I can’t allow that.
I can’t be that.
No matter how badly I want him, no matter how he makes me feel.
“I’m sorry, Henny. Call me selfish if you must, but I want all of you. I came here to give us a chance at a real marriage, knowing there was something possibly very special between us. I can’t step back and agree to something like that. Maybe that makes me more like your family than I care to think about. I’m willing to compromise on most things, but not this, not when it comes to our relationship and the way I want to be yours and have you be mine.”
I watch as he closes his eyes, a pained expression crossing over his face.
“I won’t allow you to leave me. I can’t. So, we do this a different way. We do this together,” he says.
“Your title?” I ask.
“We’ll just have to cross that bridge when we get there. I don’t know what tomorrow brings, but I know that I want you to be here next to me, to be at my side every step of the way. If that means relinquishing my title because my grandfather and father are being stubborn, then so be it,” he announces with a slight nod before he shifts and rolls on top of me.
I sigh as his weight presses down against me, feeling him from chest to thigh, looking into his gorgeous green eyes. He’s right in that this is where we are meant to be, with each other—nobody else.
His lips brush mine before he begins kissing down my cheek, then my neck, licking and biting his way down until his lips close around my nipple. I can hear him hum, and then he bites down on my hardened bud, causing me to cry out in delicious, pleasured pain. Then, he licks and kisses his way over to my other breast to repeat his ministrations.
Henrik’s mouth makes its way down the center of my chest, to my belly button, swirling and dipping his tongue inside before he makes his way to my lower lips. He sucks one lip fully into his mouth before he licks and kisses my clit. I feel him flick it with his tongue before he sucks it between his teeth, gently scraping his teeth across as my back arches and I widen my legs even more to let him in.
“My precious Riona. My greedy little wife and her greedy little cunt,” he growls.
I shiver at his words. They’re usually words I wouldn’t want to hear, but coming from him, with that sexy accent and with his mouth on me, they don’t bother me one bit.
“Only for you, Henny,” I whisper.
He grunts before his mouth is between my legs again, and he fills me with his tongue. I squeal with surprise and dive my fingers into his messy morning hair, holding onto the thick strands as he brings me closer toward my release.
When he slides two fingers inside of me, moving them in tandem with his tongue against my clit, I lose control. I topple over the edge and cry out in pleasure with my release.
Without another word, he rolls over and pulls me along with him, so that I’m straddling his hips. I don’t hesitate, taking his cock in my hand and lining it up with my center, slowly sinking down on his hard length. I moan when I’m fully seated, when his cock stretches me like only his can.
Henrik’s hands slide up and cup my breasts before he pinches my nipples and firmly tugs, sending chills over my body. My eyes fly open to see his green ones completely focused on me, his brow furrowed in what looks like worry.
“Love your cunt, Riona,” he murmurs. “Stay still.”
His hands wrap around my waist and I gasp when he surges inside of me from the bed. His fingers tighten, holding me perfectly still. He slides almost completely out before he thrusts back inside. His pace remains slow and steady, his eyes never breaking mine, even as sweat begins to bead on his forehead.
“You’re not leaving me,” he murmurs.
I don’t know if he’s trying to convince me or himself, and I don’t care. He’s fiercely convinced, and it’s beautiful.
After a few thrusts, he shifts us so that I’m on my back and he’s on top of me. His pelvis grinds against my clit with every down stroke, and it makes my body shake. I’m sensitive as it is, and the extra friction is only pushing me closer toward a second climax.
“Henny,” I gasp.
Henrik grunts before he wraps his hands around the backs of my knees and pulls my legs higher and apart. Then he looks down at our connection, watching as he takes me.
“Love watching my cock slide deep inside of you, my lover, my wife,” he groans. “The way you take me is so fucking beautiful.”
Then, without warning, he begins to wildly thrust into me with abandon. One of his hands slides between us and begins to circle my clit. His focus is on us still, watching as he takes me, as he bites on his bottom lip in concentration. It’s probably one of the sexiest looks I’ve seen on him.
