Chapter 30 Wylder
WYLDER
“You sure you want me here?” Neo asks as we pull up to the gala.
I glance out of the limo window at the soft, glowing lights leading to the grand entrance of the building, the red carpet laid out for the attending guests.
This is a gala for the scholarship program I run.
It’s not something I enjoy hosting, but I realize many of my donors like to feel important.
And this is one way for them to continue to give me money.
Besides, it’s not like I want to give up all my responsibilities as the head of the Buckingham family, just enough so that I don’t feel like I’m drowning. The fact that I’m here, with a neatly trimmed beard, is evidence of the compromise I’ve found.
“I do,” I reply. “I want you with me, by my side. I want to show you off.”
I mean it when I say that. He looks really good tonight, his blue hair perfectly styled, his suit something I had commissioned and gifted him for Christmas.
The way his face lit up when he opened it.
And when he tried it on for me later… Fuck.
It fits him so well, and I have visions of peeling it off of him after this event.
I will.
With my teeth and tongue.
He looks at me questioningly. “All right, if you’re sure.”
“I am,” I reply, and then the car door opens.
Brennan steps to the side, and I exit first, extending a hand to help Neo.
He’s slightly pale as he steps out of the vehicle, no doubt because of the many flashbulbs going off.
Everywhere we’ve been recently, the paparazzi have been there, wanting to get a picture of my partner and me.
It’s not like I’ve kept him secret. Since Christmas, we’ve been out on the town more often than not.
I have nothing to hide, and my affection for him in public is obvious to the casual observer.
I don’t mind these kinds of pictures. It’s not like when Umbra was catching secret moments between us. I’m happy for the world to see what I’ll allow them to at public events such as these.
And I’m thrilled that, in doing so, everyone knows that Neo is mine.
My hand slips to his back soothingly as he shudders. Neo hates being the center of attention. For all of the bratting he does with me, he doesn’t like being under this kind of scrutiny. But he understands the importance of tonight. I couldn’t not come.
And I refused to attend without Neo at my side.
Not wanting him uncomfortable for a second longer than necessary, I whisk him inside and straight over to the bar.
Neo exhales slowly. “That was…weird. Why do people care who shows up to this?”
“It’s something that sells. You’ll get used to it. I promise.”
He rolls his eyes. “Don’t think I will. I’d rather be snuck in the back by the guards.”
My chest swells with adoration for him. He’s so different from the women I’ve had on my arm at these events, the ones who just sought attention and admiration. Neo is the opposite of that. He’d prefer to work in the background, going unnoticed.
Thing is, tonight, I’m going to have everyone recognize the work he’s done for the program. Keeping it running, managing the slew of emails I get each day. And while I’m up there, I’ll announce the secret arm of the scholarship, which funds group homes in the county. I want more support for it.
I want the entirety of St. Dimas to recognize how much we need to help those who are less fortunate than us, and that we have the privilege of doing better for those around us.
My stomach flutters with nerves, and Neo squeezes my hand.
“You okay? You look…serious,” he says.
“Just thinking about you.”
He rolls his eyes again, but I see the flush on his cheeks. He likes that.
“You look hot in that suit.”
“Thank you for getting it for me, Mr. Buckingham.”
Oh. My monster likes that form of deference. “You’re welcome, Mr. Smith.”
He grins, and I lean down, pressing a kiss to his lips. He sighs as his tongue slips into me, licking against my own. My cock perks up at the feel of him, and when I pull away, we’re both breathing heavily.
Maybe I don’t need to stay here long. Maybe we can sneak out for a while and return.
“You know what I’m wearing right now?” he asks, interrupting my train of thought.
My breath hitches. Earlier this week, while opening Christmas presents with the family, I watched Neo’s eyes shine as he received presents from each and every person in the room.
Afterward, he slipped away, and I held him while he wept.
Happy tears, of course, but I’m so fucking glad I didn’t let Samson burn down the Christmas tree.
And later that night, I gifted Neo something else. Something personal.
A diamond-tipped plug.
He said it was far too expensive and that I needed to return it immediately. I refused. I had it custom made.
“Your gift?” I ask, and he nods. “So you can chase me down later and see it.”
My hand tightens on his, and he grins up at me just as someone approaches. They loom like a shadow, a stain on the otherwise perfect event.
A slow smirk lifts Neo’s lips as Candace appears before us. He doesn’t say a single word, no doubt remembering the legal repercussions if he does so.
It’s sweet that he’s holding his tongue for my sake. He knows I won’t allow him to go to jail or be sued, so anything he does will lead to a mess for me to clean up.
I love that he’s refusing to add to my plate, even if it means giving up the urge to take Candace down a peg or two.
“Wylder,” she purrs. There’s a man on her arm, someone I don’t recognize and don’t really care to know. “You’re here with your…friend.”
Neo stiffens but remains silent.
I put my hand on his as I glare at Candace, trying to see what I ever saw in her. “I’m here with my partner. A place you knew we’d be in attendance, so I’m confused as to why you are here.”
She waves a hand at Neo dismissively, and my monster growls. “How was I to know that you’ve started playing in the gutter? Really, Wylder, I expected better.”
Neo opens his mouth, but this is one battle I don’t need him to fight for me. “That’s where you’re wrong. I was playing in the gutter during my relationship with you. What I share with Neo transcends all of that.”
The tension leaves Neo as he smiles up at me, but I’m not done.
“Our lawyers agreed that you and Neo were to have no contact.” I drop my voice low, letting a hint of threat fill my tone. “I’d advise you to follow that at all times in the future. If I ever get wind that you so much as looked at him, I’ll make your life extremely difficult indeed.”
