Royal Pain in the Ass, page 25
“I find that hard to believe.”
I turned to stare Senator Evans in the eye. “I’m so glad your name is Richard.”
“Why is that?”
“Because I can call you Dick in public.” I snapped and spun on my heel to storm off. I got maybe ten steps when someone grabbed my upper arm and began dragging me off.
“Who do you think you are?” Senator Evans sneered in my ear. He dragged me off to a side room and slammed the door shut, locked it, and turned to me. “What are you playing at?”
“What are you doing?”
“I want to know who you think you are. You are embarrassing yourself and your future husband.”
“I will never marry your son.”
“You really think you can do better?”
“Yes, actually, I do.”
“You’re an idiot.”
“I’m an idiot? For leaving him?”
“Yes,”
“Why would I stay? He cheated on me and didn’t treat me the way I deserve to be treated.”
“Cheating really? Is that such a big deal?”
“It is to me.”
“That’s part of being with an official man, actually. I’ve held countless affairs, Georgia knows of them and she’s still by my side.”
“That’s her choice, but I refuse to be with someone who thinks they can just use me.”
I heard a pounding on the door. “Senator, questions are being asked.”
“I’ll be out in a moment,” Senator Evans shouted. He turned back to me and he backed me into a corner. “You go out there, and I don’t care what you say, but you will fix this and you will marry that boy.”
“This isn’t the dark ages, Senator. I get to choose who I marry. If I do get married, it will not be to Chase, but to someone who I love and who treats me the way I deserve to be treated. You need to back up.”
Senator Evans leaned down, inches from my face. “Are you really challenging me, girl?”
“You going to hit me like your son?”
I saw the fury cross his face and I think he seriously considered it. I was in deep shit if he lost his temper. I had seen the senator angry before, and I’d seen the damage he could do to his own, I had to hope he didn’t completely lose his temper.
“Look, Senator, there are two ways this can go.”
“I agree, you go with the plan or I can make your life very miserable.”
“Juliet! Are you in there? Are you alright? Juliet!” I heard a pounding on the door and Xavier’s voice.
“I’m in here Xavier!” I shouted back. “No, Senator. I’m sorry, I don’t know what Chase told you, but I have no intention of ever getting back with him. You can cover it up however you like, but I will not be bullied into a relationship, let alone a marriage, oh and if you try to cover it up by slandering me or my family’s name, I will correct you.” I brushed past him and strode to the door. “Unlock this door I start screaming.”
“You little bitch.”
“Been called worse. Now open this damn door.”
“Not until you agree.”
“Xavier!” I shouted through the door. “I think you need to call the police.”
“You little bitch.” I felt the sharp sting and the next thing I knew I was on the floor. I was still dazed when I was lifted by the front of my dress. “You are going to regret this.” I was dropped to the floor, still dazed and dizzy when I heard his footsteps walking away. A minute or so later, someone’s hand was in mine.
“Juliet?”
“Xavier?”
“No, baby, it’s Chase.”
I snatched my hand back. “Don’t touch me. You or your family.” I tried to focus and managed. I was surrounded by people. “Where is Xavier?”
“We had him thrown out.”
“Why the hell would you do that, Chase?” I growled sitting up.
“For trying to lock you in a room with him.”
I stared at Chase and wanted nothing more than to hit him. “Where the fuck is he?”
“It doesn’t matter, baby, I’m here.”
“Chase, we aren’t together, we never will be again. Stay the hell away from me and out of my life.”
I pulled out my phone and called him.
“I’m by the car.” Xavier answered before I could ask.
“Cool, can you drive?”
“Yes,”
“Bring the car around.”
“I had a feeling. I’m right outside.”
I spun on my heel and glared up at Senator Evans. “With all due respect, senator, I’ve had enough of this degradation. I will not allow you to lie any longer or make a mockery of me or my friends. I’d say it’s been a pleasure, but it hasn’t. Good evening.”
“I didn’t say you could leave.”
“I didn’t ask.”
I stormed out of the hall past all of the gaping faces and cameras right up to Xavier. “You were right.” I whispered to him and kissed him. Xavier seemed shocked, but wrapped his arms around me.
He pulled away and stared down at me for a long moment, the strangest look on his face. I smiled up at him. I turned around at the crowd who was watching. “Senator Evans, have fun with this, because I’m totally pressing assault charges!” I saluted him and got in my car and Xavier and I drove off.
“Juliet.”
“Yes?”
“He hit you?”
“Yup. Smacked my happy little ass across the fucking room.” I growled. Talking hurt, I knew my jaw was at least bruised.
“I will kill him,”
“Senator Evans by the way, not Chase.”
“I don’t care, to hell with the lot of them. You were serious, weren’t you? About assault charges?”
“Yup.”
“So we’re going there now?”
“Yup.”
Xavier sighed. “Good.” We sat in a strange silence for a long moment. “Juliet,”
“Yes.”
“Have you had anything to drink tonight?”
“No. Why?”
“Why did you kiss me?”
“What?”
“You’ve never kissed me when you weren’t drinking or on hospital drugs.”
