Chapter 221

Kieran's POV:

We reached the passenger side, and just as I was pulling the door open, he paused. “You ran out of the palace,” he said suddenly, blinking slowly. “No guards with you?”

His voice was quiet, but the question hung heavily between us. His eyes searched mine, as if trying to find the answer in my expression rather than my words.

I exhaled slowly, guiding him down into the seat. “If I get caught,” I muttered, “it’s your damn fault.”

A crooked smile tugged at his lips as he slumped back, eyes fluttering shut. “Worth it.”

Our faces were so close. His breath smelled like whiskey and something sweeter and his scent. Familiar and damnably distracting.

I tried not to look, but his neck, his collarbone, his lips, they were right there.

“Still mad?” he asked, voice lower now, like he knew what he was doing.

I clicked the belt in and pulled away first. “Buckle up,” I said flatly. “Try not to puke in my car.”

He chuckled, resting his head back. “You are hot when you are angry.”