The Rogue and His Flower (Princetown Heirs #2)

Chapter 14

DALTON

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

“Are you ready, Daisy?” I ask, knocking on her bedroom door and pushing it open without waiting for an answer.

It’s Saturday night and we’re about to head out to Bandits Bar to watch Harlow sing. Christ knows that I could use a drink, it’s been exactly one week since our engagement party and the first time we’ve been out together as an officially engaged ‘couple’ since I let the whole town know what I think of them. At least tonight we’ll be surrounded by friends. For the most part, anyway.

“Dalton!” Daisy exclaims, covering her bra-covered chest as I stand on the threshold of her room. It takes me about five seconds too long to look away, and I have to smother a smile at the heat flooding her chest and neck, pretty sure the shade matches her bra.

“Apologies, I thought you’d be ready,” I say, averting my gaze as I cross my arms and lean against the doorframe.

“You said be ready at seven-thirty, it’s only quarter past,” she reminds me.

“My bad,” I reply, not feeling very bad about it at all.

“Then go wait for me downstairs!” she scolds, reaching for the red silk blouse that I’d bought her not too long ago.

“I’m fine right here,” I say as she turns her back to me and pulls on the blouse, hurriedly doing up the buttons before tucking it into the rainbow striped mini-skirt that I happen to like a little bit too much.

“This is not respecting my boundaries,” she reminds me, sitting on the edge of her bed and pulling on a pair of bright green, platform trainers.

I stare at them transfixed, or perhaps it’s her slim ankles and shapely legs dusted in freckles that has caught my attention. I can’t help but wonder if every inch of her skin is covered in them too.

“I’ll work on it,” I offer with a shrug.

“You’re being obnoxious,” she counters, but she doesn’t insist on me leaving and so I take that as an invitation to stay.

“I’ll try to refrain from being obnoxious the rest of the evening.”

She snorts, shaking her head. “So we’re back to talking now, are we?”

“I hadn’t realised we were ignoring each other again. Is this about the kiss at our engagement party?” I reply, enjoying her sass.

Truth be known, I’ve missed it. I’ve been looking forward to tonight all damn week. Not because we’re heading to Bandits Bar to hear Harlow sing, but because I’ll get to spend some time with Daisy. I don’t know what that means, and I don’t care to look into it too deeply either.

“You tell me. You’re the one who’s barely said a handful of words to me this past week since the engagement party,” she throws back, snatching up her bright blue, woollen coat. It grazes the tops of her ankles, covering up all that pretty skin.

“My dad has been busting my arse with a lot of work,” I explain. “He’s getting me back for going rogue, and not reading his damn speech.”

“So that’s your excuse?” she asks, lifting a brow, her lips thinning as she glares at me.

“I didn’t realise you missed me that much. You should’ve said something sooner, I would’ve made the time, Daisy,” I reply.

“I didn’t miss you. I just…” She blows out a breath. “Nevermind.”

“Don’t ‘nevermind’ me. Tell me what you’re thinking, Daisy.”

Grabbing her bag, she slings it over her shoulder and strides towards me. “Nothing’s on my mind,” she snaps.

I throw my arm out, blocking her path as my fingers wrap around the doorframe. “I’m not going to let you leave until you tell me why you’re so pissed off.”

“Dalton!”

“Daisy…” I insist.

“You kissed me.”

“I did.”

“You said all of those things in front of everyone, then you kissed me,” she accuses, folding her arms across her chest as she glares at me.

“Okay, so was it the kiss or the speech that made you miss me?”

“Neither, because I haven’t missed you.”

“You’re feisty tonight,” I observe, my lips flickering with a smile. “And very argumentative.”

“Well, this is the Daisy you get when you act like you care, kiss me in front of everyone, and then ignore me all week.”

“Let’s break this down, shall we?”

She pouts her glossy lips, and I want nothing more than to kiss her. Instead I adjust my body, completely blocking her path. “Talk to me.”

“You’re not going to let this go, are you?”

“Nope.”

“Okay, then. Did you mean what you said?” she asks, cocking her brow.

“I meant it. Yes. Every last word.”

She considers me for a moment. “Lia thought you were being sincere.”

“I knew there was a reason why I liked Lia so much,” I grin. “And what about you, did you think I was being sincere?”

“In contrast, Drix thought you were taking liberties,” she replies, ignoring my question.

