Page 37 of Royally Redeemed
“Oh, what? Don’t judge me! You were?—”
“Darling, I am not judging you,” I said. “I am wishing I was invited to this party is all.”
“Oh, are you?” She arced her eyebrows. “I mean, I’d invite you to the party.”
“Really?” I wasn’t sure we talked about the same thing.
Was she giving in?
“You couldattendsaid party, but as I said, you don’t get to touch me.”
My heart raced. “Well, I’d like to attend the party either way, Ella. A party is a party.”
She bit her lip and fussed with her ponytail before dipping to unplug the charging base. She shoved it in her suitcase and stared at me.
“So, is there… going to be…” I stammered wanting to confirm.
“Continue helping me and I will see if I am in the mood when we return.”
I liked this game.
“Of course, darling. Of course. I am in your debt at this point for being kind to me last night as I whinged about my hand.”
She smiled, “Yes. At least you know it is true, Duncan. But who knows how I will feel back there in that massive space knowing it does not at all belong to me. Won’t it be odd?”
“I relish the idea of doing something depraved there.”
“Oh, come on, I bet you’ve done far worse,” she said. “Have you never fucked anyone there?”
“It was always a missed opportunity, so no.”
“Then why now?”
“Because I’m a bit indignant about being bossed around by a girl of… however old are you?”
“Twenty-five and if you just minded yourself better, you’d not be in this mess.”
“You’re too young for me.”
“And yet you are so thirsty to even watch me get off, Duncan! One of us is trouble but it’s not me, Your Royal Highness.”
I longed to wilt under her imposing glare. She was short, but mighty. And I wanted to watch her do all manner of things even if I wasn’t allowed to engage.
24
THE PARTY
ELOISE
Idon't know what I was thinking agreeing to let Duncan bring me back to my room—his mother's room, really—and what? Watch me beat off? I should have told him no under all circumstances. This crossed every professional boundary.
Still, I knew I had to give himsomething. He hadn’t signed the papers for the show. Right now, we were at sea and he could change his mind. We bonded a little and I wanted to watch him squirm. Somehow, I knew this performance would lock him in like a lovesick puppy.
We wound up at the house, in what was now my room, where he insisted I get to work.
The problem was, I'd never let a partner watch before—let alone a man who wastechnicallymy boss. Where did he sit? What did he do? I realized none of that supposition mattered. I was in charge. He wanted me to bark orders at him.
He works for you, Eloise. You hold all the cards here.
