Royal Watch

by Stacey Marie Brown

  “Leave me alone,” I whispered.

  “I can’t,” Lennox rumbled, his timbre gliding down the back of my neck. “Kind of my job.”

  “Please.”

  “What’s wrong?”

  Everything.

  Nothing.

  God, I probably seemed so spoiled, not one person would feel bad for me. I got that. If circumstances were different, I might not either. But as much as I loved Theo and wanted to be with him, this world was strangling the life from me.

  And the way my heart was pounding, my bodyguard was not helping. No, Spence, you don’t feel anything for him. You are feeling lonely and lost right now. Whatever I was feeling, it was something I needed to distance myself from. I needed to get away from it all.

  Peering up, I spotted Eloise arguing with someone hidden behind the mob around her, her face pinched, her head shaking. Was it the same person as earlier? Dalton? Though I was pretty sure I saw him close behind Theo.

  She spit words through her teeth, her finger pointed, forehead lined with fury before she stomped away, heading for me.

  She looked like her night was going as well as mine.

  I rushed forward, feeling the coolness of where Lennox was chill my skin.

  “Eloise?”

  “Bugger, tonight sucks tits,” she grumbled quietly to me, searching her purse for something. “I need a bloody drink.”

  “Same.”

  She looked up at me, inspecting my expression, her head bouncing.

  “You want to get out of here? If I have to pretend and smile any more tonight, I might shatter.” Her mouth flicked up with mischievousness. “Let’s go have fun. Without any of them.”

  “I should tell Theo I’m leaving.”

  “Seriously? That’s missing the whole point.” She stared at me; her eyebrows hiked up into her hairline. “You are so good, Spence. Be bad for a night.”

  That was the thing. I was tired of being a good, well-behaved daughter or girlfriend. Doing whatever others told me. Parents, teachers, now the entire royal house.

  “Lennox will never go for that.” I rolled my eyes in his direction.

  “You act like I haven’t done this before. I’m a professional at dodging my guards.” She drew out her phone, typing out a text. It was only a few seconds before it beeped, her smile growing. “Freedom awaits. Follow me.”

  “How?” I turned around to see Lennox only a few yards back, his lids narrowing as if he sensed I was about to go against him.

  “Don’t lose me and whatever you do… don’t turn back when he yells your name.” She wiggled her eyebrows, flicking her head to where her bodyguard, Peter, was blending in with the wall. “Don’t worry, you’re with a proficient guard ditcher. You ready?”

  “Absolutely.”

  She clutched my arm and, in a blink, scurried us deeper into the cluster of figures, weaving, twisting, and sprinting for an exit, slipping out into the cold, damp night like a freaking ninja.

  “Princess!”

  “Spencer!”

  Our names echoed in the air, only pushing us faster, across the pavement, the back area quiet, empty, and dark, glowing with a dim yellow-green light. Our heels smacked against the wet concrete, the thumps of their boots clipping up my spine.

  “Where are we—?” Tires squealed in the night, and a pristine black Aston Martin skidded to a stop in front of us, the tinted windows lowering, a familiar blonde behind the driver’s seat.

  “You ladies looking for a lift?” Hazel winked as Eloise tore the door open. What the hell? I just left her with Theo’s group inside.

  “Spencer! Stop!” Lennox boomed, curling with anger and warning, his tone wrapping around the chilly air, flushing my skin.

  “There is no ditching me and running out the back of a store like it’s some goddamn movie.” I could hear Lennox’s statement twist guilt into my chest, but I shoved it away. He didn’t control my life or me.

  I dove into the backseat. The car was obviously made for speed and looks, not necessarily comfort for guests in the rear.

  Eloise hadn’t even shut the door before Hazel slammed on the gas, the car squealing as it tore off, speeding down a back alley.

  Twisting my head around, I saw Lennox slow his chase, coming to a stop, his expression vibrating with fury. I couldn’t hear him but saw him bellow, “Fuck!” His foot stomped as Peter caught up, both of their figures disappearing into the darkness.

