Free Web NovelChapter 81: Kiss (2)
Scarlet couldn’t believe she had let Alana convince her to leave her to work to go to Ian. She planned to let him leave after getting his carriage, but that would not happen. Not when Ian wanted to be by her side and Alana wanted to make it happen.
She knew well that Ian wasn’t here for the carriage. Ian had made it clear that the carriage was his way of coming to her and Scarlet wouldn’t be surprised if he were to leave the carriage here again.
"Oh my! He is handsome," Scarlet heard from Alana.
Scarlet agreed that Ian certainly was handsome. Anyone who said otherwise was either jealous or trying to be petty. Scarlet had noticed at the ball and then at the garden party how easily Ian could attract the attention of women around him.
Now known to be a Kingsley, he was going to get more women around him and it wouldn’t matter that it was said he was with Scarlet. They weren’t engaged so there was an opportunity for someone to step in to steal him and Scarlet had learned that marriage didn’t mean someone couldn’t be taken. ƒreewebɳovel.com
Scarlet looked at the gifts in Ian’s hands. There were three decently sized boxes. How many gifts did he buy for Sunny?
"Right on time," Ian said, ignoring the urge to ask Scarlet if she missed him since they weren’t alone. "Princess Alana," he greeted the woman he assumed to be the princess. He didn’t know the face of this sibling of the king well.
"Ian Kingsley," Alana returned the greeting. "No one is watching, so you don’t need to add princess anymore. It is good to meet you finally."
"You’ve heard about me? From Scarlet I hope," Ian said, his focus on the woman who wanted to disappear from here.
"Yes and well, your relationship is a hot topic around town. Nothing gets by the palace. You bought gifts. For Scarlet?" Alana inquired, hoping they were.
Alana wanted to leave even more now so the two could be alone. Even if it were to be taking one of Scarlet’s carriages for a ride around the estate four or more times.
"One is for Scarlet, Sunny, and for you," Ian said, handing over the one belonging to Alana. Despite what Scarlet said, he was going to win over those close to her. Ian held onto the one for Sunny and Scarlet as they were meant to be opened when he was alone with Scarlet.
Alana was pleasantly surprised that he had brought a gift for her. It was also surprising that he knew that she was here as it was to be a secret for now. She turned to Scarlet, unable to hide her smile as Ian knowing that she was there meant Scarlet liked him enough to tell him.
Scarlet was greatly confused as to why Alana was smiling at her so much. She was quite close to leaving the two alone as they were both going to annoy her today.
Scarlet watched as Alana opened the gift, revealing a pretty bracelet. Was it normal for him to give every woman around him a bracelet? He had given her one and now Alana had one from him.
"I have work to do," Scarlet said, turning to go back up the stairs. Ian could have fun walking around the estate and then leave.
"Excuse me," Ian said to Alana and then followed Scarlet. The chase once again was exciting. He hoped that her trying to get away had to do with her wanting to be the only one to get gifts from him. "Scarlet, have I ever shared that when you run away from me, you give me a good view?"
Scarlet stopped at the top of the stairs. She could easily push him down the stairs since he wasn’t at the top with her. "Your carriage is outside."
"Don’t pretend like you do not know that I am here for you. Are you jealous that I gifted the princess a bracelet? Be honest and I will give you something she can never have," said Ian.
"I am not jealous," Scarlet replied, continuing on her way to her study.
"Hmm. I cannot bring myself to believe that you aren’t. I quite like the look you have when you are home. What will it take for you to not run from me, Scarlet? I have travelled all the way here for you," Ian said.
"That was of your own doing. I could have had someone send your carriage. What are you doing?" Scarlet questioned, stopped by Ian grabbing her hand. freewēbnoveℓ.com
"Taking the lead since you are so stubborn with your jealousy. Is it here?" Ian asked, trying to remember where her study was. He placed the gifts on the floor first so he could open the door and picked them up when he finished.
After they entered, Ian closed the door with his foot and blocked Scarlet’s path so she was caged between him and the door.
"You shouldn’t let me see your jealous side, Scarlet. I like it and I just might be tempted to purposely bring it out. No need to get jealous when my eyes only see you. Now, remind again if anywhere in that contract had something against a greeting kiss," Ian said, drawn to her lips.
"We agreed on no intimacy-"
"-but the kiss can stop before it goes there, right?" Ian finished, trying to find his way around the rules. "Unless you’ve told the princess about our arrangement which would mean you broke the contract, we must put on a good show of being in love. A kiss would do just that."
"There is no one around," Scarlet answered.
"I didn’t take you as one to enjoy an audience. I am fine with that," Ian said, inching closer to Scarlet to kiss her jaw solely to tease her.
As a result, Scarlet raised her left leg to be positioned as a warning. She could feel Ian smiling against her skin.
"That only excites me, Scarlet. How else am I to end your jealousy if I can’t kiss you to show how much I want only you?" Ian asked, continuing to play the dangerous game of leaving kisses on her cheek.
Her foot was positioned to cause him great pain at any second, but he still took the risk. Considering that Scarlet hadn’t kicked it right away led him to think that she was enjoying it. She couldn’t ignore the attraction they shared for each other for long no matter how much she tried to fight it.
Scarlet didn’t need to have feelings for him. It was just natural with the attraction that she would enjoy the closeness at some point.
"Using your words, think of the children," Scarlet said, giving him one last warning to move. "I am not jealous."
Ian backed away from Scarlet. "So many words for you to eat later. Your gift," he said, finally giving her the one meant for her. "You must show me the cat later. I need it to know that the gift was from me."
Scarlet took the box from Ian and opened it, expecting to find a bracelet like what Alana received. Instead, she found a glass teapot with handles decorated with flowers. It was pretty. So pretty that she couldn’t think of using it and would prefer to display it.
"There is something else," Ian said.
Scarlet carefully placed the teapot back inside the box and took out a card. "What is this?" She asked, showing Ian the card he had made.
"You can call upon me five times and no matter where I am or what I am doing, I will drop it to come here to make tea for you. If you wanted a bracelet, I can have one here-"
"No," Scarlet stopped him. She had plenty of bracelets. So many that she hadn’t worn a lot of them as yet. The teapot was a unique gift she could use. "I prefer this."
