London Royal (London Royal Duet Book 1) Read online

  But if I’d done that, I would have scared the hell out of Abbie. She would never look at me with trust again, and I didn’t want that. Getting her the hell away from the arse was the only solution. She’d sounded hurt, but that couldn’t be helped right now.

  I stepped in Sir Richard Wembly’s path as he stared after Abbie. “I think we’ve all had enough disagreements for one day. Wouldn't you agree?” The idea of that piece of shit going after Abbie made me want to kill something. And with my jiu-jitsu training, I would probably do some serious damage.

  Rage clouded the older man’s eyes as he shifted his focus from her retreating form to me. “If you know what’s good for you, you’ll stay out of my way.”

  I forced my body into a relaxed pose, though I was anything but. I’d seen the bruises on Emily Wembly. I doubted that Sir Richard would attack me, but as the man had physically assaulted his wife and just tried to go after Abbie, I stayed alert.

  My family had known the Wemblys all my life. Not once had I ever had any inclination that Sir Richard was anything other than the refined member of Parliament that he appeared to be. Until now.

  The look he had given Abbie had said it all. The refined politician was the mask. This was the real man, and he was no better than a schoolyard bully. If I hadn’t come when I had, Richard would have hurt Abbie, would have continued hurting his wife. The angry savage inside reminded me how good it would feel to give this fool his comeuppance.

  “I’m not staying out of your way. You are clearly having a problem controlling your anger.”

  “Where do you get off, you little shit? Just because I’ve known your family for a long time doesn’t give you the right to be so familiar with me.”

  I let icy menace slide into my voice as I spoke. “Sir Richard, if I were you, I would listen very closely. Just because you sit in Parliament doesn’t mean you control the world.” I stepped into the older man’s physical space and squared my shoulders. “Nick Wexler is a very good friend of mine. I seem to recall him saying you lack a way with cards. I’m sure you would hate for that to become public knowledge. After all, news like that would endanger your political career. You know the public hates a scandal.”

  The older man blanched then backed up a step. “No one would believe a pissy little upstart like you. One word to your father, and you’re done. Cut off.”

  I let all the menace I felt bubble to the surface. “I’m sure you’ve heard the rumors about me and my brother.”

  The older man went pale.

  I continued, projecting a calm I didn’t feel. “I’m sure you wouldn’t want to find out if they were true or not.” It cost me a sliver of my soul to bring those early memories to the forefront, but I needed to make a point. “If I see your wife looking a little worse for wear ever again, or if I find out you bothered my friend, you might meet the same fate as Silas McMahon.”

  I didn’t bother to see how the older man reacted. Instead, I turned on my heel and went after Abbie.

  Abbie…

  After an hour and a half of driving Faith’s car through the slogging rain, I let myself into the empty apartment. I tossed my keys on the kitchen counter and went straight for the wine. I knew Faith needed some time with her man, but I could really use my best friend.

  After pouring myself a large glass with shaky hands, I quickly changed into sweats before sitting down with my laptop, camera and turning on a DVR’d episode of Eastenders. But I wasn’t in the mood to attempt to look through any of the pictures I’d taken.

  But Faith was in Dublin with Liam, and Sophie was off to Jersey with Max, so I was all alone for the first time since I’d come to London. It gave me too much time to think, and my brain replayed the scenario from the afternoon over and over and over again. Had I done the right thing? Yes. Should I have gone with some back up? Probably.

  It had been foolish, but I was glad to have been able to get that poor woman away, even if it was just for the rest of the party. She’d have to make her own choices when she got home. Adrenaline still coursed through my body, making my hands shake, and I very deliberately took a big gulp of wine.

  The front door buzzer sounded, and I dragged myself from the relative comfort of the couch. With wooden legs, I trudged over to the answer box and pressed the buzzer. “Who is it?”

  “Abbie, it's Lex.”

  Shit. What the hell was he doing there? I didn’t want to see that look on his face again. The fury and disbelief I wouldn’t soon forget. “Now's not a good time.”

  “Abbie, I want to talk. Please let me up. I need to see that you’re okay.”

