Page 76

Bridget
After our nightin the gazebo, Rhys and I didn’t get any more time alone during the tour. But when we returned to Athenberg a few days later, we managed to sneak in trysts despite my packed schedule.
The guesthouse at midnight, after everyone had gone to sleep. The supply closet on the third floor of the staff quarters during lunch hour. My favorite rooftop above the kitchen. No place was off-limits.
It was risky, dangerous, and out of character for both of us, given how practical we usually were, but we couldn’t have stopped if we wanted to. We’d waited too long and needed it too much.
It was a crazy ride that would eventually have to end, and while we never talked about the future, we’d come to a silent agreement to enjoy every second we could.
But, as much as I wanted to spend all my days and nights with Rhys, I had other responsibilities, and three weeks after my return to Athenberg, I found myself in my grandfather’s office, waiting for Erhall to finish speaking so I could present my agenda items.
“Let me guess. You have another citizen issue you’d like to bring up. Your Highness,” Erhall added tightly, no doubt remembering my grandfather was also in the room.
I responded with a serene smile. “Yes. That is what we do, isn’t it? Help the citizens of Eldorra?”
Erhall, Edvard, Andreas, and I sat around Edvard’s desk for the king’s weekly meeting with the Speaker. It was my third such meeting since I returned from my goodwill tour, which had been a smash success. Henrik ran a glowing profile of me in the Eldorran Herald, and my public approval rating shot sky high, nearly rivaling that of my grandfather’s.
I personally didn’t care much about ratings, but it was one of the most powerful weapons in my arsenal since I didn’t hold any actual political power. I also took great pleasure in the fact Erhall’s rating was nearly twenty points lower than mine.
“Of course.” Erhall smoothed down his tie, looking like he’d just sucked on a lemon. “What would you like to discuss?”
I’d built on my impulsive decision at Ida’s farm and created an official Citizen Letters program by which Eldorrans could write or email me with their concerns, and I acknowledged every one. The most important ones, I brought to Erhall’s attention during the weekly meetings. He probably wouldn’t do anything about the majority of them, but I had to try.
“It’s about the roads in Rykhauver…” I launched into my presentation, ignoring Andreas’s smirk. I hated that he was there, but he was still “shadowing” Erhall, and since he was second in line to the throne, no one objected to him joining the meetings.
It didn’t matter. He would never be King, not if I had anything to say about it—and, as crown princess, I had plenty to say.
“I’ll look into the issue,” Erhall said. Code for I’m going to pretend this conversation never happened after I leave this room. “Now, Your Majesty, about the tax reform…”
Edvard cast a sympathetic glance in my direction. He refrained from fighting my battles for me because it wouldn’t look good if I ran to him for help every time Erhall was a jerk, but I—
Oh God. I nearly jumped out of my seat.
Erhall paused and gave me a strange look before resuming his speech.
I pressed my thighs together beneath the table as the silent but powerful vibrations resumed between my legs.
I’m going to kill him.
Rhys had ordered me to wear a vibrator all day and I, like an idiot, had agreed. It’d sounded hot, and Rhys had a minute-by-minute breakdown of my day. He’d kept the vibrator off during my meetings, so why—
My eyes fell on the grandfather clock in the corner.
Dammit. We were running over. Fifteen minutes over, to be exact. Rhys probably thought I was out by now.
A bead of sweat formed on my forehead as I tried not to moan, squirm, or do anything that might give me away.
“Are you alright? You look…flushed.” Andreas raised his eyebrows, his eyes sharp as he stared at me.
“Yes.” I forced a smile. “Perfectly all right.”
“You don’t look so well,” Edvard said, sounding concerned.
Dear God, every minute they spent asking about me was another minute the meeting dragged on. It needed to end, soon, before I came in the middle of a discussion about freaking tax legislation.
“It’s just a little hot in here. Please, don’t stop on my account,” I managed.
The vibrations ratcheted up a notch, and my nails dug into my skin so hard it left little grooves in my palms.
Edvard looked unconvinced, but he and Erhall resumed their conversation while Andreas watched me with narrowed eyes.
Normally, I would give him an icy stare right back, but I couldn’t concentrate on anything except the throbbing of my clit and the rasp of my nipples against my bra.
Thankfully, the meeting ended soon after. I bid Edvard a hasty goodbye, gave Erhall a curt nod, and ignored Andreas completely before exiting as normally as I could. I didn’t want to raise their suspicions any further by running from the room, even if I was a hair’s breadth away from orgasming.
The instant I was in the hall, the vibrations ceased.
Of coursethey did.
I smoothed a hand over the front of my skirt and managed to walk semi-normally to my office, where Rhys waited for me.
My heart leaped when I saw him leaning against my desk. Eyes dark, arms crossed over his chest, his pose casual and arrogant.
“That was cruel.” I pinned him with a stern stare even as my clit throbbed again—not from the vibrator, but from the sight of him. The stubble, the tattoos, the way he looked at me like I was the only person in the world…Stop. Focus. “I was in a meeting.”
“It was supposed to end half an hour ago.”