For King and Country (16 page)

“You look so fucking hot with your red lips wrapped around my cock.” A growl rumbled through his chest and he caught the nape of my neck as my lips engulfed his length once more. “It makes me want to fuck you.”

But I wasn’t about to let him. I needed to watch him come. I wanted it. Increasing the pressure of my suction, I was rewarded with the first warm drops of pre-ejaculate. I moaned, sweeping my tongue across the glistening pearls, and sucked harder as Alexander’s hand tangled in my hair.

“Oh Clara, you are so beautiful.” His breathing grew ragged as his head fell back against the seat. “I’m going to come.”

But I didn’t budge as he spilled hot across my tongue. I swallowed each thick spurt greedily as he pumped into my mouth. Drawing my tongue up leisurely, I savored the taste of him that lingered in my mouth, and when I pulled away, Alexander’s eyes were wild.

He scooped me off my knees and lifted me toward his lap, bringing his lips to mine and kissing me hard before he pushed me onto my back on the seat. His hands slid recklessly up my legs, shoving my skirt up to my waist. He traced my slit with deliberate but tender strokes, finally nudging a finger between my swollen lips. “Sucking me off made you wet.”

I nodded, knowing the proof of my arousal coated his finger.

“I need to be inside you. Nothing between us. Is that okay?”

I moaned a yes and closed my eyes, my breath lodging in my throat as I anticipated the delicious stretch of my cleft around his cock. I couldn’t believe he was still hard after the orgasm he’d emptied into my mouth, but a moment later, I felt the proof that he was nudging against my slick entrance. He sank into me slowly, giving my body time to relax against his rigid cock, and I gasped as he pushed inside me entirely. I circled against him, savoring the beautiful agony of his impalement, but Alexander grabbed my hips and held me steady.

“Not yet, poppet.” I could see the struggle in his eyes. His desire to control my pleasure and his fight to control himself.

I whimpered, desperate for him to take me.

He found my clit and flicked it with his finger, sending a wave of anticipation rolling through my body. “Think of a safe word, poppet. You don’t need it now, but you might later and when we’re in that moment, you won’t be able to think of it.”

I shook my head.

“I’m trying to control myself, poppet, but I want to make you feel safe. Choose a word that makes you feel safe,” he ordered.

“How about
majesty
?”

“Your safe word shouldn’t be something that you might have to use for other reasons,” he said.

“Oh X, do you really think you’re going to get me to call you
Your Majesty
?”

He smirked. “With what I’m planning to do to you, you might.”

The man couldn’t be any more infuriatingly sexy, and it was hard to think clearly when he touched me. How could I ever say no to him? I’d tried to before. I’d walked away from him with barely a backwards glance, not realizing that soon my life would spin completely out of control and that he would become my center of gravity. And there was one word I associated with denying him. “Brimstone.”

“You could just say go to hell,” he suggested dryly.

“I thought you wanted me to pick a word that I would remember.”

“Brimstone, though?”

“It was the last time I said no to you,” I explained in a quiet voice.

“You’ve said no to me since then,” he pointed out.

“But I didn’t really mean it those times.”

His smiled returned as I confessed this, and he rolled his thumb over my aching clit. “Whatever you wish, Clara.”

“Then fuck me.” It was all I could think of, feeling him inside me. Alexander responded with a thrust, massaging circles on my pulsing clit. My cleft stretched, blossoming open as he pounded ferociously into me. His heavy sac smacked against my ass, and I trembled under him.

“Look at me,” Alexander said. “I want to see you as you come.”

I opened my eyes and met his as he hammered relentlessly. The hunger I saw reflected there melted through me, and I shattered against him, bursting into a million fragments. Alexander arched back and drove into me as I felt the first lash of his hot seed. He came with my name on his lips.

“I love knowing that you’re full of me,” he whispered as I clung to him. “All night I’m going to be thinking of being inside you, knowing that I’ve marked you. Knowing that you’re mine.”

I licked my lips and pressed them to his, too awestruck for words. I’d given myself to him fully—bared my body and soul—and he had left his mark.

“And I’ll be thinking of your hot, naked cunt under this sexy dress. I want it to be ready for me if I need it,” he added

“It will be,” I promised him.

I sagged across him—boneless and limp—but I forced myself to take his offered hand. We would be there any moment and I couldn’t get out looking like this. Alexander buttoned his slacks and tucked his shirt in. Then he helped me smooth my skirt out, dropping kisses along my bare legs as he moved downward.

“Stop, you fiend.” I smacked his shoulder.

