Recklessly Royal

by Nichole Chase

  “Are you okay, dear?” Selene looked at me with worried eyes.

  “I’m better this morning.” I took a deep breath as if to prove it. “David kept me calm.” I smiled over at him. “But I think I ruined this dress.” My smile turned into a frown as I looked at the material hanging around my legs. There was mascara on the pale pink skirt.

  “You still look amazing.” He reached out and tucked some of my hair behind my ear.

  “I hate that I wasted the dress.” I sighed. “I had been saving it for a special night.”

  “Playing Crazy Eights wasn’t a special night to you?” He mock-frowned. “I’m heartbroken.”

  “Oh hush.” I pushed at his shoulder. “Chadwick will be glad you loved your new tux so much that you slept in it.”

  “Remind me to thank him for insisting on the extra tight pants. They were so comfortable last night.” The snark was palpable.

  Selene was watching us with a small smile. “Not to interrupt your adorable banter, but what do you want me to do with Tabitha?” From the sound of her voice, she had a few ideas of her own.

  “I don’t know.” I shrugged. The truth was that despite the laughs we had shared, I’d be just fine if I never saw her again. But that seemed unfair. She had done her job for the last two weeks, even if she was a bit confused about what that entailed.

  “I’m going to say something that Cathy will probably disagree with, but I think it should be said.” David turned to look at me. “I don’t trust her. I’ve been thinking about this all night and I don’t see why it couldn’t have been her that leaked the photos. Somehow the media has been following you relentlessly since she started working for you. She could be leaking information.”

  “I don’t want to jump to conclusions.” I shook my head. “The media could have simply found us at the movie theater, and let’s not forget that with Alex and Sam being out of the country, they needed somewhere to focus their attention.”

  “I happen to agree with David.” Selene cleared her throat. “It would be almost impossible to prove, but I can’t overlook the fact that she has ignored your basic needs. She should have approached you with the information about the pictures in a much better way.”

  “She’s only been working for me for a couple of weeks. She couldn’t know how it would affect me.” I frowned. I was defending her, but I remembered some of the evil, hate-filled looks Tabitha had shot my way. Especially when I insisted on going home the night before.

  “Anyone would have been upset about the pictures. And she shouldn’t have insisted that you go to the auction when you were obviously distraught.” David wrapped his fingers around mine. “Give her a different job, demote her without calling it that. Put some distance between you both. Don’t let her put you in a bad position.”

  “I’ll tell her that I’ve decided to let Selene pick up some of the work,” I said. “To keep you from tormenting the nurses.” I shot my old friend a look.

  “Honesty is the best policy.” Selene shot me a devilish smile. “She’s still going to suspect that she’s in trouble.”

  “Good.” David was obviously not on Team Tabitha.

  I slapped his leg. “If she is leaking stuff, we don’t want to alienate her.”

  “Friends close, enemies closer.” David nodded his head.

  “Exactly.” Selene sipped more of her tea. “I’ll take care of Tabitha.”

  “What about me?” She walked out into the living room, still wearing her dress from the night before and carrying her shoes.

  “Where have you been?” Selene set her cup down on her saucer. “You should be up dealing with today’s turn of events.”

  “I was busy this morning.” She shrugged, and one of her breasts almost popped out of her dress. “A friend came over.”

  “You invited a friend into my home?” I stood up, shocked.

  “Yes, my boyfriend came over to comfort me last night.”

  “To comfort you?” My ire was white-hot. “To comfort you where? You aren’t coming from your room. Where is he?”

  “We slept in one of the guest rooms. And he left out the back, where his car was parked.” She set her shoes down on the floor and stepped into them. “Now, what is it you want me to do this morning? I tried to make things right last night, but you weren’t having any of it.”

  “I want you to pack your shit and get the hell out of my house.” The words flew out of my mouth before I could censor them.

  “Excuse me?”

