Cheeky King Page 22

  Somewhere behind me, I heard a low chuckle that sent a flutter of pleasure to my belly. “And just where does my queen think she’s going?”

  “I’m just coming to see you, you idiot. Now help me.” Instead of help though, I felt his firm, strong hands on my ass.

  “I have a couple of ideas how to help you. Aren’t there these porn videos that shows someone stuck and they’re oh so helpful significant other helping them?”

  “Oh my God, first of all, you watch too much porn.”

  “I swear I don’t. That’s Lucas. It was his porn. I watched it accidentally.”

  I giggled even as I shook my head. “I don’t believe you, Sebastian. Now please, can you help me?”

  Behind me, I heard a low rumble deep in his chest. And then his hands slid up the back of my thighs. “Yep, I’ll get right on that.”

  “Sebastian, this is not what I meant when I set out to talk to you.”

  Just hearing him laugh, I felt completely fine, like everything was going to be okay. “This might not have been what you were coming for, but this is where it would have ended up, breaking all the rules of tradition. Just like always.”

  “I am not a rule breaker.”

  He gave me a full flirty laugh then, and I wiggled because well, that laugh turned me on. And he knew it. His fingers found my center and rubbed slowly, making me ache. “Sebastian, someone could walk by the house. Stop it. I need your help getting in.”

  “And I need your help getting in.”

  Strong hands reached inside my robe and palmed my breasts, I tingled and ached while he moaned. “Why don’t you tell me what you were coming to ask me before I get carried away?”

  “Don’t you think it’s too late for that?”

  “Maybe, but tell me anyway. I’ll try and get you lose.”

  As he tried to figure out the best way to wedge me forward end or back, I told him exactly what was on my mind. “I’m just freaking out because everyone expects me to be Queen, and I’m pretty sure that I’m going to be shitty at that job.”

  “The only person whose expectations matter is mine. And I know exactly what I’m getting into. Any advice you need, you can get from my mother. She’s the Queen Mother now, and she’d love to see you. She’s here to help.”

  “I know. I know. I just, hmm. I feel better just hearing your voice.”

  “You’ll feel better knowing that you’re driving me crazy with your ass sticking out the window. You recognize I needed to learn how to do things right?”

  The slice of fire was hot and quick between my thighs. “I know you did and you’re still learning.” I wiggled as his hand caressed my ass again. “And it’s not like this is on purpose.”

  His hands slowly rubbed. “Penny, you’re making it hard for me to help you. You need to stop wiggling.”

  “And if I don’t stop wiggling?”

  This was dangerous. I needed to be ready for the one time I only get married. And oh – I glanced at the clock. twenty minutes. “Neither one of us have time for this.” But there he was with his fingers again, teasing me, tempting me. He pulled my thong side, testing me to see if I was wet enough.

  “I love how you’re always ready for me.”

  “Yeah, that’s an effect that only you have on me.”

  “Penny –“

  The way he said my name, guttural, pleading, and I knew both of us might be late for our wedding. It didn’t matter though.

  “Please be quick.”

  “I’m halfway to coming already.” And then there he was, his firm hands, his knee right between my legs, kicking them apart.

  My hands went up on the window sill and then he was sliding inside, hot, thick, firm, and God, so good. “Oh my God Sebastian, more.”

  He slid one arm to the sill again, and caught my breast, pinching my nipple, as he slid inside me. He wasn’t taking his time. He needed me. I needed him. And he was in a hurry. His hands were strong, urgent, but still took care of me. He drove inside over and over again, and all I could do was hold on for the ride. When his free hand slipped around my hip, right to my clit, I sucked in a breath, because I knew, he knew my body too well. One stroke, oh God, I could feel it coming. Another stroke, oh God, there it was. The tingle started to lower my back and I couldn’t even pretend like I was going to hold off.

  Next stroke. Oh God, yes. “Yes, right there. Right there. Right there, oh my God.”