“I can’t help it. I can’t keep my hands off you.” He shot me the wicked smile that made me want to drop my panties. Except I had none to drop.

“I’m not wearing underwear,” I reminded him. “You don’t have to work so hard.”

“We’ll see about that.” Alexander settled onto the seat next to me, brushing a few stray hairs into place and adjusting the rose that Belle had placed in my hair.

I opened my clutch and fixed my lipstick, which thanks to Belle, had barely budged. The girl knew some cosmetic voodoo, that was for sure. Wiping away some slight smudges from under my eyes, I was relieved so little damage had been done. Of course, my cheeks glowed with the flushed heat of a recent orgasm, but there was nothing to be done for that. I could only hope it was written off as nerves or excitement, but I didn’t really care. The whole world already knew about our sex life, thanks to the hackers who’d released Alexander’s texts to me earlier today.
This will give them something real to talk about
, I thought smugly.

“Are you ready?” Alexander asked, knitting his fingers through mine. My heart leapt into my throat, refusing to budge. He’d offered me his arm before or wrapped one around my waist, but holding my hand felt personal in a way that nothing we’d experienced so far had. I swallowed hard on the unexpected emotions this produced as I tried not to cry.

Stop it
, I ordered myself silently.
You are here as his date.

There was nothing more to it than that, but even as my head warned me against getting my hopes up, my heart continued to race. He didn’t release my hand until the limo had stopped and he slid smoothly out of the backseat. But as soon as he was out, he leaned in, offering it to me again. I took it along with a steadying breath, unsure what to expect. As I exited the safe confines of the limo, I was blinded by the flashes of dozens of cameras. I blinked against the glare as the reporters began shouting their questions for Alexander. I suddenly wished I’d come into this situation a bit more prepared. My first instinct was to look to Alexander, hoping for cues on what to say and do.

Alexander stared straight ahead, a charismatic grin plastered on his face and then he led me forward without a word.

A
lexander’s fingers stayed knitted through mine as we maneuvered through the lobby, but I couldn’t stop shaking. The cameras. The questions. The number of women staring at my man. It was a lot to take in. Beside me, Alexander smiled, returning nods of welcome and calling out hellos, but his posture was stiff and his movements became automatic. After a few minutes, he pulled away from me, placing his hand on the small of my back. This small gesture usually made me feel safe and protected, but right now, it only felt mechanical. He was going through the motions as he put on a show for those around us.

“Are you okay?” I whispered when we reached the ballroom.

“I’m fine, Clara,” he said in a clipped tone. “Excuse me one moment.”

He left me standing there, alone, in a crowd of hundreds of people, and I wasn’t sure what to do. My eyes skimmed the room for Annabelle, my would-be salvation. She should have gotten here already. I scanned the room until I spotted her lithe figure. Saying a silent prayer of thanks that she was so tall, I bee-lined toward her as quickly as dignity would allow—or this skirt for that matter. Annabelle caught sight of me and lit up, waving me toward her, but I hesitated as I realized that she wasn’t alone. But relief flooded through me when Belle’s companion turned, and I caught a glimpse of her face

“Stella!” I exclaimed, rushing forward to give her a hug. Immediately, I remembered where I was and stepped back, feeling embarrassed. “We probably shouldn’t be hugging at something as formal as this.”

“Nonsense! Hug me again!” Stella gave me another squeeze, grabbing my hands in the process. “I’m just the caterer.”

“You look fabulous,” I told her, and it wasn’t a lie. Stella had always been pretty, but now her sleek, black hair was bobbed short, jutting to a flattering angle that emphasized her glamorous cheekbones and sloe eyes. On anyone else, her electric blue evening gown might have looked flashy, but as one of London’s hottest up-and-coming chefs, she had the attitude to pull it off.

“Doesn’t she?” Belle agreed. “Totally unfair that she spends all day around butter and lobster and she still looks like that.”

“I keep my figure by dealing with a kitchen full of cocky jerks. It’s hard work kicking their asses all day,” Stella said dryly. “Speaking of, I should check on my new partner. I’ve left him in charge of the plating, and he’s probably screwing it up.” But instead of leaving, she shook her head in exasperation and returned her attention to me. “How are you, Clara?”

Stella had been a year ahead of us in school, earning a business degree that made her a double threat in the culinary world. I hadn’t seen her since she’d graduated, although I’d planned to look her up when I got to London.

“I’m so sorry I haven’t called you,” I said. “I’ve had a lot on my plate.”

“That’s one way to put it,” Belle said with meaning.

