Chapter 83

Taking a step back, Kit realized that her gown had dozens of hooks up the back of it. There was absolutely no way she could’ve gotten out of it herself. They should’ve planned better when they chose her dress, knowing her ladies wouldn’t be with her to remove it. If it had been Cassius before her, the silver gown would’ve been crumpled on the floor moments after they entered the chamber. Something told her it might take Jaterius a wee bit longer.

Nevertheless, she had no choice. Spinning around, she asked, “Can you unhook me?”

She stood like that for a long moment before glancing back over her shoulder. “Unhook you?” he asked, his hands in the air near the top hook but not actually touching her.

“Yes, I know there are a lot of them, but they all unhook the same way.” Her hair was up out of the way, so that shouldn’t be a factor. Neither should her necklace, but she took that off and tossed it on the bed, just in case.

His hands were shaky as he finally made contact with the first hook. It took much longer for him to unfasten it than Kit expected. So did the second and third. She began to think perhaps she should call for her ladies. But then, he began to build up speed. Still, normally when a man was undressing her, his lips would be on her neck, his fingers tracing her skin. Kit felt like she was being stripped by a blind man. Trying not to become frustrated with him, she let her mind wander. The thought of Cassius’s shirtless torso filled her thoughts, and an ache formed between her legs. Perhaps that wasn’t fair to Jate, but if he benefited from her passion for the other man, he could thank them both later.

Once the hooks were undone to her waist, she said, “That will do,” and slid her arms and shoulders out of the dress, letting it drop to the floor before stepping out of it and kicking it aside. She was left in a white chemise and stay that pressed her breasts up leaving very little to the imagination, as well as her knickers.

Jate stared at her, his mouth hanging open, unmoving, for several moments. Both concerned and confused, Kit asked, “Are you quite all right, Jaterius?”

“Yes, yes, I fine—I’m fine,” he stammered.

“You’re looking at me as if you’ve never seen a woman’s breasts before.” She folded her arms beneath her chest, pressing them up even higher, and his eyes nearly bulged from his skull.

“I have, uh lots of times,” he replied, nodding vigorously. “Only... none like those... yours.”

Still perplexed, Kit removed her tiara and her earrings, giving him a moment to get himself together. Her satin slippers had come off before her gown even made it to the floor, so in only her chemise, stay, and knickers, she took the jewelry and placed it on the dresser, including the necklace she’d tossed before. Jate’s eyes followed her, and in the mirror, she could see him gazing longingly at her bottom.

“Your turn,” she said, crossing back over to him. This entire evening was turning out much differently than she had expected, but she resolved to press on.

“My turn?” he asked, still gawking at her.

“Yes. Can you slip your boots off while standing, or would it be better if you sat on the edge of the bed?”

Jate glanced down at his feet as if he were unaware he was wearing any boots. With a sigh, she took his hand and pulled him over to the bed. She pushed him down by the shoulders and then bent down to pull off his boots. When he gasped, she realized he could see straight down her stay at that angle. Kit shook her head and sat down next to him, unhooking his jerkin and tossing it across the room. “Jaterius, I believe there’s something you’re not telling me.”

“You do?” he asked, his eyes locked on her, but not on her face. “Why would you say that?”

Kit had begun to unfasten the white tunic he wore, but she stopped after the first hook. She was on her knees and lowered herself back down so that she was resting on her haunches. They were almost at eye level this way. “Jate, what is it? You can tell me? If you don’t find me attractive, I can’t say that my feelings won’t be hurt, but I’ll understand.”

Before he even answered, she surmised that wasn’t it. He could hardly look her in the eye now that her breasts were exposed. “No, my princess. I certainly find you attractive. You’re beautiful. The most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.”

“Then what is it?”

He turned away from her then, hanging his head and mopping his hand across his face. “I’m sorry, Kit. I can’t say.”

“Why not?” she asked, placing her hand on his shoulder. Her heart went out to him. It was evident there was something important he needed to share with her, and whatever reason he had for not telling her, she wanted to ease his troubles. “I can’t imagine a reason in the world that you wouldn’t be able to tell me what it is that has you so unlike yourself.”

He turned back to look at her, meeting her eyes this time. “I promised my mother I wouldn’t tell you for fear you’d cut me. She’s concerned, and I can’t blame her.”

Kit slid down onto her bottom, her legs hanging over the side of the bed now. She scooted even closer to him. “I’m not planning on sending you anywhere. You should know that. You wouldn’t be here if I didn’t have feelings for you.”

He nodded, letting that settle in. “I’m afraid I’m not who you think I am, though, Princess. I’m not like the others. Certainly not like Jecob or Cassius, with their debonair ways. Cassius would’ve pleasured you twice by now.”

Kit tried not to let her face show that the same thought had crossed her mind. “You don’t have to be like them, Jate. I’m interested in you for you. Now, tell me what it is, please. I’m sure once you do, we can move on, and we’ll both feel much better.”

He swallowed hard, and the movement of his Adam’s apple made gooseflesh rise up on her arms. Despite the complications, she still wanted him and was praying whatever this was, it was easily remedied.

“I... have never.... That is to say....” He ran his hand down his face again, staring at the floor. “There are a lot of women where I come from, but not many noblewomen. My sisters and cousins. A few others who live far away. My mother always thought the other women were beneath me, that I should wait. So I did. For a very long time. And then... and then the voting happened. Too quickly. I never expected to be chosen. Apparently, she didn’t expect for me to be either. By the time she realized the problem, it was too late. As you know, a Representative cannot... that is to say....”

As he stumbled along, Kit slowly began to piece his disheveled thoughts together. “Jate, darling, are you telling me you’ve never been with a woman before?”

His shoulders slumped even further, and he wouldn’t even look at her, his head only bobbing up and down slightly.

A loud sigh of relief shot out of Kit’s mouth before she could even fully register how she felt about his confession. Of all the concerns he could’ve had, that one was remediable. And she was about to correct the problem. “Jate, why didn’t you just tell me?” she asked, shaking her head at him.

He glanced in her direction quickly before dropping his eyes again. “How could I? Besides, I told you my mother said it would be an awful idea. She was certain you’d send me home immediately. So many of the other Representatives have been practicing for this for years. And I haven’t. At all.”

“And you think that would be reason enough for me to send you home? We have all been in your position, you know?”

“But you’re the princess.”

“Yes, I am the princess, and one of my duties as such is to be compassionate. Jate, thank you for letting me know. Believe me, it doesn’t make me think any less of you. I still care about you. I’m still glad I’ve asked you to share my chambers this evening. As long as you trust me, I can alleviate that problem in a few moments.”

For the first time since she’d approached him during the ball and asked him to join her, full color began to return to his face. He turned to look at her. “You... you can? You will?”

A grin spread across Kit’s face. Without verbally responding, she moved so that she was straddling him. If it hadn’t been clear before that Jate was attracted to her, it was now, as his manhood pressed into her thigh. Kit’s smile widened as relief washed over her. There were so many other situations that would’ve been far worse. She quickly unhooked his shirt and tore it up over his head, tossing it across the floor. Jate’s arms came around her, and his hands settled on her bottom, pulling her closer.