  Two more deep strokes and Sebastian was groaning behind me, hand clutched on my hip tight. He could leave a bruise, but I didn’t care. With one more tug on the hips, I was pulled free from the window, and we both groaned as the motion sat him even deeper inside me.

  “Well, that was one way of getting me out.”

  I could just hear the smile on his voice as he kissed my ear. “Woman you are going to kill me. Now, the two of us needs to get cleaned up because we getting married. Even though I completely debauched my bride to be in the window of her parent’s house.”

  “You know what, I’m okay with that.”

  We stayed like that for several minutes, before he disengaged and helped me into my room, readjusting his clothing quickly.

  There was no way I could walk down the aisle. He’d broken me. “Now all I really wanted is a nap. Can I just crawl into your bed and lay there and never have to leave?”

  He pulled me into his arms and tucked me under his chin. “You know, nothing would make me happier, nothing except getting to marry you and call you mine forever. So, as much as I wore you out, meeting you down the aisle is something much better than a nap.”

  “Here you go promising me things I can’t say no to.”

  He shrugged. “It’s a King’s prerogative. Now, Miss Penny Marsh, please get your cute little ass back inside and put on that dress that I’m not allowed to see, and tell me you’re coming to marry me properly, in, oh, fifteen minutes. ”

  I pulled back. fifteen minutes was cutting close. The good news is, my makeup was already still intact. At least I hoped it was.

  “Do you realize that I don’t need the proper circumstance? I would marry you in an unnamed chapel, in a courthouse, or just sharing vows on the beach, right?”

  He nodded. “I know. Now go, go put on the dress. I cannot wait to see you.”

  And he sauntered away. I couldn’t help but grin like an idiot. My cheeky king, he was mine. And now I was about to marry him.

  It turned out, clean up took the bulk of my time. But as soon as I was all freshened up and ready to step into my dress, I had Ariel and my mother, and Sebastian’s mother at the door, howling at me. “Penny, come on.”

  I opened the door and they nearly tumbled in. My mother’s face crumpled. “I had hoped maybe you’d let me help you get dressed. Come on, we’re going to be late.”

  Ariel gave me a raised brow. “Why were you late?”

  “None of your business.”

  My bestie grinned at me, and when my gaze flickered to the Queen Mother’s, she gave me a broad grin. “Let me guess, my son came by to make sure you’re still going to walk down the aisle and tell you all the good reasons why you should?”

  If my skin wasn’t so brown, she probably would have seen me blush. But, the advantages of melanin.

  With the three of them working on me, we were able to do out the buttons of my dress in no time. When I finally turned to the mirror, I gasped. “Holy cow, is that me?”

  The dress was made of the most elegant lace. A mermaid design with barely there cap sleeves, form fitting, simple lace in the front. There were tiny little buttons going down in a row, way past my ass into the train, a diamond drop earrings at my ears. Those were real, as were the diamond necklace at my neck. That one was a gift from the Queen Mother. And obviously, my engagement ring. My mother stepped forward with a blue garter and waved it in front of me. “I can help you with this. Or, Ariel can do it. She’s your maid of honor.”

  “Any chance either one of you won’t give me any shit?”

  My mother a
nd my best friend glanced at each other and both shook their heads at the same time, then they giggled and high fived each other.

  I snatched the garter from my mother and stepped into it myself. “Thanks Mom, but I think I got this one by myself.”

  She laughed and muttered. “Always ruining my fun.”

  And then it was time. My father knocked at the door. When I opened it, he gasped. “Oh Penelope. You look beautiful.”

  Next to him, my brother stood stiffly and nodded. “I don’t even know what to say Penny. I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone look so beautiful in my life.”

  “Thank you, both you. Now, are you going to walk me down aisle or what?”

  It was one of the rare times I saw my brother give a full unabashed smile, one where he was unguarded, unchecked, and just purely happy. “Yep, it’s not every day my little sister becomes a queen. I need to make sure she does it right.”

