“Yes, mistress,” I joked.
She blocked my way and gave me a long kiss. “Thanks for waking me up.”
I wasn’t surewhatit was. It wasn’t love or domestic bliss. We were always on the move. She and John worked like a team.They were always telling me to do something. Still, I adored when she barked orders and I loved it even more when we were alone fucking the evening or morning away. We were trapped in the oddest time warp where we both did and did not live together—where I was both her love interest and her life’s work.
I returned to my suite and hopped in the shower to make up for my lateness. I still shaved when John arrived to go over some things I needed to know about various happenings back home. I would get Ella’s briefing in the car. John always hit me first because I could get changedwhilehe went through the day’s news, but I couldn’t acceptably do so with Ella.
“Your mother would like for you to visit your cousins in Norway to open an opera. And then head to Stockholm for a bit. I am working with Eloise to confirm all those details,” John said.
I took the towel wrapped around my shoulders and dabbed my now-smooth face.
“Sounds good. I wouldn’t mind a visit to see my aunts and uncles.”
“Good, good.”
He stared, confused, as I passed. This wasn’t an unusual happening. I began most days like this—pajama pants or shorts while my clothing was laid out for me. I had a footman on hand. I never travelled light and employed an entire staff to tend my every need. My detail knew about Ella because they had to. They never once brought it up. And, if he knew, John never mentioned it. It was their job to be discrete. I looked down to make sure my bottom halfwascovered. It was.
“John, is there something the matter?” I asked.
“Sir… do you… you have…”
He gestured to my chest.
“Is it another grey hair? Yes. I am an old fuck, John.” I almost explained that Ella had teased me mercilessly for this last week, but I caught myself.
“No, sir. You have... there is a bruise.”
I walked over to the mirror outside the wardrobe and stared at the very red bite mark that was now turning purple.
“Well, fuck,” I observed it up close.
Part of me was embarrassed, but I was mostly proud to have encouraged this response from an overzealous Eloise Mills. I had wound her up good this morning. Instead of worrying about this awkward exchange, I could only reflect on the view of her tits nearly slapping her in the chin as I pounded her into the headboard.
“Sir, is there something going on? A woman we should be aware of? Because any woman would need to sign an NDA, be cleared, and we must be very careful,” John fretted. “I do hate to make assumptions or bother you. It is not to shame. It’s because I know it would make Miss Mills’s job that much more difficult and I’d like to keep her on staff.”
I flushed. “Miss Mills knows about it.”
“Oh, well, I don’t have a copy of an NDA. And for the duration of the tour, you should avoid a one-night stand. Again, I hate to say this or become involved, but you are under a microscope.”
“Please say nothing,” I sighed. “And please do not take this out on Miss Mills for knowing and not telling you.”
“Of course, sir. She is new and?—”
“I am… we are… I have been…”
John furrowed his brow, trying to understand.
“Miss Mills and I have been in a… relationship of sorts since December. I fucked up. I will fully admit that I took advantage of situations I probably shouldn’t have, but the feeling is mutual. Miss Mills and I are building something. I do hope it is lasting. And that is why I was opposed to Mum hiring her.”
John’s face hung, flabbergasted.
“I am sorry, but she means so much to me and does such a brilliant job that I refuse to fire her.”
“Well, we will not be firing her. That is litigation waiting to happen. Sir, again, I do not wish to wade?—”
“No, wade, John. I deserve a tongue-lashing.”
He took a deep breath. “Be it as it may that you fancy her, I will kindly remind you that she is very young, much more vulnerable, and has much to lose. For you, this could be fun. For her, it could be especially damaging.”
