Page 50 of Royally Benevolent

GETTING BRAVE

WYATT

“I’m hard to love.”

Odette’s eyes held pain as she uttered those words. She had no idea how much I identified with that sentiment and how hard I fought against that fear as I sat inches from her. She’d been crying, tears welling once more. It killed me. I wanted to see her happy—not miserable—and we struggled to open up. I needed her to believe me.

“Hard disagree. You’re sweet as pie. Theo loves you, and he’s a great judge of people.”

“He’s wonderful, but I am far more complicated than you know. I’m not talking about being a princess. It’s more than that. You don’t mean it.”

When she talked about Theo, her eyes lit up. It only drew me closer.

“I do. Against any bit of judgement remaining.”

Her eyes searched my face. She debated how to take this confession. We both feared rejection and loss. Her blue eyes were beautiful, even after she’d been crying. They were so deep. Her rosy cheeks flushed, egged on by wine. I pulled her chin towards me and slowly brushed my thumb over her full red lips. Odette dropped her eyes, looking at my hand, and parted her mouth slightly as I rubbed my thumbacross her pout.

Unable to help myself, I kissed her. It was slow and gentle. She could have shied away but instead pulled me towards her. Gripping the back of my neck with her right hand, Odette scooted closer, our bodies now touching. I took in the smell of her perfume and the taste of wine as her lips parted. I did the same, her tongue pressing into my mouth and mine into hers.

Odette pulled on the lapel of my jacket as if telling me to take it off. I didn’t see that coming, but I agreed, only pulling away long enough to escape it. I stared back at her, lapping up the look on her beautiful face. She was gorgeous—even now, as she sat around in pyjamas.

She kissed me again, pulling me back once more. I worried I’d struggle to be in the moment I did this again. I feared comparison or guilt. I worried it would feel forced. Instead, all I felt was relief as she wholeheartedly kissed me. It was easy and fun. All I wanted was to do more. Feelings I hadn’t felt in years flooded back.

Odette took the hand resting on her knees and moved it up to her breast. I felt her nipple through her top. There wasn’t a bra to confine her breasts. They were soft and generous. I played with her nipple through the silky fabric of her pyjamas. It stiffened as she let out a little moan.

If I wasn’t already hard before, I was now. My cock pressed against the zipper of my suit pants. If we kept going, things were flying into high gear.

I pulled back, staring at Odette’s flushed face. She breathed heavily, a slight smile curling the corners of her lips. Then, her face dropped.

“You didn’t like it? I was terrible and?—”

“You’re a great kisser,” I said. “Wow. Uh… not what I thought this evening would be. Or, where it would go?—”

“Do you want to do more, or…”

“I… Odette, I think I owe it to you to take a step back.”

She looked upset.

“No, no, Odie… I… I want to take this slow. Ineedto. You’re the first person I’ve kissed since my wife died. It’s not… this isn’t easy for me. Kissing you is, but knowing what comes next isn’t. And if we keep kissing, what comes next will hit like a sack of bricks.”

“Oh. So… what?”

“I’d like to… I don’t know… take a genuine interest in you. Woo you, I guess?”

She giggled. “Woo me?”

“Yes. Is wooing not the right word?”

“I have no idea,” Odette said. “I’ve never been wooed or even pursued properly.”

“Really? God, you’re fucking beautiful.” I brushed her cheek. “You deserve to be cared for properly.”

“You don’t know what you’re saying.”

“You deserve to be treated like a queen by any man you’re with,” I said. “Why else would you bother with them, Odette?”

“I… I don’t know,” Odette admitted. “Um… I don’t know.”

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