  I turned around, settling back into the seat, the wind blowing back on me, my heart thumping, adrenaline spiking my veins, the first real smile all night arching my lips.

  “Can I say, best idea ever. I was about to shoot myself if I had to watch one more horse jump or hear about their statistics.” Hazel shifted the stick, propelling the car faster through the city like it was on rails. “Glad Lord John’s car was in front. I’ve wanted to take this car for a spin for a while now.”

  “Wait. This isn’t your car?” I asked over the pop music pumping through the car, my question making them both look at me like I had lost my mind.

  “Oh, sweetie, you have a lot to learn. You never take your own car.” Hazel glided around a corner.

  “Why?”

  “They have trackers on all royal cars. And security knows all our friends’ cars. Easy to find our location,” Eloise replied, her hair flicking wildly in the breeze. “Plus, this is so much more fun.”

  “So, where to?” Hazel asked.

  Eloise pulled a joint out of her purse, lighting it up. She leaned back her head, inhaling and exhaling deeply. “The Church.”

  Hazel’s mouth curved up. “Yes.”

  “Church?” My forehead wrinkled.

  Hazel winked at me through the rearview mirror. “Oh, Spence. Stick with us… You’re about to have a fall to your knees otherworldly experience.”

  The Church was the antithesis of its name.

  Set in an old refurbished church, the ceiling soared far above our heads, the “confession booth” was the name of the huge bar along the side wall. Saints and Sinners were over the nongender toilets.

  The music swayed my whole body, my mind twirling around each melody, feeling it rush through my skin and pound in my chest like a drum. The band, The Priests, were on the stage, their haunting, sexy sound tipping my head back and making me feel utterly free. Sexy. Powerful.

  “I need water.” Hazel fanned herself, her eyes glazed as she continued to dance to the music as if she couldn’t stop.

  I had smoked weed enough in school, but never anything past that. When Eloise placed a white pill on my tongue, I knew what I was getting into.

  I was tired of feeling sheltered. Good. Controlled.

  For one night, I wanted to act my age, lash out because everything I worked for in school had been flushed down the drain. Be free to feel angry. Though, I couldn’t seem to muster one ounce of irritation anywhere. I just felt happy. Warm. The lazy smile on my face aching my cheeks, my figure moving without my say, my arms twining above my head.

  I understood I could get really involved in charities, and maybe that would be fine for me down the road.

  But tonight it wasn’t.

  The three of us danced in the middle of the packed dance floor, the thick, sticky air dripping sweat down my back, soaking through the white dress that probably cost more than most people’s rent here. My nylons were in the bathroom bin, and my heels had been discarded. I had no idea when or where I lost them.

  I didn’t care.

  My bare feet stuck to the wood floor, and the smells of marijuana, alcohol, sweat, and body odor filled the air, but everything felt so right. So good.

  “Everyone is so high here; no one cares who we are and wouldn’t recall they saw me five seconds later.” Eloise had told me this when we had come in, the bouncer outside letting us through a side door. “I can always be myself here and have fun.”

  “No one’s recognized you?”

  “Yeah, but no one actually thinks it’s really me. Most believe I’m
a really good lookalike performer.”

  “Remember that time that drag queen was dressed like you?” Hazel laughed. “She totally called you a wannabe. It was hilarious.”

  “Seriously?” I chuckled.

  “Compared to her, I was!” Eloise exclaimed with amusement. “She did me better than me.”

  It must be surreal to have people dressing up as you, performing in clubs and events.

  The band switched to a slower sultry sound, making my nerves tingle as barely dressed sweaty bodies bumped into me, rubbing sensually against me. Deep in the back of my brain, I knew I would normally find this extremely uncomfortable and gross. I hated overcrowded places and being groped by strangers, but right now…?

  It was a-maz-ing.

  Swaying my hips, I lifted my hair off my neck, my tongue sticking to the roof of my mouth. “I’m gonna get some water,” I yelled to the girls.

  “Tell them to put it on my tab,” Eloise spoke as the guy behind her rubbed his hands down her arms, making her head fall back in bliss.