  Oh, really? He hadn’t been too concerned about my well-being a few hours ago. At that point, he’d been more interested in keeping secret the fact that his close family friend was a wife beater. I depressed the buzzer again. “It's okay, honestly. I’m fine.”

  Lex's smooth voice came over the speaker again. “Abbie, I’m begging you, just hear me out. Just for a minute? I'd rather not have this conversation out here for the whole world to hear.”

  I’d rather not have it at all. But the truth was I wanted to hear him out. Wanted to hear some explanation that would make up for what he’d done. Needed to hear that he believed me.

  I buzzed him in and opened the door before taking back my post on the couch.

  When he strode inside, the air left my lungs. Every time I left him, I literally forgot just how beautiful he was. And then, when I saw him again, it all came crashing into me. “What do you want, Alexi?” For the most part, I ignored him, only catching his exploration of my flat from the corner of my eye.

  “I like your place. It's cozy and girly, but not in a bad way. You've got nice smelling stuff everywhere and actual grown up things. I bet your kitchen drawers are full of all kinds of cooking utensils I've never even heard about.”

  I wasn't in the mood for his teasing. “Can you say whatever the hell you have to say and get out? I have to do some work.”

  “Are you headed back to the library to print canvases? I could give you a ride and then—”

  I cut him off with a look. “And then what? We'll nearly screw each other in the lab again? I'm not interested in being with someone who doesn’t trust what I say.”

  He cursed as he sank down into the couch next to me. As he spoke, he ran a hand through his hair. “Is that what you think? You think I didn’t believe you?”

  “You were clearly pissed at me. Look, I know that’s not how you people do things in the rich circles, but I saw someone who needed help, so I acted. You had no right to yell at me like that.”

  He scrubbed a hand over his face. “I fucked up. I wasn’t yelling at you because I was angry with you. I just wanted you out of there so you wouldn’t see me lose my shit and give the arsehole a proper beating. I didn’t want you to see me like that.”

  He hadn’t been angry with me? “But you looked furious. And the way you spoke to me. I—I thought…”

  He shook his head. “I’m sorry that’s what you thought. I didn’t know if he would get violent, so I wanted you as far away from him as possible. When I saw his hands on you, it took every ounce of my control not to knock his teeth down his gullet. It made me want to lose control and hurt him. Bad. That man is a piece of work.”

  I clutched the blanket tighter, leaning back as far away as the couch would allow and sniffled deep. “I thought you didn’t believe me.” I swiped at my nose with the back of my hand. “I’m not a liar, Lex.”

  “I know. I swear I know that. I’m sorry. I wish I could explain. I saw him trying to hurt you, and it was like my whole body seized. I wanted him dead,” he finished on a whisper.

  Her body trembled.

  “Abbie, why didn’t you just come in and get me when you saw them?” Frown lines marred the skin on his forehead.

  You seemed busy. I swallowed the flare of jealousy. “Well, I didn’t really think. I just saw them and acted. He’s twice her size. I was worried he’d hurt her. I thought if he knew someone else wa
s there and watching, he’d stop. I guess I was wrong.”

  “That was dangerous. You can’t do things like that. You could get seriously hurt.”

  He might have had a point, but I wasn’t letting it go. I glared at him. “I know. But I literally couldn’t stand by and watch and not do anything. I just kept thinking, what if—”

  His voice lowered. “What if, what, Abbie?”

  The tiny voice told me to shut the hell up. To not spill the nightmare that kept me up most nights. “Nothing.”

  He took my hand in his, but I pulled it back. “Tell me, please. I want to understand. What if, what?”

  I shook my head, unable to put voice to the pain I carried around. “Nothing, Alexi. Let it go.”

  He shook his head. “No. If we’re going to do this, I want to know what’s scaring you. What aren’t you telling me? Whatever it is, I can take it.”

  My lungs constricted, and I thought they would explode if I didn’t just breathe and get it out. “I kept thinking what if someone had seen Easton with his hands on me. Could it have made a difference? Would it have stopped him from hurting me?” With the gates now open, I didn’t dare look at Lex. Instead, I dropped my head into my hands.