  And then just like that, I took the arms of my father and my brother, my best friend held my train at the back, and the Queen mother and my mother, skittled ahead of us to go and take their seats.

  Outside the gates, the carriage waited. I couldn’t believe Sebastian was such a loon. He actually got me a carriage, letting me have the full princess experience. When was that man going to learn, I didn’t need any such thing. It was another ten minutes until we reached the Cathedral at the center of town. But when we did, my father got up first, and then Michael. We waited until we watched my mother and the Queen Mother and Ariel jump out of the car ahead of us, and run in.

  My mother and the Queen Mother would be seated up front, obviously. Ariel waited for me at the door, so she could catch my train. This is it. This is really happening. I was marrying Sebastian. That cheeky royal is mine.

  Up the stairs we went to the main door, and then a hush fell over the church. We’d gone in the side entrance, and the guard managed to keep all well-wishers and the people to the front of the Cathedral. When we reached the main doors, I paused. Just one breath. And then the choir started to sing Ava Maria. The guests all stood and turned to face me.

  I was happy that they were there, but they didn’t matter. Only he mattered.

  I waited until Sebastian turned fully around. When he did, the look on his face was perfect. Both my father and my brother squeezed my hands.

  Sebastian’s jaw dropped open, and next to him Lucas smacked him as if telling him to get his shit together. I grinned at him, handsome as always in a tuxedo. And then my father and brother both squeezed my hand again, then I took my first step down the aisle to marry my Cheeky King.

  Epilogue

  Bryna

  I knew what this looked like. It looked like I was escaping.

  Yes it was crazy. Who the hell escaped a ball? How about someone who never wanted to be at the ball in the first place?

  I’d already argued with myself about all the things. I was ungrateful, I was taking this opportunity for granted, I was looking a gift horse in the mouth, but I just couldn’t do it. Not anymore. I couldn’t be paraded in front of the social elite like an option on the menu.

  This might be fun for my parents, but it wasn’t fun for me. Not by a long shot. So, I was making my escape…out a window…in my ball gown.

  I had a plane to catch. Hook or by crook I was getting to New York.

  I winced a little when I thought of it. My mother would be disappointed. My father would be furious. But they would find a way of ruining this for me, so I really had no choice.

  I had only come to the ball because my parents forced me. Dad had threatened to keep me from going to New York if I didn’t comply. Little did he know I was way ahead of him on this one.

  My parents and I had been dancing to this tune for many years.

  I had something I wanted to do. My parents would dangle a carrot. I would do what was required and then poof, something would happen to ensure that I couldn’t do what I wanted.

  I wasn’t taking the chance this time. Classes started for NYU in a week. I was supposed to go with my parents, like every other college freshman. But, knowing my parents, I wanted to make sure nothing happened to mess this up for me.

  As it was, this ball was meant to be the price I had to pay to be able to go to NYU in peace. They knew I didn’t want to go. They knew how I felt about the pomp and circumstance of all the society bullshit.

  My mother also knew of my tendency to turn up, show my face then make a quick exit, so she’d set up her spies all over the place. I’d already tried to escape through the front, the side exits and through the back via the kitchens. Sure enough, one of my mother’s besties who had come over, or have her son come ask me to dance.

  None of whom I was particularly interested in.

  So yes, I was sneaking out through an office and climbing out of a window. Don’t judge. I had a plan. A solid plan. I knew from a tour of the palace when I was about fourteen that the offices were in the North Tower. The offices led to the North garden. The parking structure was just off the North Garden. Jinx, bestie, would be waiting Then I’d be home free. NYU here I come.

  Sneaking off to college. Who ever heard of such a thing? It was ridiculous that I had to resort to such things.

  I had been taking a few online classes at NYU for a year now. I still wasn’t entirely sure what I wanted to study, but I thought Business Administration seemed like a good place to start. A 19 year old freshman, who wasn’t really a freshman at all, but I’d begin in a week with a freshman’s experience.

