Page 61 of Royally Benevolent

“What do you mean?”

“Who made you feel like this? Odette, you’re a wonderful person. A person I don’t deserve to have around. Who broke you down?”

Guy Lupine.

“It’s objective.”

“It’s not. You don’t have to tell me. But I know it’s some guy who fucked with your head.”

Jens reappeared. “Is everything fine?”

“Yes, thank you,” I said.

“We will be glad to serve dinner. Does a roast chicken suit?”

“She’s a vegetarian,” Wyatt said. “So, we’ll need something meatless.”

“Oh, interesting to note. Of course. We will accommodate you as best we can, ma’am. Give me a moment.”

I turned back to Wyatt. “I… it was a lot. My grandmother used to weigh us. She was hardest on Alexandra because she was the oldest, marriageable one. However, the larger my body grew, the more derision it attracted. And then… well, there was my ex.”

I grimaced at the thought of Guy’s hands on my thighs, pulling back out of this lovely, vulnerable moment we were having. The panic response slowly rose, and my throat felt once more like it was closing.

“Shhh, shhh,” Wyatt was calm and sweet. “Hey, stick with me, Odie. I didn’t mean to freak you out. Whoever it was… he’s a piece of shit. I’m sorry that happened.”

I trusted Wyatt’s honesty. He held my hand, never dropping his gaze. His blue eyes were soft and kind, but his brow and the wrinkles just above it furrowed ever so slightly. He was concerned but not panicked. Hecared. This was what it was like to have a man not in my immediate family care about me. I nodded as a thanks. Jens reappeared.

“We will have a marinara sauce with pasta if that suits you. It will be about an hour.”

“That’s great, thanks,” I said.

Jens left, satisfied. Wyatt’s eyes searched my face, wondering what to do next. I took his hand and pressed it to my cheek. Unsure why I did it, I almost stopped midway, but the impulse overcame me. I needed his touch to ground me. Wyatt stroked my cheek affectionately, thentipped my chin up slightly. He leaned in and kissed me. A shiver fled down my spine, coursing straight to my centre—the place he’d made warm and hot yesterday with just a bit of touch.

Wyatt pulled back and brushed hair behind my ear. “You deserve better.”

35

DRAMATIC ENDING

WYATT

Iended up in Odette’s room, kissing her on her bed like a teenager who’d snuck over after her parents left. I wasn’t supposed to be here. I had no business bringing her back here after a night of supreme ups and downs. We were both stone-cold sober and acting like horny teens. I kissed her neck, running my hand into her dress, but was deterred by the sturdy bra that bolted her tits down like the gates of Fort Knox.

“I can take it off,” Odette panted. “If you want.”

“Only if you want,” I said.

Odette sat up and pulled her dress off, revealing the red and pink bra underneath. It was intricately embroidered with delicate flowers. It wasn’t the industrial garment it felt like. Whoever designed it knew what they were doing. I triednotto think of bra engineering, however.

Odette’s body was like porcelain. She shivered as I ran my hand down to her breast again, playing with her nipple through the lining. She moaned, thrusting her hips towards me like she was aching for me to do more. She wasreadyto go, but was I? I didn’t know. I figured there would be some sign. To date, all signs pointed to “go.”

“Do you want to see all of them?” Odette asked.

“If you’d like to show them to me.” I kissedher slowly.

She reached around to unhook the thing with one hand magically. Slowly, I pulled the bra off, only feeling my way down her breasts and around her soft nipples. I pulled back to stare at what she’d revealed. They were perfect—full and pillowy, and her pink nipples beckoned for more attention.

I dipped down, taking the right one in my mouth first. I slowly sucked on her nipple, then used my tongue—flicking it only a bit at first. She moaned and pressed herself into me harder. I wondered if she could feel just how hard I already was. It was then I realised I remained fully clothed.

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