Page 93 of Reckless Princess (Knight's Ridge Empire 8)

“From how they were molesting each other last night, I’m not sure they’ve got all that many issues,” he quips. But when I open my eyes and look at him, I see it. I see the same torment lingering in his dark depths that Seb just explained.

He glances at the floor before dropping to his arse and resting his forearms on his bent knees opposite us.

“Welcome to the club, Tobes. It’s fun, but hell… it’s a real head fuck.

“No one can tell you what’s right or wrong when it comes to love and relationships. Just fucking look at me.” He holds up his left hand. “I’m fucking married.”

“Okay, so maybe I should be less concerned about the speed of all this when you say things like that.”

Theo chuckles. “Enjoy the ride, Tobes. There’s no pressure, no expectations. You want her, just do fucking everything in your power to keep her.”

“And make her scream,” Seb offers. “Often.”

I shake my head, a smile playing on my lips as I look between the two of them.

A huge weight lifts off my shoulders, one I didn’t truly appreciate the heaviness of.

If the most important people in my life are behind me—behind us—then what the fuck am I even questioning it for?

* * *

My last lessonsof the day and then football training fucking drag. Knowing that she’s inside my flat, possibly naked and waiting for me, meant that every second felt like an hour.

By the time I walk out of the showers after practice with a towel around my waist, my patience has just about run out.

“Someone’s on a promise,” Nico jokes as I try dragging a pair of sweats up my still wet legs, failing miserably and ending up on my arse on the bench.

“Better than what you’re on,” I tease. The boss messaged both him and Theo earlier to call them in tonight. Things are heating up in Lovell, and I’ve got a feeling shit is about to hit the fan. I just really fucking hope they’re not planning on doing anything tonight, or any fucking night, and screw up my time with my girl.

“It’s not all bad. Meeting with the boss, then I’ll head down to the basement, see what girls are working tonight.”

“None that will want to be within a square foot of you,” Theo joins in. “You’re just jealous, bro. Toby, Seb and I are all going home later to our women, and you haven’t even got so much as a goldfish waiting for you.”

“Fuck you, I could have a whole harem of women waiting in my flat if I wanted.”

“Sure, I don’t doubt it. It’s just a shame there’s only one you really want, huh?”

Nico barks out a laugh that is nothing but fake before dragging his hoodie over his head, flipping us all off he blows out of the locker room, leaving us all laughing in his wake.

“We need to meet this chick that’s got him all tied up. She must really be something,” Alex muses.

“She is,” I say with a smile. “She’s Nico with a banging body and a smarter mouth.”

“Don’t let your girl be hearing you say that, Doukas,” Seb teases.

“There’s no competition. Nico is welcome to his firecracker.”

“My point still stands. I want to meet her.”

“So you can drive him to the brink of insanity flirting with her just like you do his sister?” I ask with a smirk. As amusing as it might be, watching him teasing Nico with Calli, we all know he’s playing with fire. I’m also not entirely sure if it’s all completely innocent and purely for poking the bear. There’s something in the way he looks at her that makes me wonder if he’d more than willingly take things further with her. I mean, I get it, she’s hot. That little girl who used to annoy us with her Barbies and threaten us with glitter sure did grow up good. Even more so now she’s got Stella and Emmie as bad influences. I might not be interested in going there, but I can sure see the appeal.

“Yeah, maybe. I’m always up for entertainment,” Alex says, rubbing his hands together.

“So that’s all it’s about with Calli then?” Seb asks, clearly on the same page as me.

“Damn right it is,” Theo barks, not willing to even consider the possibility that Alex might actually be interested in his cousin.

“It could be worse, man,” I say, trying to defuse the situation as Theo continues to glare at Alex.