  “You disappeared last night, you got drunk on the job, invited a stranger into my home during a difficult time, and then did God knows what in a guest room that is reserved for visiting dignitaries.” I clenched my hands at my sides. “Get your stuff and get out.”

  “You might as well clear out your desk at the palace as well,” Selene added. “I’ll let them know you have limited access for the next two days.”

  “You’re firing me?” She put her hands on her hips and I had to fight a violent urge. Apparently I’d spent too much time with my sister-in-law.

  “Yes.”

  “For having my boyfriend over.” She started laughing. “Fine. Fire me for having my boyfriend over to your freaking house. Fire me for being driven to drinking by your emotional baggage. Do you know how much money you cost me yesterday?”

  “What are you talking about?” David stood up and put a hand on my shoulder.

  “She bailed on an interview. I was going to make five thousand euros just for getting Her Highness to talk to someone.” She pointed at me and I froze. “I didn’t complain when you chose one of the lowest bidders, but then you started crying like a giant baby. I’ve been helping you! You’re boring, you do nothing, and your charity was going to fizzle.”

  “Did you take those pictures?” I squeezed the words out from between my teeth.

  “How could I have taken those pictures? I was a floor down with the peasants, remember?” She sashayed toward the stairs.

  “If I found out you took those pictures, you will never work in Lilaria again.” I could feel the explosion building under the surface, fighting to get free of my tight hold.

  “Is that a threat, Princess?” She turned to look at me. “Are you threatening an ex-employee?”

  “I’m reminding you of the contract you signed.” I sneered at her. “The one where you agreed to never release revealing or damaging information about the royal family and their staff.”

  “Well, it would be impossible to prove that I took any pictures.”

  “It’s not impossible to find out who leaked them.” David laughed. “And from what I can tell from your face, you’re going to have something to worry about all the way back to whatever hellhole you came out of.”

  She turned to go back to her room and I broke. “Get out. Don’t get your stuff. I’ll have it shipped to you. Get out of my home right now.”

  “This isn’t your home. This is your mommy’s home.” She laughed. “You’re just a floating figurehead. You have no real title or job. You have nothing but your boy toy—”

  “ENOUGH!” I shook with the need to hurt her. “I may be a princess, but I can get my bitch on when I need to. Take your slutty ass and leave right now.” She started to respond and I held up my hand. “If you don’t want to be escorted out by Jameson and Mark, you will keep your lying mouth shut.”

  Jameson had come to stand by the door with crossed arms. His face was impassive, but just his large bulk was threatening. You could feel his desire to throw her out vibrating in the air.

  Turning on one heel she marched to the door and yanked it open. Without a look back she disappeared, but not before slamming the heavy wood panel.

  I stood there shaking, unable to say anything while my blood boiled with rage. The only other time I had been this angry was when I found out Sam had been mobbed by the paparazzi. I had let Tabitha into my home, into my life, and she had sold pictures of me to people who would use them to damage my reputation.

  The sound of clap
ping caught my attention and I realized that Selene was applauding me. “I didn’t think you had that in you.”

  “I guess we’re surprising each other this week.” I shrugged.

  “Wow.” David touched my hand and I turned to look at him. “That was really sexy.” His eyes ran over me hungrily, but there was a small smile playing along his lips that softened the comment. “I really like you as an angry princess.”

  “Off with their heads!” Selene cackled.

  I turned to look at her and couldn’t stop my own laughter. She was holding her chest, but otherwise looked happier than I had seen her in years.

  David pulled me into his arms and rested his chin on top of my head. “Are you okay?”

  “I think so.” I melted against him, glad that he was there to comfort me. “I wanted to beat her face in.”

  “I could tell.” His chuckle vibrated in his chest under my cheek. “She deserved it.”

  “Hell yes, she did.” I shook my head. “I can’t believe she sold those pictures. I can’t believe she was auctioning off interviews with me.”

