10
Molly
I didn’t know what was supposed to happen now. I was sure any minute Damon was going to kick me out of bed and send me home. That would be it. The end of the contract. The end of my one-night fantasy.
He’s breathing returned to normal. He pushed off the mattress, looking at me with the kind of look that made me want to do what we had done all over again.
“I-I should go?” I whispered.
“I had coffee brought up,” he answered. “Join me.”
He rolled away and I immediately missed the closeness of his body.
I watched in awe as he pulled a pair of lounge pants over his powerful legs and tucked his shaft inside. My clothes had been strung all over the residence. I wasn’t sure I could put them back together.
I bit my lip, not sure how to proceed.
Damon walked to his dresser and grabbed a shirt. “How about this, love?”
He tossed a white T-shirt to me.
I nodded. “Thanks.”
I threaded it over my head and stood. It barely covered the edge of my bottom.
He pressed his lips together, frowning. “Wait here.”
Damon strolled to a door at the other end of the room. He turned on the light and my jaw dropped when I saw the rows of suits. It was a wardrobe as large as my entire apartment.
He returned with a pair of jogging shorts with a drawstring.
“Probably a little big, but maybe you can tighten them.”
I stepped into the pair of black shorts. I noticed an emblem near the hem.
“What’s this?” I asked.
“Galona’s Royal Navy crest.”
“Oh.” I pulled the string as tightly as I could and tied them into a secure knot. The shorts hung low on my hips, but at least I wasn’t half naked.
“My favorite running shorts, actually. One of the only things I have from my navy training.”
My eyes widened. “You were in the Royal Navy? I wouldn’t think you’d have to do that.” I followed him through the double doors and out onto a balcony.
He poured a cup of coffee and handed it to me.
“Thank you.” It smelled heavenly.
“Why? Do you think because I’m royalty I shouldn’t serve my country in the military?”
From his tone I could tell I may have struck a nerve. “It seems maybe running the country would suffice.” I smiled. I tried to picture him in a full military uniform. Could he possibly get any sexier?
“The House of Sauvage has a strong tradition of military service. My father and all my brothers have served. After I completed university, I was an officer in the Royal Navy for four years. I had to retire earlier than expected when I was crowned king. I left service as a captain.”
“You didn’t know you were going to be king?” I sipped the coffee and I looked across the balcony. The view was incredible. I could see endless miles of ocean, surrounding the city of Freychon. It was beautiful from the top of the palace.
He followed my gaze to a ship leaving the marina. “No. My father’s death wasn’t planned.”
Shit. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to sound ignorant of your family’s history. I’m very sorry.”
His eyes floated in my direction. “How long have you been in Galona?” He quickly changed the subject.
“Ten months,” I answered.
“Have you spent all your time in the city, or have you ventured out of Freychon?”
“Not much,” I admitted. “I’ve gone to the beach with my friend a few times. I did a vineyard tour.”
“Not much, is correct.” He frowned.
“Well, I don’t have a lot of free time.” It might sound better if I explained I wasn’t uninterested in his country. I was up to my eyeballs in my dissertation research. “I will explore the country. I just need a little time.”
His eyes narrowed. “And what is it that takes up so much of your time?” His voice was cold, icy.
“My dissertation.”
He arched his eyebrows. “You’re at the Conservatory?” It seemed to change his tone.
I nodded. “I’m here on a scholarship. Sometimes I feel like I’ll never be done, and then other times I don’t want it to be over. But for now, it’s time consuming. I keep telling myself I’ll travel when the writing is complete. At least it brought me here.” I smiled. I rattled on longer than I intended.
He leaned against the table, his heavy arms shifting the weight of the surface. “The burning question is what do you study, Miss Washington? Should I guess?” His smile was devilish. In the sunlight, I could see flecks of amber in his dark eyes. They were subtle, but they were there. “You seem to be an avid learner.”
Holy shit. My cheeks flushed with embarrassment. What happened between us last night and this morning was not me. It was alternate me. The me who wanted to try something wild and naughty. The me who needed a break from the notecards.
“I-I. Literature,” I sputtered. Contrary to what he thought, I wasn’t schooled in stripper or hooker activity. Last night was a first.
“Maybe you’d be interested in the royal library.”
“The royal library?” I knew there was a special collection in the city that hadn’t been archived for public use. I had no idea it was housed here. Like The Titan, I thought it was an urban legend. Just a much nerdier one.
“Collected for centuries. It’s downstairs.”
“It’s here? In the palace?”
He nodded lazily. “Would you like to see it?”
“I would love to see it.” The smile quickly dropped from my face.
I wasn’t supposed to stay. I had been given explicit instructions to get the hell out of the fantasy as soon as the sun came up. The contract was clear. No loitering. No stalling. No segue way to the next part of the day. The Titan created a one-night binding contract.
“Something wrong?” He poured a second cup of coffee for me. The china mugs were small.
I looked down at his T-shirt, covering my breasts. The shorts tied around my waist. “I need to leave. I can’t overstay my welcome.” I started to rise from the table. My clothes had to be around here somewhere.
“Sit,” he commanded.
My skin bristled. “But I know I should leave.” The truth was I didn’t want to wait around to be kicked out. I could leave with some shred of dignity if I collected my things and left of my own accord.
“Do you see anyone from The Titan here?”
I shook my head. “No.”
He pulled his expensive watch into the sunlight. He tapped it. “The fucking contract has expired, Molly.”
“What does that mean?” I could feel something in the air changing. “What are you saying?”
“It means, you’re staying.”
I blinked. “But I have…I can’t. Can I?” My head was spinning. This wasn’t part of the plan. It was strictly forbidden.
“You can and you will.” He seemed confident whatever he said was law. Maybe it was.
He rose from the table. “I’ll have some clothes delivered.”
“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.