Cinder by Marie Sexton

Author:Marie Sexton
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: gay fantasy comedy erotic romance
Publisher: Silver Publishing
Published: 2012-06-28T16:00:00+00:00

Nobody moved. Xavier still held the shoe aloft as he eyed Jessalyn appraisingly.

Something stirred in my chest—an angry rebellion. A hurt and jealous beast. How dare she?

"It's not your shoe," I said.

Xavier turned to look at me, one of his eyebrows up. Jessalyn's dark eyes fixed on me as well, demanding my silence.

"Of course it is."

Xavier looked between us, obviously unsure how to proceed. "Perhaps," he said to Jessalyn, "if you could produce the other one?"

She blinked at him, smiling, and whether she really was confused by his question or whether it was an act, I didn't know. "The other one?" she asked.

"Yes," he said with seemingly infinite patience. "The other shoe. They usually come in pairs."

Her face flushed. Her eyes darted from side to side. Could he see the cold calculation in them?

"I lost them both, sire," she said. "I was in such a hurry to get away, I couldn't run properly."

"Why exactly did you run?"

"Well…" She played nervously with the necklace she wore. She bit her lip. I'd never realized what a wonderful actress she was. "I was so nervous, Your Highness. Being in your presence, I'm afraid I was a bit overwhelmed."

Xavier's puzzlement grew. "Overwhelmed?" he said, as if contemplating the meaning of the word. I knew he was thinking about our dance. Thinking about the fact that, unlike so many of the other girls, I hadn't been overwhelmed by him. We'd talked of fishing. And magic.

And we'd kissed.

Jessalyn must have seen his hesitation. She must have sensed his uncertainty. She took another stop toward him and said, "I'll prove it, sire. Let me try on the shoe."

His face lit with a smile. "Wonderful idea!"

Jessalyn sat on the ottoman nearest the prince. She reached down and removed the boot she wore. She looked up at him expectantly.

Xavier held the slipper toward her.

Jessalyn crossed her legs, right over left, holding her bare foot toward him. She tugged her dress a bit, causing the lace-trimmed hem to slide alluringly upward, revealing her pale ankle.

Xavier's face flushed. It was clear she expected him to get on his knee in front of her and help her into the shoe. It was equally clear he had no intention of doing so. He held it out to Penelope.

"Assist her," he said. There was a note in his voice I'd never heard before—a tone of command. A tone he'd never used with me.

Jessalyn hid her disappointment well. Only years of living with her allowed me to see the quick blink of her eye that hinted at her dissatisfaction.

Penelope took the sandal from the prince and knelt at her sister's feet. She held it out. I could barely breathe. The air was heavy with anticipation.

Jessalyn slid her foot neatly inside.

Something inside of me withered and died. Some dream I'd had. Some secret I'd buried so deep, even I hadn't quite known it was there. Jessalyn's pretty little foot in that stupid lace slipper was like a knife in my chest.

I wanted to throw myself at his feet.

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