Page 82 of Not Another Happily Ever After
“My apologies.” He shrugs, then cuts me what I can only imagine is a devastating smile. But I only see the way his eyes crinkle, his mouth blocked by his mask. “The sheet probably makes it hard to tell.”
I fall back into the carriage, overcome with laughter.
“Hey, no big deal or anything, but some of us are trying very hard to be unconscious,” Merrek grumbles.
I clap a hand over my mouth as I climb back up to the window.
“Sorry,” I call out, lowering my voice to a whisper.
Frog shakes his head, eyes glinting with mischief.
“This is your fault, you know?” I chide.
“My fault?” He reels back, brows lifted.
“Your fault!” I point, unable to hide my grin. “I’d be asleep if it weren’t for you.”
“Would you, though?” he quips, bringing his hands to rest on his hips.
“I would have tried,” I confess, twirling my damp curls between my fingers. “Because sleep is important, not that you would know.”
Frog cuts me a sidewise glance.
“I sleep,” he mutters.
“Really?” I drawl, meeting his gaze through lowered lashes.
He shrugs one shoulder before dipping his chin.
Hmm.“Prove it then,” I challenge, propping my elbows on the window to rest my chin on my hands.
Frog shakes his head, his mask hiding the smile evident in his eyes.
“That’d defeat the purpose.”
“Of what?” I ask, dropping my hands.
“Watching over you whileyousleep,” he says. “Goodnight, Miss Sunday.Again.”
He turns on his heel, preparing to leave.
Unfortunately for us all, I’m a princess with tenacity.
“Come sleep beside me then.”
The dark knight freezes, but he doesn’t turn around.
“Or, I could go out there and join you and the rest of the men. I’m sure Merrek would be more than happy to share his?—”
Frog doesn’t let me finish, disappearing around the carriage.
“Frog?” I poke my head out the window, searching the sun-kissed sand for his footsteps, when a warm breeze stirs at my back.
My heart racing, I turn to find him standing over me.
“How did you…” I lean, noting the still closed door.
“Will you sleep if I stay?” His voice is rough, stripped of the teasing warmth it carried only moments ago.
