Page 76 of Queen Takes King
A kilt. A motherfuckingkilt.
Daire sauntered over to him. “From her reaction, I think you need to give me one ofthose.”
“Not on your fuckinglife.”
By the time we started walking toward the main house, it’d started to snow, huge fat flakes that would make excellent snowmen. Or snowballs. And yeah, Daire had already thrown one at Rik’s head. Of course he missed, because nobody would hit our alpha with a snowball and live to tell thetale.
Gina opened the door, dressed in a beautiful shimmering golden dress. “Shara, let me introduce you to Timothy Winston, your newbutler.”
He was the most dapper silver-haired gentleman I’d ever met, dressed in a checkered navy suit with a double row of buttons and red bowtie. He tapped the heels of his perfectly polished black dress shoes together and swept into a crisp bow over my hand. “Your Majesty, I’m delighted to make your acquaintance at last. I hope everything has been to yoursatisfaction.”
“I—” I couldn’t answer. I was toooverwhelmed.
He’d somehow found the time to decorate for Christmas. A tall pine—root ball intact so we could plant it outside—stood in front of the staircase, glittering with decorations and lights. More fresh greenery and lights lined the grand staircase and the mantel above the fireplace, which housed a crackling fire. He led me into the next room—my formal dining room. The massive table I’d seen online was loaded with candles and fresh flowers and pine boughs and wine and food. Goddess, the food! A huge roast of some kind, a turkey, a ham… Several kinds of pie. Dishes I couldn’t even identify but smelled incredible, making me literallydrool.
They’d managed to find people to make this much fancy food, on Christmas Day, noless.
I would have burst into happy tears—but I was too fucking hungry to waste time crying. Though I did throw my arms around Gina and then kissed Winston’s cheek. “It’s incredible. Thank you so much. I never dreamed you’d be able to pull so much together on such shortnotice.”
“Oh dear,” Gina exclaimed. “Winston, we need another place setting. Our queen has called anotherBlood.”
They scurried around the table, shifting a few things around and laying down another placesetting.
Someone knocked on the door, and Winston immediately went to admit Frank. He hesitated, looking uncomfortable and stiff, like he counted himself as an employee, not my family. Even though he’d given up his old life to move withme.
“Frank!” I smiled, beyond pleased to see him. “Thanks for coming.” I kissed his cheek too, and the gruff ex-soldierblushed.
Seated at the head of my table, with Rik to my right—naturally pressed tight with one big arm wrapped around my back—and Daire on my left, with the rest of my new family around me, it was all I could do not to cry. Everyone was laughing, talking, and eating. Nevarre regaled Guillaume and Frank with a crazy war story that had my stoic knight throwing his head back, roaring with laughter. Xin and Daire tore through dinner to see who could get to dessert first. Evidently Mehen highly approved of Winston’s tailor and had requested anappointment.
Gina caught my gaze and smiled, lifting her wine glass. “Atoast.”
Everyone stopped talking and picked up theirglasses.
“Merry Christmas to our queen, SharaIsador.”
My Blood all stood, except Rik, tight to my side, and saluted with their glasses. “Long live ourqueen.”
When Rik saidour, he slid his right hand up my thigh beneath my dress and kissed my shoulder. I shifted my legs apart, inviting himhigher.
And he compiled.Gladly.
Merry fucking Christmas tome.
By the tenthtoast of the evening, or morning, since it was almost dawn, we’d moved into the living room. Dark paneled walls reflected the Christmas lights and another cheery fire distracted from the water-stained ceiling that would need to be repaired. “Long live ourqueen.”
Ourqueen. I saluted them with my glass and took a small sip of champagne that cost more than I’d made under the table all year cleaning hotel rooms. I’d seen the receipt lying on the kitchen counter. Thousands. Of dollars. Onalcohol.
Just for this Christmas party. It still boggled mymind.
Watching my Bloods’ antics, though, I’d pay a hundred times that amount if needed to keep the smiles on their faces. A thousand. Nevarre started to sing a bawdy tune—in gorgeous baritone—and I couldn’t take my eyes off him. Though the kilt certainly contributed to my attraction as much as hissinging.
A motherfucking kilt. Goddess. Every time I saw him, I had tostare.
I couldn’t stop thinking about what was under thatkilt.
I’d had a taste of him already when I closed the circle, but it had been too rushed. I’d been more concerned with making sure the king accepted me as his queen than sampling a newBlood.
“You havetwonew Blood.” Mehen’s low voice came from my right side. Though not too close. Not with Rik at myback.
