That night, I sneaked out of my room when everyone else was asleep. The guards pretended they didn’t notice. Then I quietly walked down the hallway, keeping my steps light as I wound my way through the palace until I stood before Nicholas’s door.
I gently knocked, and it opened right away.
Nicholas stood behind in. He wasn’t wearing a shirt. His muscles were on full display. He did wear a pair of thin lounge pants that hung low on his hips. His feet were bare.
“Piper,” he said, voice low. A shiver ran down my spine.
“Were you expecting me?” I asked.
He smiled a little, sheepish. It was boyish on his face, making him appear much as he did back when we had dated three years ago. My heartbeat went into overdrive.
“I was hoping…” He stepped back from the door. “Come inside. Please.”
I e