“Come for me, my precious,” he growls in between thrusts.
My legs begin to quiver as I close my eyes, and I let my body succumb to my climax. I come so hard that I see stars, and then I feel his warm release enter my body as he stills inside of me.
Henrik sags and presses his weight against me again as his face nuzzles my neck, his lips pressing against my sweat soaked skin, kissing me lightly.
“I will never make you feel unwanted again, my precious. We will stand together. We will stand united,” he murmurs.
I want so badly to believe him, but I’m not sure that I can yet. He was so conflicted last night; and just not long ago, he wanted to live apart from each other.
I don’t know what to expect anymore. I just know that whatever comes my way, I have to be strong. I have to put on a brave face and dig deep for strength.
I have a feeling this road we’re about to embark on is going to be the roughest one I’ve encountered in my life.
HENRIK AND I LEAVE THE 41 Hotel only after we’ve enjoyed possibly the most delicious breakfast I have ever tasted. The weather is dreary on our way back to his apartment, and I groan at the sight that awaits us.
There is a group of about thirty paparazzi waiting outside of Henrik’s building, and I’m wearing my dress from the evening before. I showered, but had no change of clothes, makeup, or hairbrush. My hair is in a braid that rests down my right shoulder, but the rest of me looks like a campaign for the walk of shame.
“This isn’t good,” I mutter.
“Why?”
“Look at me,” I exclaim.
“I am looking at you. You look absolutely delectable,” he murmurs, pressing his lips against mine.
“I’m in last night’s dress, I have zero makeup on my face, and I haven’t even brushed my hair.”
“Doesn’t matter. You’re still gorgeous,” he states.
The door opens and the driver is standing on the curb with his hand out to help me. I place my palm in his and exhale a shaky breath, slowly exiting the car as Henrik follows suit behind me.
The driver disappears and the swarm of paparazzi surround us. Then, magically, Hugh appears at my side, holding his hand up and in the view of the cameras, completely ruining their shots of us.
Thankfully, the building’s front doors aren’t too far away, and we’re able to get to them without incident.
“Thank you,” I whisper, looking up to Hugh.
He smiles and shakes his head but doesn’t respond verbally, then he turns and leaves.
Henrik and I hurry upstairs to his apartment, and when he closes the door behind us, I feel as though I’m finally able to breathe. I open my mouth to say as much when Henrik’s phone rings and he answers it almost immediately.
“Oh, I must’ve forgotten. Yes, come up. We’re running a bit behind schedule. Please forgive me,” he explains. I look to him in confusion and he smiles.
“Sarah will be right up. Hurry and change,” he instructs.
“For what?” I ask in surprise.
“Shopping, remember? She’s going to outfit you properly.”
I forgot. With everything that happened, I completely and totally forgot. I hurry off to the bedroom and go through my closet, looking through the clothes that Sarah brought over yesterday, hoping that s
omething fits me and looks good enough for me to be photographed in, since apparently that’s what will be happening to me regularly.
I slip on a pair of skinny jeans that hug my ample thighs, hips and thick ass. Looking in the mirror, I wonder if I am indeed overweight, or if Henrik thinks me to be.
I’m nothing like the waif thin Eugenie. I have curves, and they’re not slight at all. I shake my head, annoyed at the thought. I’ve never imagined myself overweight, not one day in my life. I’m curvy. I have breasts, and hips, and thighs—I’m a woman.
“Are you ready, precious?” Henrik asks, walking into the room. I jump slightly, standing in only my jeans, my torso completely bare. He frowns slightly before he tips his head to the side. “What’s this, then?”
“Your grandfather said I was overweight. I’m nowhere near as small as Eugenie, Beatrice, or even your mother,” I explain.
Henrik doesn’t say anything. He just stares at me, his eyes roaming my body before he closes the distance between us and stands behind me. His gaze meets mine in the mirror and he grins as his hands come around and rest on my belly.
