**Brielle’s Chamber – Late Afternoon**

Brielle closed the heavy history tome with a soft thud and looked up at Jim, who was now dozing opposite her. She’d asked him to “watch” her read—really just an excuse to stare at his face without admitting how much she liked looking.

His head was tipping sideways, eyes closed, breathing slow and even.

She set the book aside quietly and caught his head before it could fall. She shifted closer until she was right beside him, then gently guided his head onto her lap.

“Cute,” she whispered, tracing one fingertip along his eyebrow.

*I haven’t let anyone this close since Prince Ice rejected me.*...