Chapter 87

ALEK SMOTHERED THE LAUGHTER HE felt at Cat's teasing. Instead, he placed a soft kiss on the white skin just above her breasts and smirked when she gasped.

'You know I do.' Before he could chicken out he pulled her back to sitting then spoke, 'Cat.'

He swallowed and tried again.

'Catherine, when we enter the ball together, people will assume something about us. So I wanted to give you the option either way.'

She nodded at him, an expression of concern in her eyes.

'It's just, well, you see, I've never entered an official reception with ah, a woman before and-'

I STARED AT HIM, WILLING him to spit it out already. The nervous butterflies had returned tenfold and having Alek dither about whatever this issue was made me feel ill.

'Alek. Please, what's the problem?'

'They'll assume we're betrothed.'

CAT'S EYES WENT WIDE. 'WHAT? Who? And why?'

'Everyone. If we enter the ball together, it will be taken as an official announcement.'

She sat back, silently staring down at her h