Court of Flowers (Sutherland Book 1)

XI | The Game

He dipped his head down and Sasha silently cursed herself when she felt greatly disappointed.

His lips did not land on hers.

It playfully traced her jaw until he reached her ear.

The shiver that ran up her spine, spreading outward to the tips of her fingers, was quite powerful that she almost stumbled and fell if not for his arms and his entire length in front of her.

"Is it then safe to assume that you are treating this a game?" he asked, his lips brushing against her lobe, his hot breath soaking her skin with fresh sensations.

Sasha pursed her lips, refusing to answer.

"Do you wish to play it then?" he asked. "Since you seem to claim you are quite good at it."

"I did not—"

"I do accept the challenge." He leaned back, his gaze descending back down on hers. "I am quite proficient in teasing as chess is not the only game I play."

Sasha's breath was snatched out of her and questions erupted in her muddled mind. He was at an advantage, she thought. As a man and as a duke, he must know how to win. He must have never experienced losing.

She saw the challenge in his darkened gaze, igniting her own, feeding her pride. "You simply have to provoke me at every turn, do you not, sir?"

His lips twitched. "As you do, my lady."

Suddenly feeling strong enough to flatten her hand on his chest, Sasha managed to push free from his hold. Taking a step back, she stuck out her chin and smiled at him. "Then consider the challenge spoken."

A wicked grin stretched his lips. "You will lose the very moment you make the first move."

Oh, he didn't know, a voice whispered in Sasha's mind. Her lack of experience might be her advantage after all.

Sasha sighed. This man was not aware that she was unfamiliar with the touch of a man's lips against hers. How did he expect her to initiate one? She matched his grin with her own. "I believe otherwise." Looking straight into his eyes, Sasha willed herself to lift her chin in a haughty mien. "May the best player win, sir."

With her legs shaking, Sasha walked to the door.

Holy blazes, what had she gotten herself into?

*****

After the Garden Ball, Sasha made certain that she recovered from Willoghby's wicked actions and the man she encountered in that dark room.

For it was a different man.

It was not West.

It was a different side of him she had never seen before.

"Are you quite all right?" Prince Albert's voice asked, drawing her back to the present and back at the game of chess. She stared at the pieces before her.

"You are going straight for my queen."

"Is that not the purpose of the game?"

She shrugged. "But it is a game still. It is more fun with a little bit of teasing from each side. We take as many pieces as we can. Make the opponent sweat a little."

The prince's deep blue eyes studied her for a long time. "Something troubles you."

Sasha rolled her eyes in frustration. Everyone was saying the same thing. Iyana had pointed it out during breakfast. Ruby, Gabrielle—everyone thought she was in trouble.

And she was. In many different things. She was drowning in them.

"Is it Blackwood?" the prince asked nonchalantly, taking her knight with his pawn.