Chapter 112: Dangerous Fascination [I]

The Ashcroft family was led through the palace corridors by the head housekeeper, a dignified woman in her late fifties whose silver-streaked hair was arranged in a neat bun at the back of her head. She wore a dark, high-necked dress beneath a fitted jacket, with a small silver brooch fastened at her collar. Her posture was straight, her steps measured, and her expression composed in the manner of someone who had spent years managing the affairs of royalty. She carried herself with quiet authority, and even Jonathan Ashcroft, a man accustomed to commanding others, followed her without attempting to dictate the pace.

The palace interiors were every bit as magnificent as the exterior. Polished marble floors stretched beneath their feet, reflecting the light from elaborate chandeliers suspended overhead. Tall windows allowed sunlight to spill into the corridor, illuminating the gold-trimmed walls and the portraits of previous monarchs that watched over everyone who passed beneath them. Sonia glanced around with restrained interest. No matter how many times she had visited the palace, she would never get used to its grandeur, the breathtaking architecture and luxurious furnishings serving as a constant reminder of the royal family’s wealth and status, though her attention soon returned to the purpose of their visit. She had not forgotten her father’s refusal to consider her proposal, and the closer they came to the royal reception room, the more her displeasure seemed to settle over her.

The housekeeper eventually stopped before a set of tall double doors and opened one side, allowing the family to enter first. The reception room beyond was spacious and elegantly furnished, with a collection of upholstered sofas and armchairs arranged around a low table. Fresh flowers stood in a crystal vase at the center, while another set of tall windows overlooked the palace gardens. Everything had been arranged to receive important guests, and the room was quiet enough that the faint ticking of a clock could be heard from somewhere near the fireplace.

"Please, make yourselves comfortable," the housekeeper said, gesturing toward the seating arrangement. "His Majesty and Her Majesty will join you shortly. In the meantime, may I offer you anything to drink?"

"That won’t be necessary," Jonathan replied. "We can wait."

"Very well, Your Excellency."

The housekeeper inclined her head before stepping toward the doors.

Jonathan took a seat on one of the larger sofas, and Eleanor settled beside him, smoothing her skirt as she arranged herself comfortably. Sonia chose an armchair opposite her parents, crossing her legs and lifting her chin as though she were determined not to let anyone see how uncomfortable she felt about being summoned to the palace under such circumstances.

Tobias, meanwhile, had barely taken a step toward the remaining seat when he caught sight of the head housekeeper preparing to leave.

"Excuse me, ma’am," he called, turning toward her. "Could you please direct me to the bathroom?"

His request drew his mother’s attention immediately.

"Tobias!" Eleanor exclaimed, staring at him in disbelief. "You’re going to the bathroom now? We have only just arrived. The king and queen could walk through those doors at any moment, and you want to disappear before they’ve even greeted us?"

Tobias winced at the sharpness of her voice. "I won’t be long, Mother."

"That isn’t the point. You should have taken care of this before we left home. It is terribly rude to leave your family waiting in front of the royal couple because you cannot manage your time properly. We are guests here, and I expect you to conduct yourself with some consideration. Your father is already dealing with a delicate matter, and the last thing we need is for you to make a poor impression on the royal household."

"I’m sorry, mother," Tobias said quickly, glancing at his father, who had begun watching the exchange with a faint crease between his brows. "I really need to go. I’ll be as quick as possible, I promise."

Jonathan gave him a measured look. "Then go, but don’t keep us waiting. We are here on important business, Tobias. Remember that."

"Of course, Father."

The head housekeeper had patiently waited for the exchange to end. She now turned toward Tobias and pointed down the corridor.

"The guest bathroom is at the end of this hallway. Take the first turn to your left, then continue past the portraits. You’ll find it on your right, just before the smaller sitting room."

"Thank you very much."

Tobias gave her a grateful nod and hurried out of the reception room before his mother could find another reason to reprimand him. He kept his pace brisk as he followed the directions, his thoughts occupied by a problem far more immediate than the meeting his family had come to attend.

He was still hard.

And it was becoming increasingly difficult to pretend otherwise.

Tobias pressed his lips together as he hurried past another set of portraits, silently cursing the man who had managed to cause such a ridiculous reaction simply by standing near the palace entrance. He had known attractive men before. He was not some inexperienced teenager who lost his senses every time a handsome face crossed his path. Yet the sight of Tractor had left him so thoroughly affected that he had practically fled from his own family to avoid embarrassing himself in front of them.

What made the entire situation worse was that he had not experienced a reaction this intense in a long time. It had been ages since he had been in a relationship, and there had been moments when he had wondered whether his interest in romance had simply faded. He still noticed attractive men, of course, but noticing someone and feeling his body react as though it had been waiting for that particular person were two entirely different things. Until a few minutes ago, Tobias had almost convinced himself that he was perfectly content without anyone in his life.

That was until he saw the towering, tattooed man standing near the palace entrance, whose mere presence had awakened something in him that he had almost forgotten existed.

A man who looked as though he had walked straight out of Tobias’s most shameless fantasies, with a towering frame, broad shoulders, tattoos covering his entire body and even his face, and the sort of dangerous presence that made sensible people think twice before approaching him. Tobias had always had a weakness for men with a bad-boy appearance.

The rougher they looked, the more difficult he found it to resist looking twice. He preferred men who seemed capable of handling themselves in a fight, men whose confidence bordered on arrogance and whose mere presence could make a room feel smaller. The man had somehow managed to embody every ridiculous preference Tobias had ever possessed.