Tempting the Crown (The Crown 1)

Fuck the royal roster. I sat on the edge of my desk. I hadn’t left instructions. I had expected the security to let her back into the residence. I expected common sense. They saw her leave with me this morning. But they were like statues. They rarely looked around them. I wondered just how safe I was with guards who were so clearly fucking oblivious.

I closed my eyes. Where in the hell was she?

“How did she leave?” I quizzed the palace manager.

“I don’t know, sir.”

“I need to know when she left. How she left. And where she is now.”

“Sir, it’s after midnight,” he complained.

I looked at my watch. I didn’t give a shit what time it was. It was his fault she was gone.

“I expect the information to be included in the lodestar. On my desk before I reach my office tomorrow morning.”

“

Yes— ”

Damn it. I needed another drink if I was going to make it through this night. Molly was supposed to be mine now. I didn’t even know I wanted her before last night. How the fuck had I lost her so quickly?

I ran my fingers through my hair, pulling on the ends in frustration. “Early,” I pressed. “I want the lodestar early.”

“Certainly.”

I hung up, not satisfied with the information I had. Not satisfied about a fucking thing that had happened since the morning.

This morning I had Molly.

14

Molly

The alarm chirped. I pulled the covers close to my shoulders. I was warm in my little cocoon. I had been dreaming. I tried to pull the dream back to focus, but it was fuzzy. The edges came and left my consciousness. And then I saw them. The dark eyes. The lust of Damon’s piercing stare.

My breath caught. I squeezed my eyes together tightly. My core fluttered remembering that look. I’d never forget it. Along with his voice in my ear. It rattled me. Unlocked something in me that wanted to break free.

I sighed when the snooze ended and the alarm chirped again.

“Fine,” I groaned. I tapped my phone, and slid my feet to the floor. I had a lot of work to make up after I disappeared yesterday.

The back of my throat tightened. I didn’t want to admit I was disappointed. How foolish could I be to think the king was going to track down my phone number or show up on my doorstep overnight? I had to stop thinking that way and accept I had an incredible memory to relive anytime I wanted. Nothing more.

I walked to the shower. I brushed my teeth before stepping into the tub. The curtain was chained to the ceiling and only covered one side of the tub. It didn’t matter. There was a small radius where the water splashed. I had to stand in just the right spot to wash my hair or else I’d never get all the shampoo and conditioner out.

I performed my morning ritual, although I didn’t feel as routine as I did before The Titan. Something was different.

I tipped my head back, letting the water pour through my long hair. The angle reminded me how Damon yanked the nape of my neck, pushing me into submission. There was something entirely erotic about giving my control over to him. But it was a give and take. I’d never experienced anything where my body craved giving as much as needing to be pleasured. I felt my body heat from the inside out remembering how I begged him to give me more. I’d never done that.

I finished rinsing off and stepped from the shower, wrapping a towel around my chest. I pulled on a pair of yoga pants and a tank top. I twisted my hair in a bun and poked a pencil through. It could dry later.

The apartment was quiet. Brooklyn was still sleeping.

I started the coffee and turned on the TV. I froze when I saw the same pair of eyes that were in my dream.

“The king has been in closed door meetings with the prime minister of the Bostique Islands for the second straight day,” the reporter stated. “We expect a full briefing from the palace this afternoon.”

I sat on the loveseat, careful not to disturb my rows of notecards. I hadn’t touched them since arriving home.