Episode 27 The Queen of Mean
Florence
My pillow smells is moving. Not only that, but it’s trying to slip out from underneath me.
I let out a sleepy hum and tighten my arms around it, holding tight. A low chuckle greets me. “Don’t want to let me go, cor mea?”
Forsythe. The sound of his voice, rumbling directly into my ear, has my eyelids fluttering but not opening all the way.
He wasn’t here when I went to sleep last night.
Everyone else was tucked up in my bed around me, but Forsythe was at the palace with his grandmother and Elizabeth—who I still haven’t met yet—and Isadora.
I didn’t hear him join us, didn’t feel the rest of the pack shift to give him space.
“I didn’t even know you were here,” I murmur, without opening my eyes. He goes still. Then sighs, pulling me up his chest until I’m laying on top of him.
“Cor mea, look at me.” I do, resting my chin on his chest as he smooths my hair over my shoulder. “I am here. And I’m not going anywhere.”
One corner of my mouth ticks up and he pushes his thumb into it. “But you were trying to leave, trying to sneak out first thing in the morning.”
He gives a low chuckle. “Look around, Florence.”
I do. My bed is… empty. Only us in it, and the light coming through the windows tells me it’s definitely not the first thing in the morning. In fact, I’d hazard a guess it’s much later. Midmorning at least.
My brows jump in surprise as I look back at the prince under me, looking gloriously sleep rumpled and more than a little smug. “I let you sleep as long as I could. But I do need to get up now.”
“Things to do, people to see?”
He grins, a flash of white teeth in his dark beard. “More like a bladder full of too much champagne.”
“Oh!” I scramble off of him, and tug the blankets up to my chin, which is ridiculous, I’m still fully covered in the shirt I stole from Grieves last night. Right off his body too. He only grinned when he helped me tug it over my head, though, so I don’t think he minded all that much.
Forsythe chuckles and leans over to brush a kiss on my forehead, before climbing out of the bed. “Wait here, I’ll be back.”
I watch wide-eyed as he heads into my bathroom.
I’ve never woken up with Forsythe before.
Ever. He’s always gone before I get up in the morning, and I suspect he doesn’t necessarily climb into bed with us when he gets home late at night.
What is even happening?
I hear the flush of the toilet and then the water running in the sink and I brace myself for him to come in here and say he actually does need to go, that he can’t stay. Maybe even to leave without saying anything at all.
But he just reenters wearing nothing but silk boxers and crawls back onto the giant bed with me, until he’s hovering over me, one knee on either side of my hips, one hand on either side of my head.
“You look terrified, cor mea,” he murmurs, sounding amused.
I shake my head. “Not terrified… confused.” I don’t stop myself from brushing my fingers over his beard, scrubbing gently, and he turns into my touch, pressing a kiss into my palm. “What’s going on, Sythe?”
He sighs and drops on top of me, pressing me into the mattress with his much greater weight and my omega glories in it.
“I’ve been neglecting you,” he says softly, meeting my eyes. “It’s unforgivable. And I won’t be doing that anymore.”
Hope swells, but I force it back and down. I can’t afford to feel it, not until I understand what he’s saying.
“What does that mean?”
He bends and presses a chaste kiss to my mouth. Soft and sweet and not nearly enough. “I told you, I’m not going anywhere, and I meant it.”
“So we have the day together? You don’t have any meetings or events you have to rush off to?”
“None, cor mea. You’re my focus now.”
It's almost too good to be true. This is what I’ve wanted though, isn’t it? To have some kind of indication from him, specifically, that he’s choosing me. And it seems like this is the first step.
Still I have to know.
“Is-is this because of what we did in the kitchen? Are you feeling guilty or like… you took advantage or something?”
I don’t meet his eyes as I wait for his answer, staring instead at his collarbone. He doesn’t say anything for the longest time. And when he does it’s only to command, softly, “look at me, Florence.” Then he adds even softer. “Please.”
I lift my gaze to his face and what I find there nearly steals my breath. It’s… love. Or something awfully close to it. “I’m only going to say this once, so I want to be sure you hear me. Are you listening?”
I nod. “Yes.”
“Good girl. Now, I do not, nor will I ever, regret kneeling for you in the kitchen. It was one of the sexiest moments of my life, one I plan on recreating as often as you’ll let me.
