Royally Benevolent (Resplendent Royals #4)

46. Disaster and Disorder

46

DISASTER AND DISORDER

WYATT

A ll I wanted to do when I returned home was take Odette to bed. Soon after arriving from Cologne, I’d made sure to pick up a box of condoms just in case . After last week’s implosion, I’d not expected to use them so soon. But staring at her in the moonlight on the street, I knew this was what I wanted. I needed to suck it up, be honest, and go to that wedding. I couldn’t fight it. My feelings for her were real. I wanted to run her up the stairs as soon as we entered the foyer.

We kissed like teenagers, throwing our coats on the ground rather than bothering to hang them. I don’t know what came over me. Soon, I had Odette pinned to the wall, loving how her body felt pressed against mine. She moaned into my mouth and parted her legs slightly. Muscle memory overcame both of us. She wanted me to have her, and I wanted to devour her in a way I hadn’t any woman since Isla. Animal attraction overcame me.

“I want to go to the wedding,” I said.

“Okay,” she panted.

I realised the wedding was the least of her worries. This wasn’t about a simple invite. This was actual interest in me—in something real with me.

“I want to see you,” I bit her earlobe.

She pulled me back, pressing her lips against mine in an act of ownership I found so sexy.

Then, it fell apart.

“Wyatt?”

My sister and mother stood on the steps. I glanced at them, then back at Odette. Odette’s face went from rosy and flushed to white as a sheet in sheer mortification. Why was my sister here? And why couldn’t we ever just run off and fuck? I expected Theo to cockblock me but not my adult family members.

“Uh…”

I wanted to pull back, but my still-very-erect cock made that risky. I let Odette’s hands go, unpinning them from above her head. Strategically, I moved to her side, hoping the low light and distance would shade my erection from view. Thankfully, it was steadily deflating.

“Uh…”

“Sorry, we thought something happened because of the noise,” Rebecca said. “We’re being so rude. I haven’t met you yet. You must be Odette? I’m Becca. I’m Wyatt’s big sister.”

She approached, now standing only two feet from Odette. Odette stared at me, ready to run, then turned to Becca. The official, polite look she always held in public crossed her face.

She recovered by cheerfully extending her hand, “I’m Odette. And… I should probably be off.”

Fuck! I didn’t blame her for leaving, but I longed to wake up with her. I needed this. Every fibre of me wanted to spend the rest of the night fucking. I wanted to taste her and fill her. I had this perfect opportunity with this beautiful woman who was too good for me.

“Oh, don’t let us chase you off,” Mom said. “We are sorry. It’s Wyatt’s house… and we’re all adults.”

“No, it’s okay. I should head back. We have an early morning with stuff to do for Asti’s wedding.”

My heart sank.

“We’ll give you a minute. We’re just headed to get more wine,” Mom said, leaving .

They padded as if kids caught spying on Santa at Christmas. I waited for them to clear the entry before I spoke to Odette.

“Shit. I am so sorry, Odie. I just… I adore you. Things got out of hand. I have no idea why Becca is here?—”

She brushed my cheek lovingly. “It’s okay. Go catch up. Text me tomorrow. It wasn’t meant to be.”

“It will be,” I promised. “Some time.”

“Uh-huh.” She nuzzled my nose with hers, then gave me the sweetest kiss. “Goodnight.”

Odette departed into the ether. While disappointed, I realised the sort of thing I’d felt for Isla the night she’d told me she loved me and wanted me to take her home came rushing back. That fresh, excited energy was back. The hopes for what was to be and the desire to be in bed with someone—pressed impossibly close and not holding back—flooded in. Something within me was alive once more. It wasn’t the evening I’d planned or even planned again. It wasn’t the best outcome, but it wasn’t the worst, either.

I entered the kitchen as my mother and sister scrambled to look busy. Pretending not to have heard everything, they played it cool.

“Don’t act like you don’t know what is happening, please. It makes it worse.”

“Oh, come on, what is your problem?” Rebecca laughed. “She’s gorgeous. Way out of your league.”

“Oh, stop!” Mom said. “She’s a nice girl, but he’s also a catch.”

Mom pinched my cheek jokingly.

“Mom, please. She’s a nice woman, yes. I can’t deny she’s beautiful. But I was hoping for a quiet house. Things got… out of hand, and I’m sorry you all caught us… like that. Please don’t hold it against her.”

“Hold it against her?” Becca snickered. “Nah. Good for you both. Mom said you had this huge crush on a princess. I never thought I’d see the day when you were about to go at it with one in the foyer.”

I glared. “Becca, why are you here?”

“Oh, you love me. I got bored. Mom said you could use a cheer-up. Odette took care of that, though.”

I rolled my eyes. “Please stop. Please let it go. I am happy you are here. ”

“You’d also like to get laid. Yeah, I get it. Selfishly, I was hoping we might duck down to the cottage.”

“I thought it might be nice to get away for a couple of days,” Mom said.

“Chris was planning on coming for a little bit to look at a brewery,” Becca added. “It was a work trip. I just added some days for fun to see you and Theo.”

“Ahhhh, you just want the compound to yourselves,” I joked.

“No, I was thinking of a family trip,” Becca said. “You could bring your Disney Princess.”