Chapter 119- Lovesick Puppy

Arabella Toussaint:

"... and then she had the nerve to call you a slave again?" Maya demanded, and I pulled the blanket higher over my legs as I nodded at the phone propped against my pillow.

"Yeah. Several times actually."

"That woman is unbelievable. Three years and she still hasn’t found something better to do." A laugh escaped me, and Maya shifted on her bed, one thin strap of her dark silk nightdress slipping down her shoulder before she pushed it back into place and covered a huge yawn with her hand.

"And for the record, I’m proud of you. The wrinkles comment was evil, but the surgery one was savage."

"She deserved it," I said with a giggle.

"Oh, absolutely. But remind me never to insult you after I turn forty."

I rolled my eyes and reached for the glass of water on my bedside table, but Maya went quiet for a second before narrowing her eyes at the screen.

"Now, about a more important issue..."

I already knew. "Don’t. I’m tired."

"Tired my ass. Answer me! Were you serious about that message?" She pushed herself higher against her pillows, suddenly looking not-that-sleepy. "You seriously want me to bring a handsome man to the royal palace, and have him pretend to be interested in you?"

I took a sip of water. "Correct."

Maya stared at me, and I stared back until a grin slowly spread across her face. "You’re ready to pay him, girl. How handsome are we talking?"

"Maya."

"No, I need specifications. This is important. Tall? Dark hair? Muscles? Pretty face? Brooding? Golden eyes? Rich-looking? Should he have that whole mysterious vibe...?"

"I only said gorgeous, dummy. Use your judgment." I couldn’t help laughing as Maya dropped back against her pillows. "And what exactly is this gorgeous rented man supposed to do?"

"Nothing special. Stay near me." I shrugged. "Show me a little affection in public."

"Ah." Her grin returned. "So basically, you want Lucien to see another man treating you like you’re the most beautiful woman in the room."

I glared at the screen and yawned again. "Fine. I’ll see what I can do."

"Thank you."

"But if I find someone prettier than Lucien, I’m charging you a recruitment fee."

I threw my pillow at the phone before remembering she couldn’t actually feel it. When I settled back against the headboard, my amusement slowly faded. "I just hope the Queen doesn’t come into my dreams tonight to take revenge."

Maya snorted. "Seriously?"

I pressed my lips into a thin line. "I think I got a little too bold at that dinner table."

She brought her face near the phone. "A little?"

"Maya."

She chuckled, shaking her head. "Good night, Ara."

"Bitch." I ended the call before she could say anything worse and dropped my phone beside me.

Unfortunately, once the room went quiet, Queen Theodora’s furious face came straight back into my head. Maybe I should sleep with the lights on?

***

I had just put my phone on charge when someone knocked on the door. For one horrible second, I stared at it.

Please don’t be the Queen.

After everything I had said at dinner, I wouldn’t put it past her to show up with an entire entourage. Another knock sounded, and before I could answer, the door opened, making me freeze.

Lucien stood in the doorway with one hand resting against the frame, wearing nothing but a pair of sweatpants. For some reason, his shoulders looked broader, tapering into a hard, narrow waist. And by the way, why did his sweatpants hang so low?

He hadn’t even given me enough time to make myself decent.

I swallowed hard. "You?"

"How far have you gotten with the investigation?" Raising his shoulder casually, he asked me.

What? Was he serious?

I glanced down at myself before looking back at him. I had already changed into a pale silk camisole and matching shorts, and the thin fabric suddenly felt a lot more revealing than it had five seconds ago.

I shouldn’t be worried about it. He might have seen women in nightwear before.

His gaze traveled over me, lingering on my chest just long enough to make me painfully conscious of the fact that I wasn’t wearing a bra. As if that wasn’t embarrassing enough, my body chose that exact moment to react to having him standing at my doorstep.

Shit, I could literally feel my nipples hardening beneath the thin silk.

His eyes finally returned to my face, and I couldn’t tell from his expression whether he had noticed.

"Right now?" I asked, resisting the urge to reach for something to cover myself.

He nodded as though discussing a murder investigation in my bedroom at this hour was perfectly normal.

I glanced past him into the empty corridor and frowned. "You came all the way here at this time of night to ask me that?"

Instead of answering immediately, Lucien cleared his throat and looked over his shoulder. "No. I... I also need warm water."

For a few seconds, I honestly thought I had heard him wrong. It must have shown on my face because he spoke hurriedly, "No Omega is available right now."

So, he thought I was an Omega replacement?

"You’re the Lycan King," I reminded him, gesturing vaguely toward the enormous palace surrounding us. "Surely you can find someone to bring you warm water."

"I know who I am." His said dryly. "And I didn’t say I couldn’t find someone."

Then why was he standing outside my bedroom? I folded my arms, and his eyes dropped back to my chest for a fraction of a second before returning to my face.

What the fuck!

"There are probably several hundred people living in this palace, Your Highness, who would happily boil water for you. Because I’m sorry, but I am no more your..." I trailed off when he raised his hand

"No." The answer came too quickly. "I’m not asking you to perform Omega duties. I’m just asking for a favor, that’s all. You worked in those kitchens for months. You know your way around them."

Lucien glanced back at the deserted corridor before looking back at me. "Please."

Still, something about this wasn’t adding up. I looked down at my camisole and shorts before slowly raising my eyes to him again. "You expect me to walk through the palace like this?"

His attention followed mine, and this time there was a noticeable pause. He raised his one shoulder casually. "You can change."

Closing my eyes, I let out a loud sigh. "Give me two minutes. And don’t enter my room while I’m changing." I went ahead and started closing the door, but his hand caught the edge before I could shut it completely.

"And Arabella?" I stopped and looked through the remaining gap. Instead of saying anything, he kept looking at me until I cocked up a brow. "Don’t make me wait too long." With that, he stepped back.

What was his problem? Why was he suddenly acting like a lovesick puppy?