I do feel guilty, but not for that. Never for that.
You told me exactly what you needed and I was able to give it to you.
That makes my alpha fucking proud. You understand? ”
I give a jerky little nod and blow out a breath.
His lips twitch into a smile. “The only guilt I feel is for how I treated you before this. I should never have sent you home, Florence. I should never have stayed away from you. I should never have suggested even for one moment that the most we could offer you was to keep you by our side, but hidden, a secret. It was a mistake. One made because I was a coward, like you so helpfully pointed out. But I’m working on not being so scared anymore.
On becoming the alpha you and Piers both deserve. ”
God, something cracks in my chest at hearing him admit he’s scared. This alpha prince, this man who always seems so self-assured, like he knows exactly what he wants and how to get it, who always seems so in control, is scared.
I had very little resistance to him to begin with. He’s my fated mate, and a part of my soul resides in him. I’ve wanted to forgive him for almost as long as I’ve known him.
“You’re as much a part of me as my lungs, my brain, my heart. And just as vital. I need you because you’re my fated mate, Florence.” He bends his neck and brushes the sweetest, most tender kiss of my life against my mouth. “But I want you because you’re you. Beautiful, glorious, sunshiny you.”
Warmth swells in my chest and I can’t stop myself from kissing him.
I don’t even try. He hums as he kisses me back, slow and soft and sweet.
Not an ounce of urgency in it, like he really meant it when he said he’s not going anywhere.
Like he has all the time in the world to do just this, lay in bed with me, kissing.
He pulls away too soon, pressing his forehead to mine.
“I know I messed up with you, Florence. And I know you might not be ready to forgive me, but I’m going to keep working to earn it. To earn you.”
I don’t respond. My throat is too tight for that, but I do wrap my arms around him, hugging him against my body and he melts against me, nuzzling his face into the curve of my neck, taking deep inhales of my scent. “Mine,” he murmurs against my skin.
Yours, I silently agree with him.
It’s three days later when Forsythe leaves me for the first time.
And not only does he leave me, but the rest of the pack does too, slipping out of bed before I’m even remotely awake.
“Where?” I ask not fully cognizant enough to form a complete question, but realizing the prince of Bravonne is standing at the edge of the bed, fully dressed in his customary three piece suit.
Forsythe brushes a tender kiss over my bare shoulder, then drags his lips up to my neck, teeth gently scraping over my pulse point. “We have a few things to take care of today, love. Unfortunately I think it might take all day. Will you be okay on your own?”
Will I? Probably not. Especially if he’s thinking they’ll actually be gone until this evening. I’ve gotten so used to having at least one of the Ashbourne pack near me, that I suspect I’ll be incredibly lonely on my own.
But he’s given me three straight days of his attention, and I know he’s been neglecting his other duties, so I nod into my pillow. “‘Course I’ll be fine.”
A hum sounds from my other side as the bed dips. “Your scent is telling us otherwise, killer.”
I sigh and roll over blinking up at the two alphas flanking me, and the rest of the pack standing at the foot of the ridiculously huge bed.
“What good would it do for me to tell you I want all of you to stay with me always?” All of their expressions get soft at my admission.
“It’s not like we can spend every second of every day together.
We all have things we need to do.” I flick my gaze to Forsythe.
“Some of us more than others. And I know you’ve been neglecting your duties, recently. ”
“We can stay,” Piers is quick to offer. “If not all of us…”
“No,” I tell him, waving a hand. “At some point in the future I’m going to have to let you go.”
That raises a round of rough growls. “Never, bubbles.”
I push into a sitting position and roll my eyes.
“I meant like go out into the world and leave me alone. I know it’s not feasible for us to exist like we have been for the last few days.
We all have things we need to do.” I wince internally.
I’ve been avoiding making any more decisions on my fashion line.
I don’t want to set up a warehouse in Granton if I’m going to end up living in Durvain.
Which means I’ve also been avoiding talking to Haven or any of the Calloways.
“I have some work to do, anyway, and as much as I love spending time with you guys, you’re all very distracting.”
Court’s smile turns wolfish. “In what way are we distracting, Pix?”
I snort and shake my head. “You know how.”
“Enlighten me, slowly. With filthy words and maybe a practical demonstration?” I know he’s teasing, but I still get all warm and slick between my legs.
“That right there,” I point at him. “Distracting.”