“And the library?” I blurted.
He laughed. “Yes and then I’ll take you to the library.”
He walked inside, leaving me on the balcony to bask in what was an unbelievable situation. Was this happening? The china cup rattled as I lifted it from the saucer. I looked out at the city below. This was a royal view. The king’s view. And in this moment—it was mine.
11
Damon
I shouldn’t have said it. The moment Molly offered to leave, I should have let her walk out the door. It would be easy to send her home. Watch that cute ass take a step on the other side of my residence and never let it cross the threshold again. But I couldn’t fucking do it. I always got what I wanted and I wanted her. Every part of her.
Membership in the society couldn’t dictate what I did as king. Lesage could fuck off if he thought I cared about his code of honor.
This was my country.
My laws.
My way.
I waited in my office while she changed. I needed to review the itinerary for the day. It was delivered promptly at 8 a.m. each morning in a black leather case. It was called the lodestar. It always had been. It sat on my desk.
I pressed my thumb to the latch. Once my thumbprint was recognized the device unlocked, revealing the official royal schedule. There was a complete listing of every event my brothers and sister would attend today, as well as the talking points I needed to address for my lunch with the prime minister of the Bostique islands.
My sister Isabel was on the other side of the country representing my interests in the irrigation of the country’s olive groves. Although we couldn’t match Spain, our farmers were out producing our neighbors per square acre. It was something I thought worth investing in. Irrigation would double their production.
I ran down the list. Liam had a dinner with the Chinese ambassador. Trade was the number one topic. Klein was on the west coast for the opening of a data research center. Galona tax payers had funded the project.
I held my breath when I saw Dominic’s assignment. Sending him to represent the crown was always a risk. He had a late morning engagement at the hospital in the city. I groaned. As long as Kenley stayed close by, we should be able to avoid a scandal this morning.
I glanced at my aunts’ and uncles’ locations for the day. My cousins were also scattered. Nothing related to official crown business on the list. I folded the page and began to read the diplomatic situation with Morovina. I exhaled. I hated tiptoeing around the fucking obvious.
“Hi.” Molly tapped on the door.
I looked up from my notes, closing the royal briefing with a click.
I stood from my desk. She was wearing the clothes I requested. A slim black skirt that showed off miles of legs and a sleeveless silk shirt. She looked edible. And I knew exactly how sweet she tasted. My cock twitched. Fuck, she had thrown me off my game.
“Are you busy? Should I come back?” she offered.
“No. I was going over today’s agenda. I can look at it later.” I walked to the front of the desk, taking her palm and dragging her toward me.
My hand slid along her jaw, twisting her hair through my fingers. Her lips parted and I couldn’t resist. My kiss wasn’t gentle or romantic. My tongue plunged into her mouth, coaxing a moan from her throat.
I gripped her ass with my other hand.
“Ready to see the royal library, Molly Washington?” I teased.
She dragged her lips over mine. “Mmmhmm.”
“Let’s go.”
I straightened my jacket, positioning my cufflinks so that the family crest was upright. I pressed the button on the elevator.
Molly seemed to have more time to take in her surroundings. “Are there other people here?” she asked.
I cocked my head toward her. “You’ll have to elaborate. My staff is nearly 200.”
“Oh.” She fidgeted nervously. “Visitors? Tourists perhaps?”