Royally Not Ready(39)
Call it our mirrored frustration.
Call it the crazy pull I feel between us, but his eyes remain on mine as well while he continues to breathe heavily.
Proud chest, sweat dripping down his neck to the collar of his shirt, rosy cheeks from the stark winds . . . he’s still so freaking yummy to look at, even though he’s absolute torture to be around.
I wet my lips.
His eyes fixate on my mouth.
We stare for a few more beats before Brimar steps into the castle, places his hand on Keller’s shoulder, and whispers something. Keller nods and heads up the stairs. Wonder what that could’ve been about?
Doesn’t matter. I turn back to Lara, only to catch her staring at me.
“What?” I ask.
“Oh boy, I can’t wait to see how this turns out.”
“How what turns out?” I ask her.
“That energy between you two.”
“There’s no energy,” I lie, because, yeah, there’s energy. There’s attraction, there’s annoyance, and there’s frustration. Some might say it’s a lethal combination.
“Lara,” Brimar calls out from their room. “Can you help me with something?”
Lara stands from the couch but grips my shoulder before she leaves. “There’s energy, and I’m just waiting for the moment when it’s going to explode.” Then she takes off.
Explode? Pfft. Sure, as I said, a lethal combination, but would it really set me off?
No.
Because here’s the thing: we all know there’s some attraction there, I’ve been quite frank about how hot he is, but given the man’s stiff upper lip, I doubt anything will happen. I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s wearing a miniature chastity belt over the head of his cock to prevent him from ever having sex. Not that I’m here to have sex with an infuriating man-beast. My purpose of being here in this castle isn’t to seek out an orgasm, but to learn about what my future could be like.
Although, a freaking orgasm might help the tension.
It would help the tension between everyone. And when I say everyone, I mean Keller and me. There’s no tension between Brimar and Lara, and it’s probably because they’re giving each other ORGASMS.
Grumbling to myself, I stand from the couch and head up the stairs to my bedroom to check my phone. I texted Timmy earlier, letting him know I’m still alive. I’m hoping he responded.
When I make it to my bedroom, I sit on my bed and pick up my phone from the nightstand. He did text back. I open the text.
Timmy: Took you long enough! God, woman. I’m over here, selling bikinis, trying to act all casual, like my best friend isn’t in some foreign country.
I chuckle and start to text back when the clearing of a throat interrupts me.
I raise my head to find Keller standing in the doorway of the bathroom, his arms braced in the doorframe, his torso completely bare, and his shorts riding dangerously low on his hips.
Yes . . . sir.
“What happened to privacy?” he asks. Screw privacy, take your shorts off.
“Oh, yeah. I was, uh . . .” God, look at his chest. What I wouldn’t give to just drag my fingers over his pecs, dig my nails into his sides, and lick his abs.
“You were what?”
Oh shit, right.
“Texting,” I answer, holding up my phone. “And before you jump down my throat about confidentiality, I haven’t told Timmy anything.”
“I trust you,” he says in a light tone.
Wait . . . a light tone? There was no snap in his voice. No crackle of thunder booming from his chest. It was . . . pleasant. Man, that run must’ve really helped his frustrations. He was even able to run off his scowl.
“Oh, okay. Well, I guess I should give you your privacy.”
“Before you go,” he calls out, “I spoke with Brimar, who spoke with the head of our security. We all agree that it would be okay for you to receive the Informative.”
I prop up even more. “Wait, you mean, the gossip going around town?”
“Yes. We feel it will help you connect better and, since it’s about the people of the country and not the inner workings of the state, you don’t have to be classified to receive it.”
I clap my hands together in excitement. “Oh my God, this is so thrilling. How will I get it?”
“It comes to me through text every morning. I’ll copy and paste and send it to you.”
“Ahh, this is so much fun. Ooo, I hope there’s some juicy scandal in tomorrow’s edition. Something to kick things off with. Thank you for asking, Keller. That means a lot to me.”
“You’re welcome,” he says softly and then adds, “Tonight, after dinner, we’re going to do some more training.”
My excitement falls, like a contestant on that Wipeout show. Ka-blamo, splat, right into the water. “Wow, you really wear that killjoy title well, don’t you?”
“The training won’t take place in the room.”
I perk up again. “Really? Where will it be?” What a roller coaster of emotions.
“Just dress warmly.” He pushes off the doorframe and backs into the bathroom, where I hear him turn on the shower. He moves toward the sink, and I can’t tear my eyes away as he loops his fingers into his shorts and drops them, revealing those briefs again. And the side angle does not disappoint as I take in the bulge between his thick thighs.