I flick my gaze to Stacia, wishing she’d look at me, but her eyes remain glued to Esteban. She smirks at him, her full lips as luscious as ever. It makes me want to punch him in the balls for not protesting when she picked him, but I can’t blame him. Stacia’s beyond a ten. I regret every second of my decision that caused her to break-up with me.
And then I was sent away before I could win her back. It only took His Majesty to need my skills to get a ticket to the area, and shocking enough, right into the same chapter as Stacia. It’s like the universe decided to give me a second chance...and fuck me over to make me work for it.
I thought I was doing the right thing when I recorded our sex tape. I’d been given two choices—betray someone I love for initiation and earn my way up the ranks or take someone’s life for a spot on a King’s Court. At the time, I didn’t have murder in me. The others facing initiation with me had the same choice. Let’s just say, not all of them made it.
The initiation and collateral was too much. It was more than they were willing to give. Someone recruited for my chapter even committed suicide to escape.
I try not to think about the past. What mattered is that I didn’t want Stacia in that position, and I took the opportunity to get us both initiated with the collateral since she was an heir to a King. I thought she’d be so happy not to have to face the darker side of the Society of Secrets.
I was wrong.
Not only did I lose her, but I also lost the chance to hold greater power.
If I had it, I wouldn’t be on my knees, prolonging the act of sucking my friend’s dick while a room full of people watch.
I was a dumbass for even thinking that Stacia would thank me. I was young. Still in college and madly in love with her. I still am. I had hoped she’d forgive me for giving the sex tape to the King of my chapter, but she didn’t. She completely cut me from her life, which is why I couldn’t resist the SOS from Kenneth St. Germaine. He thought I was unworthy of his daughter since I chose the easy way in. But it was more than that.
As for the Welcome Ceremony? It was a risk I had to take. I knew Stacia wouldn’t want to see me, and I had to do something. I just didn’t think that asking her to welcome me with the White Queen’s Kiss and a night together would send her over the edge. I didn’t realize that she would be put to shame because of it.
Which makes accepting this consequence that much easier.
“Any time now, Count. I’m losing patience,” William mutters, stepping closer. The man has a chubby for power, getting off at forcing us into this position.
“Maybe you should learn about foreplay,” I grumble to myself.
He taps his cane to the hard floor. “Five seconds or you’ll forfeit the chance to accept the Princess’s punishment.”
Fuck me. Here I go.
I’ll never take for granted what a woman does for a man. God, I just wish it were Stacia. I’d let her sit on my face as my punishment. But there’s a lot of misogyny in this chapter.
Opening my mouth, I slowly suck in Esteban’s cock, not bothering to put in a lot of effort. He tenses, his dick now hardening because of the sensation. Neither of us is attracted to the other, but we’re best friends. It’s taking one for the damn team.
“Look at him take that punishment,” an unfamiliar voice mutters from the shadows.
I ease away and scowl. “Don’t be jealous, old man.”
“You don’t get to stop until he finishes, so you better fucking put some effort into it, Count.” This comes from another man, inching closer.
Damn it.
“Use your tongue,” Stacia whispers, remaining by my side. The scent of her perfume wafts over me, and I close my eyes, reminding myself that I chose to do this for her.
“Keep talking, Princess,” Esteban murmurs, breaking my concentration. “I’ll do you a favor if you do.”
“You wish it were me, don’t you?” Stacia asks, surprising the hell out of me.
Esteban hums his agreement. “Fuck yeah, I do.”
“Maybe it can be. On our terms.” Stacia sighs under her breath, keeping her voice low so that the witnesses would strain to hear. “You’d have to get on your knees first.”
“It would be my honor. Maldición, mamacita. You’re so sexy. Christos fucked up losing you.” Esteban groans as I bob my head, working him over more furiously, losing myself to my anger.
Because fuck him. He knows I’m still in love with Stacia. We have a code. Now, he’s flirting with fire, and I’m prepared with the explosive to blow his ass up if he even tries.
“You’d treat me right, wouldn’t you?” Stacia brushes her arm against mine.
I snap my eyes open, catching her caressing her knuckles to his leg. He’s damn lucky I don’t bite him. Because right now, I want to ensure he can never get his cock near my girl. She’s mine. I’ll win her back or die trying.