“Oui?”
“I think I should get back to the mansion.”
“Seriously?”
“Yes, seriously. Despite your attempts to distract me, there’s still the underlying issue of?—”
“Don’t say it,” I groaned.
“—the video.”
And just like that, my cock deflated. “Really, Shep, if you weren’t interested in round two, you could’ve just said so.”
He pulled me roughly against him, his erection proving that wasdefinitelynot the case. “And I think you need to be more concerned with the fact that someone is trying to fuck with you.”
“Not the person I want.”
“Theo…”
“What if I promise to deal with it tomorrow? You get naked with me now, and tomorrow I’ll track this motherfucker down.”
Shep started to laugh, a deep, throaty sound that made a delicious shiver run up my spine.
Putain, even his laugh is fucking hot?
“Don’t you have family obligations?” he asked. “Plus, how would you go about tracking this person down? Interrogate everyone who has it out for you?” He raised a brow. “That’ll take years.”
“Hilarious.”
“I’m just being honest. You need to go about your business like nothing has changed and letAlessionarrow shit down. Not run around questioning all your enemies.”
I knew he was right. Plus, most of my enemies were unavailable for questioning. I didn’t do well with double crossers, which was what made this so infuriating.Who the fuck had I let slip through my fingers?
“Fine,” I said, sliding off his lap and moving back to my side of the tub. “And I suppose you need to go and do Libertine business?”
Shep inclined his head and rose to his feet, and I almost missed his “I do,” because Jesus H.Christ, the man was built like a fucking god. One that currently had water trailing down every sharp angle of his cut physique.
“Theo?”
“Huh?”
“Try not to get into any trouble, would you?”
Then he had to go and open his mouth. He was acting like I needed to be monitored twenty-four seven.
I was an adult, for God’s sake. A member of the royal family. I could handle myself just fine, and had been for all these years.
But just for that little dig, I had to get in one of my own.
I picked up the bottle of Dom and refilled my glass, and as Shep slipped into a robe and belted it, I called out, “I make no promises.”
The satisfaction I felt when his shoulders stiffened was almost as good as my orgasm earlier. He glanced over his shoulder, and I saluted him with my glass.
With a final shake of his head, he muttered, “Fucker,” and walked out the door.
13
SHEP
