Page 35 of Royally Redeemed
LOOK BUT DON’T TOUCH
ELOISE
In one evening, I learned more about my host than I ever imagined. One, Duncan had some sort of weird rivalry with his cousin. Two, he had human emotions andcouldbe vulnerable. Three, Duncanlikedbeing subordinated if not evendenigrated. Was this what a kink was? And was it his? I saw him as this imposing alpha asshole who felt everyone should just let him do as he pleased.
The next morning, I found him hung over in the kitchen. I suspected he was about to feel badly about all that occurred the night before. I both wanted it and feared it. Part of me was tempted by his offer. I wanted him to want me. And, as much trouble as he often was, watching him twist in the wind a bit was good. The power oddly struck me.
To my surprise, he didn’t start there on this day.
“You probably need to get most of your things out of the little house. Mum rang early. Says just to move you up here permanently. Moreover, sheinsistsyou take their room.”
“Oh, I really can’t do that, Duncan.” I shook my head.
“Ella, she feels terrible that I left you to freeze—as do I—and that the pipes burst and probably caused you a lot of grief. It is the least we can do. So, that is the plan.”
“Wouldn’tyourather have that room?”
“No. I’m not bothered. And honestly, when Mum gives you an order, you follow. Even me—doubly so between my life and my bloody awful job.”
“You don’t love being back at it?” I asked.
“Nah. I hated working in the tower. It is stressful work and I always wanted to be like Keir—out flying everything on the lot. You know what is sexy? Planes. Flying planes. You know what doesn’t get girls wet? Sitting on you arse in a tower directing traffic.”
“But it’s important work,” I said. “And you still get to wear a uniform, so what is the difference?”
He snickered. “So much.”
“Look, you can still fly a plane. That’s more than I would ever be capable of doing. And don’t women fall all over themselves about that anyway?”
He leaned on the kitchen counter, sipping tea. Duncan shook his head.
“You know, the one girl I wanted to impress recently wasn’t at all into it, so you never know.”
“Oh, sorry. This was right before the blow up?”
“No, after.”
He looked at me as if hungry.
“Oh, me?”
Duncan nodded and sipped more tea.
“So, you haven’t changed your mind?”
I wish I had. I wish his interest in me and my desire to move out hadn’t led me to getting myself off in the shower this morning. I hated that the more we sparred back and forth andthe more he allowed me to take what I wanted, the more I desired the ability to hold it over him.
“I haven’t changed my mind, no. I agreed to do the thing. Regardless of what you do or don’t agree to do—sober—I told my Mum I would do it.”
“Really?” I asked, pleasantly surprised.
“Yes. Because I hold true to my word.”
We were flirting—flirting on steroids. And why? Twenty-four hours before, Iloathedhim. Now, I wanted to straight up kiss him. I wasn’t sure if it was his stubble or the fact that he was clearly thinking about me naked. No, it was probably the power I held over him—a delicious thing I didn’t even know I wanted.
“Well, be a good boy and I will follow through. I also hold true to my word, Duncan.”
I stepped closer, debating whether to kiss him. I’d torture him. Instead, I turned and walked off. I knew I left him miserable. The high of it was somehow inescapable.
