Page 67 of Deviant Princess (Knight's Ridge Empire 5)

THEO

“Come dance with me,” I whisper in Emmie’s ear where she’s standing with Stella and Calli.

She shudders as I run my hands down her sides before resting them on her hips. Her entire weight leans back into me and my cock swells, knowing that she’s drawn to me just like I am her.

“I thought you said there was no dancing,” she says, her voice a little slurred from the cocktails.

“I said there was no waltz. I never said there wasn’t any kind of dancing.”

She looks back over her shoulder at me, and I can see the argument in her eyes.

“Come on, only thirty minutes until midnight. Let’s spend them right.”

Her expression softens and she spins in my hold, planting her lips on mine in a chaste kiss.

“See you later, ladies,” she says with a little wave over her shoulder. Taking my hand, she allows me to lead her to the dancefloor.

Only, we don’t get there, because we’re intercepted by none other than my beaming mother.

“There you are,” she says, looking between the two of us, excitement twinkling in her eyes. “Why didn’t you tell me you were bringing Emmie?” she chastises.

“We’ve been kind of busy.”

“Theodore, I hope you’re being a gentleman.”

Emmie snorts beside me, and I squeeze her hand tightly.

“Of course he is. Perfect boyfriend.”

Mum melts. It’s quite the sight.

“That’s my boy. I knew you were the girl for him the night you were at our house,” she tells Emmie while I stand there, wishing the ground would swallow me up.

“We were actually going to dance,” I tell her, more than ready for this to be over.

I love my mum, but right now, all I want is my girl in my arms as we count down to the new year and our new start together.

Unease washes through me like it has done a number of times tonight. But I put it down to having to share my girl with everyone else when really, I’d give anything right now to be at home, just the two of us, ready to celebrate alone—preferably in my bed.

“Oh, of course. You go and enjoy yourselves.” Taking a step forward, I give Emmie’s arm a tug for her to follow, but Mum’s not finished. “Oh, you should both come for dinner tomorrow. The kids would love to spend time with you.”

“Sure thing, Mum. Text me the details.”

This time, she lets us go and we make it uninterrupted to the dancefloor.

“This is more like it,” I say, pulling her body into mine and brushing my lips against her cheek. “I’m sorry for making you endure all this.”

“It’s not been that bad,” she assures me, but I think we both know she isn’t really telling the truth. The only bonus has been that Dad’s kept his distance. I have no idea if that’s because he’s regretting what he did, or he’s just terrified we would tell his twisted secret.

“What are you laughing at?” Emmie asks when she feels me chuckling against her.

“Did you see Alex and Nico’s faces when they saw your ring?”

“Yeah,” she agrees with a laugh of her own. “Thought Nico was going to shit his pants.”

“Yeah, well. Nico is an idiot who thinks women are only good for what’s between their legs.”

She pulls back a little. “And you don’t?” she asks with a smirk.