Page 20 of Deviant Princess (Knight's Ridge Empire 5)

EMMIE

I’m still lying on the bed, staring up at the ceiling when Theo bursts into my room uninvited later that evening. The bags that he brought me have mostly been ignored. There’s only one thing I really wanted. The rest can wait. The homework certainly can. And I’d be lying if I said I didn’t actually prefer being in Theo’s clothes to mine.

“Sure, you can come in,” I snap.

Ignoring my attitude, he grabs something from one of my bags and throws it at me.

“Get dressed. We’re going out.”

Now that perks me up a little.

“What? Where?”

“Just get ready, we’re leaving in twenty.”

He’s gone again as quickly as he arrived, leaving while the echo of the slammed door follows him in his wake.

“Whatever you say, Lordship,” I mutter to myself, barely holding back my eyeroll at his arrogance as I swing my legs off my bed to do as I’m told.

Rummaging through my bags, I take my time paying attention to what he packed for me and leaving it around me in a mess. It’s petty, because I know the second he storms back in here—and he will—the lack of tidiness and order will make his eye twitch.

I don’t dress for him, I dress for me… but in a way that I know will drive him to the edge of insanity.

After the events of the past few days, I have no idea who the hell I am or which way is up. But putting my black armour on makes me feel like me once more.

I take my time applying my makeup and making sure my outfit is just right.

“We’re late,” Theo booms from somewhere outside my room when I don’t emerge after my twenty-minute warning.

A smile twitches at my lips.

Does he even know me at all?

I’m still perfecting my lipstick when he does rejoin me. The second he steps inside my room, his eyes drop to the clothes I’ve strewn about and his jaw tics in frustration.

It’s totally over the top, but I don’t give a shit.

“Problem?” I ask, putting the lid on my lipstick and gently placing it on the dresser before I turn around to meet his stare.

“Yeah, you need to…” His words trail off when his eyes drop to my body. “You can’t wear that,” he states, his eyes locked on my visible bra through my sheer top. The skirt I chose is one I’ve caught him checking me out in before, and I’ve kept my legs bare. I’ll probably regret it the second I step outside, but right now, watching his eyes almost bug out of his head, it’s totally worth it.

Placing my hands on my hips, I hold my head high.

“Why not?”

“B-because,” he stutters, his hand lifting to push his hair back from his brow, “it’s not appropriate.”

“Appropriate. Right,” I say with a smirk, walking across the room until I’m standing right before him. “Excuse me. I thought we had somewhere we needed to be.”

Resting my hand on his stomach for a beat, just long enough to feel his muscles bunch, I slip around him and walk down the hall, putting as much sway into my hips as possible, knowing that he’s watching me.

And I find I’m right when I get to the end of the hallway and look back.

“We don’t have all day, Theodore,” I snap, grabbing my jacket from the hook and shrugging it on.

He’s silent, and brooding when he finally joins me, and I quietly delight in the tightness of his muscles as he reaches for his own coat.

I stand beside the locked door, waiting for him to grant me a little bit of freedom.