Queen Her

by Laine, Terri E.

  There was a chorus of, “Yes, sir,” before they executed my plan.

  “I want to speak to her alone,” David told his brothers and myself.

  I nodded and headed back to the security room. Though I wanted to be a fly on the wall to Declan’s response, I went back and watched the feeds.

  Shortly after, Natalie appeared. Her hair was wet, and her face was free of all that makeup. Damn. She’d showed him just how gorgeous she was.

  They disappeared into a dining room. David said it had been converted into a conference room when his dad became ill and was working more from home until his illness had taken him out of the day-to-day operations.

  As they spoke, I thought about how David had no idea how much we had in common. Royce was a few weeks from the same fate if he wasn’t so damn stubborn.

  I didn’t like the idea of David and Natalie being alone to get to know each other. He wasn’t a bad guy. However, that didn’t mean I was giving up without a fight like I had with the love doctor.

  She was mine, damn it. She’d proven that when she’d shown up to my house with a packet of condoms. I wouldn’t let him have her at any cost.

  Nine

  Natalie

  Two men walked in and it was obvious they were likely David’s brothers. The tallest gave me hard eyes. The other gave me a cheeky smile as he came over.

  “Hey, future sister-in-law. Everyone calls me Dean,” he said, before coming in for a hug.

  “Oh,” I said in shock, wondering what his name was if he was just called Dean.

  “David may be the oldest, but I’d marry you,” Dean said before pulling back and giving me a wink.

  I couldn’t stop a giggle because he was cute. Though all three brothers were handsome, they weren’t Liam. And to be honest, the third brother scared me some.

  His stare wasn’t flat, it was downright hostile. I gave him a half-smile and focused on Declan since he hadn’t introduced himself.

  David smiled back. “My brother Declan isn’t always this rude. Please excuse him.” He turned to them. “I said I wanted to speak to her alone.”

  “I thought we should get to know the woman you’re giving up your life for,” Declan sneered. If I hadn’t known how he’d felt about the situation before, I did now. I wasn’t welcome in his eyes.

  I opened my mouth to speak when the door came crashing open.

  “Father,” I said as he appraised the situation.

  “This isn’t what I agreed to,” he said, his disapproval of my appearance obvious.

  David didn’t back down. “Barely five minutes has passed.”

  “Yet here you are in a room with my daughter unescorted with two other men. I don’t run a brothel.”

  David aimed hard eyes at him. “It’s hardly the dark ages. Your daughter is fine.”

  “My daughter is untouched, and I won’t allow that to change.”

  I opened my mouth, but David beat me to the punch. “I wouldn’t care if she was. This is the twenty-first century. Your daughter’s worth is not between her legs. I would be a hypocrite if I thought that was true.”

  Score one for David.

  “Easy for you to say, but you’re not married yet. If this deal doesn’t work, there are other men who value such things.”

  If my father knew I wasn’t a virgin, would he stop using me as a pawn? Or would it be worse? David didn’t seem to care either way and I respected him for that. But what about what I wanted? A man no longer available to me. I quickly pushed thoughts of Liam in the closet tucked away in my mind so I wouldn’t cry. A day of reckoning was coming. My father could count on it. I promised myself I would ruin him.

  I allowed Father to haul me from the chair I was in because I knew I would pay for any more embarrassment he may perceive I’d caused him.

  David stopped him. “I want to see her this weekend, alone. We need time to get to know each other.”

  “The wedding—”

  David cut my father off. “The wedding can’t happen anytime soon—at least the grand one you wanted. There are restrictions of no gatherings larger than ten or at most fifty people. It’s changing every day. I swear I won’t touch her. But I’d like to know the person I’m marrying.”

  “I’ll think about it,” Father said and pulled me through the door he opened.

  My head spun with how unorthodox and probably illegal this situation was. What choice did I have? If not for my mother, I wouldn’t do it. Then again, if not for her, I would have never reached out to him. And for her, I would do anything.

