Page 104 of Raul
Damn Gabriel and Quinn for sneaking out before the brunch and taking Erica away.
Raul couldn’t believe his father had given the newlyweds permission to miss their own party, leaving Raul to play host to the younger wedding guests. Before Luis had married Eve, his father would never have allowed that.
Raul sighed, knowing he was being petty and selfish. Eve was good for his father. She had loosened up some of his stiff formality. However, this was one time Raul wished Luis had stuck to royal protocol. He’d done his duty, though, chatting about how moving the wedding ceremony had been, Kyran Redda’s impromptu performance at the reception, and what the nationalfutbolteam’s chances were in the World Cup.
But his thoughts had been about Erica.
Not seeing her today—and worrying about the slashes from the dragon’s claws—had made his stomach hurt so much that he had just picked at the food on his plate. One of his lunch companions had teased him about having a hangover after the party, a convenient explanation that he falsely admitted to as an excuse for his lack of appetite.
Now he desperately wanted a Scotch, but the bar was too far away, and his ankle throbbed because he had abused it for the past twenty-four hours.
“Joder!”he muttered, grabbing another pillow and winging it across the room, where it hit the wall with a much-too-soft thud to be satisfying.
Neither hurling pillows nor downing Scotch would fix what ailed him. Even seeing Erica one more time today would have only briefly eased his longing. Or possibly made it worse, since he would have had to restrain his desire to yank her against his body and kiss her beautiful, soft mouth.
Even that wouldn’t have been enough. He wanted to see her every day. To talk to her. To laugh with her. To make love to her. To go rock climbing and flying and do nothing at all with her.
Because she was the most fascinating woman he had ever met. A woman who had declared her independence from her overbearing father to do what truly made her happy. That took tremendous strength. A pilot, responsible for the lives of everyone on the plane with her. That took confidence and guts.
More important, she was a person of honor and integrity who didn’t hesitate to speak to him frankly. He had trusted her with his darkest secrets, and she had helped him tear away the shadows.
And she was sexy as hell.
He groaned as memories of what they had done on this very couch reeled through his brain.
Why couldn’t he have this woman who brought him such happiness?
For a few moments, he wallowed in self-pity. Then he sucked in a deep breath and reminded himself of his duty to Caleva.
Now he really needed that Scotch, so he swung his legs off the couch just as his phone signaled that his father was on his way.
Carajo!He had forgotten to activate the keep-out setting.
He had just enough time to sit up and shove his feet back into his shoes before his apartment door swung open.
“Pater.” He stood as the king entered the room. His father had also shed his coat and tie. “I thought you were going to La Casa en las Nubes.”
His father came over to give him a hug. “Later. I wanted to see you first.”
Raul tensed, wondering how much his father knew about last night’s events. He gestured toward a chair. “Please be comfortable. I was about to get a Scotch. Would you like something?”
His father’s eyebrows rose, but he said, “Water,por favor.”
As Raul walked to the bar, his father said, “Your ankle seems to be bothering you.”
Raul winced. He had forgotten to control his limp. “I overused it yesterday. A little rest, and it will be fine.”
“I will hold you to the rest,” his father said. “Starting today.”
“In fact, I was lying on the couch with my foot up before you came in,” Raul said.
“My presence should not stop you from doing that.” Luis waved to the sofa as Raul returned with their drinks. “I want your injury to heal.”
Raul chose a chair across from his father. Lounging on the sofa was not conducive to matching wits with the king. “I’m good,” he said.
The king gave him a sharp look but raised his glass. “To Gabriel and Quinn’s happy marriage!”
“Salud!”Raul lifted his glass to his father before taking a large swallow of Scotch. The liquid washed away some of his misery. “They richly deserve their joy.”
