Seems like I have no other choice but to do something about it.
Because over my dead body will Keller Fitzwilliam lead Torskethorpe.
ChapterOne
LILLY
“Princess Lilly,” Runa says, entering my room for the third time. “I must insist. It’s time that you get up.”
Grumbling into my silk-covered pillow, I say, “But I don’t want to work out this morning.”
“I understand, but since King Theodore’s health scare, he’s adamant the palace staff and family participate in at least thirty minutes of exercise every day.”
When I lift my head from my pillow, my long blonde hair drapes over my face, clouding my vision. I blow a strand of hair off my eye and ask, “Did you do your thirty minutes of exercise today?”
“I did. A few ladies and I take brisk morning walks with weights on our ankles.”
I flop my head back on my pillow and mumble, “Of course you did. You’re perfect at everything.”
Just then, a knock on my door continues the onslaught of early morning barrages. No one rests in the palace. Can’t a girl at least sleep in on the weekends?
Runa, the best right-hand lady to ever exist, answers the door, and I don’t even have to turn around to know who it is. His large, domineering presence soaks up all the oxygen in the room with one clearing of his throat.
“Lilly,” his commanding voice calls out.
“What?” I snap while pulling the pillow over my head.
“Lara is waiting for you. We have a meeting with Theo and Katla this morning about the wedding, so there is no time for you to give Runa issues about working out.”
My future husband, everyone.
He sleeps in my bed but wakes up at some ungodly hour to do his two-hour workout, read about the monarchy—as if he doesn’t know everything about it already—shower, and then help around the palace with whatever needs to be done. He’s a machine. Always working, always assisting, always freaking nagging me.
“I’m not giving her issues,” I say right before the blankets are torn off my body, leaving me curled on the mattress as naked as the day I was born. It’s nothing Runa hasn’t seen since she insists on getting me dressed. It’s a part of her duty, and I’ve learned quite quickly that telling her she doesn’t have to help me is more of an insult than anything. So, yeah . . . Runa helps me slip on my underwear every day. Not sure I’ll ever get used to that.
And on Runa’s end, I’m not sure she’s ever going to get used to seeing a world of hickeys and bite marks all over my breasts and inner thighs. She learned quite quickly that Keller is ravenous. She doesn’t even mention it now.
“Get up, love. Get dressed. Don’t keep Lara waiting.”
I want to shout into my pillow.
I want to bang my hand against the mattress and demand that everyone leave me alone so I can get my sleep.
Instead, I lift up, leaving my hair cascading over my face, and sit on the edge of the bed, arms loose by my side.
“Fine. I’m up.” And then I drag my hair from my face and peer up at Keller. “May I have a moment with you, though?” His brow raises in question, so I add, “Please?”
He sighs and turns to Runa. “Give us a few minutes.” Runa nods and leaves my room, clicking the door shut behind her.
With a soft smile, Keller closes the space between us and kneels in front of me. Hands on my thighs, he says, “Here’s your moment. What do you want?”
“You,” I say as I slip one of my legs over his shoulder.
“I don’t have time, Lilly.”
“Please, Keller. I woke up from a sex dream with you, and now I’m all hot and bothered, and I need some release.”
His smirk grows wider as his hand smooths over my leg right before spreading it wide. “What was I doing in this dream?” The wicked look in his eyes assures me that I’ll get exactly what I want.
