Damaged Royals by Hazel Parker & J. S. Striker

Author:Hazel Parker & J. S. Striker [Parker, Hazel]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2018-11-02T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 17

LUCAS

The days became a blur of responsibilities and priorities and handling them all with ease and calm took a little more energy than usual. Thankfully, Benjamin was back to his usual relaxed and mannered self, keeping my worries at bay.

For now.

It didn't distract me from what I was supposed to do, though, and that thought snapped in my mind over and over from day one until the day I strode over to Liz's bedroom and knocked sharply.

Her soft footsteps padded over the floor before the door was opened, and she greeted me with a demure but pleasant smile. The smile froze when she stared at me, and my heart lurched at the thought that she had that reaction at seeing me.

It was my fault, of course. So I took the first step and opened my mouth before she could speak.

“I'm sorry for what happened at the party.”

A flicker of surprise entered her eyes. When she still didn't speak, I continued.

"What I said and did was uncalled for, and you had every right to slap me. Probably even do more, and the fact that you didn't resort to that only shows you were the better person in that situation—”

“Why did you do it?”

The question had me pausing, then staring. There wasn't any accusation in her tone, though it was guarded. I took a deep breath, trying to search for an honest answer.

“I...I couldn't stand the thought of that baron with you.”

It didn't reveal much, and it revealed everything. The contrast of that had her looking at me for a long time, and her gaze softened for a second. Then her expression turned firmer, and I prepared myself for the rejection. I deserved it, I guess.

Imagine my surprise when it turned out differently.

“I forgive you. On one condition.”

“Name it.”

“Help me find the culprit.”

It was the last thing I expected. I looked at Liz, trying to figure out what her underlying purpose was. But all I saw was an honesty that I hadn't really given her, and I realized she wasn't kidding. So I nodded. Then I held out my hand.

“Would you like to shake on it?” I asked.

She didn't hesitate, taking my hand and shaking it thoroughly. The warmth of her palm spread through my skin, but I ignored it and focused on the professional side of this arrangement. There was no time to lose focus, not now.

“It's a deal,” she said.

* * *

I was used to being around women I was attracted to and not doing anything about it. Beautiful women were everywhere, after all, and my position in the royal family and the repercussions of thinking with my dick just didn’t warrant the short moment involving pleasure of the flesh. Maybe I had my share of affairs, like the one with Delilah, but none of them were too scandalous. Attraction was attraction, and it just couldn’t compare to the peace of having a good reputation.

Being close to Liz, however, set a precedent that made the attraction just much more intense and close to torture than anything else had ever been.

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