  “She was evil,” Selene said from her seat. She looked a little paler and had slumped in her seat. “I’m the one to blame. I hired her and thought she would match well with you when it was time for me to retire.”

  “Are you okay?” I knelt down at her chair. “David, get the nurse.”

  He disappeared in an instant.

  “I’m fine. Just tired.” She shook her head slowly. “I made a very bad mistake.”

  “It just means that you have to live forever and never retire.” I grabbed her hand and squeezed it.

  “I’ll see what I can do.” She smiled at me.

  “Time to get you in bed.” The nurses came out of the kitchen.

  “Okay.” Selene let them help her out of the chair, and she wasn’t feeling well if she wasn’t complaining about being told what to do.

  “Will you stay awhile?” I looked over at David.

  “I’ll call Chadwick and let him know.” He smiled. “I told you, you’re not in this alone.”

  “Thank you,” I whispered as I followed the nurses upstairs.

  Selene collapsed in her bed and I sat next to her while the nurses checked her blood pressure and the incisions on her chest.

  “Is she okay?”

  “She’s fine, just worn out. I think you surprised the hell out of her.” The nurse winked at me before giving Selene some medicine. “Can’t say that I wouldn’t have done the same in your place.”

  “I suppose that everyone heard that, huh?” I cringed.

  “I didn’t hear anyone complaining.” The nurse winked at me. “I’m going to step outside for a few minutes, but Selene really does need to sleep.”

  “I understand.”

  “You did the right thing.” Selene’s fingers squeezed mine. “I’m sorry.”

  “Don’t be sorry.” I shook my head. “I should have trusted my gut, but I thought I was just reacting to all of the change that was happening.”

  “Well, we both learned some lessons this month.” She smiled at me. “Tell Chadwick what happened. He’ll get you taken care of until we find a replacement.”

  “I think David is already on the phone with him.” I smiled.

  “I like him.”

  “Chadwick?” I laughed.

  “David. He’s good for you. You’ve been so quiet and careful lately. It’s good to see you reach out to someone else.” Her eyes drifted shut slowly.

  “I like him too.” I leaned over and kissed her head. “Get some rest. I’m willing to bet that Chadwick is already on his way here.”

  Downstairs I found David on the phone, pacing in front of the fireplace.

  “Yes, I will be in tomorrow.” His back was to me, so I didn’t disturb him. “Make sure the cages have all been cleaned and the birds have been fed. We don’t want the kiddies to see the blood.” He turned to look at me and smiled. “Listen, I have to go. No, don’t worry. I’ll be there tomorrow for the presentation. Yes. I’ll remember. Bye.”

  He hung up his cell phone and stuck it in his pocket.

  I frowned. “If you need to go, I understand.”

  “No, there isn’t anything that they can’t handle without me today. Really, Sam could have left it all in their hands. I’m just a formality.”

  “I saw how they paid attention to what you had to say.” I walked over to him. “They feel better having you there, and you have a lot to offer.”

  “I’m proud of you.” He looked down at me and brushed some of the hair out of my eyes.

  “Why?” I felt my eyebrows rise. I had lost my temper, screamed at an employee, and even cursed. My mother would be so disappointed. Oh God, my mother. She would know about the pictures.

  “Because you stood up for yourself. You told her what you were really thinking and didn’t hold back.” He closed his mouth and chewed on the inside of his cheek for a moment. “I haven’t seen you do that when you’re being Princess Catherine. Today your two sides merged. It was something else.”

  “So, a little bit scary?” I laughed.

  “Scary was Chadwick on the phone.” David shuddered. “I got yelled at for not letting him know what happened last night. Then I listened as he yelled about what he was going to do to Tabitha if he ever saw her, and I quote, uneducated, badly dressed ass, again.”

  My giggle was honest and I leaned into David a little more before letting go. “I’m going to go change out of this dress.”

  “Want some company?” His eyes darkened and I felt my body flush.

  “When is Chadwick going to be here?”

