Page 58 of Brutal Prince

“I better go,” I stuttered, feeling weak and dizzy.

When I sat up the blanket rolled down my chest and I discovered that I was wearing a black silk negligee.

“Take your time, Cattus. There’s no hurry,” he crooned. He peered at me smugly over his whiskey glass when he took a sip, but I was too dozy to register exactly what was going on.

“What did you do to me?”

He frowned. “Nothing.”

“Where’s my clothes?”

“Oh that. I didn’t want you creasing the dress I bought you, so we changed you into something more appropriate just before you fell asleep.”

“How long have I been sleeping for?” my throat was raspy when I spoke, so I coughed to clear it.

He glanced at the time on his Rolex, “Approximately eighty minutes.”

When I stood a deep ache pounded into my lower back forcing me to stumble.

“Take it easy, Cattus,” he said, rushing to my aid.

“What did you do while I was sleeping?” I asked him.

“Watched a little TV, read a couple of Huffington Post articles, watched you sleep. Drank. Ate.”

I licked my lower lip to hydrate my parched mouth as he helped me to change back into my cheap Wal-Mart dress. I was still wearing my underwear.

“Where’s my bag?”

He brought it over and panic shivered through my body. I’m screwed if he searched my contacts and read messages from my protection squad. He couldn’t get into my phone without unlocking the password, but I still felt uneasy about it.

“We should do this again sometime,” he said, cupping my face in his hands, “Next time perhaps you should lay off the wine.” He pressed his lips against my forehead. I felt so numb and confused and so nauseous, I barely reacted to his touch.

“Okay,” I answered, rummaging through my bag for my phone and sighing in relief when I found it. I couldn’t remember much that occurred on our date, but I’m certain that I didn’t achieve what I was supposed to.

“I heard it ring several times,” he nodded his chin towards my phone. “I didn’t think it was my place to answer it.”

“Oh.” I glanced quickly at who rang and it was the same number, several times over.

“Do you need a ride home?”

I shook my head. “I brought my car.”

“Seriously Cattus, I don’t think you should be driving.”

I slid my heels on and wobbled on my feet to the door. “I’ll be okay.”

He kissed me again, this time on the lips, long and soulful, my entire body tingled. I was the first to pull away because it didn’t feel right. Nothing felt right. “You know for a girl as plain as you, you sure looked sexy when you were sleeping.”

It was a last minute kick in the guts because I rejected his advances. Even in my dozy state, his comment still hurt.

I turned my back on him, placing my hand on the door handle, “Bye,” I spoke without looking at him.

“I’ll call you,” he said as the door closed behind me.

“What the fuck were you thinking?” Lise Fontaine bellowed at me as soon as I climbed inside the car. Luca Hanna was at the wheel, Lise in the passenger seat and Rhys Gallagher in the back. My girls. My protection squad. “Why didn’t you answer my calls?”

I dropped my face into my hands and shook as the tears brimmed over. I felt so disgusting inside and out, I doubt a hot soapy bath wouldn’t be able to fix it.

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