For King and Country (29 page)

Despite the tension that still hung in the air, I giggled. More light wasn’t going to help with that. “We’re late for dinner, X.”

Alexander opened the door, sending a scrap of light into the hallway, and sucked in a breath when he saw me more clearly.

“What are you wearing?” he whispered, his voice a seductive mix of fury and lust.

Something about his reaction emboldened me further. It was what I’d hoped for—to show him that try as he might in the bedroom, he couldn’t tame me in public. I cupped his chin, realizing that in these shoes I could look directly into his face rather than up at him. “I wore something sexy for you.”

He hesitated as if he were trying to piece together what I was up to. “You always look sexy to me.”

I liked this newfound confidence, and I felt it slipping away with each questioning comment out of Alexander’s mouth. Before he could speak again, I planted a firm kiss on his lips. His hands on my ass informed me that I’d managed to distract him.

“Christ, this is short,” Alexander said, sliding under my silky hem to cup my bare cheeks. “Suddenly, I’m not hungry.”

I took a deep breath, willing myself not to fall under his spell. I wasn’t doing the walk of shame into that dinner, not after my run-in with Pepper this afternoon. “
I’m
ravenous.”

I swayed on my heels as I pulled away from him, and Alexander caught me, immediately drawing me back to him. His body pressed against mine, his erection nudging against me through his pants. I was tall enough in these that he could push me against that wall and take me with my feet still on the ground. A dozen exciting new possibilities flashed through my head as heat grew between my legs, but I shook them free, smiling at him in the dark, unsure if he could see. “Oh X, don’t you know that good things come to those who wait?”

“Screw waiting.” But I’d already wiggled free of his arms when his hands attempted to move under my skirt again.

“Delayed gratification, X.” I skidded a little as I sauntered back toward the dining room door. We were really late now, but I took my time, swinging my hips with each step. I didn’t let myself stop even when Alexander called out my name. Not when I reached the doors and he told me to wait. Instead I pushed them open and stepped into the light, never letting the smile fade from my lips.

T
he dining table stretched down the length of the cavernous room. Its occupants, clad in dinner attire, sat at formal place settings. The crystal sparkled, the silver was polished, and all eyes were on me. I stared over their heads, which wasn’t hard considering they were all seated, and made my way to the two seats vacant at the end of the table. Daring to look at the other dinner guests, I found Pepper glaring at me with cold rage frozen on her face, her blue eyes casting icy daggers. I raised one eyebrow at her as I passed.

Game on, Pepper Spray.

As I reached my seat, the low murmurings of the dinner party grew to a buzz. I chanced a glance around the entire table this time, unsurprised that a few people turned away from my direct gaze. Everyone except two. Jonathan Thompson’s cocky grin made him look as though he were in on some secret joke. I forced myself not to roll my eyes. And at the head of the table, Albert sat watching my late arrival with practiced stoicism.

I nodded my head in deference to him, feeling only slightly guilty for being tardy. Mostly because I would have been on time if it weren’t for his two sons. Not that I really had any regrets about how I’d spent my time this afternoon.

A server stepped forward to pull out my chair when the dining room doors burst open. Alexander strode quickly toward me, throwing a cursory nod toward his father’s place, but his eyes never left mine. I was dimly aware that the server was waiting for me to sit, but I couldn’t move. The whole room had faded except for Alexander. The suppressed fury on his face said it all. I was his, and he was reasserting his claim to me. He didn’t need to speak, I already knew his expectation, so I waited. He reached me, dismissing the server curtly. Taking his place behind the chair, he held it for me. “Clara.”

My name was sex on his lips, and in it I felt the cocktail of possessiveness and lust and confusion that he felt. I sunk into the chair as I sunk back under his command. Alexander hastily took the chair next to mine, and I reached out under the table to place a tentative hand on his knee, but he knocked it away.

“Nice of you to join us, Alexander,” Albert boomed.

Alexander’s gaze stayed glued to me as he replied, “I had no idea I was a necessary aspect of your meal. You certainly didn’t need to wait for me. I’m not a fork.”

I swallowed, realizing that Alexander’s need to exert his masculinity was no longer limited to me. It was as if my little show had augmented his craving for control. He was out to prove he was in command, which meant things might get ugly.

Albert’s jaw tightened. “If you’re finished with this display of machismo, I’d like to eat dinner.”

“So would I,” Alexander said, and I heard the words he didn’t say:
I have somewhere to be.