  His voice was icy but barely audible when he spoke. “He hit you?”

  I could only nod as sobs constricted my vocal cords. I could feel him nearly vibrating next to me.

  “Is that why you’re so uncomfortable with touching?”

  I wiped away the tears and forced myself to face him. If I could look at him now, maybe I was strong enough to face everything. “I—I don’t like surprise touches. Don’t really do hugging. I generally stay out of striking distance.” I shook my head. “I’ve never told anyone but my mother before.”

  “And she didn’t have him arrested?”

  My chuckle was harsh and mirthless. “She pretty much told me to suck it up. Told me how lucky I was that someone like Easton Peters would want me. With his parents’ money and connections, I’d be set for life if I could figure out how to keep him happy.”

  “Fuck,” he muttered through clenched teeth. “I’m sorry, but I’m not a big fan of your mother.” He rubbed his jaw. “Wait, does he know where you are or how to find you?”

  I shrugged. “He knows I’m in London. Not even my family knows exactly where to find me. But they have my number, and my mom gave it to him. I don’t know how the system works here. I’m more than a little worried he’ll show up to drag me home.”

  Alexi hung his head. “Is the phone in Faith’s name?”

  “No. Sophie’s. Why?”

  “Well, most people port their numbers and take them with them. The system is so backward that it likely will have Sophie’s last known address attached to it. We can check on that.”

  I shook. I’d hadn’t given any thought to Easton finding me. I should have taken more precautions. But then I reminded myself that the last time I’d seen him, he’d been on the business end of a knife. He wouldn’t likely underestimate me again. “I’ll need to check and change it if I can.”

  “And every time I’ve seen you, I’ve given you no reason to not be afraid of me. I’ve practically mauled you every chance I had.”

  No. He couldn’t think that. “Alexi. Don’t. You’re the first man I haven’t been afraid of in five years.”

  “Don’t do that, Abbie. Don’t gloss over how I’ve treated you. I knew something was up, but I pushed you too fast. Any time we’ve been alone, I’ve put my hands all over you. Jesus, I’m a prick.”

  I put a hand on his knee. “Stop, Alexi.” The sound of his name on my lips must have calmed him a little because the tension ebbed out of his shoulders. “From the moment you pulled me off the street, I’ve felt safe with you. In the first thirty seconds I knew you, my instincts told me I was safe with you. I knew you wouldn’t hurt me.”

  “God, Abbie, I wish I’d known. I’ve probably been freaking you out these last couple of weeks.”

  “No. You’ve been opening my eyes.” And that was the truth. I didn’t have to live in a constant state of fear with him. It was easier than it ever had been with Easton. Even though there was a hazy edge to Alexi, I’d known from the beginning he would never hurt me. Physically anyway.

  “Can I ask you a question?” He gazed at me through lowered lashes.

  Now that my deepest darkest secret was out, I didn’t have anything left to hide. “Yeah, shoot.”

  “How did you get the courage to break up with him? Men like that are dangerous.”

  “Well, what I told you was the truth. When I found out he hid my acceptance letter from me, hid my dream from me, I snapped. It was like someone splashed ice water on me, and I finally woke up.” I tipped my chin up. “He hit me for the last time that night. I pulled a knife on him and told him to get the hell out.”

  His eyes bugged. “You pulled a knife?”

  A faint smile pulled at my lips. “Yeah, I can’t believe it either. London was the dream I had been holding onto, and if he’d had his way, I would have never gotten to realize it. He made me feel like I wasn't deserving of it. That last time, as the pain ran through me and I could taste the blood in my mouth, I’d just had it. I knew if I stayed, he’d eventually really do some damage, so I turned on him with the knife I’d been using to cut the onions for lunch.” A nervous giggle escaped. “You should have seen the look on his face.”

  “I can imagine. But that was so dangerous. He could have really hurt you.”

