Total pages in book: 192
Estimated words: 192810 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 964(@200wpm)___ 771(@250wpm)___ 643(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 192810 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 964(@200wpm)___ 771(@250wpm)___ 643(@300wpm)
“You don’t expect respect, Mistress Laura, you demand it,” Madam Garwah retorted.
“I’d rather earn it,” I said.
Both of them gave me a measuring look then.
Madam Garwah’s eyes lit before Germaine’s did. But I got approval from Germaine too.
Phew!
“Lex will land right on the west lawn in his JetPanther, or better, his OpuStar. It’s less flashy, more luxurious,” Germaine said. “You wait. He’ll help you out. He’ll walk you to the delphinium field. That will be your backdrop. There’s a gravel trail to it, and it’s been dry, so your heels shouldn’t sink in. Even so, watch your step. He’ll then guide you back to the craft, and you’ll take off. Be aware, they’ll be snapping pics before you even land. So control your facial expression in the craft, coming and going. There’s a blockade on airspace above the Sceptred Isle, so no crafts can get close to you there. But other airspace isn’t blocked, even if it’s regulated. So if they manage to get an approved course anywhere near you or within a long-range lens, they’ll snap you. Be aware.”
I nodded again.
“Smile,” Madam Garwah barked.
I painted on what I hoped was the approved smile.
Madam Garwah nodded smartly and declared, “She’s got it. We’re done.”
I hoped I did.
Gods.
Several hours later…
Aleksei held my hand as we walked down the stairs from the landing pad to his penthouse, leaving his lavish OpuStar next to the JetPanther up top.
When we got in, he let my hand go and went directly to the glassed-in wine room that sat opposite the dining room table beyond the stairs.
He came out with a bottle of red and two glasses.
He lifted the bottle my way.
It was barely three o’clock.
I nodded.
He uncorked, poured, handed me one and grabbed the other.
Then he caught my gaze.
“Want to run far away from me yet?” he asked softly.
Oh, my sweet male.
It could not be denied that photo op was nerve wracking. Just the shouting at us set the hairs on my neck to raising. But then there was the jostling of the throng of paparazzi and reporters. The pushing. Worrying if my smile was too big. If I was waving from the wrist. If I leaned too far into Aleksei when he wrapped his arm around my waist. If I could get back to the craft without tripping on a stone.
It was a feeding frenzy, and we were the buffet.
But through it all, he was at my side, and in one way or another, his hand was always on me, wrapped around mine, around my waist, at the small of my back.
Tall, straight, protective, and so, so very handsome.
This was my happily ever after.
No one ever claimed they were perfect.
Just that the hero would be.
And mine, for me, absolutely was.
“Not even close,” I replied.
He didn’t drink his wine.
He swept an arm around me and pulled me to his body.
Then he kissed me.
Oh yes.
Not even close.
Chapter 22
We
I felt the flutter.
My eyes popped open, and instantly, I tossed the covers aside and hurtled myself out of bed.
I nearly dashed to where I felt Aleksei, but then I realized I was only wearing panties.
I snatched up the shirt he’d worn with his suit at the photo op, shrugged it on and had started to race out of the room, when Aleksei burst into it and swayed to a stop.
I stared at him.
He stared at me.
Then I tore across the space and threw myself at him.
He caught me.
My arms were around his neck, my legs around his waist. He had one arm slanted at my back, the other tight around my waist.
“She fluttered,” I whispered into his ear.
“I know, my creature felt her and hauled my ass up here.”
I lifted my head to stare down at him in wonder.
I felt another flutter.
And then I felt something else.
I knew Aleksei did too when our mouths crashed into each other’s.
The kiss was heated but not long, before he broke it, took two steps toward the bed and threw me the rest of the way so I’d land on it.
My sex drenched as I bounced once before he pinned me with his weight.
Ready, raring, I heaved, successfully flipping him to his back.
Before he could take over, I forced myself into position between his legs and tugged his sleep pants down (and one could say, when I did that, he didn’t try too hard to take over). I grabbed hold of his thick cock, leaned in and drew him deeply into my mouth.
I cast my gaze up and saw nothing but miles of muscled chest, the arched column of his throat and the underside of his square jaw, but I heard his low, long groan.
Oh yes.
I worked him, pumping with my fist, sucking with my mouth.
His gaze came to me, burning amethyst.
I worked him harder, faster.
He reached, grabbed me under my arms and dragged me up his chest.