Page 87 of The Reluctant Wife

“The culprits are still out there.” I run my fingers through my hair. I’d hoped to track them down before the wedding but that doesn’t seem a possibility now.

Grace seems impressed, then presses her lips together. "Aura is very important to us."

"She’s the most precious part of my life." I tighten my hold on her shoulder.

"If you were to cause her any unhappiness?—"

"I’ll die before I allow that to happen.”

I’m going to do everything in my power to make sure she’s safe.No matter that those behind the threats are smart and have proven they can get through stringent security measures.

The leads my team and I followed turned out to be dead ends. I’m convinced there’s a leak within her inner circle. But the backgrounds of her employees and those on my security team, check out.

I’ve broadened the circle of people I’m investigating to include her friends and her wanker of an ex-fiancé.

It’s one of the reasons I wanted to come by and meet them in person. I wanted to size them up. And yes, I also wanted to see my Empress.

Fatigue knocks at my temples, but I ignore it. I’m running on less than three hours of sleep each night. Nothing new to me. I’ve been on missions where conditions have been rougher. I can handle this.

I look down at Aura, then back at Grace, “I’ll do everything in my power to make sure she’s taken care of. I will not rest until I track down whoever has targeted her."

42

Aurelia

His words send a flush of pleasure up my spine. A throbbing pulse flares to life between my thighs. He sounds so sure, so confident, so protective. It’s over the top, but it makes me feel safe in a way I’ve never felt before. I run my thumb over his thick wrist and sense the jolt that runs through him. I love that he’s so affected by my presence.So, why has he ignored me for so many days?

Grace’s eyes take in the gesture, and her eyebrows arch. Nothing gets by that woman. Zoey looks pleased, like she’s been let in on a secret. As for Harper, she has a beaming smile on her face, and those damned hearts are back in her eyes. Jeez, I need to tell her not to get her hopes up. Not that her romantic outlook on life isn’t infectious. But when you live a life most girls dream of and realize becoming a princess isn’t the stuff of Disney movies, the scales are lifted from your eyes pretty quickly.

With a final squeeze on my shoulder, Ryot straightens. "I’ll leave you’ll to enjoy your tea."

He bends and whispers in my ear, "Later, Empress." He presses a kiss to my cheek. And it’s very chaste, but the touch of his lips against my skin sparks off another trail of quivers in my stomach. He straightens and steps away, and I miss him so much already.

I’m not sure when I’ll see him again. And I don’t want the next time to be at the wedding. Before I can stop myself, I rise to my feet. "Uh, I need to talk to Ryot about something urgent."

Ignoring the smirk on Zoey’s face, I walk around the couch, only making sure I hurry when I reach the doors of the conservatory. He’s already walked through the living room and into the adjoining study.

"Ryot!" I hasten my steps. When I burst into the study, I can’t see him.Huh?I glance around, when suddenly, I’m grabbed around the waist and pulled to the side and away from the doorway.

My heart somersaults into my throat, and I gasp.OMG! Someone got in! What are they going to do to me?Then, my back connects with a wide, hard chest, and his big arms wrap around me. One around my chest, the other around my waist, holding me immovable.It’s him.The fear that twisted my belly fades away, leaving me shaking with relief. The heat from his body surrounds me, and his scent is so intense, when I draw it into my lungs, I feel like I’m going to combust.

"You called?" His dark voice plucks at my nerve-endings. Anticipation squeezes my lower belly.

Then he bites the tip of my ear, and I whimper, "Oh, God."

"Oh, Ryot."

"Hmm, what?" I’m too focused on how he’s sucking on the fleshy part of my ear. My pussy clenches. My clit throbs. My panties are embarrassingly damp. Something rigid stabs into my lower back, and I gasp. He’s so big, so thick, so everything. Mybreasts hurt, and my thighs tremble. I try to turn, but he doesn’t let me.

“Have you been a good girl? Have you kept your orgasms for me, Empress?”

“Yes,” I pant. “Yes. I haven’t come, just as you ordered. I’ve been needy and come close to getting myself off, but I haven’t.”

“Good Girl.”

His approval lights a fire in my belly. My thighs strain. My clit begins to hurt. I grind into him, not caring about how it might seem to him. He has me in the throes of such need, and the fact that he can hold me immobile with such little effort turns me on even more.

He drags his chin down the curve where my throat meets my shoulder, and I pant. I let my head fall back against his shoulder to give him better access.

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