LONDON'S POV
He stared at the ceiling again.
I glanced at his muscular chest, noticing that the sheet had been pulled up to his waist.
"You're not naked under there, are you?"
When he turned his head back toward me, he wore a smug grin.
"Why don't you take a look under the sheet and find out?"
"I think I'll pass," I replied sarcastically.
"Well, it's ready whenever you are."
Whenever I am? As if that would ever happen.
"I'm never sleeping with you again. It only happened once."
"If you say so, Pretty Girl."
"I'm serious."
"Sorry," he said with a chuckle, "but I really have a hard time believing you."
"I'm not one of your whores."
"Wow."
He pushed himself up on one elbow.
"What makes you think I sleep with whores? Actually, I like strong, intelligent, independent women. One of my girls is a French diplomat. Smart as hell."
"You have several girlfriends?" I asked in disgust.
"Not girlfriends. Just women."
He lay back down and pulled the sheet up to his shoulders.
"There it is again... your jealousy."
"Oh, for God's sake..."
I wanted to slap him.
"I'm not jealous. I've never been jealous. And I never will be."
"But you sure like talking about my sex life."
"Not at all," I said coldly. "You're clean, I hope?"
I silently hated myself for asking after what we'd done. But I'd done it to survive, to escape Bones, so I couldn't blame myself too much.
"Of course, Pretty Girl. By the way, you'll need a second injection. Ariel will take care of it tomorrow morning."
That made me angry.
"I told you I'm not sleeping with you."
"Fine. But you're getting the shot anyway—because you're going to change your mind."
"I'm not going to—"
He climbed on top of me and pressed his mouth against mine, kissing me so fiercely that he nearly bruised my lips. His hands gripped my wrists and pinned them to the mattress. His tongue slipped into my mouth and tangled with mine.
My resistance melted away when he breathed into my mouth. His eyes remained open, giving me a seductive look as he worshipped my lips with his own.
When he felt me responding, he released my hands and buried his fingers in my hair, stroking the soft strands.
When he finally pulled away, he looked completely satisfied.
"You'll get your injection tomorrow morning."
CREWE'S POV
It was ten in the morning, but that didn't stop Ariel and me from sharing a bottle of Scotch.
"Are you going to His Highness's ball next Saturday?"
She poured herself another drink and swirled the ice before bringing the glass to her lips.
I'd completely forgotten about the invitation.
"If you told him I'd attend, then I suppose I have to go."
"I'm sure that fat bitch will be there."
Ariel rolled her eyes, her glasses magnifying the movement.
I smiled, as I always did whenever Ariel became protective of me.
"I couldn't care less if she's there. But I'd like London to come with me. There's no shame in having a beautiful woman on your arm."
"No, that's not possible."
"Why?"
I stared into the flames in the fireplace. The only thing I regretted about this castle was the lack of windows. It had been built in an era when fortifications were essential. When I renovated it, I wanted to preserve its historical architecture, so I refused to add windows.
"You really think London knows how to behave around royal families from all over the world?" Ariel asked incredulously. "That girl is uncontrollable, even with a leash around her neck. You'd be insane to take her."
She certainly was a public danger.
"And as far as I can tell, nothing makes her behave. She's not afraid of you."
"That's not entirely true."
There were things I wouldn't do, but there were also things I would.
"True or not, it doesn't matter."
She drank her Scotch faster than I did, able to hold her liquor just as well.
"You should go alone. It would be easier."
I wanted her on my arm. London's charm worked on me. She had a beautiful smile whenever it appeared, and her body carried lovely curves. In an evening gown, with her hair styled and makeup done, she would outshine every woman there.
"I still want to take her."
Ariel didn't hide her irritation.
"Why are men always so stupid when it comes to women? It's always the same story. Remember Helen of Troy before you do something foolish."
"I have an idea to make her behave."
She set down her glass and crossed her arms.
"Really? Let's hear it."
I refilled my glass before revealing the name that explained everything.
"Joseph Ingram."
After a moment of thought, she smiled.
"That's actually not a bad idea."
---
Ariel followed me into the royal chambers carrying the necessary equipment. London was sitting in the small lounge near the balcony, reading a book she had found on the shelf.
"Ariel is going to give you a contraceptive injection," I announced as we entered.
London jumped, not having heard us come in.
"Damn it, a warning would've been nice..."
"Don't forget you're under our authority," Ariel said coldly. "Forget your demands and shut up."
London's eyes widened, offended by the cutting insult.
I tried not to smile. Ariel wasn't exactly gentle—unless you knew her well.
"You're a disgrace to women, you know that?"
London stood as if she were ready to fight.
"He's keeping me prisoner against my will and you're just standing there doing nothing. He forced me to strip—"
"If you're done whining, I have work to do."
Ariel opened her medical case on the wooden table.
London looked at me in disbelief.
"This woman is your partner? Does she talk to everyone like that?"
"Only to people who annoy her."
Ariel tested the syringe before sitting on the couch.
"Don't expect me to pity you just because I'm a woman. If you don't like your situation, change it. It's that simple."
"You think I want to be here?" London asked incredulously.
Ariel gestured toward the cushion behind her, silently ordering her to sit down.
"I think you need birth control because you enjoy sleeping with the man who captured you. So yes, I think you want to be here."
London glanced at the vase sitting on the nearby table.
I knew exactly what she was about to do.
"Don't even think about it, Pretty Girl."
I grabbed her wrist before she could do anything that might endanger her life. I guided her to the couch and sat beside her, keeping an eye on both women.
London was so furious she couldn't speak—which was a first.
Ariel inserted the needle and administered the serum. Then it was over. She pressed a cotton ball against the skin and secured it with a bandage.
"You'll be able to have sex in twenty-four hours."
She packed up her equipment and left, leaving us alone.
I knew London was dying to speak her mind.
"That woman is a monster."
I shrugged.
"She's not that bad when she likes someone."
"Does she insult all your clients like that?"
Thinking about it, I smiled.
"Actually, yeah."
"And people just accept it?" she asked incredulously.
Ariel possessed qualities that were impossible to replace.
"She is the best at what she does. That's all I can say."
"And what exactly does she do?"
I'd never told her about my other company.
"She more or less runs my Scotch distillery. I only supervise a few things here and there."
"Wait... you make Scotch?"
She looked surprised. Then she slowly seemed to understand why she so often saw me drinking amber-colored liquor during the day.
"I suppose there's a good reason."
"It's my clean money—a way to launder the cash from my other business."
She nodded as though she understood.
"And she works in the intelligence operation too?"
"Yes. She does a lot of things."
London sighed as she realized there was no getting rid of her nemesis.
"I've done nothing to deserve her hatred. She's really cruel."
"It has nothing to do with you. She doesn't like people she doesn't know."
"Well, she didn't know anyone at first."
"And honestly, she still doesn't like me."
London laughed softly.
"I can't blame her..."
I loved seeing her smile—especially for me. It was a rare expression, like a rain cloud in the desert.
"Give it time. She'll change her mind."
I looked at the cotton ball taped to her arm.
"It looks like you're ready for sex."
Her smile vanished instantly.
I knew she was at war with herself. Her body wanted me, especially after the pleasure I'd given her. But her mind couldn't accept even the slightest attraction under these inhuman circumstances. She would always see me as the man who imprisoned her, a dictator.
But that was about to change.
👉 Will Crewe finally lose control... or has everything been calculated from the very beginning?