Page 6 of The Fixer

Thesprawlingpalacespreadout farther than I could see and had high, spiraling columns of multi-colored glass. It was so stunning that my mouth hadn’t closed since I’d stepped out of the stretched SUV. The coat of arms for the Dravyn line, which consisted of twin dragons and crisscrossed swords, sat on the huge, wooden door we walked toward. Blood-red poppy flowers embellished the shield seated on the crown of a skull. It was as if I’d passed through some time warp when I’d left the airplane.

Before we reached the doors, they opened and men in suits held them for us. Stepping inside, I gaped openly at the thousands of chandeliers sparkling above us and the enormous staircase in front of us. Huge gargoyles sat on the banisters, posed as if inspecting all who entered the palace. Several balconies were visible from where I stood, which spoke of how massive the palace really was.

“Come, Elle. I will show you to your room so you can freshen up and change into something clean. Had I known you’d be going through so many clothes, I’d have ordered more for your stay at my residence.” Turning, I accepted his arm, which he’d offered me.

The hallways were lined with paintings of battles and various scenes, and eventually, he paused at a set of double doors, smiling devilishly.

“I hope you don’t mind staying in the queen’s apartment?”

My eyebrows shot toward my hairline, but I smoothed my features out quickly. “Should I? I feel as if there’s a pitfall here, I’m not catching, Raithe.”

Without answering, he threw the doors of the room open. My jaw hit the floor at the opulence and unreal details of the entire room. Within was a room of lush, intricate beauty. The walls were painted royal-blue, which was bold and yet oddly soothing with the ivory furniture. The middle of the room had a window, allowing sunlight into the room. It sparkled off the crystal chandelier, causing thousands of tiny prisms to dance around the plush, ivory settee, and seats below. A large glass door led to the balcony, offering a vast, ethereal view of the palace gardens below.

“Holy shit,” I whispered in amazement.

“The bones are old, but I’ve had it decorated in modern luxury. You’ve not even seen the sleeping chambers yet, Elle. Come,” he instructed. When I glanced sheepishly toward the door he showed, he smiled with darkening eyes. “I won’t bite, at least not yet.”

“That’s reassuring,” I muttered, slowly trailing after him.

Inside the room, I stopped dead in my tracks. Glittering rose-gold paint bathed the walls in a feminine hue that I wouldn’t have chosen for myself. As a rule, I hated pink. But in this room, I loved it. The largest bed I’d seen in my entire life sat in the middle of the space. Strolling over to it, I ran my fingers along the soft, ivory-colored blanket covering the mattress. The oversized, rose-gold wood behind the head had erotic images intricately carved into the painted wood. Naked men and women were coupling or had their hands positioned over improper places. Below the carvings was a button tuft headboard of the same ivory shade as the pillows and bedding. I glanced at Raithe, who was watching my reaction with a look that disarmed me.

“It’s incredible,” I admitted, peering down at the settee at the end of the bed.

“The bathroom is through here, along with the wardrobe.” He gestured toward two of the three closed doors in the room.

“And where does the other door lead?” I asked.

His eyes darkened, and his teeth played with his lip before he released it and leaned against the wall. “To the king’s chamber, of course,” he stated. “You’ll discover the bathroom is a shared space. I’m sure you and I can work out a schedule. One downfall of buildings as old as this one is that you have limited remodeling options that doesn’t require taking away from the original beauty of the architecture.”

“Found the pitfall,” I admitted with the memory of his mouth against mine replaying through my mind. Admittedly, I could see his hesitation of destroying the natural beauty and history of this place.

“Scared of your own filthy desires coming out to play, darling?”

“Pretty much,” I agreed without pussyfooting around it with lies. “Do I have time to shower and fix my hair? I work best when I’m put together.”

“You mean when you’re wearing armor?” His face softened as mine hardened.

“I’ve spent my entire career in a man’s world, where women are treated like property or trophies. They can’t own me, Raithe Dravyn. All the money, fame, and power cannot buy them a night in my bed. Men don’t like when they’re told no or rejected. It pisses them off, which in return makes them reckless when in my presence. Being reckless when there’s a shark scenting for blood in the water is lethal to their livelihoods and way of life. Plus, I enjoy looking pretty and wearing designer clothing. Everything I own, I got by clawing my way to the top. I think I’ve earned the right to be a petty bitch who likes nice things.” Crossing my arms over my chest, I dug my feet in, refusing to back down.

“I took the liberty of ordering your entire bathroom and closet of cosmetics, toiletries, clothing, and shoes in similar fashion from your favorite designers. If being pretty makes you feel safe and powerful, I won’t say anything offensive about the matter. We all have armor we wear to protect ourselves. You shouldn’t be defensive over yours. If I missed anything, which I doubt I did, you only need to ask for it, and I’ll secure it.”

“My phone?” I countered.

His lips tipped up, revealing his dimples. “Once I know I can trust you and your people are here, you will have it. Until then, shower and dress for brunch. We’ll discuss our arrangement over it and then go over the terms and limits of your employment and access to my home.” After opening the door, he slipped behind it, pulling it closed before I could discern how elegant it was.

Entering the bathroom, my breath caught and stuck in my throat. A huge porcelain tub sat on the edge of a large, open balcony. Beyond it, a mountainside with waterfalls filled the awe-inspiring view. A shower with wall jets sat across from it and had one side entirely open to the elements. Glancing at the connecting door, I worried my lip before stripping down. Bending over, I turned on the water, smiling as I felt his heated stare on my ass.

I should have taken more care when yanking my leggings off because, as I did, they pulled off the bandages. Fresh blood drip down my pale, bruised skin, but re-bandaging it would be pointless right before a bath. So, I sighed and pulled the top over my head and then paused. I had nothing to change into or a place to discard my soiled clothing. I tugged a towel from the rack next to the shower and wrapped it around my body before moving toward the large door in the bathroom and opening it.

My brows shot up as my mouth dropped, staring at a naked Raithe. He had tattoos. Actually, he had a lot of them. They started at the bottom of his throat and led down his hard, sinewy chest to his V-line. My mouth went dry, and I fumbled for words. When my gaze dropped to the sheer magnitude of Raithe’s cock, a soft whimper of sound jolted me from my stupor and heat singed my cheeks.

“That’s a . . . nice, thick cock.” The blush singed my face at what had escaped my lips. “I mean please . . . fuck . . . me. No, no, that’s not right. My god, I didn’t mean like fuck me, okay?” His darkening stare slowly slid down my frame as my mouth continued to word vomit. “I didn’t mean you have a nice dick. Honestly, it’s averynice cock. If we’re comparing them, I mean?” I blinked slowly as what I’d just stated sunk in to my head. “I don’t have one. A cock, I mean. I have a pussy!”

“I’m pleased you approve of my cock, Elle,” he murmured thickly.

Aiming my focus at the ceiling, I berated myself for not having a brain around this man. What was it about him that made my brain, hormones, and over-active libido work against me? It was like they’d teamed up with him and left me floundering about like a dolt. I wasn’t this girl. I took down kingpins for breakfast. I’d unseated five congressmen and two senators.

Heat radiated against my bare flesh, forcing my eyes to lower. Raithe’s gaze was focused on the ceiling, as mine had been. His husky whisper sent a pulse straight to my center, which caused my entire body to radiate raw, wanton need.

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