  Father waited until we were in the car and on our way home before he laid into me. “Were you trying to embarrass me? Look at yourself. You’re a sopping mess.”

  “I’m pleased to report he preferred me this way. Overpriced escort wasn’t exactly his taste.”

  Father nailed a look at me that could make anyone wither. “My patience with you is wearing thin.”

  “Yet, you need me. So I suggest you stop what you might say next. I am not an object to be sold or traded. That’s called human trafficking—which is a felony by the way. I’m agreeing to this because I do have a choice, whether you believe it or not. What you paid to help my mother is far less the outstanding child support you should have paid. You can push around your house staff and maybe your wife, but not me. I won’t be locked in a tower anymore. Eventually, I’ll come out and call the authorities, if that’s the way you want to play it.”

  I didn’t think it was possible for a person to turn purple while still alive. My father was doing a good impression. “Know your place.”

  “I do, which is why I’m not going to take it anymore. I’ll marry David and call us even. But I won’t be treated like a prisoner anymore.”

  It was a calculated risk. David seemed like a decent guy. I had a feeling if I told him my father was blackmailing me, he wouldn’t stand for it.

  “And you will tell David I’ll spend the weekend with him,” I continued just as the car came to a stop.

  I didn't wait for my father to say anything. I got out of the car and walked into the house and directed the housekeeper to show me to my room. Father didn't stop me.

  Once there, I asked her where the laundry was. I intended to wear my own clothes this weekend with David. She insisted on doing it for me. As I opened my bag, I found Liam’s shirt. Emotions welled up in me. I brought the shirt to my face and then held the scent of him, remembering our last night together. I wish I would have told him how I really felt about him. He had meant more to me than he'd ever know.

  David would never be the love of my life. That spot was already taken. But I could make the best of this if he could.

  After I handed all my clothes over with the exception of Liam’s shirt, Valentina walked in.

  “I'm leaving him,” she announced.

  And so the game was afoot. I may have walked in as her enemy but now I was her only ally. We sat in my room and planned her exit.

  My father was going down, and this was just the first step.

  Father may have granted my wish for more autonomy, but he never acknowledged it. I moved freely around the house and was delivered to David’s house Friday night on time.

  I wore my jeans and sweater. The bag I carried was mine. If I played this right, I would never be under my father’s watchful eyes again.

  Ten

  Liam

  Having Natalie so close and not talking to her was rough. I’d wanted to obliterate the sadness in her eyes and see her beautiful smile again. Only I'd had to bide my time. And when it came, I was ready.

  Natalie came alone this time, but I wasn't the one to greet her. David was there to greet her and give her a tour as I stayed in the security office, watching like some kind of stalker. If it wasn't my job as security, I would have felt like a creep.

  “You have a beautiful house,” Natalie said.

  I didn't like the look in her eyes. She didn't look unhappy to see him given the situation she was in. Was I losing her?

>   “Legend has it that it was a saloon back in the day,” he told her as he’d told me on my first day. I bet he had repeated the story a hundred times in his life.

  “Oh really?” she said.

  They continued their small talk as they toured the house. It was when he told her his plans for the weekend, I perked up.

  “I thought I'd take you to my place in the city, just in case your father has plans to show up.”

  She giggled and I liked the sound. “Sounds like a plan.”

  “Before we head out, I have something to show you.” He took her to the third floor to the family residence. He stopped at one of the doors up there. “When you’re here, this is your room.” He wasn’t treating her like a guest.

  The word ‘room’ didn’t really cover it. It was a suite of rooms, a bedroom, sitting room, dressing room with a walk-in closet and a large bathroom. I knew because I’d checked it out after David told me about it.

  “This is too much,” she said, as I’d expected.

  David only grinned as he learned more about the woman I’d claimed as mine. He gave her the mini-tour that ended in her closet.