“You’re nowhere near their sizes, it’s true. It’s also what attracted me to you. I may have never been publicly seen with a woman who looks just like you, like a woman. But every woman I’ve had in my bed, she’s looked similar to you in body shape. Probably not something you want to hear, but I think you need to hear it. I have a type,” he grins before he cups my breasts in his big, warm palms.
“I like your gorgeous, full breasts,” he murmurs before he slides his hands down to my waist and holds me there. “I like how small your waist is here. Then he slides his hands to my hips. “I like how your hips flare out, and this,” he mutters before he takes a step back and grabs handfuls of my ass. “I like how perfectly this, right here, fits in my hands. You’re a woman, Caitriona, in every way. You’re my woman. I choose you over and above all other women.” His announcement sends me spinning around, and I throw my arms around his neck, pressing my bare breasts into his chest and tipping my head back to look into his eyes.
“I choose you, too, Henny. Always you,” I whisper before I press my lips against his in a hard kiss.
“Good. Now, go and spend all my money with Sarah,” he chuckles against my lips.
I take a step back with a gasp only to find him smiling and shaking his head.
“Go. You need clothes for your new status. I took you from your home, the least I can do is provide you with a proper wardrobe,” he murmurs.
“Wait, does this renouncing the title thing, does that affect you monetarily?” I ask, unbelieving that I hadn’t thought of it before.
“No,” he shakes his head with a chuckle. “I have a trust fund, and I’ve already been given control of it. Plus, my job does very well. We’re just fine there, Riona. Now go and shop,” he orders, brushing his lips to mine before he leaves the bedroom.
I spend the next ten minutes finishing getting dressed. I throw on a soft V-neck sweater that is loose and comfortable, along with a pair of knockoff Toms canvas flats. Then I brush my hair and re-braid it. I don’t bother with makeup, deciding to just bring some clear lip gloss with me.
I walk out of the bedroom to find Sarah and Henrik talking amongst themselves. When Henrik’s green eyes lift to mine, he smiles, and it’s blindingly beautiful.
Sarah stands to greet me; she’s wearing a brightly colored outfit that rivals the one from the day before—a lime green pantsuit with an electric blue blouse, and orange kitten heel shoes. Her makeup is just as bright and colorful as the day before as well, and it makes me smile. She’s eclectic and sassy. In a way, she reminds me of Madison, doing and wearing what she wants, the rest of the world be damned.
“I have my work cut out for me, don’t I?” she mutters, turning to Henrik.
“Don’t change too much about my wife. I like her just as she is,” he says, his eyes never once leaving mine.
“Lovesick, that’s what you are,” Sarah chuckles. “Move along now, we’ve got work to do,” she announces.
I start to walk toward the front door when Henrik wraps his arm around my waist and pulls me into his chest. His nose runs along the side of mine and his mouth presses against me in a gentle kiss. I inhale his clean scent as I wrap my hands around his shoulders.
“Have fun today. Enjoy it all. Listen to Sarah. I know she looks like she won’t know what to pick, but trust her. She will have you outfitted like the princess you are,” he murmurs against my lips before he takes a step back. “Hugh will be joining you ladies today. Try not to run him too ragged.”
“Hope he can keep up,” Sarah announces with her hand on the doorknob.
“Have fun, Riona,” Henrik calls out as I walk toward Sarah.
I turn to him and smile, giving him my brightest, shiniest, fakest smile. Mainly because I’m terrified. I don’t want him to know that, though. I don’t want him to worry about me. He has enough to worry after. A day of me shopping should not be one of them.
Hugh is waiting by the elevator as we walk up, and, as usual, his eyes meet me with a stony face. He doesn’t look angry, just very, very serious. I smile at him and he does nothing except dip his chin in acknowledgement.
“I’ve made an appointment for after lunch at the salon,” she announces.
“The salon?” I ask as we step inside of the elevator.