  I would have gone when I was eighteen, but my mother had insisted on a gap year. A gap year that consisted of following her all over Europe, doing all the society things, in the hopes of landing me an unwanted husband. Much to her chagrin, I am not exactly wife material. I might have also made it a point of saying just what I needed to all those eligible bachelors to make them run.

  I was real good at that.

  Okay, first things first. Shoes at the window. And then bag, because a girl’s gonna need her cellphone and cash to get out of this joint. Then, bunch up the dress and climb out.

  Except, the office window was slightly higher than anticipated, so I had to hoist myself up. By the time I swung my legs around, the jump looked a little longer than I had expected.

  Suck it up Bryna. You got this. Either that, or suffer with your parents for another three hours.

  That did it. Without looking, I jumped.

  Yes, I might have squealed, and tensed every muscle I had. And also there might have been some expletives and silent prayer to every deity I could think of. Then I landed with a thud, and a crunching of leaves and branches, with a gardenia up my—well never mind.

  “Wow, you must be desperate to leave.”

  From my spot in the middle of the gardenia bush, I whipped my head around towards the male voice I’d heard.

  “Who the hell is out here?”

  “Wait, you’re the one sneaking out a window, and you’re asking me who the hell I am?” He stepped forward and I recognized him immediately. He was a friend of the King’s. He was one of the groomsmen, or something. I still didn’t know his name. I remember my mother leaning forward to ask my father who he was, and eyeing him speculatively. If my mother was interested in who he was, I had very little interest. It took a moment, but I was able to prop myself into a sitting position. Unfortunately, the tulle of my yellow dress was wrapped around my feet and the bushes and I couldn’t extricate myself.

  “Do you need a little help?”

  I slanted him a glare. “I got it.”

  Mr. Tall-Dark-and-Holy-Hotness leaned against one of the pillars. “Oh sure you do. This I have to see.”

  What the hell was wrong with him? Why was he so pompous? I finally managed to hike up my dress, even though I heard the distinctive tearing and I sighed. “My mother is going to kill me.”

  “Honey, do you realize that most women are trying to sneak into the ball, not out of the ball?”

  I finally just hiked the damn dress all th
e way up to my waist, kicked my legs over, and then I was out of the bush. I could feel his gaze skim over me. And as the heat spread out from the center of my chest, I dropped my skirt, squared my shoulders and deliberately glared at him. “Thanks for the help.”

  “You said you had it. You know, feminism and all that. I didn’t wanna steal your agency.”

  “Fabulous.” I grabbed my purse and then my shoes. I had to use my dress to wipe my shoes off, and I could see the dirt marring the gorgeous canary fabric. I really had liked the color. But there’s work to be done. You don’t get to play princess. And then I was stomping towards the garden. Unfortunately, tall-dark-and-totally-worth-a-bone, followed me.

  “I do have to ask, where are you going in such a hurry?”

  “None of your business.”

  “Well, considering you were sneaking out of the ball, and nobody in their right mind does that, I have to assume that you’re up to no good, which means that you’re maybe a spy for a rival nation. Or –“ He smirked at me then lifted a brow. “You’re a thief. If so you have the worse egress route in the history of man.”

  “A thief?” My eyes went round and I’m pretty sure my mouth hung open. “I’ve never stolen anything in my life, thank you very much.”

  “Yes, say all thieves when then get caught.”

  He jogged to catch up with me as I kept on stomping. Where the hell was the parking lot? Was it that far away?

  “I’m serious, what did you steal? Please tell me it was something good. I have been missing a really good lift lately. Diamond necklace?”

  I glared at him and ignored him, trying to figure out my way to the parking lot.

  “Tell me it was a brooch. Some of those things you can pop the diamonds right out. You don’t even need a loop.”

  “What the hell are you talking about?”

  He studied me again. This time, his shrewd gaze never left my face. “You’re not a thief.”