I thought about it for a long moment. “Really?”
“Yes.”
“Oh my god, I’m a terrible person. I’m so sorry, Xavier.”
“I was just curious why.”
“It just felt like a good idea. It’s what I really wanted to do in that moment so I did it.” I shrugged. “Should I not have?”
“Mind you, I’m not complaining, just surprised.”
“Xavier,”
“Yes?”
“What does this mean?”
“Let’s worry about that later.”
Xavier drove us to the police station. Several hours later I was allowed to go home.
I got a shower and then I knew Xavier and I had to talk.
Chapter XXIX
Xavier was waiting on my porch swing for me with coffee. “How are you?”
“I’m alright.”
“Does that hurt?” he asked as he gingerly traced the bruise on my face.
“Not bad.”
“Alright.”
We sat in awkward silence for a long moment, then both started at the same moment. Both insisting the other start.
“Juliet, ladies first.”
I sighed. “Xavier, I’m confused.”
“About?”
“Me and you.”
Xavier nodded. “What part confuses you?”
“You’re my advisor, but you’re more than that, and we both know it.”
Xavier nodded waiting for me to go on.
“What exactly more is, is what I don’t quite understand.”
“What do you want more to be?”
“I don’t know.”
“Well, you have to figure that part out. I will abide by your decision, whatever it may be.”
“Why are you so understanding?” I groaned. “I don’t know what to do, you’re my advisor, tell me!” I huffed.
“Would you like me to tell you what I would like to do right now?”
“Yes, yes, actually I would.”
Xavier took the coffee from my hands and put both of our mugs on the ground. He leaned over and whispered “This,” before his lips met mine. After a moment he pulled away. “Now what do you want to do?”
“I want to do that again.” I smiled and pulled him back to me. Our mouths met and there was a hunger to it. My hands tangled themselves in his hair and I pressed my lips harder against his. I wanted more. Xavier’s arms slid around my waist and he managed to lower us down without our lips separating. My lips trailed away from his lips to his neck and he moaned softly. His lips trailed down my neck to my collar bone, nibbling here and there and it sent chills through my body. He made his way back up my neck teasingly slow. I couldn’t help but squirm. I wanted so much more in that moment. My hands slid up his shirt and traced his abs, up to his sculpted chest. I was pulling his shirt off when someone cleared their throat behind us. I jumped and knocked Xavier off the swing, and then proceeded to fall off myself. I felt the color rush to my face, I was at least beet red.
“Good morning, lovebirds.” Amanda smirked from the doorway, a cigarette hanging between her lips. “I hate to interrupt but I have an impressionable three-year-old, and I really don’t want his earliest memory of Juliet to be her having sex on the porch swing.”
I didn’t think my face could get any hotter, but after that statement it certainly did. “We weren’t,”
“Not yet. It’s about time you did that though. I was going to intervene soon if you didn’t kiss that boy already.”
“It’s complicated.”
“I’m going to quote a very stupid girl who says very smart things, ‘it’s only as complicated as you make it.’ Do we remember who said this?”
I nodded.
“Right, it was you when I was making excuses not to leave my abusive husband. Now stop making excuses and do what you want, just please, do it in the bedroom.” Amanda winked, put her cigarette out and went back inside. I looked over at Xavier who was picking himself up.
“Are you alright?”
“Yeah, you?”
“I’m fine.” I stretched and Xavier pulled me to my feet. “Well, that wasn’t awkward or anything,” I laughed, hoping the embarrassment wasn’t as blatantly obvious as it felt to me.
“Perhaps it’s for the best.” Xavier smiled down at me.
“What?”
“She’s right you know. She does have an impressionable child.”
I crossed my arms and turned away from him looking out in the direction of the beach.
“Come here.” Xavier whispered as his arms wrapped around me. I let him pull me against him. “Relax.” He murmured against my ear and I shuddered. He turned me in his arms. “Look at me.” He whispered. I looked up into those chocolaty brown eyes and saw something that both exhilarated and terrified me. Xavier smiled down at me from those last inches away. His lips met mine and his lips were soft. He pulled away before I was ready. “Let’s go inside.”
Xavier and I ended up snuggling in my bed watching movies. Well, sort of watching. Every few minutes we’d get distracted by each other. I wasn’t sure about what I was feeling. I hadn’t felt anything like this before. I’d cared about people before, there was even a time where I had been in love with Chase. But this didn’t feel anything like that. It was with a start that I realized how much I really wanted Xavier. I was physically attracted to him, yes, but it was more than that. I wanted more than that. And I wanted more than this. We were once again distracted from the movie and I started to kiss down his neck and he moaned softly. My hands wandered and it didn’t take them long to find their way under his shirt. I tugged at it and without hesitation Xavier pulled it off. I marveled at his well sculpted chest and abs.
“What?” Xavier asked, sounding off guard.
“I’ve never seen you without a shirt.”
A very masculine smile crossed Xavier’s lips. “And?”
“And what?”
“What do you think?”