I could see his need to fuck me reflecting in his eyes. But if Edward was right, his brother might need to hear the word
no
every once in a while. I wasn’t positive that Alexander wanted a real relationship, but he had brought me here. He had claimed me in front of his father and everyone else. That had to mean something. However, I also knew that he didn’t know the first thing about having a relationship. With my limited experience in this area, I was only certain of one thing. I had to prove to Alexander—and everyone else—that I wouldn’t tolerate games.

Peeling my eyes from Alexander, I turned toward my plate, suddenly grateful that the glass of wine at my place had already been filled. As I reached for it, I met Edward’s amused eyes watching me. I’d been too distracted by Alexander’s dramatic entrance to notice that I’d sat right across from his brother. At least I had an ally close by, especially with Pepper too close for comfort. She stared at Alexander expectantly as if she was trying to cast a spell over him, but his concentration couldn’t be broken.

“Doesn’t Clara look fabulous, Alexander?” Edward asked, steepling his fingers.

“She’s a bit overdressed for dinner, don’t you think?” Pepper said, butting in. The rest of the brat pack snickered around her on cue. “Or under-dressed, depending on how you look at it.”

“Jealousy doesn’t suit you.” Edward ignored the evil look she cast toward him and picked up a butter knife, which he twisted thoughtfully in his hands. “It makes your complexion look all green. Clashes with your dress.”

“We all know you’re an expert on the subject,” Pepper said, but she’d turned her angry face to me. “I saw that dress at Tamara’s. I had no idea you had even heard of her. I thought she was a bit more exclusive.”

“She can’t be terribly exclusive if you know who she is,” I said without missing a beat.

Alexander blinked beside me as though he was only now hearing the conversation between me and Pepper.

“I’ll have to speak to her,” she said.

“When you do, give her my love.” I had never heard of Tamara. I’d never met her. Annabelle had picked this dress out for me. It was purchased with my own money though, and I knew one thing. On Monday I would be in that boutique cleaning her out of every size six dress she had in stock. There was no way I’d let Pepper win, even if it was only at shopping.

“I will.” Pepper smiled sweetly, and I returned the gesture as the soup course was placed in front of us. It smelled delicious, all creamy with toasted croutons floating on top. I raised my soup spoon, reminding myself to be graceful even as my stomach growled. Across the table, Pepper pushed her bowl away with distaste. Despite my hatred of her, my stomach flopped at the gesture. I had no reason to suspect that Pepper shared that in common with me, but it was a warning sign. She reached for her water, laughing at a joke as she leaned closer to Jonathan. I slurped the soup from my spoon and continued to watch her as the conversation around me picked up. Everyone was chatting, except Alexander and me. Maybe I just wanted to distract myself from his coldness and that was why I was seeing behavioral patterns that weren’t really there. Maybe Pepper simply didn’t like soup.

I took a few more spoonfuls before I placed my napkin on the table to signal that I was finished with it. If it was anything like I expected, I’d be stuffed by the third course if I didn’t pace myself. But when I looked up, Pepper was watching me, a calculating look in her eyes. I turned toward Alexander, but he continued to eat.

Dropping my voice so we couldn’t be overheard, I said, “I’m sorry.”

“For what?” he asked stiffly.

“You seem upset.”

Alexander’s eyes flashed up to meet mine finally, a bemused smile on his face. “We still have a lot to learn about one another, Clara. I wasn’t upset—” his voice lowered “—I was turned on. I didn’t think I could stop myself from throwing you across the table and ripping off those shameless excuses for knickers you’re wearing if you touched me again.”

I blinked at this, my perception of the situation adjusting to this revelation. How hadn’t I seen that? He needed to reestablish dominance, which for Alexander meant sex. That’s what he had been thinking. Confidence ballooned in my chest at the thought. He wasn’t angry with me. He wanted me. Because I looked hot. Because I drove him crazy.

“Maybe you should,” I said, unable to stop myself. I wanted the delicious ache between my legs to grow, knowing that it would go unfulfilled for another hour or two, so that by the time we were alone once more, the moment he took me would be worth the build up.

“Don’t tempt me, Clara. A man only has so much restraint.” His lips twitched though, and I could see him imagining the scene: the reaction of the entire dinner party as he threw me across the linen—glasses shattering, forks clattering—and shoved his hot, thick cock inside me. I couldn’t help squirming at the thought. Alexander spotted my fidgeting and smiled wider. “Soon, poppet.”

I trembled at the thought, forcing myself to focus on the next course as it was served. But I could only pick at my salad, too distracted by Alexander’s gaze, which continued to burn through me. When the third course arrived—leg of lamb served medium rare—Alexander grinned as they placed my plate in front of me.