  “He was on his way to the capital but is turning around.” He cocked his head to the side and I knew what he was thinking, because I was wondering the same thing. Was that enough time?

  “Then we should have a while.” I grabbed his hand. “C’mon.”

  As we walked into my room, I undid the earrings that had somehow managed to stay on through my night on the couch and dropped them in a dish on my nightstand.

  “You know what I want more than anything?” I raised an eyebrow and smiled.

  “I hope we’re thinking the same thing.” His eyes ran over me.

  “A shower.”

  “Thank God. I was scared you were going to say sex.” He mimed relief.

  Laughter burst out of my mouth. “Well, I wouldn’t mind some company.”

  “I’d be happy to scrub your back.” He started undoing the buttons of his shirt. When he sat down in a chair to pull his shoes off, I took a deep breath and turned my back to him. Carefully I slid the zipper down and over the swell of my backside. When I reached the end, I was surprised to feel his hands slide up the dress, spreading the edges open so that the little sleeves slipped off my shoulders and I let the dress fall to the ground.

  I didn’t say anything, waiting to see what he would do. The feel of his hands on me sent my heart into overdrive. I couldn’t get enough when it came to David.

  His hands moved up over my shoulders and into my hair, where he pulled out the pins that held the bun in place. Gently he worked the knots out with his fingers until my hair fell softly against my shoulders. I leaned my head to the side when he stepped close enough that I could feel him pressing against my lower back through his pants. My entire body was alive, and it took all of my willpower not to turn around and melt into him. He pushed my hair to the side and touched the pulse point under my ear with a feather-light kiss.

  His hands slid between us and undid the snaps of my bra. I slid the straps off of my shoulders and let it join the dress on the floor. When his fingers teased along the edge of the tiny lace panties I was wearing, I sucked in a deep breath.

  He continued to kiss along my neck and down my shoulder until I couldn’t take it any longer. I turned in his embrace so that I could work the rest of his clothes off. His pants were already undone, so I only had to push them off of his hips. I traced the length of him with my fingertips and he sucked in a d
eep breath.

  “Cathy.” He pressed his mouth to mine hungrily. “You’re beautiful.”

  I opened my mouth, eager to taste him. It was dark and heady, enough to make me want to forget everything else in the world. When he did pull away, it was only to remove his shirt.

  He stood there, letting me look at him in all of his naked glory as I pushed my underwear down to my feet. I held my hand out to him with a small smile. He laced his fingers with mine and I led him to the bathroom.

  The stand-alone shower was in the corner and I stepped inside before turning on the water. There was no wait time for warm water, which was my favorite part of my bathroom. I hated cold water more than I hated Tabitha. Well, almost.

  There was no talking as we cleaned our bodies, just hungry glances and touches. It wasn’t until he pressed me against the wall and kissed me that I realized this was it. There was no turning back and I was more than ready.

  He dropped to his knees and picked up the sponge I had dropped. Without looking away, he ran the sponge between my legs, gently cleaning me. My breathing got heavy when he worked that area for a little too long, but I couldn’t look away from his gaze. When he pushed me gently into the water to rinse off I tried to calm down, but he had other plans for me.

  Once I was clean he pushed me back a little further until I was pressed against the tile wall once more. He was still on his knees when he leaned forward and nuzzled me gently. Carefully so I wouldn’t fall, he spread my legs apart with his hands until he had the access he wanted. Darting his tongue out, he caught some of the water that ran down my inner thigh and I shivered in anticipation.

  His hot breath was already making my knees weak and I braced my arms against the shower walls. He continued chasing water drops until he was right where I wanted him to be. His mouth was hot and wet as he turned all of his attention on me. There was no teasing, no pulling away here. He was giving me the full treatment, no holding back. My head slammed against the shower wall and I moaned as his tongue stroked me over and over again. No one had ever made me feel the way David did.

  “Right there, David. Yes. There. Please. There.”