It was Lucas who broke eye contact first. He quickly ducked his head down and started lacing his trousers closed again. "Sorry." she heard him mutter.
"What for?" Celia asked, all traces of her shyness disappearing.
"I didn't mean to be so rough with you." He still wouldn't look at her. "Hurting you is the last thing I want."
"There's nothing for you to worry over. You weren't rough and you didn't hurt me." she said boldly. "Quite the opposite, in fact."
Inwardly, Celia gave herself a little round of applause. It wasn't like her to be so forward with her words. She was quickly growing fond of this new, assertive Celia though.
She was a definite improvement on the sad little drab of a princess always on the verge of tears. That demure Celia made her want to yank her own hair out.
