Page 89 of Crown of Steel

I laugh against her golden curls. “Well, never say never.”

A soft knock comes on the door, followed by a voice. “Am I interrupting something?”

“Jean-Luc,amour,” Nathalie lets go of me and gives me one final wink, before turning her attention to Dad. “Come, sit with me.” I follow her once more, now facing both my parents when Dad moves to join her, looking as equally baffled as I do.

“We wanted to talk to you about Régis,” she says.

Frowning, I flick from gaze back to Nathalie, wondering if I have somehow missed something. “What about him?”

“Well, we had a good conversation with Régis about his past few months at college. A personal conversation, right love?” She glances back at Dad, who smiles, remembering. “I know that your father asked you to guide Régis. We talked with him about that, and he wants you to continue guiding him. He feels a little lost without you.” She smiles at me, knowing that she’d kept this from me before.

Elation, I feel fucking elation.

Dad, unaware, but always the leader in conversations, leans a little forward as he takes the word. “I know you’re busy, son. School asks a lot from you, so does the brotherhood, and me. But Régis is family now too, and he doesn’t have a lot of people he can turn to. He trusts you.”

“Sure.” The words leave my mouth in a hurried whoosh, its signification leaving me all sorts of giddy.

He wants me in his life. My little stepbrother wants more of me. Fuck, yeah, he can get it. Excitement coils down through my pumping vein, trickling south toward my groin. Not now, damnit. Not now.

Tonight.

Clearing my throat, I subtly place my hands between my thighs. “Of course I will continue to guide him.”

“That’s great,” Dad nods. “Because he’s actually adamant to leave today. He says he wants to study. We have covered all our business subjects over the past days, and I believe that you have deserved some time off from the holding’s activities. For now.” He winks.

“Yeah…sure.” We all stand. “I’ll go and get my stuff.” Nathalie leans in for a kiss, and Dad gives me a hug and a clap on my shoulder. “We’re both very proud of you. You prove to me every time that you have what it takes to succeed me and be the best CEO this family has ever known. Now, go back to college. Your brother and Didier are waiting for you by the car.”

“And Régis?” I ask, even though I already know the answer.

“He’s already left with Amadou.”

Turns out, he hasn’t. When I walk through the front door and head for the car, Amadou is still chatting to Didier, the backdoor open. I can’t help but throw a victorious glance at Régis.There. It doesn’t carry the same punch though, despite his fiery glare. Because something has irrevocably changed between us that night.

Once we’re back at college, he spends most of his time in the library working on god knows what, but unlike all the other times, we sit together in the deserted, ancient place that houses thousands of books on thousands of shelves. He still won’t talk to me though, his admission is more powerful than his words could ever be. And that evening he’s waiting for me in bed, scooting over for me as I join him. And there, surrounded by nothing but the faint light of the moon, his body relaxes and slumps against mine, and he lets me in. And now he has voiced that out for the very first time, and accepts that he wants me close.

Fucking glorious, this triumph. And guess what? Count me in damn it, count me in.

21

RÉGIS

“You have given that subject an interesting turn,” Mister Monatague hums when I finish my presentation. We’re practising for thePrix d’Honneurthat will take place tonight. “I am not a fan of last-minute changes, but this one really adds value to the overall vision on your chosen topic. I will comply.”

“Great.” Stepping aside from the desk that’s been placed in front of the room, I fold the stacks of paper in one, thick pile and put them back into my backpack. “I’m relieved, because I really needed your approval.” My hands feel clammy and my insides feel as wobbly as my knees. Mister Montague claps my shoulder with his hand.

“You’re going to be just fine, Régis. You are extremely brave for doing this, for bringing on this topic and for defending it in front of a group of privileged directors.”

“I guess.” It comes out lame. Grabbing my bag, I head for the door. “So you’ll be there? Tonight at seven?”

“I’ll be there.” My teacher offers me a comforting smile. “Make sure you eat and drink beforehand, and leave your nerves in your dorm.” We both chuckle at that. He’s right though, there’s no need to be apprehensive about this presentation.I can recite the lines in my sleep, and have worked out the topic to the finest details. I have all my sources ready.

It should be enough to qualify.

My phone buzzes in my pocket, and when I catch the called ID, my nerves wring together in a tight ball. Fuck, it’s Dad.

“I’ve spoken to the lawyer,” he says flatly when we’ve been given our time. “And he says that he hasn’t spoken to you since last summer.”

“I—” My breath catches in my throat as my speed increases. Up the stairs, through the narrow hall, to our dorm.

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