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I led her to the family dining room, where the table almost groaned under breakfast food. Chef had arranged fresh baked rolls—still steaming—alongside honey-butter, cheese grits, buttermilk pancakes, scrambled eggs, sausage links, crispy fried bacon and delicate beignets alongside a coffee pot and a pitcher of fresh orange juice.

Baldwin observed us from a corner, and as he offered me a small bow, I nodded my acknowledgement.

“Who else is coming for breakfast?” Leia whirled to face me as she spoke.

“No one.” I almost laughed at the idea I might invite humans into my home to sit around a table and eat. I didn’t invite them here for any reason.

Well.

Until now.

One human, and she was decidedly my human.

“Miss Boucher, if I may explain?” Baldwin spoke, and Leia glanced at him, her face immediately softening.

My muscles tensed. Something about my butler had acquired my human’s trust. Unexpected jealousy at the way Leia relaxed with him burst through my chest, but I tightened my control over my movements as I lowered myself into a chair to watch their exchange.

Baldwin immediately hurried forward and drew out a chair for Leia at the only place setting. “Chef wanted you to try a variety of dishes so you might request your preferences going forward.”

Leia nodded. “But there will be so much waste.”

I shrugged a lazy shoulder. “I can afford it.”

But her gaze cooled as her eyes met mine. That had clearly been the wrong thing to say.

“To ensure your comfort in my home,” I finished. I wanted to impress her with all I could provide, not anger her.

“Just sample the things that tempt you, and I can let Chef know what you wish to eat tomorrow,” Baldwin said as he reached for the coffee pot and splashed the brown liquid into her mug.

Lea immediately closed her eyes and inhaled deeply. “Gallons of coffee. That’s the first thing I’ll want.” Then she smiled, but her expression soon soured as she looked at me again. She gestured at the food. “What do you recommend?”

I shrugged once more. “All of it will be to Chef’s impeccable standard.”

“Aren’t you eating?” Her question was almost an accusation, but I shook my head.

“I ate earlier. My hunger has been…satisfied.” Lie. But there were various types of hunger.

Leia blew out a sigh then proceeded to try a little from each plate, and I watched her lips the whole time, imagining them against mine, on my skin, wrapped around my cock. The moan she made when she bit into a beignet sent a direct charge to my cock, and I shifted to rearrange the sudden tent in my pants.

“She’ll have the beignets tomorrow,” I murmured to Baldwin, and I’d be there to watch every mouthful and the way her tongue caught the remnants of powdered sugar from her lips.

Leia glared at me but didn’t disagree.

“Are you sated? Or do you desire anything further?” I watched her closely as I asked the question, and her pupils dilated as she looked at me, but she shook her head.

Then she stood and left her napkin neatly by her plate. “No, let’s get this take your hostage to work day over with.”

“Miss Boucher.” My words offered no hint that she needed to employ caution in her words. Only amusement at what she’d said. “Please. You’re not my hostage. You’re my sub-clause.”

She glared at me again but looked away as her lips twitched.

I threw open the door to La Petite Mort, ready to impress Leia with this part of my empire. I controlled this world. These people were in my house and the house always won. Leia was a guest of my home, and I intended to win there, too.

Valérie, my assistant, stepped forward. “Nicolas,” she greeted me as she pressed a kiss to each of my cheeks.

I raised an eyebrow as I stepped away. That was a more effusive greeting than usual.

“Miss Boucher, this is my assistant, Valérie. If you need anything at all during your time here, just let her know.” I gestured to Valérie as I smiled at Leia. For some reason, I wanted her to know that Valérie and I only had a professional relationship.