Candace pales under the thick layer of makeup. “I’m sure I don’t know what you mean.”
“I’m sure you do,” I say. “Neo is not a point of negotiation for me, Candace. Mess with him and I’ll ruin you.”
Candace looks to the man at her side like she’s expecting him to leap to her defense, but he’s staring off into the distance. I’m fairly certain he’s not even listening. Perhaps, like Candace, he doesn’t care about the person on his arm, just their standing in society.
“Leave, now,” I say firmly. “And do it quietly, Candace. I don’t want a scene. Who knows who might film it and put it online.”
Someone comes up beside us. “Yes, wouldn’t want the world to see the hue of blue that you’ve been unable to conceal with that foundation.”
Dalton’s words have Neo coughing to try and cover his laughter, but it’s no good.
Candace’s nostrils flare before she storms off, her date trailing behind her. I nod toward Brennan, who’s been lingering behind us. He’ll make sure she leaves without creating any fuss.
“She wasn’t blue,” Neo says when she’s out of earshot.
Dalton smirks. “I know, but now she’s going to spend days worrying about it again. Never forget the mental torture. Just as important as the physical.”
Neo gives a delicate shiver. “I think I’ll leave all forms of torture up to you guys, thank you very much.”
He lifts on his toes to press a kiss to my cheek. “And thank you, darling, for defending me.”
My chest warms as I pull him closer. “Always, brat.”
“How did she sneak in here, anyway?” Dalton asks, still tracking her progress toward the exit. “Didn’t we rescind her invitation?”
“We did,” I say. “I assume she came as that guy’s plus-one.”
“Poor man,” Neo says, humor rippling through the words. “I doubt he’s any better than she is, but you’ve gotta feel bad for him.”
“Yeah.” Dalton snickers. “His night just got a lot more boring. But with her, I guess it already was. Anyway, you guys seen Jackson? He arrived with Matthias and Wyatt, but then disappeared.”
I arch an eyebrow at him. “Why do you care?”
Dalton shrugs but doesn’t meet my eyes. “Just curious where everyone is, and, you know, gotta make sure no one is getting themselves into trouble. Speaking of, where’s Samson?”
I don’t believe him for a second. Judging from Neo’s smirking, he doesn’t either. “He decided to skip this and do a job instead.”
“Fuck. All right. Makes sense. He hates these things.”
“He does, and since Matthias and Cade are otherwise occupied, it seems you’re stuck with Harley for the rest of the night,” I say, and Dalton knocks into me a little too roughly.
“Yeah, all right. You two enjoy your night. Looking forward to your big speech.”
As he walks away, Neo glances up at me. “What big speech?”
“The one I give every year when I do this. Don’t worry, I only mention you a few times.”
His eyes widen. “Oh my god, Wylder. Do not mention me.”
“I have to. You’ve been integral to the entire program. I need them to recognize your hard work.”
“But I don’t want recognition. I just want people to forget I exist.”
“No one could ever forget you exist. And plus, you’ll be up there with me. I want you up there with me. I want to show you off to the world. I want everyone to know you’re mine.”
He stares into my eyes, long and hard, leaning closer and closer. His hand clutches over my chest, right against my thundering heart.
“Are you sure?”
“I’ve never been more sure of anything in my life.”
He sighs at my soft declaration. “Okay, fine. You win. I’ll be up there, but Wylder…will I be by your side the entire time? You won’t leave me to stand there awkwardly, right?”
“Yes, you’ll always be by my side. And if I have my way, you’ll stay there forever.”
Neo sucks in a breath. “Forever?”
I give him a wry smile. “I thought the ring would’ve tipped you off.”
His eyes dart down to his other present from me that he unwrapped on Christmas Day. “I thought this was just a tracker.”
I tug him tighter into my side. “Then why are you wearing it on your ring finger?”
Neo splutters and coughs as his face reddens.
My grin is now so broad that it’s making my cheeks ache. “Settle down, brat. I haven’t proposed.”
“Good,” he wheezes, glaring up at me. “Because the other guy kinda needs to be aware that’s what’s happening. And accept, of course.”
I chuckle, dusting my lips over his forehead. “I’m not that obtuse.”
“Then why did you point out that I’m wearing it on that finger?”
“Because I like it,” I say hoarsely, turning to face Neo. I cup his face, my thumbs stroking down his cheeks. “More than I probably should. I like that everyone you come across will see it and know you belong to me. That you’re mine, just as I’m yours.”
Neo’s smile is almost as bright as mine. “In that case, you need one too.”
I smirk. “Now who’s proposing?”
“Definitely not me. I want something grand and unexpected for my proposal. I’ve never had anyone do anything like that for me before.” He winces suddenly. “Shit, is that too demanding?”
I silence him with a kiss. “No. I wouldn’t expect anything less. And I wouldn’t do any less for you, either. Don’t worry. I’ve got it under control.”
He laughs, patting my arm. “Sure, darling.”
He doesn’t believe me, but that’s fine. Maybe he thinks it’s too soon for him to hope for such things.
But I’m long past giving a shit about society’s expectations and restrictions, and it’s all thanks to this beautiful man at my side. He’s the one who pushes me not to be better, but to be happier. Not to think of others, but to think of myself.
That’s what I’m doing. I’m thinking about my future happiness. About myself, and what that will look like.
I don’t need to think for long.
All I need is Neo. My brat.
He’s given me everything I didn’t realize was missing from my life.
And now, I’ll spend the rest of it giving him everything, too.