Chapter 13 Shep
SHEP
WHILE THE TWO lovebirds, Lucien and Kai, headed back to Manhattan the next day, I stayed at Villa Monaco to keep an eye on things.
Specifically Theo.
I’d neglected to hand over that information to him last night, and he hadn’t asked, so he had no clue I was still down the road and not thousands of miles away.
I stepped into the walk-in closet to choose from one of the many tailored suits I kept here, but my steps faltered as the memory of Theo down on his knees in a space much smaller than this one flashed before my eyes.
Even though I’d barely been able to see him, I remembered those mischievous eyes locking on mine as he sucked me so hard and deep that I’d forgotten all the reasons why indulging in this way was a bad idea.
Because it was, a huge fucking mistake I’d probably regret eventually… but I couldn’t say I hadn’t enjoyed it.
And what happened in Monaco would stay in Monaco.
I dressed and headed downstairs to where our chauffeured Bentley waited to whisk me off to today’s royal event.
With the newly betrothed prince off on his honeymoon, today was the first day Theo would be stepping into Jean’s shoes as the representative of the royal family.
Could he pull it together and be charming and professional for a couple of hours?
Absolutely. Was I about to risk it, considering everything else going on at the moment? Absolutely not.
We headed toward the Rock of Monaco, a promontory that overlooked the Mediterranean Sea and was the oldest district in the principality. Several of the most important monuments were located there, including Theo’s family home, the Prince’s Palace.
But that wasn’t where we were going today. Instead the car pulled up to the Oceanographic Museum, or Musée océanographique de Monaco, where a horde of press stood on either side of the entrance waiting to snap a photo of anyone they deemed worthy.
I took in a deep breath and slowly let it out, preparing myself for the shift I needed to make when I stepped out of the car. There’d be no sneaking past the photographers, unfortunately, and while I didn’t have an official invite, no one was going to deny my entrance.
The door opened, and as soon as I stepped out of the vehicle and buttoned my jacket, the commotion began.
Surprise filtered through the group at my unexpected arrival, and when the flashes began, I smiled and waved, making my way up to the building quickly while still giving them the shots they needed.
It wasn’t that I minded—after all, this was the life I’d been born into, so it wasn’t like I had a choice.
Being a known person to a large majority of the world wasn’t necessarily a bad thing.
There were far more benefits to my position than not, but I couldn’t deny the downsides had taken their toll.
Not everyone wanted to be with someone in the public eye.
“Mr. Winchester, what a surprise and delight.” Amaya, one of the royal family’s most trusted advisors, shook my hand and gestured for me to join her. “If I’d known you were coming, I would’ve sent a car.”
“No, this one’s on me. I apologize for dropping in, but I couldn’t resist seeing the new exhibit before I leave.”
“C'est magnifique,” she said, nodding as she led us through the palatial vestibule. To say the building was grand was an understatement, and it was one of my favorite places to visit when I was on this side of the world. “Theo will be happy to have your support. He didn’t say it, but I think he was a bit anxious about the opening today.”
Theo, anxious? Happy to have my support?
I doubted both of those things, but I kept that to myself as we entered the Oceano Mania room, where a crowd gathered around the thirteen-foot sperm whale replica in the center. Theo stood on a podium in front of it, already deep into his introduction of the new exhibit.
Amaya tried to lead me closer to the podium, but I shook my head, keeping close to the door so I wouldn’t be noticed and make a scene.
“On behalf of my family and the incredible Oceanographic team, I’m thrilled to introduce the new Mediterranean 2050 exhibit, an immersive and interactive experience you’ll have to see to believe.
” Theo paused as the room applauded, and I was struck by how different the man the world saw was to the one I knew in private.
Up on the podium, Theo was every bit the polished royal, eloquent and prepared, but still daring to give a cheeky smile every now and then to his many admirers.
If only they knew what a bad boy lurked behind that handsome facade. On second thought, that might actually make him more popular.
“This exhibit has been years in the making, and I know Jean is devastated not to be here with you all today.” He winked, then continued, “Well, maybe not too devastated, since he’s on his honeymoon.
But his loss is my gain, and I welcome you to a look at the Mediterranean’s history, and what we can look forward to in the future.
Thank you all for being here, and for your continued support of the Oceanographic Museum. ”
I clapped as Theo waved and nodded, giving a more personal thank you to those in the room, but just as he was about to walk offstage, we locked eyes and he stopped in his tracks. Then a smirk tipped one side of his mouth, and I inwardly groaned.
I should’ve known he would take my being here the wrong way, and the look he just gave me proved it.
As everyone began to file into the next room in the exhibit, Theo sauntered in my direction, his entire demeanor changing from respectable to smug as he got closer.
“If it isn’t Shepard Winchester making a surprise appearance at my little event,” he said, hands casually in his pockets as he cocked his head at me.
“Little?” I scoffed, lifting my gaze to take in the sheer size of the room.
He ignored that, narrowing his sharp blue eyes at me. “What are you doing here? I thought you had Libertine business.”
“I do.”
Theo’s mouth snapped shut and then he slowly nodded. “I see. And here I thought you just couldn’t bear to be away from me. How disappointing.”
I let out a low curse and glanced around us, praying no one was within earshot.
“Relax. I may be crazy, but it’s not like I want to be America’s next first lady.”