“Eat up, Clara,” he murmured. “You’ll need your strength tonight.”

My eyes closed, drinking in his words, my fork hovering over my meal. My mouth watered, but it had nothing to do with the heavenly scent wafting from the food in front of me. Alexander should be given a special commendation for building anticipation.

“I do hope you aren’t having an episode.” Pepper’s voice pulled me from my fantasy.

My eyes snapped open to find a shameless smirk on her face, her eyes gleaming with mischief that I knew was far from innocent. I took a bite, chewing it slowly and making an
oh-my-god
face as I swallowed. Pepper sighed disgustedly at my orgasmic performance.

“I was so surprised when I found out about your little problem,” she said in a voice that carried over the other conversations at the table. Inwardly I cringed, but I forced myself to keep my head held high. “Usually women with eating disorders are thinner.”

My mouth fell open, shocked that she’d not only bring this up at the dinner table in front of a huge group of people, but that she’d actually say something that heinous. If she had wanted attention, she now had it. Not surprisingly, Amelia and Priscilla tittered with nervous laughter at her little show. The King said nothing, but his mother dabbed at her mouth with a napkin, not concealing her disgust. But was that distaste leveled at the person who deserved it—or at me for being flawed? I couldn’t be sure.

A few seats down, Edward folded his hands on the table. “Pepper, be careful. Your bitch is showing.”

“Edward,” his father admonished him.

“Oh, you aren’t deaf,” Edward replied, shooting his father a sharp look over his horn-rimmed glasses. “You’re just pretending to be oblivious to what’s right in front of your face.”

“Something you count on,” Pepper threw in, scathingly. The comment hit its mark, and Edward clamped his mouth shut.

My mind spun with so many things I would like to say to her that I couldn’t decide on one. I had expected her to attack me, but the heartless taunts directed at Edward pushed me over the edge. He’d called her out and she stepped over the line. Did she have any clue the damage she was doing to the fragile relationships he had with everyone at this table? My hands trembled with rage as I watched Edward pretend to ignore her. If anyone didn’t belong at this table, it was Pepper.

The table fell into a silence, and I finally dared to look at Alexander, who hadn’t spoken. As soon as I saw his face, I understood why he hadn’t come to our defense. Veins pulsed along his neck, his jaw tight, his lips thinned into a straight line, and his knuckles had gone white from clutching his silverware. He was employing his considerable self-control, and I wasn’t certain I wanted to see what would happen if it faltered.

Pepper obviously didn’t share my concern.

“You should probably get your
girlfriend
—” she spit the word out, making it clear what she thought of giving me this title “—some help before her eating disorder gets her on more tabloid covers.”

By now the shock had worn off, and I couldn’t hold back anymore. “Pepper, I can’t help noticing you haven’t touched your plate or your salad or your soup. The only thing you’ve had your mouth on is that rocks glass. I’m happy to lend you my doctor’s name after I finish eating.”

Beside her, Edward bit back a smile, but Albert threw down his napkin. “Enough of—”

“You don’t get to say enough,” Alexander said in an even voice so deadly calm that it raised the hairs on the back of my neck. “Not if you watch as she’s slandered.”

“Don’t be melodramatic,” Pepper said, but I saw her throat slide as she swallowed nervously.

“You’re here as a guest of this family,” Alexander reminded her, “because of Sarah. I’m now rescinding that invitation. I’d like you to leave.”

Pepper stared at him, eyes wide as saucers, as the entire table erupted into conflicting opinions on Alexander’s etiquette.

“This is my house,” Albert said, knocking his fist against the table.

“And surely you stand by your son’s request to have a fair-weather friend removed from our table,” Alexander said loudly to match the volume of his father’s voice. “Unless Pepper is here at
your
invitation.”

The implication in Alexander’s words was clear, and his father’s nostrils flared. Pepper and Albert? It couldn’t be true, although it would explain a lot.

Albert gave a terse nod of support to his son, before rising and exiting the room. The mirth was now completely stripped from Pepper’s face as she stumbled to her feet, her eyes flashing to her companions as if she expected one of them to come with her.

“Pris?” she mumbled, her eyes pleading.

Pris opened her mouth and then shut it again, giving Pepper an apologetic smile. Pepper lifted her head, shooting one more withering look my way as she did, and marched from the room without another word.

“Finish your dinner,” Alexander said softly.

I swallowed and stared at my plate. My appetite was gone, replaced by a pit in my stomach that was quickly filling with dread. Around us, the others picked at their food and no one spoke. Everyone too lost to think of anything to say.