I rolled my eyes and couldn’t help but laugh. Xavier chose this moment to flip me over and kissed me. His lips trailed kisses down my neck and across my collar bone and back up my neck to nibble on my ear. I couldn’t help but squirm. Eventually he made his way back to my lips. I wrapped my fingers in his hair and pulled him against me. It was right about this time Maverick decided to throw open my door.
“Hey you!” Maverick shouted wearing only his Spiderman underpants, a cowboy hat and a cape. “Get off my Aunt Juliet!” he then proceeded to whap Xavier as hard as he could with his light saber and didn’t stop until Xavier moved away from me. I couldn’t help it, I burst out laughing. “Aunt Juliet, are you okay? I’ll save you from this bad guy!”
“I’m okay, Maverick. I promise.” I laughed. Xavier seemed rather put out and the look on his face was priceless. “Where is your mummy?”
“In the shower. She told me not to come in here, but I heard noises and I had to make sure he wasn’t hurting you.”
“Aww, that’s so sweet. Isn’t it Xavier?”
Maverick’s eyes narrowed. “I’m watching you.” He warned and sat himself in my lap. “Aunt Juliet, what do you want for lunch?”
“Is this your way of saying you’re hungry?”
Maverick nodded with a toothy grin on his face.
“Tell you what, you go figure out what you want and I’ll be there in just a minute. Okay?”
“Kay!” Maverick hopped down and was out of the room a moment later.
“You alright?” I asked as I turned to Xavier.
“Peachy.”
“I know how hard he can hit.”
“I’m fine.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes.” Xavier grumbled.
“Aww, you’re pouting.”
“I am not.” Xavier snapped.
“Aww, it’s cute.”
Xavier let out a snort.
“Aww, come here.” Xavier glanced out the corner of his eye at me. “Come here.” I whispered and kissed him lightly on the lips. “Better?”
Xavier rolled his eyes and was about to say something when we were once again interrupted.
“Aunt Juliet! Are you coming?” Maverick asked, he was standing at the door, his arms crossed.
“Coming Maverick.” I laughed. “Come on,” I pulled Xavier out with me.
I made Maverick a grilled cheese and he was happy. I just sat on the couch with Xavier and turned on the tv. It was nice just cuddling. It wasn’t long before Amanda was finished. After we told her what Maverick decided to do, she decided it was a Mommy mental health day, so she took Maverick to her parents house, leaving the house to Xavier and myself. We just spent the day together. We snuggled on the couch watching old movies. Xavier thought my love of outdated classics was hilarious.
“Stop laughing, they’re scary not funny.”I pouted.
“That is supposed to be realistic?”
“It was when it was made. It was downright terrifying.”
Xavier burst out in another spurt of laughter. “That is terrifying? That’s about as scary as a bad haircut.”
“Hey, those can be terrifying, too.”
“Juliet, you’re ridiculous.”
We laughed and joked, made out, and tickled one another and it all just felt natural. I wasn’t sure what I was feeling, but I wasn’t questioning it. It felt natural and I felt happy. That evening I called England. I called Angelica’s cell phone first.
“Hello?”
“Hey Angie, how’s it going?”
“I’m alright, are you? Dad wouldn’t tell me what happened exactly and Mum wants to pretend you don’t even exist anymore.”
Yeah, that sounded like Millie to me. “Well, I’m alive and well. Don’t worry about me.”
“Don’t worry about you? Last time I saw you, you were lying unconscious in a hospital bed fighting for your life! Of course I’m going to worry about you. I told the police what Chase did. How could you have ever been with someone like him?”
“Angie, I’m not having this conversation, least of all over the phone.”
“Juliet, I’m worried about you.”
“Don’t be. Do you know if James is working?”
“He’s in the study, but I’m pretty sure he’s just hiding from Mum.”
“Would you mind going and getting him?”
“Only if you promise to be careful.”
“Sure thing.”
“I mean it.”
“Yeah, yeah.”
“Juliet, if I ever have to watch what happened to you again, I will kill you myself.”
“Oooh, us crazy Americans have tainted you a little bit.” I teased.
“Juliet,”
“I understand.” I replied, my tone sobered. “I am being more careful. I promise.”
“You better, here’s Dad.”
“Hello?”
“Hey James.”
“Juliet?”
“The one and only.”
“How are you?”
“Well enough. How about you?”
“I’m fine, when are you coming home?”
“I am home, James.”
“Juliet, Angelica told me what happened. You need to come home.”
“James, I appreciate it, but I am home.”
“Juliet, you need to be around people who care about you.”
“There are people here who care about me. I have a life here.”
James sighed. “You’re your mother’s daughter; you’re going to do whatever you want anyway.”
“Pretty much,”
“I’m worried for your safety.”
“I’m fine, I just wanted to call and tell you I was fine.”
James sighed. “Juliet, I’ve only just found you, I don’t want to lose you. I regret losing your mother every day. I won’t lose you too.”
“James, I don’t feel like having this conversation.”
“Juliet,”
“No James, either we talk about something else or this conversation is over.”
I heard James sigh and knew that was over. “Very well, what are you planning to do?”
“What do you mean?”
“What are you planning to do then? If you don’t intend to come back you must have some idea what you are going to be doing over there.”
