My King ❈ NIKOLAI LANTSOV

f i v e

A MAID ESCOURTED ME TO THE KING'S ROOM.

I swear my heart was about to escape from my chest. Sure, I might've been nervous, but why was I so on edge?

Reaching his room, the guard at his door opened them as I neared. I speared them a smile, continuing through. Nikolai was sitting behind a large oak desk, piles maps and papers before him (and on the floor).

"Wow." I breathed jokingly, "What happened in here?"

He looked up, instantly smiling, "Thank the saint's you're here! I've got an excuse why these papers aren't finished tomorrow!"

I laughed, "Happy to be of service. Are you sure I can't help though?"

He leaned back in his chair, "You want to help with... this?" He motioned to everything. 

"How hard can it be?"

He laughed, "Pull up a chair. I'll give you a lesson on boredom and agony."

I rolled my eyes with a smile, placing a chair beside him and sitting down. "So, where do we start?"

He sighed, looking at me with a wink, "At the top of the pile."

❈

Surprisingly, helping Nikolai downsize the piles of paper wasn't boring, or agonising. He joked through most of it, and there was not a dull moment. Still, I noticed his change of expression when he was reading something that he didn't like - not that he knew I was looking, of course. I started seeing it from his point of view. 

He was a King, expecting to marry a woman he just met, having to shoulder the burden of an entire nation, and drowning in papers. I wanted to help. I wanted to be that person he would be able to come to when it got hard, but I knew it would take time, patience, and a whole lot of trust. 

"This wasn't how I imagined dinner would go." Nikolai spoke up as he finished reading and signing the last paper left. 

I smiled, "At least we've earned it now." 

He laughed, standing up and offering me a hand, "We definitely have." 

I accepted his offer of help, my feet touching the floor. Unfortunately, fabric of my dress got caught under my foot, making my eyes widen. One second I was standing, the next I'd fallen forward; right into Nikolai. Slightly embarrassed, I looked into his hazel eyes, my body hot at his grasp around my waist, hands resting lightly on his chest. Neither of us moved, and up close I could see every part of his face. 

"No need to fall for me, Princess." He breathed, his weak attempt at a joke barely reaching my ears. All I could think about was how close we were. 

"T-the fabric... It got caught under-..." I stumbled on my words, trying to make out an answer. He didn't respond, a small smile on his lips. I noticed his eyes flicker to my lips for a split second. Then the distance between us started lessoning. I felt my breath catch. His hands on my waist steadied me as we both leaned forward; his touch lighting me on fire. We were so close; our lips were seconds away from touching. His head tilted, and everything seemed to vanish. 

Then I got a reality check. 

I quickly stood taller, removing my hands from his chest a taking a step back. His hands feel from my waist, and I found myself nearly begging him to touch me there again. His posture straightened, and he cleared his throat. 

"Dinner?" I questioned, trying to keep my voice normal. 

"Yes. I'll have a maid bring some food in now." He responded, walking to the door and standing in the doorway as he talked to the maid. 

I breathed heavily, resting a hand - and all my weight - on the table. We were so close; if either of us had moved a little further, our lips would've met. 

I wanted to kiss him.

The realisation shocked me, especially when I though about the way he caught me, and inched closer. 

Did he want to kiss me too?

❈

THIRD PERSON

NIKOLAI'S MIND WAS ON ONE THING.

Did she want to kiss him? When she pulled away, he was disappointed, yet completely understood why. It was perhaps too soon.

Maybe their first kiss would be the one they'd share on their wedding day - which was in 2 days time.