Page 14 of The Night the King Claimed Her

‘Then try asking nicely instead of answering on my behalf.’ Elsie smiled not so sweetly.

He stepped forward, out of Amalia’s sightline, and fixed Elsie with such a hot stare that her brain fried. It seemed she wasn’t the only one having the emotional explosion.

And in the official ‘devastating stare tournament’ the score read: Felipe one, Elsie nil.

‘Dine with us tonight, Elsie...’ His smile of very adult triumph made her shiver.

Elsie gritted her teeth. She was saying no. No.

‘Please,’ he added.

And at that? She simply couldn’t stop herself. ‘I’d be delighted to, thank you.’