Page 39 of Shameless
I moved closer to him and smiled in the mirror. “Really? I’m honored. I’ve only ever seen these people on television.”
“I got over titles long ago.” He turned, and our hands brushed.
My awareness of him grew as I began, “One of the nice things about you?—”
“Other than my muscles.”
I laughed and nodded. “Well, that is nice as well, and I miss touching you, but I was going to say… is how sweet and considerate you are. I need to be more like you.”
He smiled at me then kissed me.
I lifted my chin and met his passion with my own. I needed him more than I needed air.
Then he let me go and walked out of the bedroom.
Granted, people were waiting to make me pretty out there, but the suddenness of his disappearance sent a shockwave through me. I pressed my lips together. I never winced in public, but his leaving felt like a rejection.
Refusing to dwell on that thought, I took a quick shower, found clean everything, and decided to sparkle with the red.
Hair and makeup transformed me from nice to a flawless beauty that could walk a runway. I happily changed into my gown then selected a diamond set that would absolutely draw attention and ensure all focus was on me.
Michael came in and pressed a hand on his heart. “You look gorgeous.”
A huge smile grew on my face, and I walked to his arm and said, “In the movies, people are always dressing to impress the queen, so I went with conservative and classy.”
He kissed my cheek. “You’d make a paper bag sexy, darling.”
With Michael, everything was good, but then I made a final decision. I wanted to change our deal to make us feel more real. I kept it to myself as sex would have to wait until after meeting the royals.
As we headed to the limo, I said, “Well, that’s for another time. Let’s go impress the palace.”
While we drove, I was totally fine until we were outside Buckingham Palace and the guards in red coats were waiting.
I clutched Michael’s hand and said, “I’m nervous.”
He smiled at me. “You’re here with me, and despite the largeness of the house, none of that really matters.”
Right. I was about to be presented in the brightest dress I could find. My friends would have talked me out of the red, but it was too late. I stepped onto the red carpet, and Michael walked me inside.
As we passed through the arched door, I gazed up at paintings of nature on the huge walls, and my neck started to hurt from craning. Michael led me to a room on the second floor, where we waited outside, and I realized when the door moved that we were outside a throne room.
The palace was like a movie in many ways. I froze when the butler announced Michael’s name and title, but my mind was buzzing, so I couldn’t retain any of it as he told us to go in.
As we stood before the queen, Michael stayed with me and bowed. I almost did but then remembered to curtsey. However, I wasn’t good at it and almost fell on my face.
Michael held me so I didn’t collapse, and I stood fast.
The queen laughed from her throne.
I met her blue-eyed gaze and said, “Lovely to meet you.”
The room was absolutely silent, and my ears drummed. I wasn’t sure if I’d fucked that up.
The queen smiled, though, and said, “You, too, though your curtsey could use some work.”
“I’ve never been taught,” I said and pressed my hands to my stomach.
I was normally at the top of my game, but I was being a walking disaster.
