Didn’t he know that about me? Or was this his way of getting the answer he wanted? Theo wasn’t vindictive, which didn’t mean somewhere he knew doing it this way would make my answer the one he wanted to hear.
“Spencer Helen Margret Sutton.” His knee hit the wood floor, sounding like a bomb in my head, exploding all the warnings and voices in my head.
“Nothing’s changed. My life is…complicated. I can’t be anything to you.”
“Let me remind you, with all the press, your parents, and well-respected people here, my son’s reputation and heart are in your hands. Do the right thing. You’ve already disrespected him enough, don’t you think?”
“I have the means to destroy you. If you aren’t in my office the day after tomorrow…”
“Will you do me the honor…” Theo didn’t even hesitate, slipping a huge diamond heirloom onto my finger.
Flash. Flash.
I stared at Theo. Nothing seemed real. Bare underneath my dress, Lennox was still on my skin, his claim gliding down my leg. I bit down on my lip.
“Of being my wife?”
The lock on my cage clicked shut.
The room burst with cheers and applause as Theo stood back up, sweeping me up in his arms, kissing me briefly.
“You just made me so happy,” he muttered in my ear before pulling away and holding up my hand for the camera.
Flash. Flash.
Joyous music filled the room, the lights going back up, groups of people headed for us with their congratulations. His arm curled around my back, and he was bubbling with happiness, shaking every hand and thanking every person.
Crying, my mom hugged me so tight. “I’m so proud of you. My little girl is going to be queen someday!”
“Princess Spencer! Princess Spencer!” My sister danced around me as my other family members congratulated me.
Even Fredrick pulled me into a stiff hug. “You have saved this family, dear girl. I will never forget that.”
Weight. Crushing. Killing.
I nodded, pinning a media-ready smile on my face, getting dizzy from the buzz dancing around me.
Eloise squealed, hugging me tightly. Alexander and Catherine, and even Grannie air kissed me with their congratulatory welcome-to-the-family spiel. A fiancée in the royal world was pretty much the same as a wife.
You were in.
Mafia-style.
Panic wailed inside me, my heart tearing through my chest. I clutched a glass of champagne as toasts and congratulations bubbled and sparked like tiny explosions, slicing through my poised smile with a cringe. Extreme desire to have the wind in my hair, racing across a field on horseback, fleeing from this, itched my limbs like a rash.
Trying to steady myself, I turned away from Theo, my gaze pulled to the one person in the room not celebrating.
Lennox.
In the dimness of the shadows, he leaned against the wall, one hand in his pocket, blue-hazel eyes burrowed into me. His face impassive, I still saw the anger. The accusation. Thought you weren’t with Theo? You fuck me and get engaged on the same night?
He tugged on something in his pocket. A zing of desire shot up my spine, realizing it was my knickers. He pushed off the wall, his head shaking, and he turned away from me.
Everything in my chest ached, the impulse to run after him moved my feet a few steps.
Lennox…my soul cried out his name as I watched him say something to Dalton, then sauntered right out of the room, never looking back.
“Darling!” Theo held out his hand for me. “The Prime Minister wants a picture with us.”
Lacing my fingers through his, he tugged me to him. My gaze met his. Fierce. Angry.
“We’ll talk later, okay?” he whispered to me. “Right now is not the time. Come on; this is our engagement party, Spence. Everything will work itself out. Let’s have fun tonight.”
I stayed silent, doing my duty, smiling and acting the part everyone wanted me to. I quickly realized I was inconsequential to the story. Any girl could be here.
No one noticed…
Not one person saw…
I never told Theo yes.
Chapter 8
My lids cracked open with a grunt. A glinting off my finger made my lashes pinch together, my head retreating into my pillow. For one blissful moment, my brain was blank before the flood of memories collided into my mind. My lids burst open, and I stared down at the ostentatious diamond ring on my hand.
Shite.
The tiny crumb of hope that this was some twisted nightmare dissolved.
A swirl of contradicting emotions battled in my chest. Guilt, anger, fear, desire. Theo, Alexander, my family, Lord William…Lennox.
I could still feel him, my body waking hungry. Raw. Sore.
By the time I got the chance to slip out of the gala, telling Theo I was in pain and had a headache, I had had enough. I got back to my room and collapsed on my mattress, barely getting the dress off before crawling into bed naked. My head hit the pillow and didn’t move.
With a groan, I rolled over, grabbing my cell off the side table. It was full of messages, but none of them were from him. Hey, saw you leave. Just checking in. I sent the message to Lennox, trying to keep it somewhat innocent since the mobiles here monitored. I really wanted to ask if he was longing for my touch like I was his. I wanted to know if he wished he was here, settled between my legs like I wanted.
No response.
Sighing, I turned on my side, the winter sun glowing against my blinds, curling me into my sheets, not ready to deal with the day. My thoughts couldn’t stop drifting to my bodyguard. Images of our tangled bodies, the sounds we made, the feel of him, my skin flushed with heat. I still didn’t regret it, at all, even if it was wrong.
Recalling every delicious sensation he inflicted in my body, the ghost of his presence skated over my skin. Need pulsed between my thighs so vibrantly, my hand slid down my torso, needing to relieve the pressure.
“Watch me fuck you. I want you to see what I’m doing to you.” Hearing his voice rumble in my head spiked desire instantly through me, stealing my breath. My fingers finding me, I imagined they were his. A huffed moan panted from my lips, the ache growing stronger.
So many times, I had tried to picture Theo when I was alone, even after we had sex. I never wanted to admit his face never stuck. He would become faceless, the man in my head aggressive and dominant, passion turning us feral.
Lennox was ruling my head, every bit of him in detail. The feel of him, the fantasy he was here heating me to the point it hurt. A burning strummed at my legs as I felt myself climb, seeking the release. My head tipped back in the pillows, the edge nearing.
Oh god…harder…Lennox! I yelled out in my mind, my hand working faster, a deep groan building in the back of my throat.
A knock sounded a moment before the door swung open, and Heidi barreled in, scrambling me back into my pillow with a yelp.
“What the hell?” I yanked the sheets up to my chest, my cheeks burning a deep crimson. Did she see?
“Time to get moving, princess. You have a full day.” Head down, staring at her tablet, she didn’t even look up at me.
“You don’t just come barging into my room!” I lashed at her, my body confused at the sudden change, embarrassment and desire swirling together in perplexity.
“I knocked.” She tapped on her screen, all her attention on the device.