Page 37 of Striking
“Yes, love.” I press my hand against the small of her back under her shirt, and she shimmies closer. “Bellamy...” I warn.
“What time is it?”
Fuck.
Her sleepy, sexy voice brings back a torrent of memories from yesterday before we were interrupted.
“It’s late.” The words are ripped from my throat as her knee grazes my cock. “Sleep, my queen.”
“I could get used to that,” she whispers.
“Being my queen?”
Bellamy doesn’t answer right away, and I think she’s fallen back asleep until she presses her lips to my heart. “No. To being yours.”
BELLAMY
One day you’re going to meet the reason you never settled, and it will all make sense.
—Bellamy’s Secret Thoughts
The next few days pass in a blur. Rhys has been gone most of the days and nights, dealing with the upheaval. And me... well, I’ve split my time between studying, which I can now confidently say I’ve nailed, digging into the foundation, which I’m still working my way through, and my newest form of studying with my one-on-one tutor, Lady Josselyn Armstrong. Strangely, I think understanding the delicate balance of Mornea may be more difficult than my boards.
According to Joss, she doesn’t like anyone, and she’s assured me I shouldn’t either.
Apparently, the royal crowd is a bunch ofcunts.
Her words, not mine.
Trust no oneseems to be a theme.
No one but her, Clara, Silas, Remi, and of course Atticus and Rhys.
Not that I’ve met many others. Not yet. Although she did take me shopping yesterday. I tried to tell her I didn’t need anything. She ignored me. That seems to be a bit of a trend.
Today we’re at the spa, being waxed, trimmed, treated, and blown out. Something I wasn’t especially interested in, but Joss insisted.
“No one is even going to see me.” I sound like a petulant child. Lovely.
“Oh, you sweet summer child...” She lowers her voice enough so only I can hear and sighs. “The entire world is going to be looking in the blink of an eye. Part of your job is to be ready for the blink.”
My heart sinks like a lead balloon.
The entire world.
Because I married the king.
When I was drunk... My mother will be so proud.
After what feels like a lifetime, I’m finally spun around to face the mirror, and I don’t recognize the face staring back at me. Maybe this one time, Joss was right because it’s like looking at myself through a Snapchat filter. My skin looks impeccable. My hair is shiny and soft, with the perfect amount of bounce. “Wow. I look...”
Joss smiles over my shoulder. “You were already stunning, Bellamy. But now you look like a queen.”
I meet her gaze through the mirror, and a devious smile slides into place. “Now, let’s go grab cocktails. Clara’s working, and I miss my girl.” She yanks the hairdresser’s cape from around my neck and pulls me to my feet. “Plus, I’m wearing some of my new lingerie and feeling needy.”
“Joss,” I giggle as we get into the waiting car, and a tiny flicker of jealousy creeps in. Rhys has crawled into his bed late every night this week. He always pulls me against him, and we wake up wrapped up in each other, but nothing has happened. He showers and leaves before I’ve even gotten out of bed. The pull is there. The electricity between us is insane. But we seem to be at a standstill.
“Don’tJossme. You’re going home to Rhys Windsor. He has a reputation for a reason. If I wasn’t in love with Clara, I’d be jealous.”
