[Has anyone ever looked at him like that before, he wonders? No, he truly doubts it— he's never given them the opportunity, and if he'd ever suspected that they might, he would have quickly put half a kingdom between himself and the supposed culprit before they ever had the chance.

Not for the first time, he's incredibly grateful that he had not allowed himself to make that mistake here, especially when he'd come so dangerously close to doing exactly that.]

I think I'm allowed to be biased in this regard, don't you?

[His handsome smile tugs to one side, and he watches her with interest and bated breath as her fingertips move beneath his shirt, her touch gently brushing against his skin and the sight of her biting at her lower lip causing his breath to hitch.]

I take that as the highest compliment.

[It's quite the confession, and he cannot pretend he is not vain to a certain degree.]

Would you be offended if you said I often feel the same?

[It's hardly his intention to objectify her, but their intimate moments, few as they've been, have stayed with him, close to his heart.]