  “Get me one too,” Hazel said between the two guys on either side of her.

  Nodding, I pushed through the crowd, heading for the confession booth. My mobile, stuffed in my bra strap, was buzzing frantically again, thumping down into my bones. I had ignored it, but for some reason, I tugged it out, peering down at the name lighting across the screen.

  Tosser. Well, that’s what I had him under in my cell.

  A smile I couldn’t control spread over my lips, my stomach fluttering up into my chest. My mind and body seemed to have no ties to each other as one screamed to hit the red button, while the other one hit the green.

  I pressed it to my ear. “Hello, Tosser.”

  “Spencer.” Low. Deep. Vibrating with rage, his voice licked my ear, shuddering down my body, making my breath hitch.

  Shit!

  “Did you need something?” The innocence in my words was a little too playful.

  “Do. I. Need. Something.” Slow. Husky. It didn’t sound like a question, but a challenge.

  Fuckfuckfuckbuggerfuck.

  “I need you to…” He paused.

  My chest rose up and down, my brain telling me to hang up, but my hand didn’t move from my ear.

  “What?” I whispered.

  “Turn your head to the left.”

  My throat tightened, my heart picking up speed as I bent my neck to the side.

  Darkness engulfed the far wall, figures moving against it, snogging, some shagging, but only one was distinct. Like he was the only one in technicolor, while the rest were a hazy black and white.

  Blue-hazel eyes glowed from the dark, locking on me like a laser beam.

  A tiny gasp escaped my throat.

  “Found you.” Husky, Lennox’s timbre poured over me through the phone, swirling my head, chucking out any thoughts that might have stood a chance in my mind.

  My feet padded slowly to him, the mobile dropping from my ear, my breath clipped. The countering voice in my head told me to stop, to go back and dance with the girls as my body continued toward him.

  “You promised me.” His eyes bore into me, and I felt like the suddenly scratchy material of my white dress stood no chance against him.

  “Actually, I never technically promised you anything.” I stepped closer.

  He watched me as I approached, his figure tightening when I crossed the line into his personal space, my toes curling over the top of his black shoes, feeling every nick that had been covered by polish.

  “You found me.” Every syllable was raspy and throaty. The fabric of his tailored suit rubbed at my bare legs, my fingers reaching out like antennas, craving to touch, needing to know how it felt against my skin. “Now what?”

  My hand grazed over his jacket, loving the switch between that and his fitted white dress shirt, the buttons tapping into my palm as I dragged my hand down, tickling, causing me to giggle.

  But it died as fast as it came, when my skin soaked in the heat coming through the fabric, the feel of his heart pounding against my hand, the way air clenched the muscles in his stomach when I glided down his torso, fascinated and obsessed with the way he felt, my thighs throbbing with need—an ache to be touched back.

  “Spencer…” He said my name hoarsely, the warning driving through my body with need. I wanted more. Needed it. I pressed in closer, the rest of me jealous of my hands.

  “What are you doing?” His fingers wrapped around my wrists, holding me in place, but he didn’t push me away.

  “Loosen up.” I tugged his tie, slackening it, my leg dragging down his trousers, the sensation flushing me with shivers. Everyone should feel this good. “You are so uptight and rigid.”

  The music and my heartbeat were thumping in my ears, but I could’ve sworn I heard him mutter, “That’s not what’s rigid right now.” But his words fluttered away like everything else in my head. No past, no present, only this exact moment.

  “Spencer. Stop.” His grip on my wrists tightened, still not moving me from his frame. His jaw stern, his nose flaring.

  Damn, he smelled good.

  He burned my skin, the sensation heaving me with desire. The feel of his heavy erection pressing into me had dire need pulsing my core, the desperation to feel him thrust into me, to feel his body rub against mine.

  A throaty groan crawled up my throat. I wanted to reach that ultimate high, feel the universe implode around me. You mean actually have an orgasm. A voice sprouted in the back of my head. I shoved the thought back, not wanting to deflate my blissful joy bubble, ignoring the scratching sense of guilt that I was doing something wrong.

