...in which Princess Kayla Pierson-Sinclair finds herself attracted to the brilliant but (allegedly) autistic Lord Graham Wooldridge, a master pianist....
SFR Brigade Showcase: Excerpt from Integrity,
book 12 of the To Be Sinclair series by Eva Caye
Graham wondered, “Why did he have
us wait out here?”
“Sentinels search the room before
any Imperial enters.”
“But, why do you need them?”
Once Captain Hathaway allowed her
in, she drew Graham with her by the hand.
“Well, the Emperor’s family is supremely important, and there are a lot
of horrible people who would attack us or even kill us just for the notoriety.”
She tucked her and Aimee’s
clothing and shoes into the large overnight bag she had brought over while
finishing her explanation. “That’s
undoubtedly why you had a watchman go with you on your tour, so he could protect
you from harm.”
Turning, she was stunned by
Graham’s intent stare. “People would
kill you?”
“Or you. You’re important, too, you know.”
His eyes grew wide with horror,
as if he had never been told that in his life.
“Graham, when did your father decide to favor your younger brother as
his heir?”
He struggled to find the words,
face going blank. “I was eighteen when
it was explained to me. I don’t know
when he made the decision, though.”
Fourteen years of high insult,
alongside perhaps twenty years of utmost dedication to his art form, drawing
crowds of admirers and heaven only knew how much money. With an inadequate understanding of social
mores, he probably lived in a perpetual state of confusion.
She murmured an odd quote that
came to her. “No prophet is accepted in his own country.”
He blinked. “I’ve never been called a prophet
before. But I don’t want a future
without you in it.”
Kayla set down the bag as he
approached her. She put her hands on his
chest as he put his arms around her, instinctively trying to keep her
distance. “Thank you. That was the nicest compliment I’ve ever
received.”
Graham murmured, “I want to marry
you.”
Her eyes flew wide. “We aren’t even dating, yet.”
“I don’t care. You make me happy, and I love you.” He immediately bent to kiss her.
She was about to protest, but
that gentle kiss transported her to a land of light on a pillow of fluffy white
clouds, nestled in the arms of a lover.
As he tilted his face to kiss her from the other side, Kayla realized
she had never felt so cherished in her life.
His arms enveloped her like the wings of an angel, and the way he pulled
her against his body made her feel truly protected. It was as if now was the only time and here
was the only place when he kissed her with such exquisite concentration.
What was this pure, childlike
innocence he projected? Was he really
simple, despite his intelligence? Or
just… basic, with no room for dissimulation? She leaned back slightly, and he
immediately broke off the kiss, so he wasn’t completely ignorant of physical
cues.
Staring at the pure satisfaction
on his face, she realized she didn’t know what to say, but whatever it was, it
had to be the wholehearted truth for him.
“Thank you for making this such a pleasant day.”
“No, thank you.” He certainly wasn’t
ignorant of conversational niceties, either.
“When can I see you again?”
“Ah. Where would you like to go on a date?”
“Go?” Graham’s eyebrows drew together. “Do we have to go out?”
Kayla chuckled. “I guess not.
Would you like to come to the Imperial Palace for dinner sometime? We have a piano in the library, and I’m sure
my family would love to hear you play.”
He flashed her that lovely smile,
even white teeth with lips as generous as her own. “That would be great.” She couldn’t tell if his eyes were hazel or a
kind of greenish gray in this light, but they shone with a sweetness she’d
never seen in a man before.
It was hardly 20:00, and it would
be a shame if she were to go home so early when she could be partying. “How does this sound? I’m hungry again, and I’m sure your kitchens
are providing all the hors d’oeuvres for the ball. I’ll have someone take this bag to the
Sentinel ground car, we can pick up something to eat and drink, and maybe take
it somewhere quiet.”
“I know exactly where to take
you.” He tugged at her hand, picked up
her bag, and exited the suite.
[ .... ]
When they finished eating, he led
her around to point out the features he had told her about. He regaled her with details about the library
in their house in Wooldridge Duchy before settling with her on a wide tufted
leather couch. When they started
necking, her Sentinel and his watchman faded into the woodwork.
His roving hand stopped on her
thigh over the strap to her holster.
“What’s this?”
“The strap holding my
weapon.” Kayla observed him as he
gaped. “We Imperials tend to wear hidden
weapons when we go out in public because we never know if all our defenses will
collapse and we’ll have to depend on ourselves.”
“Do you know how to use it?” His wide-eyed blink showed her he had fallen
into a somber mood.
“Of course, but please don’t tell
anyone. It’s our secret, and otherwise
I’d like to forget about it because I was having fun.”
Graham’s grin returned, and the
spark in his eyes lit up Kayla’s heart.
“I was, too.” He drew her onto
his lap for a deeper kiss….
Dozing deep in each other’s arms,
half-reclining on a number of side cushions, they woke up when his grandfather,
Duke Donal Wooldridge, harrumphed. “Your
Highness, please excuse my forwardness, but the party’s winding down, and I
daresay you’ll want to head home.”
Kayla lightly rubbed her eyes
with the fingertips of one hand before sitting up. “Thank you, Your Grace.” She smiled at Graham as his grandfather
snorted and turned on his heel for the door.
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