Total pages in book: 115
Estimated words: 107763 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 539(@200wpm)___ 431(@250wpm)___ 359(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 107763 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 539(@200wpm)___ 431(@250wpm)___ 359(@300wpm)
“The queen is awake and has called for Lady Hathor,” she stated.
“What?” I gasped in horror.
“I shall bring her in a moment,” he said to her.
“Now is preferred, not in a moment, and I shall take her,” she replied and looked to me.
I nodded.
For the first time coming here I felt…fearful.
Wilhelm
I stayed for a moment as Lady Crane took her. I desperately tried to collect myself, begging the blood to rush away from my cock and back to my damn brain! What in the bloody hell was wrong with me? Actually, it was a stupid question to ask. I knew exactly what was wrong with me: It was her. Hathor was wrong with me. I had, barely an hour ago, sworn to her father that I would not cross the line. Well, I hadn’t said it in so many words, but the meaning was clear: Be a gentleman, and protect her innocence.
And I, savage that I was, took it the moment she was out of his sight. And I could not stop thinking of it. I could still feel her wetness on my fingertips. I could still hear the moans coming out of her lips, from deep in her chest. The taste of her in my mouth…how utterly sensual her face was.
Fuck.
“Calm the fuck down,” I ordered myself. I wanted her so badly again. I couldn’t think of anything else. I had just had her and I still wanted her as if I had never touched her before. Just knowing what I could do to her…what more I could teach her. I wanted to lick every inch of her beautiful brown skin.
Fuck.
I needed her like the earth needed the sun; daily, hourly…forever.
Like a man who needed air.
All I could do was tell myself to be patient. To relax. It took a few minutes, but finally I managed to move from my spot in the hall.
I walked to where I knew my aunt and Hathor would be. Sure enough, there they were, in the center of the blue room. To my surprise, they were surrounded by dozens of other court ladies. Not a soul noticed me; they were far too busy speaking of the wedding. And of course, Hathor listened as if all their words were bread and water. There was a look of fierce concentration in her hazel eyes as Lady Crane pressed down on her shoulder with a cane, forcing her to kneel very slowly before the queen, whose lips were puckered, eyes sharp, ready to critique any mistake.
“The queen called us in very early to begin preparing her, but you could not be found,” Lady Vivienne Gallagher whispered as she stepped up beside me, dressed in white, her long blonde hair pinned only partially behind her ears. Her pink lips formed a sly smile. “It’s been far too long. I’d ask how you’ve been, but I can see quite clearly, you’ve been busy getting a wife.”
“Hello, Lady Millchester.”
“Lady Millchester?” Her head turned to me as she stepped closer, as if we were not already far too close. “Please do not tell me you are reverting to such pleasantries for your soon-to-be wife already?”
“It is not as though it would be correct for me to go around calling you Vivi, now, would it?”
“If you don’t tell, I won’t—”
“Don’t,” I said, pulling my hands behind my back when she tried to brush her fingers against mine. “Let’s talk outside.”
I stepped into the hallway first, moving away from the door as far as I could, over to the windows.
“What is the matter with you?” She laughed as she came to join me.
“Lady Hathor and I are to be married, Vivienne.”
“Yes, I know, I am the one who tried to convince you to marry her in the first place.” She stepped closer to me, this time bringing her face closer to mine. “That doesn’t mean you and I—”
“That’s exactly what it means.” I turned my face from her attempted kiss, glancing down the hall to make sure no one else was near.
“August?”
“You are to call me Prince Wilhelm, Your Highness, or sir from now on, as well.”
“August, you cannot be serious!”
“But I am.” I exhaled. I never wanted to have this conversation, but I had to. I was already lacking in so many things, I could not be an adulterer also. I did not want to hurt Hathor with Vivienne, or any other woman from my past. The mere thought of what her face would look like made me sick.
“August, it is very sweet and honorable that you wish to be faithful to that girl, but you and I both know you need—more.” Again, she tried to touch me, and again I stopped her.
“I will be satisfied with whatever Hathor offers me. Do not call her that girl. She is Lady Hathor, the future Princess Consort of Malrovia.”