His mouth worked me with increasing confidence. Long pulls. Gentle suction. Tongue working the underside of my shaft.
I wanted to call it a mistake. But I had chosen Adrian once and I would choose him again.
And right now, that loyalty meant enduring Noah's very thorough argument while pretending to focus on business.
Adrian slid a sealed folder across the desk.
“When do I start.”
“Tonight,” Adrian said. “A car will be waiting.”
Noah's mouth worked faster. Harder. Taking me deeper. His hands gripped my thighs.
“Do not make me regret it,” Adrian said.
I nodded. Could not speak. Could only feel Noah's mouth. His tongue. The heat and pressure building.
Noah pulled off. Looked up at me from between my legs. Eyes bright. Mouth wet. “Good luck with the prince. Try not to fall in love.”
Then his mouth was back. Working me until I came hard down histhroat with Adrian watching and the storm raging outside and a folder with a prince's name waiting on the desk.
Perfect weather for drowning.
4
PRINCE AND THE SHADOW
SEBASTIAN
Iwas adjusting my cufflinks in the gilded mirror when Élodie walked in without knocking.
“You look miserable,” she said, setting down a tea tray I hadn't asked for.
“I look princely.” I tugged at the collar of my shirt, perfectly tailored and perfectly suffocating. “There's a difference.”
“You look like you're about to bolt.” She came up beside me, fixing my collar even though it was already perfect. Her fingers were gentle, familiar. The way my mother's used to be. “Another guard. Another lecture about safety. I know you're thrilled.”
I caught her eyes in the mirror. “When have I ever been thrilled about guards?”
“Never.” She smiled, but it didn't quite reach her eyes. There was worry there. The same worry that had been growing for months now, ever since the attacks started getting bolder. “But this one's different.”
“They're all the same. Serious. Professional. Utterly convinced they know better than me.”
“Try not to flirt with this one.”
I laughed despite myself. “I don't flirt with my guards.”
“You flirt with everyone, Sebastian. It's a reflex at this point.”
“It's called charm. Very different.”
“Well, save it.” She stepped back, studying me with that knowing look that meant she saw through every mask I wore. “This one looks like he eats steel for breakfast.”
Something about that description sparked interest. Not attraction. Just curiosity. The way you'd be curious about a wolf that wandered into a garden party.
“Now you're making me interested.”
“Don't be.” She picked up the tea tray again, heading for the door. “He's here to keep you alive, not entertain you.”
