Don't Tell (Don't 1)

The lodestar was thicker than usual. Although, this morning it was the last thing I wanted to read. Molly was naked next to me. I had brought coffee to bed along with the daily briefing. I read the day’s agenda while she slept. I had a hard time keeping my eyes off her body.

I’d never told a woman I’d loved them. I didn’t think it was in my DNA. But last night I spoke the words with full intention of meaning exactly what I said.

I was in love with this woman. I realized she wasn’t the one dowager queen or Sutcliffe would have chosen. But like hell if I was going to end up like Sebastian, wanting one woman while hating the one I had.

Molly stirred next to me. Her eyes fluttered open and she smiled.

“Bonjour, love.” I closed the lodestar and locked the seal.

“Bonjour.”

“How did you sleep?”

She stretched her long legs. I couldn’t get enough of them. Graceful and strong. Her body was a work of art.

“I can’t remember.” She giggled.

I reached for a cup of coffee, handing her the extra one I brought in from the service cart. “For you.”

She sat forward, taking the mug to her lips. “Mmm. I love waking up like this.”

“Is it the coffee or me?” I teased.

“The coffee.”

I laughed at her coy grin.

“I only have thirty minutes before my first meeting. Since the vote for the olive groves passed yesterday, there is legislation that has to be reviewed.”

“Don’t you have attorneys for that kind of thing?”

“Yes. But I’m a hands-on king.”

“In many ways.” Her eyebrows lifted over the mug.

“After that, I’m going to see Lesage. I want to make sure the contract has been ended.”

Molly eyes were a lighter shade of blue in the morning. It was hard not to stare at how fucking gorgeous she was.

“Should I go with you?”

“No.” I shook my head. “That is definitely not allowed.”

“Ok. I need to check on Brooklyn. I sort of left her last night to deal with that situation. I’m becoming the world’s worst friend.”

I rested my hand on her knee. “I doubt she believes that. I’m sorry she got mixed up with Sebastian.”

“But he seemed sincere, don’t you think? The way he looked at her. I believed him. He looked miserable, Damon.”

I exhaled. I didn’t have a soft spot for him. I never had. We had always competed through school. He resented my position long before I was king.

“Doesn’t matter. He’s not going to leave Carina, and if your friend heard anything I said last night, she’ll stay away from him.”

“Maybe it’s not that easy for them.”

“Love, it is that easy. Carina will destroy them both. If you speak to Brooklyn today make sure she doesn’t go near him.”

Molly clutched the coffee. “I’m not going to tell her who she can have feelings for. Friends don’t do that. Maybe they have something real. Have you considered it could be serious?”