“Well, they’re both correct,” I counter.

“You admit to taking liberties?”

“I wanted to kiss you. So I kissed you. I don’t regret it,” I add reaching out to pinch the end of the curl that’s framing her face. “In fact, I rather enjoyed it. Besides, you seemed to like it too.”

She slaps my hand away. “I kissed you back because it would’ve given the game away if I had kneed you in the balls, Dalton.”

Leaning in closer, I lower my voice. “Do you know what I think?”

“What?” she counters, her gaze briefly dropping to my lips, before she quickly flicks her eyes back up again.

“I think you liked the speech I gave, and that you know deep down I was being sincere. I also believe that you enjoyed the kiss. Furthermore, I think you’re pissed off because I haven’t given you much attention this week,” I observe.

Her eyes widen for a moment before narrowing again. “Are you trying to be funny?”

I chuckle, enjoying the banter between us. “I’m always trying, Daisy.”

“Yeah, very trying,” she retorts, jutting her chin out as she turns her face away from me.

Reaching for her, I rest my fingers against her chin, urging her to look at me. “Firstly, I’m sorry I haven’t made time for you this week. You have my word, I will do better. Secondly, I want you to know that I meant everything I said. None of that was for show.”

“But the kiss was?” she whispers.

“No it wasn’t. That kiss was for me. I wanted to kiss you.”

“Because you were trying to prove a point that you can take whatever you want and damn the consequences,” she counters.

“No, because you looked stunning, and I knew that if I tried to kiss you when there wasn’t an audience you wouldn’t have let me. It was selfish, but I’d do it again just to get a taste of your lips, to feel your body melt against mine, and to hear those pretty little whimpers you make when I fuck your mouth with my tongue.” I lean in closer, my breath mingling with hers as I murmur, “And I’m getting the distinct impression that you rather enjoy that side of me.”

“That kiss…” she begins, her floral scent lifting up into the air and making me want to bury my nose against her throat.

“Yes?”

“Was good,” she replies, her lips millimetres from mine.

“It was,” I agree, smirking.

“But I’ve had better,” she retorts, shoving me against my chest and striding past me.

She’s had better?

No, she did not just fucking say that! Firstly, I’m a damn good kisser, and secondly, how many fucking men has she kissed exactly? Those thoughts run rampant through my head as I watch her storm away, and for a moment I have to gather myself, because my dick is doing its own thing again, and is straining against the zipper of my jeans, and my heart? That bastard muscle is pounding in my chest as if I’ve just run ten miles on the treadmill.

Fuck she’s infuriating, not to mention entirely correct in her judgement of me.

I have been ignoring her this week. Not because I don’t want to spend time with her, but because all I want to do is spend time with her. Why? Fuck if I know. I mean, she is fun to be around. I do like her, but I’m not used to this. The longest time I’ve ever spent with a woman before is a few hours before and during sex, and if they’re lucky I stick around for the night just so that I can fuck them in the morning. But having actual conversations with them? Fuck, no.

Yet, I find myself wanting to pass the time with Daisy, and it’s messing with my head.

“Fuck,” I mutter, pushing off from the doorframe and striding after Daisy, knowing that tonight truly is going to be a test of my control.

“You look like you’ve just swallowed a wasp,” Sterling remarks, leaning his back against the bar next to me as I drag my gaze away from Daisy who is currently laughing animatedly with Riley, one of Drix’s close friends and his employee at the gym he owns. He’s a nice guy, we’ve all hung out together before, but right now I’m not feeling all that friendly towards him. In fact, I’m feeling slightly murderous.

“I’m fine!” I grind out, my fingers curling into fists at my side.

Sterling laughs, seeing right through me. “You’re fuming.”

“And you’re drunk,” I retort, noticing the glazed look in his eyes.

“Whatever,” he replies, flicking his gaze towards Harlow, who is currently setting up her equipment on the stage.

Needing something else to focus on, I follow his gaze. Admittedly, Harlow’s an attractive woman with long, silky blonde hair and sun-kissed skin, but there’s something about her that just doesn’t click for me. Maybe it’s the way she’s been giving Sterling the cold shoulder, or perhaps it’s the fact that I am so thoroughly preoccupied with Daisy to even think about another woman in that way. One minute we’re on the verge of being friends, and there’s an ease between us that I could get used to, the next we’re back to being enemies and throwing insults in each other’s faces, and if we’re not doing either of those things, I’m kissing her and she’s kissing me back. All I know is that right now I’m on edge, and I’m not happy about it.

