Tonight was supposed to be about many things. Celebrating the cabinet’s vote. Introducing Molly to my family. Sharing our modern relationship with the country. It was not supposed to be about Sebastian’s affair with Molly’s best friend. It wasn’t going to cloud everything I’d accomplished.
I turned to the doomed pair.
“You two have less than a minute to figure this out. Molly and I are going to the ball. But the gala stays intact and I’ll discuss my membership with Lesage. Leave me out of your problems, Roux. Handle this like a duke, not a college sweetheart.”
I beckoned Molly to follow me. She was hesitant to leave Brooklyn.
“Come, we’ll give them a minute.”
We stepped into the hall.
She searched my eyes for an answer. “What is going to happen? I didn’t know he was married. God, Brooklyn looks devastated. This is awful.”
I shook my head. “I don’t know, love. I’m just glad that’s not us.”
“I think I should wait for her, in case she needs me.”
“Unfortunately, that’s not an option.” I guided her to the side door. “We have guests to speak to and a waltz to dance.”
“I can’t dance right now. Brooklyn is my friend. This is terrible.”
I tipped her chin forward, staring into her brilliant blue eyes. “There’s nothing you can do. Roux knew what he was getting into when he agreed to marry Carina.”
“But Brooklyn didn’t. What if that had been me? Our tenders could easily have been reversed and tonight you’d be presenting Brooklyn to your family while I had to watch Roux and his wife from across the room. What if she feels about him, like I do about you?”
I brushed my thumb along her bottom lip. “And exactly how do you feel about me?” I challenged her. I wanted to see if she would say it.
We could hear the music through the doors. The crowd chattered on the other side. The champagne flowed from the celebration.
She sighed. “Like I’m falling in love.”
My chest tightened. My cock twitched. I’d never wanted to take her to bed as badly as I did now.
My lips crashed against hers. “I’m granting your first request as Royal Consort.”
“What is that?”
“We’re leaving the party,” I whispered.
“But I thought …”
I silenced her with another kiss. “Malcom will announce that we’re leaving and then I’m taking you upstairs.” If I had learned anything tonight, it was that time was fleeting. I didn’t want to waste a second of it arguing about someone else’s life when we had an enchanted future ahead of us, and a bed that was calling her name.
“Everyone will know what we’re doing.” She blushed.
I grabbed her ass, and squeezed it as we walked into the ballroom, slipping back into the crowd. I leaned to her ear. “After tonight, no one is going to doubt us again.”
34
Molly
The doors to Damon’s bedroom burst open as he kissed me, kicking them out of our way. His hands tangled in my hair. I groaned as his tongue plunged inside my mouth.
“There’s too much of this fucking dress,” he growled, untying the ribbon at my neck.
The straps fell, exposing my breasts. He licked the nipple before sucking my tit between his hot lips.
“Oh shit.” I pressed his head to my breast.