  “You didn’t,” I heard her say as there wasn’t a camera in there, the bathroom, or the bedroom. The view I had was from the hallway into the room where the door was open.

  “I wanted to give you options in case your father was picking your wardrobe. You weren’t a fan.”

  I imagined she blushed. I’d seen it so many times, it was easy to drum up a picture in my mind. She would be surprised he’d made the extra effort to buy her clothes.

  She laughed. “This time I brought my own clothes. Will what I’m wearing not work for where we are going?”

  “You can wear what you like. I’m only offering you choices. I had to guess your size. You are free to try things on. I have a few things to do before we go.”

  I heard footsteps, she called after him. He was barely in view. I watched him turn.

  “Thank you,” she said, out of my view.

  Whatever he said was too soft to hear.

  A few minutes later, he stepped into the security room I was in. “What do you think?” he asked.

  I really hoped he wasn’t asking me what I thought about her though that is exactly what he was doing. “What do you mean?”

  “I like her. I mean, I don’t really know her yet. But you know when you meet someone for the first time, and you can tell if you want to pursue something more?”

  I nodded. Boy, did I know, and I didn’t like where his head was going. If he’d been an asshole it would be easier to deceive him. He wasn’t. So far, he was a decent guy who was trying to save his family’s legacy. I couldn’t blame him for that. He’d been lucky enough to win the jackpot when it came to women.

  “I can't talk about this with my brothers. They wouldn't understand. But you can give me an unbiased view. I don't think she's like her father. Do you?” he asked.

  It would be easy to tell him the truth, but where would that leave me? “Not my place to say, sir.”

  “My brothers think I’m just blinded by her beauty.” He laughed and pushed a hand through his hair. “She just doesn’t seem like a conniving, manipulating bitch. I don’t see it. Maybe that makes me a fool.”

  “It doesn't,” I admitted. I wasn't selfish enough to disparage her character for my own gain. “I agree with you.”

  “Good. We leave in twenty.”

  After securing the house, I got in my flight suit, grabbed my helmet, and headed to the helo. I was inside the helicopter before David led Natalie outside. I got out and helped secure their seatbelts and headsets. Touching her when she didn’t know it was me stabbed me in the heart. With the visor down and mic in place, little of my face was seen. One thing I did do was leave their comms on for selfish reasons.

  Once we were underway, David asked Natalie, “Did you decide to bring any other clothes?”

  I could hear her slight embarrassment by the question. Damn him. “I did bring the silver dress. I thought I'd wear it tonight to dinner. It being our first official date, I thought dressing up would be nice.”

  “I can't wait to see you in it.”

  I shut off the comms. If I wanted to get them there alive, I couldn't listen to their flirting. I didn't know the area and I needed to focus my attention on flying the plane safely.

  When we got close, I turned on David’s comm and ask him if he recognized the roof deck of his penthouse. I wasn't ready for Natalie to hear my voice yet. I wanted to look her in the eye when she realized I was there.

  Once I landed the helicopter safely, it was my turn to follow them. Watching Natalie in her jeans stirred my cock to life.

  We took a flight of stairs down to a hallway with only a single door. He had the whole damn floor. Of course he did. He was lucky enough to be born into wealth. I had too, only by the wrong mother, leaving me a penniless bastard. Not exactly penniless. I had amassed a nice savings after working in the Air Force and giving Mom a chunk of my earnings. I’d also invested said money, leaving me a nice nest egg.

  David opened the door into a vast room with a wall of windows that showcased Chicago’s skyline.

  “Wow,” Natalie said, walking toward the view. She’d reacted the same way when she’d entered my hotel room that first time. I made a note that she enjoyed views. When she was mine, I’d make sure to show her all that I could.

  David drifted in her direction, placing a hand on her lower back as he talked about the different iconic buildings silhouetted in the growing darkness. For long moments, I didn’t think they realized I was there as I ached to reach out and touch her.

