“I– Do you think we could get there early?” she suddenly asks, looking up from her mostly untouched plate. “I just...really want to get this over with, you know?” She looks at me, and I smile gently while nodding.
“Sure, Princess,” I reply, getting up and holding my hand out for her to take.
She grasps it, a grateful smile on her own lips as she stands up. The others stand as well, and Martin rushes over, his face creased with concern.
“Is the breakfast not to your liking, Mr. Vanderbilt?” he asks.
“Oh, I’m sorry, it’s my fault,” Lilly rushes in, drawing his eyes to her. “You see, I’ve a very important appointment that I’d just like to get to, and I’m too nervous to eat. It really looks amazing,” she assures him, and my love for this girl, this angel, increases at the pains she takes to make sure Martin doesn't think that he, or his team, has done anything wrong.
“I quite understand, Miss Darling,” he tells her with a fatherly smile, his eyes soft as he looks at her.You and me both, dude.“I’ll get them to put some in containers for you to take with you in case you feel peckish later.”
“That would be wonderful, thank you,” she replies, darting forward and kissing his cheek.
The poor man blushes scarlet, clearing his throat as he indicates for a member of the serving staff to take some of the food for wrapping, and instructing another to bring back our coats. If she hadn’t caught him before, she certainly has now as he turns to her with stars in his fucking eyes.
“I’ll get them to bring the car around,” he tells us, still looking at Lilly. “This way to reception, and it’ll be along in a jiffy.”
He turns on his highly polished heel, and we follow behind, Lilly still holding my hand.
“A bit old for your harem, Pretty Girl,” Loki murmurs from Lilly’s other side as we head down the hall. I growl like an animal at him, which just makes the shithead laugh that roaring laugh of his.
“Shut up, Loki.” Lilly sighs, playfully whacking him in the chest with her free hand. Again, he just laughs, taking that hand and placing a kiss onto the back of it.Fucking smooth kiss ass.
We arrive in the entrance hall once more, one of the doormen coming over to let us know that the car is waiting out front. The server comes over, handing us our coats. Martin guides us to the glass doors, telling us that our food is already in the car.
We step out into the drizzle once more, umbrellas ready for us and being held by a bellboy each. A quick few steps to the waiting vehicle, and we’re once again inside the Merc. This time, I make sure to sit next to Lilly, much to the annoyance of Jax who grumbles as Loki takes her other side.
Buckling up, we’re driving off in a matter of minutes, Lilly’s hand still firmly in my grasp. I sent Martin our itinerary before we landed, so the driver heads towards Buckingham Palace. Victoria Chambers, where Payne & Sons is located.
Looking across at Lilly, I can see she’s worrying her lip between her teeth, so I reach over and pull it out.
“Only one of us gets to bite that lip, Princess,” I tell her, my voice firm.
It may make me an asshole, I mean more of an asshole, but I feel the need to control her. Especially when she’s doing something that may hurt her at all. Her pain is all mine. And I guess, the others’ too.
She gives me a small glare, which reassures me that she’s not too anxious, and I can see the temptation to bite it again, just to test me, written all over her face. I arch a brow at her, and it seems she accepts my challenge, as I knew she would, because her bottom lip starts to disappear into her mouth again, all while holding my gaze.
Glad that my distraction is working, I swoop down, my hand grabbing a fistful of her hair as I capture her bottom lip in my own teeth, biting hard enough to bruise, but not break the skin. I swallow her gasp as my mouth closes over hers, my tongue forcing entry inside, to tangle and stroke hers.
She leans into my kiss, her body relaxing as my tongue coaxes hers.
“We’re here, sirs, miss,” the driver informs us as we come to a stop.
I release her mouth, loving the fact that her pupils are blown with lust, and her chest is heaving. Her lip has the beginnings of a purple bruise, and I want to fucking growl in appreciation at seeing my mark on her.Yep, I’m fucked.
“Let’s go, Princess,” I order gruffly, a smirk on my face as I let go of her hair and open the car door before the driver can.
I give her my hand again, helping her out onto the sidewalk. Thankfully, it’s no longer raining, and we look up at the row of white buildings before us. I look back down at her to see her straighten her shoulders and taking in a deep breath as the others come around us. My chest swells with pride.That’s my beautiful, brave girl.
“Let’s go.” She nods, taking a step towards the building with a brass plaque that readsPayne & Sons, Solicitors.
She lets go of my hand, stepping forward, and as we all follow behind, I’m reminded that although we may be knights, she’s our queen, and we will follow her wherever she leads.
CHAPTEREIGHT
LILLY
Iwalk up to the navy panelled front door, pressing the brass bell, my muscles quivering with a nervous rolling in my stomach. All my senses are heightened; I can hear a faint birdsong above the sounds of traffic, smell the mixture of dirt and wet leaves from the damp pavement.