On the way, Aria suddenly halts, her mind snapping back as she realizes she has left the cleaning bucket inside Hillary's room.
She lifts her hand and lightly slaps her own cheek, muttering in silent scolding.
How careless.
How reckless.
She had been so swept away in excitement, so lost in the whirlwind of his kiss, his voice, his touch, the promise, ..that she forgot where she was, forgot what she was even doing.
A servant shouldn't forget her duties. A captive shouldn't forget her precarious position. And yet here she is, smiling like a never before.
She forces the grin off her lips, straightens her posture, takes in a breath to steel herself.
But the second she steps back toward his door, that smile betrays her all over again, curling back against her will.
It's no use, even her heart doesn't listen to her commands anymore. It only beats for him. And now, anticipation, giddy and uncontrollable, bubbles in her chest.