“Personally, I love your hair and your fresh face. Unfortunately, it’s not going to work for your position. You need to look poised and put together at all times. The paps will be in your face on a regular basis, and they’ll be looking for anyway to drum up gossip. If you have a dress that isn’t cut the right way, they’ll be on baby bump watch, or they’ll be on eating disorder watch. It’s just the way it is,” Sarah shrugs.
“I hate being the center of attention,” I murmur.
“So does Beatrice and Helena, which is why they spend their extra time volunteering for charities and giving back to the world. They use their fame for good,” she says.
I think about what Beatrice said, how they use their fame to help people, and I wonder if this is something I could join in on with them. I think I would like something like that, and it would be a way for me to meet new people as well.
We walk silently out of the building, and I breathe a sigh of relief that there are no reporters this time. It’s something that I can’t guess at, when or where they’ll be, which makes me that much more apprehensive about this situation.
Maybe I should have taken Henrik’s offer and gone into hiding, becoming his mistress so I could stay away from all of the drama that comes with being his wife in public.
Hugh opens up the back door of the SUV that’s waiting at the curb, and I slide in as Sarah shuffles in beside me. Then I watch as he climbs into the driver’s side and we’re off. Sarah spends the time in the car tapping on her phone, and I’m glad for the break from her attention on me.
I let my mind wander to the charities that I could possibly be involved in. I think I want to do something with children, perhaps childhood cancer and orphans. Perhaps victims of abuse as well. While I don’t know what it’s like to be physically abused, I do know firsthand the anguish and torment that comes from mental and emotional abuse. I would like to help children who suffer in any way. I turn to Sarah and I explain that.
“I like it. I think that it is a very worthy cause, and even more, the world will love you for it. It clearly comes from your heart,” she says.
“What do Beatrice and Helena do for their charity work?” I ask.
“Beatrice works with women and children who have been trafficked—sexual, slave, and drug. She also does some awareness for HIV and AIDS. Helena works closely with breast and prostate cancer foundations. So, your idea, it would round out their causes nicely.”
I think about her words, about how it would round out Helena and Beatrice’s causes, but also, that what I want to spend my time with comes from my heart. It does, one hundred percent, come fr
om my heart.
I don’t think children should have to suffer at all. They are precious gifts to the world. No child should suffer in sickness or at the hand of another person.
My sad thoughts are interrupted by Sarah announcing our arrival. I look up and am in complete shock and awe at the building we’ve arrived at. It looks like the front of the Pantheon in Rome, the pillars tall, and stone surrounding the front of the building.
“This is a mall?” I ask in surprise.
“This, my dearie, is The Royal Exchange,” Sarah chuckles as Hugh opens the back door to let us out.
I look around at the people. They’re all dressed fabulously, and I look like some country bumpkin that just rolled out of bed in comparison. Sarah tugs on my wrist and the three of us make our way toward the entrance.
“It’s unlikely that anyone will recognize you without Henrik at your side. My company card is also in the name of an Alas, so there is no worry about a cashier calling the paps,” Sarah informs me as we enter The Royal Exchange.
My eyes widen and take in every single detail, with nothing other than astonishment. To simply call it a Mall is insulting. It’s The Royal Exchange, and it’s absolutely stunning.
“Hugh, dear, I love you, you know I do, but our first stop is Agent Provocateur. I’m sure Henrik would not wish for you to see the lingerie his wife is purchasing. Can you stand guard at the door of the shop instead of coming inside?”
“Yes, madam,” Hugh’s deep voice rumbles.
Sarah and I walk into the lingerie store, and I am still in amazement but also apprehension. The pieces that surround me are beyond anything I have seen before. Victoria’s Secret used to be a splurge, a special treat, but this store blows them out of the water.
Sarah rattles off to the sales girl what exactly we’re looking for. I don’t understand half of the things she’s saying, but I don’t care. I’m too busy taking in the sexy and stunning pieces around me.
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