  Yes, he could have. But he’d already done enough to me. At the time I hadn’t been thinking about that. I’d only been thinking about getting him the hell away from me. “I suppose so. At any rate, I had the locks changed that night and packed. Told my sister to get movers for his stuff then rent my place out. The plan was to run here for a fresh start. But, turns out he anticipated me trying to leave him. He’d shredded my passport and torn up my birth certificate, so I moved back home and had to wait a full month to get a new one. He used that time to try and weasel his way back in through my family.”

  Slowly, Lex scooted closer to me. He took care not to make any sudden moves but ever so slightly reached for my face, then stroked his thumb over my cheek. “Is it okay if I hold you for a minute? Your flatmates aren’t due back any time soon, are they?”

  I turned my face into the caress. “It’s okay. Faith and Sophie are out of town for the weekend.”

  He still didn’t move. “If I do anything to scare you, just tell me, okay?”

  I nodded, and he gently drew me to him, tucking me against his chest. Together we lay there, and I let the sound of his heartbeat soothe me.

  I wasn’t sure how long he held me before I had the courage to say, “I’m sorry I freaked out on you at the beginning of the party. Just seeing you two together, it was like seeing the picture that should be. I knew I didn’t belong.”

  His fingers stroked my arms gently. “What do you mean?”

  “I mean, look at you two. You fit. Gemma’s beautiful and intelligent. And you two clearly grew up in the same circles. And I am none of those things. I can just see the disaster that would be our two families meeting. My crazy African relatives with their wild gesticulations, your very British and very reserved relatives. In my head, it’s total chaos. I know we don’t make very much sense together.”

  He traced his knuckles over my cheek. “Gemma is my friend. Just a friend. I can’t think of anyone else but you. The way you laugh, the way you look at things with wonder, the way you taste. And as far as crazy family goes, don’t forget my Nomean side. That line is littered with coup de tats and assassination attempts. How’s that for crazy? We fit, Abbie. I don’t want you thinking that we don’t.”

  His seductive voice rolled over me, and I tried to hold fast, but his hand had transitioned from my cheek to the back of my neck, and he was massaging the knotted muscles there. Coaxing me toward him. “Alexi, I—”

  “Abbie, I want to be here with you. More than I want anything else. But I don
’t want to push too fast or too hard.”

  I shook my head. “You’re not pushing me.”

  He pulled me up for a kiss. The brush of his lips against mine was soft and gentle. Completely undemanding. Just pleasant with a hint of electricity.

  I drew back a little to meet his gaze, like the night he'd first kissed me. But unlike that night, I went back for more, and I melded my mouth to his. I wanted this, had wanted it since I'd met him. There were still some things to work out, but for once, I wasn’t going to overthink things to death.

  Lex slid his tongue into my mouth and stroked mine. The syncopated rhythm had my blood boiling in seconds. He dragged my leg over his lap so that I sat straddling him. The thick ridge of his erection melded against my hot core, and I moaned at the contact.

  Oh, Jesus. Need and lust wove a heady blanket around us, leaving us completely oblivious to the surrounding world. The television became a distant memory as soon as his hands stole up my sweatshirt, closing around my breasts through my tank top. His thumb rolled over my nipple, and I shivered as I tried desperately to climb closer to him.

  He dragged his lips from mine, and his breath came in ragged gulps. “Shit. Abbie. You are completely undoing me. I can’t think straight.”

  Loving the heady feeling of making him lose control, I worked my hips again, and Alexi cursed against my lips. Leveraging us both off the couch, he secured my legs around his waist then muttered, “Where’s your bedroom?”

  I stiffened momentarily. I wanted this. with Lex, and he wasn’t going to hurt me. “Um, down the hall at the end.”

  He nipped my lips playfully again. “You’re safe with me.”

  I slid my hands into his hair and tugged gently. “I want this to happen. I want to know what it feels like to lose control with you.”

  He groaned and laid his forehead against mine. “You're killing me. You're not supposed to tell me that. Now I'm even less likely to behave myself.”

  “I don’t think I want you to behave.”

  His eyes flared, and his hands flexed on my ass. “Are you sure?”