Alix was finishing up her email to the Refugee Medical Alliance, accepting her spot in the internship program. She had spent the past few days thinking it over. Even if her parents were upset, she had to do it. The hospital gala had reminded her of all the reasons why she didn’t want to stay here. She was different than the other nobles in so many ways; she wasn’t sure she could be happy here, even with a place at the university. She wanted to make her parents happy, and would fulfill all of her duties this summer, but this was just too important to her. She crossed her fingers as she finally hit the send button, hoping that they would understand eventually. She just had to figure out how to tell them.

A knock at the door interrupted her thoughts. She shivered as an early evening breeze came through her open balcony doors. She always changed into her pajamas the second she got in for the evening, a leftover habit from college in New York. She missed being able to go out in public in her pajamas. Though she supposed they were a bit too revealing, even by the relatively low standards for the young Prynesse nobility, if the gala was anything to go by.

She was surprised to see Duncan at the door. He was dressed casually, in jeans and a jacket, and they both fit him perfectly. He was looking down at his feet, and fiddling with the zipper on his jacket.

“Hi,” he said, looking up at her expectantly.

She sighed and stepped aside to let him in. She was annoyed with him, but didn’t want to get into it in the hallway.

“I haven’t changed anything,” she said, noticing his eyes taking it all in, as if he hadn’t been there just a few days ago.

“Still just as tidy,” he commented.

“And your rooms? Did you ever give your maid the day off?” Alix asked, her tone harsher than she’d intended.

Duncan shook his head.

“I will, though,” he assured her. “I always keep my promises. You just never specified when it had to happen.”

She felt the sudden urge to stick her tongue out at his defiant, teasing tone.

Alix noted that he kept his hands behind his back as he walked around, not touching anything this time. The last rays of sunlight coming through the windows fell across his face, illuminating his golden hair. He was beautiful. Distracted by a half-wistful, half-lustful pang of what she’d nearly gotten a taste of at the gala, she briefly forgot how annoyed the Christiana thing had made her.

“What are you doing Saturday?” he asked, suddenly turning to face her. She was leaning up against a wall, observing him as he paced around the room. He slowly approached her, his question hanging in the air, waiting for her reply, his eyes never leaving hers.

“Why? So you can invite me somewhere to watch you talk to other girls?” she said, as she crossed her arms and glared at him.

“I’m not used to having a date at those types of functions,” he explained, his hands held up in apology. “I’m used to working the crowd, mingling.”

“Anton seemed happy enough to concentrate on Stella,” she replied.

“For now, yes, but he’ll break her heart before long,” he said, sadly. “It’s happened before. He can’t help himself. You should tell her to be careful.”

Alix wasn’t sure if he was still talking about Anton.

“I will,” she said. Her heart began to beat faster as he came even closer, her head beginning to tilt back to keep her gaze locked with his.

“Stella’s so serious about all of this and, honestly, I’m just looking for fun this summer,” she told him.

“Really?” His eyes were doubtful.

“Of course. I worked hard for four years. I’m doing all of these charity things for my parents and the crown. I just want to let loose sometimes,” she explained, not revealing the rest of her plan. “I just thought that it was rude to invite me and then barely speak to me.”

“I apologize, Lady Alix,” he said, his cocky half-smile lightening his formal tone. She had to admit, coming to apologize was more than she had expected of him. It might not be the worst idea to give him another chance, she thought, and he continued to approach her slowly where she was stationed against the wall.

“What’s this Saturday?” she asked.

“My sister is having a birthday party.”

“But you have the same birthday. And not for a few months, I thought.” Alix blushed and looked down. His smile turned wicked at the realization that she knew his birthday.

“Ever since we were little, our parents let us have separate celebrations whenever we wanted throughout the year,” he explained, his voice deep yet soft. He was now standing right in front of her, gazing down at her with blazing eyes. His hands were still behind his back, not touching her, making her wish he would. “Privately. Just family and a few friends.”

Alix had had no idea, and felt honored to be invited to such a celebration. The fact that it wouldn’t be a public event was reassuring as well. He wouldn’t need to “mingle” with any other women.

“Well… that sounds like it could be fun,” she said, her breath coming out unevenly. He still hadn’t touched her, yet their bodies were mere centimeters apart.

“It will be,” he said with a wink of one of his sparkling, blue eyes. “I’ll come and get you at eight.”

And with that, he turned and left. Alix was nearly panting in anticipating, and took a few deep breaths to refocus and calm down.

In less than twenty minutes, she had accepted two very different invitations. The internship program would impact her in ways she couldn’t imagine, that was a guarantee. But she was starting to realize that maybe this summer with Duncan would do the same, in a much more... physical way.