“My children rise early. You need to make sure you’re wearing…more.”
“More, sir?” I bat my eyelashes up at him. “Why, whatever do you mean?”
His cruel gaze slams into mine. “Don’t bait me.”
“But it’s so much fun.”
“Girls, take Zayer down to the breakfast room. Your aunt is already there waiting after finishing her yoga class.”
“Althea does yoga?” I can’t help my half-screech at that. Because I could totally go for that. I’ll need all the inner peace and serenity I can get if I have to deal with King Asshole every day. I wonder if she’d allow me to join her.
“Yes, Papa.” Phaedra leads the pack as they walk along the hall and manage the stairs, and I can’t help but flinch and jerk forward when they start down them.
“Zayer knows how to walk down stairs and Phaedra will help him along.”
“But he’s so small. Don’t you worry he’ll trip and fall?”
The king regards me curiously. Almost disbelievingly. “You don’t have to put on airs for me. I don’t like you nor do I want you here and that opinion won’t change no matter how much you pretend to like my son.”
“Wow. You have no faith in others, do you?”
His eyes sharpen, a ghost of something flickering through them. “You have not yet given me a reason to have faith in you.”
“Fine. We’re new to each other and new at this. Truth, I don’t care if you like me. You’re hardly my favorite person either. I’m here because you forced me to be. But you don’t have to be a jerk just because you can be. I’m not playing a game. If I do a job, I do it right and with everything that I am. I worry he’ll fall. Those stairs are made of ancient stone.”
He tilts his head, studying me further. “You’re genuinely worried about him? You just met him.”
“So?” I snap, scowling at him, hands on my hips because I’mannoyed at how much I want to touch him instead. He still has those purple stains beneath his eyes. I digress. “He’s a small boy. Of course I’m worried. Plus, he’s my charge.” And too cute for words.
He glares, nonplussed. The severity of it has me shifting my weight. After a long, tense beat where I refuse to break eye contact, the king shakes himself out of whatever thoughts are storming through his mind. “Listen, you need to wear something less…”
“Less? I thought you just said more?” I press, smiling sweetly when he leaves that hanging.
“Less transparent,” he grits out as if the words are poison in his mouth.
Oh.Transparent.I hadn’t realizedthat. I mean, I knew my shirt was pushing the mark on thin, buttransparent…eeek. That was not my intention. Nothing like flashing the king of Messalina and his children first thing in the morning to start your day. Then again, it’s the most action my breasts have gotten…well…ever.
Virgin territory, so to speak.
Even so, he has a point. I’m the nanny, and dressing appropriately comes with that.
My arms fold over my breasts. “My apologies, Your Majesty. I’ll be sure to wear something more suitable to bed next time. I didn’t realize your children would come in so early.”
He sighs. An unhappy sigh. “Suddenly you’re agreeable?”
“Consider it a gift. I didn’t exactly mean to flash you my tits.”
His eyebrows shoot up to his hairline at my vulgar use of language.
He curses under his breath in Latin and then clears his throat. “The prime minister is coming today and staying the week. Stay out of our way. Keep the children occupied and away from us.”
“The prime minister?” I still don’t know how to wrap my head around all this. I mean, at my core, I consider myself an American. So, to me, this is the equivalent of meeting the president and King Charles—if he were young and seriously hot—at the same time.”
“Yes. The prime minister. I’m speaking in English, so I know you understand me.”
“Don’t bait me,” I throw his words back at him, and he growls like the beast he is.
“For fuck’s sake.” He runs an agitated hand through his hair, and I wish he hadn’t because now it’s all messed up whereas before it was pure delicious perfection. “Shut your mouth and listen for once. This is not a joke. I mean it, stay away from him.”