  “What are you on?” Lennox drew my attention up to him, his grip on my wrists clutching down, our mouths just a breath apart. “What did you take?”

  His questions were dampening my mood. I didn’t care what I took or what happened earlier. I was about now. Feeling. Loving. Enjoying the moment.

  “You my father?” I frowned. “Should I call you Daddy?”

  “Oh, we’re not gonna go there,” he muttered, each word sounding strained between his teeth.

  Dropping my arms, his hands slid under my jaw, causing me to bite down on my lip, my lids closing with the deliciousness.

  “Open your eyes,” he demanded. The authoritative voice had my lids bursting open, my throat humming like a lion.

  He stared down into my face. Examining. Tilting my head to the side, catching the light in my pupils.

  “Fuck, you’re high.”

  “Good to see your years of military training didn’t go to waste.” I giggled, finding that strangely funny. Everything was funny. My hands moved back to his torso without my say, my mood shifting to serious like the beat of butterfly wings. “And there’s nothing you can do or say about it.”

  His figure loomed over me, hands still cupping my face, and his gaze switched from inspecting to something that looped my stomach around like a carnival ride.

  We stayed like that until his head shook slightly, his voice barely above a whisper. “You’re going to wreck me.”

  My lids narrowed, my head far too fuzzy to understand what he meant, but the words were a backdrop to the way his focus dropped to my mouth, the feel of his fingers digging into the skin under my jaw. Emotions I couldn’t even begin to unthread exploded in my chest, rising me up on my toes with one desire.

  “Spencer…” My name was filled with caution. “You are not in your right mind. Don’t.” But he did nothing to actually stop me. And I couldn’t seem to do anything but barrel forward, the craving and need to taste him rolled over all my own alarms ringing in the back of my head.

  My lips grazed his, already blistering my body with heat.

  “Lennox?” His name volleyed from behind me, jolting me back like I had been shot. “What are you guys doing?”

  Swinging around, Hazel stood a few yards from us, her head tilting, brows furrowing.

  “Fuck.” I heard him hiss under his breath, fully stepping away from me lik
e I was a disease.

  “Ms. Seymour.” Lennox nodded at her, pulling up his shoulders, going fully into bodyguard mode.

  Her blurry eyes darted back and forth between us for another beat before a happy smile curled her mouth. Wobbling on her bare feet, she headed to him. Sweaty, her hair tangled, she still looked like she just stepped off a runway. “Think we’re well past formal names, don’t you think?” Her declaration burned my joyful buzz into oblivion, my fingers rolling into fists.

  What did she mean by that? Had they gotten together? Had sex? She said she would, and Hazel wasn’t a girl any guy would turn down.

  She tried to shove him back into the wall, but he didn’t budge. She didn’t seem to notice as she leaned into him, running her hands over him. Freely. Openly.

  Like she had the right. Like they had before.

  “I was actually hoping you’d find us. About to turn back on my mobile so you could track us.” She pressed into him, sniffing at his neck. “Bloody hell. You smell so goooood.”

  Mobile.

  I never turned mine off. I was the worst rebel ever.

  Lifting my eyes, I caught him staring intently at me over her shoulder, though I couldn’t decipher anything in his expression. All I knew was what was in front of me. Hazel and Lennox. With every breath, reality sank around my feet, twisting my gut.

  Theo, my mind screamed at me. You don’t care. You have Theo!

  Suddenly I missed him, needing him to clear my head.

  “Let’s get out of here,” Hazel muttered into his ear, hands moving over his chest, her voice having no understanding of volume. “Go back to mine.”

  He seized her arms, pulling them away from him. “I’m on duty right now.”

  Hazel’s attention once again went from him to me with more awareness than felt comfortable, her lips pressing together.

  “Bollocks.” Eloise strolled up next to me, her hair tied up in a top knot, her arms folding in a huff. “They found us.” Her attention darted around the room. “Where’s the other?”