Kerttu's Selection

25 - Chapter 7

The Selected boys had been here for two weeks now. I had eliminated ten of the boys, deeming them incompatible. Today I had a group date and tomorrow would be their first time on the Report. I couldn't wait to see them in their fancy suits! I was going to my room after eating what felt like 20 waffles for breakfast. Hopefully, none of the boys had seen me enjoying too much syrup. I opened my door and found a reclining Shaan on my bed.

"What are you doing here?" I asked. "And more importantly, how did you get in here?"

He rolled over on his side, exposing his mischievous grin. "Lupita let me in. She was pretty happy too."

I sat on the edge of the bed, laughing. "She has a tendency to do that. Especially with my parents." He chuckled. "What do you need Shaan?"

His grin widened in one corner. "You."

I shook my head, still laughing. "You just have all the lines, don't you?"

"I don't have lines." He rolled over the bed again to sit besides me. "But I do occasionally, have moves."

"Was that one of them?"

"No," he replied. "But this is." He moved his head tantalizingly close to me before kissing me lightly on the cheek. His lips were so soft. He immediately got up, grabbing his suit jacket off my nightstand.

"I promised you at least 25. Goodbye, Princess Kerttu." With a wink, Shaan was gone.

I sat still on my bed, my emotions running rampid.

"Kerttu," Amberly called, now standing in the doorway. "Grandpa and- What's wrong with you?"

"Shaan just kissed my cheek."

She closed the door. "You're not a kissing virgin. Why do you care?"

I had kissed plenty of young diplomats growing up. I kissed the prince of Swendway once. Dad was so excited to have me fall in love with someone from his country but it didn't work out. Mainly, because we were five. "I care because it was different this time, Amberly. I felt- I can't explain it!" I began chewing my fingernails which Amberly stopped by tugging on my wrists. She sat next to me and held my hands.

"Kerttu, what did Mom tell you when you first said you wanted to do a Selection?"

I licked my lips, recalling. "She said...she said I was going to feel a lot of things and that I just had to go with it."

"Go with it, Kerttu," she encouraged. "In fact, I command you to go to his room right now."

I chuckled in disbelief. "And do what?"

"What's in your eyes." She wiggled her eyebrows suggestively at me and then left the room.

Sometimes little sisters could be helpful.

**What do you think will happen in Shaan's room?**

**Thank you @ShatteredButGorgeous for giving them the ship name, Sherttu! It's adorable and I love it**