“Don’t embarrass her.” Stella shushed Annabelle and then gave me a sympathetic look. “You should come by and let me put something delicious on your plate to distract you from all this crap. Although from where I’m standing, you’ve found yourself something tasty already.”

“If I knew where he was,” I said. My eyes darted around the room, wondering if Alexander had come looking for me yet, but he was nowhere in sight.

“He probably went to get you a drink,” Stella said. She’d always had a way of making me feel at ease since I’d met her in a nutrition class my freshman year, and I couldn’t have been more grateful to see her right now.

“What are we raising money for again? Endangered animals?” I asked, taking in the event’s decor. Lush ferns and vines transformed the space into an exotic jungle. Movement overhead caught my attention and I looked up in time to spy a dazzlingly brilliant yellow bird swoop overhead. Someone had gone a little over-the-top for this event.

“I thought you knew,” Anna said, passing me a drink from a serving tray.

“I do not,” I said, taking the drink gratefully. If Alexander was getting me a drink, he was slacking.

“And it’s moments like these that you remember that she was raised in America,” Belle teased. “It’s the King’s birthday. He chooses a charity every year to celebrate.”

“Shit,” I said. “Really?” Alexander had mentioned endangered animals, but he had obviously left out some important details. How in the world had I wound up here and what was he thinking? Maybe the King was particularly gracious on his birthday. I really hoped that was it.

Annabelle held her glass up in a toast. “To getting this over with.”

Stella and I clinked our glasses against hers, but as I brought mine to my lips, heat flooded my cheeks, awareness rippling through my body. I knew he was there before he spoke, because my body responded as if it were being pulled backward.

“Clara,” he said in a low rasp. “I see you found a drink.”

I whirled a little quickly toward him, causing champagne to fly over the rim of my flute. It splattered on the dress of the statuesque blonde standing next to Alexander. She gasped, dabbing it gingerly from the delicate fabric.

“I’m so sorry!” I wished there was a table nearby that I could crawl under and hide.

The blonde shook her head even as she continued to fuss over the spot. “Don’t worry about it.”

She smiled warmly at me, and now that I wasn’t focused on my faux pas, I managed a good look at her. Bee-stung lips and blond waves, complete with a willowy body and a short skirt. I couldn’t believe it—she was even more stunning close up than she had been in pictures. If she weren’t so nice, I would definitely hate her.

“Clara, may I introduce you to an old family friend, Pepper Lockwood?”

I smiled, hoping my nerves weren’t showing, and extended my hand, but Pepper stepped past it and kissed both of my cheeks. It was so chic that I found myself hating her a little more, and hating myself for bring so shallow.

“It’s nice to meet you, and I am so sorry,” I repeated like a broken record.

“It’s just a dress.” She dropped her voice conspiratorially. “That’s why you should always wear black. Nothing shows.”

This was the girl I’d been worried about. Now that I’d met her, I felt silly.

“I should be going,” she said. “I brought a date and I’ve lost him.”

I knew just how she felt, and to my frustration, Alexander gave me a cold kiss on the cheek and disappeared with her, leaving me to my friends.

“Wow, that was awkward,” Annabelle said as soon as they were out of earshot.

“At least she was gracious about it.” Despite a somewhat humiliating first meeting, I felt better having met the girl Alexander had been linked with by the tabloids. There’d been no spark between them. That much was clear. She really was a family friend and nothing more. I exhaled, releasing a sigh of relief I didn’t realize I’d been holding.

“Sure,” Belle said, but her eyes didn’t meet my mine as she spoke, and I made a mental note to pry whatever she was hiding out of her as soon as we got home.

“I can’t believe you’ve hit that,” Stella said with a sigh, her gaze still glued to the spot Alexander had stood in moments ago.

I smacked Belle on the shoulder.

“Ouch!” She rubbed the spot and frowned. “What was that for?”

I tilted my head, giving her my best
what-the-fuck
face.

“I did not say a thing,” she said in a dramatically offended voice.

“Sorry, Clara,” Stella said with a sheepish smile. “I saw TMI this afternoon and assumed, which makes me a terrible person.”

“It’s okay.” I shrugged before downing the last of my champagne.

“And she is hitting that,” Belle added.

I shot her another look, but she responded with a coy smile.

“Sorry, darling, it is written all over your flushed face.”

I blushed deeper, which made them both laugh.

“It’s certainly nothing to be ashamed of,” Stella said. “I’d offer to body swap with you, actually.”

“I’m pretty happy in this one,” I admitted.