“I don’t even know why I’m here,” Sterling mumbles, drawing my attention back to him.

“Things not going too well in the Blade household I take it?”

“You’re kidding, right?” he asks, knocking back another mouthful of scotch. “It’s a fucking nightmare.”

“Have you told Robert about you and Harlow?” I ask, lowering my voice.

“Yes, my dad was particularly pleased to find out that I had the best sex of my life with my step sister a few months before he married her mum,” he hisses. “Of course I fucking haven’t.”

“Are you planning on doing anything about it?”

“About it?”

“You know, the fact you’ve still got a raging hard-on for her.”

“Like what, exactly?” he groans, dragging out a long breath.

“She’s not blood related,” I offer with a shrug.

“It’s not as simple as that,” he retorts. “Besides, our one night stand started with her lying to me about her name, and ended with her sneaking off without a goodbye, let alone any way to contact her. She’s refused to talk to me about what happened between us apart from telling me that it was a mistake. So despite pointing out that she’s not actually my sister, there isn’t a chance in hell that anything further could happen between us for a multitude of fucked-up reasons.”

“Well that blows,” I retort, twisting my body around, so I can order us both another drink. I catch Ben’s attention and he strides towards me, a grin breaking across his face.

“Another one?” he asks, lifting a brow.

“Yes, for both me and Sterling,” I reply, just as Harlow begins to sing.

“Oh fuck,” Sterling mutters, tensing beside me as his eyes snap to the stage, instantly mesmerised.

“You think you should be encouraging him?” Ben questions.

“Listen, all is not well in the Blade household. He needs another drink.”

“It’s that bad?” Ben asks, pulling a face.

“Worse,” I reply, my attention drawn to Daisy, and my own problems. She’s stopped chatting with Riley, entranced by Harlow’s singing as much as everyone else appears to be, but she hasn’t moved away from him. In fact, I do not like how fucking close he’s standing next to her right now.

“I meant Sterling,” Ben says, following my gaze. “Though I’m guessing you’re having a bad night too?”

“What do you think?” I grind out, my jaw clenching.

“I think you need to get laid,” he retorts with a chuckle, knowing full well the predicament I’m in.

“Fuck you, Ben.”

He straightens his features as best as he can, but there’s no missing the spark of mirth in his eyes. “Might do you some good, abstaining from sex for a while. You could use the time to work on improving your personality. Silver linings and all that.”

“Since we’re talking about our sex lives, or lack thereof, how are things between you and Mrs Elodie Hoxton? Is she still married to that cunt?” I ask, referring to the woman he’s obsessed with, and her marriage to the sleaziest, most corrupt man I’ve ever had the displeasure of meeting.

Ben’s gaze darkens, his smile slipping into a scowl. “I’m working on it.”

“Sounds complicated. Did he actually take you up on your offer?”

“He did, though we haven’t finalised the details. Yet,” he adds, pouring himself a shot of scotch, and knocking it back before sliding the other two shot glasses towards me. “Though I plan on cashing in soon.”

“Bet that went down well with Elodie,” I remark. “Are you sure this is a good idea?”

“No, but if her husband is willing to accept two million pounds in exchange for me spending an uninterrupted month with her, then she’s got to see what a bastard he is and divorce him.”

“You don’t think that she’ll see you the same way for even suggesting this, let alone going through with it? That’s one hell of an indecent proposal, don’t you think?”

“It’s a risk I’m willing to take,” he replies, swiping a hand over his face. “Besides, what the fuck have I got to lose?”

“About two million pounds,” I point out.

“She’s worth it,” he retorts without hesitation.

“Well, I guess we’ll have each other to drown our sorrows with if everything goes tits up,” I comment, eyeing Daisy once more.

Ben lets out a humourless chuckle. “How are things with you and Daisy, anyway?” he asks, just as Riley ducks down and whispers something into her ear.

My gut churns as I watch her turn her body into his as she listens, and even though I know it’s probably because she can’t hear him all that well over the music, a blaze of jealousy and possessiveness flares to life inside my chest.

“The fuck?” I snarl.

“Dalton…” Ben warns, but it’s too late, because before he can stop me I’m already halfway across the room, pretty sure I’m about to cause a fucking scene.