was so beautiful like this, all her usual sharp edges softened by sleep. The thought of her in his house, in his bed, was sotempting, but he meant what he'd said—he would be content just to hold her, to wake up beside her, and to share with her quiet moments like this one.
Still, her words echoed in his mind: "What if that's not enough for me?"
The memory of their interrupted kiss sent another wave of heat through him. He'd been trying to take things slow, to give her time to adjust to the new world she found herself in and all the difficulties she still had to face. But perhaps he'd been overthinking it. Morelle knew her own mind, and she wasn't shy about stating what she wanted.
She wanted him.
The realization both thrilled and humbled him. She wanted him, a former Hollywood producer who'd spent decades crafting stories about love without ever truly experiencing it himself.
Perhaps that was the reason he'd excelled at adventure stories and had only done so-so with romantic themes.
Was it love, though?
How could he be in love with a female he had known for all of a week?
But then, he had never felt like this before; his heart had never raced just because of a smile or ached when she wasn't near, and he'd never wanted to give someone everything he had and more.
Morelle stirred slightly in her sleep, murmuring something he couldn't quite catch. He pressed a gentle kiss to her temple, breathing in the clean scent of the soap she had used and her own unique fragrance underneath it.
"Sleep well, my princess," he whispered.
21
KIAN
Kian balanced Allegra on his hip as he and Syssi walked out their front door and headed to his mother's. Her small arms were wrapped around his neck, and her face perched on his collar.
"Are you cold, sweetie?" He rubbed her back.