  “Why don’t you get dressed and I’ll have dinner brought in? Do you have any specific request?” he asked.

  For whatever reason, she turned as did he. I stood there, helmet still on, like a statue.

  “Oh, I forgot.” He walked toward me. “I hired personal security—”

  “From my father?” she asked.

  “As a part of my agreement with him to ensure your safety from any potential threats.”

  She laughed. “To control me. And I think you were smart to have someone to protect you from him.”

  David didn’t answer. “At any rate, this is new for me. But you should know him as he will be around, and he’ll fly us wherever we want to go.” He whispered, “You can take off your helmet.”

  This was the moment of truth. I ducked my head as I lifted it off in a way that my face was still covered. I didn’t want to miss a moment of her reaction.

  “What are you doing?” David whispered.

  While his attention was on me, I shifted the helmet away and watched Natalie’s expression.

  Eleven

  Natalie

  The world spun on its axis. How could this be real? Liam was dead, wasn’t he?

  “Are you okay?” David asked, coming over to me.

  I cleared my throat. “Fine. You were saying?”

  “Liam will watch over us.” He sighed. “I didn’t think this through. I only have two bedrooms. One for you and one for me.”

  Hearing David say his name wasn’t confirmation enough. Hearing Liam speak was.

  “I’ll take the couch. I’ll wait in the hallway outside while you eat.”

  “That can work. Let me show you to your room. Liam, you should follow so you know the layout.”

  It hadn’t bothered me before when David touched me. This time when his hand guided me from the small of my back, I burned with embarrassment. What did Liam think of me?

  David pointed out a half bath before we ended the hall at an open door. “This is your room. The bathroom is stocked with anything you might need.”

  “You thought of everything,” I said, nervously.

  “I thought maybe we can meet back in half an hour—” But then David's phone chimed, and he held up a finger and walked away a few steps. There wasn't time to question Liam. David turned around. “If you don't mind, can we make that an hour? I have an emer
gency meeting I need to attend to.”

  I nodded and David waved Liam to follow him. I couldn't hear their conversation. Instead, I shut myself in the room and leaned against the door as I sagged. Liam was alive.

  Moments later there was a knock at my door. I straightened and wiped moisture from my eyes. Then, I exhaled, hopefully schooling my features. I didn’t want David to see me rattled. He would only question what was wrong. I didn’t want to lie to him.

  When I opened the door, it was Liam, arm braced against the frame.

  The only words I could think to say were, “You’re alive.”

  “I am,” he said. His rough voice was like a missile that speared my heart and headed south of the border. I shivered.

  “But my father—”

  “Lied, or the two assholes that didn’t complete the job did.”

  “I—” He didn’t let me complete the thought. His mouth slammed onto mine and any protest I could have sought was silenced by my heart.

  He moved us into the room. Not far. My back hit the wall to the right of the door as he closed it nearly soundlessly. “I’ve waited weeks for this. We don’t have a lot of time.”

  My jeans were no defense from a man on a mission, and I didn’t stop him. When his hand slipped in my underwear, rational thought was a distant memory. What my body did remember was his mouth, especially now as he covered my mound. I bit my finger to stop from crying out.

  Weeks without his touch meant it didn’t take me long to get close. I ripped at the damn sexy flight suit he wore. Snaps clicked open one by one, sounding thunderous in the silence except for our panting breaths.

  David’s nearness wasn’t a concern. I wrapped my hand around his cock and squeezed.

  “Fuck,” he muttered and hoisted me up.

  My underwear was reduced to scraps of fabric seconds before I wrapped my legs around him. I sank on his hardened cock like the last two puzzle pieces fitting together.

  He captured my moans in a frantic kiss as he thrust hard and fast into me. I longed for more but didn’t break the kiss to beg. Instead, I dug my nails into his shoulder, and he rocked harder and faster. It was just what I needed to explode with spasms that clenched around his shaft. That spurred him on, and it wasn’t until he came, I realized our mistake.