Twisted Games (Twisted, #2)(75)

Rhys’s breathing changed, and a second later he came with a quiet grunt before sliding out of me.

We didn’t have the luxury of basking in post-coital bliss, and the aftershocks of my orgasm were still rippling through me as we cleaned ourselves up.

“One minute!” I called out for Mikaela’s benefit.

I glared at Rhys, who’d fixed himself up in record time and looked like he was trying not to laugh. “This isn’t funny.”

“Nice double entendre there at the end,” he said with a smirk.

I’m coming.

I flushed as I finished straightening my clothes and hair. A quick glance in the mirror told me I still looked a bit disheveled, but I could blame that on running around the palace all day.

“I almost miss the days when you were an overbearing, overprotective ass.”

“Then you’ll be pleased to hear I’m still an overbearing, overprotective ass. And princess.” Rhys’s voice stopped me when I was halfway to the door. “You’re forgetting something.”

My face flamed when he held up the vibrator.

“You are trying to get us into trouble.” I snatched the vibrator from him and wrapped it hastily with a tissue before shoving it inside a desk drawer. I’d deal with it later.

“It’s Mikaela. She doesn’t notice anything that doesn’t have to do with parties and society gossip. You could shove an elephant in front of her and she probably wouldn’t notice. You think I would’ve done that had it been Markus or Elin at the door?”

Okay, Mikaela wasn’t the most observant person on the planet, but Rhys was exaggerating. In this case, though, I hoped he was right.

I opened the door and finally let my annoyed-looking friend in.

“What took so long?” she grumbled. “I have to meet my mother—” She stopped when she saw Rhys. “Oh, hey, Rhys. What are you doing here?”

He was technically off duty when I was in the palace, and I scrambled to think of a plausible excuse.

“We were going over security plans,” I improvised. “For Nik’s wedding. Some of it is, uh, confidential. Which is why I took so long to answer.”

Nikolai and Sabrina were still in California, but they were getting married in Athenberg and preparations were in full swing.

Mikaela frowned. “Just the two of you? I thought the Royal Guard was handling that.”

“Personal security plans,” I amended quickly.

“Oh.” The confusion in Mikaela’s eyes cleared. “Is now still a good time to meet? I can come back if not.”

“Now works,” I said, even though all I wanted was to shower and take a nap. I was just grateful she didn’t ask any more questions about why it took me so long to unlock the door. My excuse would’ve unraveled faster than a cheap sweater under any scrutiny.

“I’ll see you later, Your Highness. Lady Mikaela.” Rhys inclined his head and left, but not before shooting me a wink.

I bit back a smile.

“It’s too bad,” Mikaela said, her eyes lingering on his backside a tad longer than I would’ve liked before the door shut behind him.

“What is?” I absentmindedly shuffled some papers on my desk and tried to push aside the mental images of what I’d been doing on that exact spot ten minutes ago.

“That Rhys is a bodyguard.” Mikaela returned her attention to me and plopped into the chair opposite mine. “He is so gorgeous. I don’t know how you see him every day without drooling. If he weren’t a commoner…” She fanned herself. “I would be all over that.”

My entire body stiffened, for multiple reasons.

“Just because he doesn’t have a title doesn’t mean he’s less than anyone who does have one.”

I should’ve gone along with what she said because Lord knows I didn’t want to encourage any attraction she had toward Rhys, but I hated the implication aristocrats were better just because they were lucky enough to be born into a titled family.

Mikaela blinked in surprise at my sharp tone. “Of course not,” she said. “But you understand the social dynamics, Bridge. Getting involved with the staff is so tacky. And I’m the daughter of a baron.” An unusual note of bitterness punctuated the last sentence. “My social standing isn’t high enough to survive that kind of scandal.”

The aristocracy had a strict hierarchy, and barons and baronesses sat at the bottom. I suspected that was part of the reason Mikaela worked so hard at networking and staying on top of society gossip—to overcome her perceived lower status, even though her family was still wealthier than the average Eldorran.

“Like I said, too bad, but at least I can look at him.” Mikaela brightened again. “You’re so lucky to have a hot bodyguard. Or not, since you can’t hook up with him.”

She laughed, and I forced myself to join.

“Of course not,” I said. “That would be crazy.”





30





Rhys





I was addicted.

Me, the man who’d avoided most addictive substances all his life—drugs, smoking, alcohol, even sugar, to an extent—had found the one thing I couldn’t resist.

Strength, resilience, and light, wrapped up in five feet nine inches of creamy skin and cool composure that hid a heart of fire underneath.