“I swear to God…” Pinching the bridge of my nose, I sighed and made an attempt to hold my tongue. “With everything going on, I thought it best if you weren’t left…unattended.”
“You thought it best?”
“Yes.”
“Really.”
For fuck’s sake. “Fine, it was a mutual decision.”
“So King thought I needed a babysitter and you volunteered.”
“Would you rather have Lachlan? That’s who he planned to send in my place.”
Theo snorted. “Oh wow. He really is desperate. Lachlan would’ve stood out like a sore thumb.”
“Hence why you’re stuck with me.”
Theo moved as if to pass me by, then stopped, our shoulders touching as he glanced in my direction. “Not such a bad predicament to be in, I suppose.”
“You really need to stop doing that.”
“What?”
“Flirting with me. People are going to notice.”
Theo smirked, his eyes shifting around the room to the TV cameras broadcasting the event. “Oh please—the champagne is flowing, the festivities are underway. Why would anyone be paying attention to me?”
“Because you’re their prince, their guest of honor—”
“And devilishly handsome?”
Ignoring him, I continued, “I’m going to go and talk to—”
“Someone much less stimulating than me?”
“Something like that. Behave yourself.”
I didn’t bother waiting to hear whatever smartass response he made, because I knew if I spent too long with him I would lose any control I currently possessed.
That had never been a problem in the past with Theo—or anyone, for that matter—but something about the rebellious prince was getting to me.
Maybe it was his give-no-fucks attitude that was drawing me in, the fact he did what he wanted, when he wanted, the public be damned.
There was a reason he was Monaco’s favorite prince—he didn’t bear the same responsibilities as his father or brother, so Theo was able to be his authentic self, which had endeared him to his countryfolk and always driven King absolutely insane.
That alone was enough to make Theo sexy—now.
And the more time I spent watching him…
“Shepard, I didn’t know you were going to be making an appearance today.”
I turned just in time to see Prince Louis, the current Prince of Monaco, with his wife, Jacqueline.
“I wasn’t planning to. But when I heard Theo was hosting today’s exhibition, I couldn’t help myself.”
Jacqueline leaned forward and patted my arm. “Well, I’m grateful you did. It gives me a chance to thank you.”
I knew what she was referring to in an instant, and then her eyes drifted over my shoulder to where Theo stood smiling and making pleasantries with one of their donors.
“Theo is always on his best behavior when you’re around.” A soft smile tilted her lips as she brought her eyes back to mine. “Thank you for getting him to the altar on time.”
I coughed a little at her word choice, the idea of getting Theo anywhere near an altar making breathing a little more difficult. And I wasn’t even going to think about how I got him to behave that day.
“It was no trouble, really.”
“I appreciate it anyway. It was one less thing for me to worry about that day.”
And wasn’t that the story of my life? People asking me to step in and make problems disappear from their life. Just so happened the “problem” had been Theo both times of late.
“The wedding was beautiful,” I said, and snagged a champagne flute from a passing waitress. “I’m glad it all went off without a hitch.”
“As are we,” Prince Louis said as he surveyed the enormous room. “Lucien wasn’t able to make today’s event?”
“Unfortunately not. He and Kai had to return home for business.”
“Oh, that’s too bad, but I’m pleased you were able to stay.” Jacqueline gave me a sly smile, her eyes twinkling. “And tell me, did you bring anyone with you today?”
I was about to answer when I felt a hand clap me on the back. “Yeah, Shep. The public wants to know. Did you come alone?”
It took everything I had not to react to Theo’s double entendre as he stepped up beside me, and thank God I didn’t, because the smile on both his parents’ faces told me they had completely missed it.
I turned to see him smugly grinning. “I did, yes.”
“That’s a shame,” Jacqueline said. “A handsome man like you should have a lovely young man on his arm.”
“What about me?” Theo spoke up, waggling his brows at his mother. “I’m single.”
I sputtered on my sip of champagne, about to kill him for suggesting something so blatant, but his mother laughed and rolled her eyes.
“If I thought you would choose a lovely young man, I would suggest you go and find one too. But you have been quite adamant that you are not interested in settling down.”
It took all I had to keep a smile plastered on my lips, because Theo was about as subtle as a freight train. Even if his parents were oblivious.
“Hmm, you’re right. I’m too young and far too good looking to settle down anytime soon.
I have at least another five or ten years ahead of me to sow my wild oats.
Can’t say the same about this guy.” Theo winked at me, and I took back every single thought I had about him not being the most annoying pain in my ass ever. “He’s getting up there.”
“Theodore.” Jacqueline frowned at her son, then gave me a sweet smile. “Ignore him. Men age like fine wine, and you, Shepard Winchester, are a prime year.”
My cheeks warmed under her praise as her husband did exactly what I wanted to and politely excused himself from the conversation.
As they walked off to chat with their many friends and citizens, I slowly turned on a still-grinning Theo.
“I don’t know about you, but I am having so much fun.” He downed the last of his champagne and leaned in. “And just because you came here alone, doesn’t mean you have to when you get home…”
Jesus. He was going to give me a heart attack by the end of this trip. Not about to play his game a second longer, I decided my best course of action was to ignore him. Theo would always have a comeback, and I knew if I stayed another second I’d do something I would…not regret.
Instead, I turned on my heel and headed out of the museum to the familiar sound of Theo’s laugh, hating the fact that I wanted him to come with me—naked.
Fuck.