“Yeah, you are.” Belle clinked her glass one more time.

We chatted for a few more minutes about Stella’s restaurant and how she landed this catering gig, but my attention was divided between the girls and the crowd surrounding me. I’d come here with Alexander and I’d spent less than five minutes with him since we arrived. Pepper caught my eye and she waved at me. I returned it half-heartedly, disappointed that Alexander was still missing.

“I really have to get back to the kitchen and deal with Bastian,” Stella said finally.

“Speaking of, I should go find Alexander.” I excused myself as well and began searching for my date. Now that I’d had some liquid courage and discovered that Pepper wasn’t the threat I thought she was, I felt more comfortable in my skin. It was clear that Alexander didn’t though. Did he even want me here? He’d warned me of what to expect, but I’d expected the coldness from his family, not him. The fact was that it stung for him to disregard me while the slickness between my legs reminded me of what we’d shared hardly an hour ago in the limo.

I spotted him by the bar, still talking with Pepper, but now he was frowning. Her hand was draped over his and she spoke passionately. Something twisted in my chest, but I pushed it back, unwilling to allow jealousy to prevent me from being with Alexander. But I stopped when I saw his frown deepen. He began to speak, the wildness in his eyes visible even from a distance, before finally pulling away from Pepper and stalking off.

By the time I maneuvered through the crowd, I’d lost track of him again. Slumping against a column, I considered giving up. Why was I looking out for him when he’d abandoned me in the first place? What had he been discussing with Pepper? Whatever it was had upset him. Of course, he’d been on edge since we arrived. Releasing another long sigh, I struggled with the idea that Alexander was always going to raise more questions that he would give answers. Which raised the biggest question of all: could I handle that?

I was debating this when a strong hand caught mine and pulled me away from the party. Alexander’s lips were over mine, his body pressing mine into a marble arch before I could process what was happening. I pushed against him at first, but then I weakened, melting into the kiss, craving physical contact with him as I wrestled with the enigma of a man who seemed to be constantly slipping through my fingers. His cock was hard through his pants and my body responded with trembles. We were only steps away from his father’s birthday party and he was going to take me. I wouldn’t stop him. I couldn’t. But as quickly as the embrace began, it ended. Alexander stepped away and straightened his bow tie.

“I needed that,” he said.

The kiss had rendered me speechless, struck dumb by the mixed signals of the last hour. One moment Alexander was open and bold, and the next closed and suspicious—and tonight I’d been passed between his two sides so often that I was developing whiplash.

He crooked his arm and offered it to me as I dabbed at the corners of my mouth, hoping my lipstick wasn’t all over my face.

“You look beautiful,” he said, but the lust that usually accompanied his compliments was absent from his voice. His words were even, carefully measured, and far too polite. I longed for his dirty mouth and wicked smile.

I took his arm and allowed him to lead me back to the party. We reentered the ballroom, and I immediately felt eyes on me. Nearly everyone had arrived, and they were all eager to get a peek at the girl behind the latest royal scandal. I tried to remember what Alexander has said in the limo. They were judging him and not me, but it was hard to think that when eyes narrowed as they met yours and tongues wagged behind hands everywhere you turned.

“Your Highness.” A man approached us, bowing to Alexander and then giving me a stiff nod. “Your father requests that you join the family for the toast.”

“I showed up,” Alexander said with a grimace. “That should be enough.”

“I’m afraid he’s quite insistent,” the man continued. “I suspect he’ll just call you up in front of everyone if you don’t—”

“Fine!” Alexander threw his hands up, dropping mine. I could feel the barely controlled fury rolling off of him and I stood stock-still, afraid to add fuel to his rage.

“I’ll see the young lady to a table,” the man offered.

“She stays with me.”

“But sir—”

“She stays with me,” he repeated in a firm voice that left no room for further questioning. Alexander grabbed my arm and strode quickly toward the front of the ballroom. He moved so quickly that I was practically running to keep up with his pace as he dragged me along.

His family was clustered together, taking turns speaking and ignoring one another, and I inhaled sharply, knowing this was the moment of truth. Alexander’s father had chosen a tuxedo for the festivities as well, but it didn’t help him blend in. He was undeniably handsome, despite his age, which was only apparent in the hair graying at his temples. The lines around his sharp eyes and mouth only served to make him look more distinguished. He was simply in a class by himself.

But he wasn’t the most untouchable man in this room. That I knew.

Next to the King, a man who looked like a lankier version of Alexander gave him a funny look. It looked like a warning. But Alexander kept going, stopping just short so that I could catch my breath.