Page 43 of On Your Knees

“Holy fuck,” Aspen whispers as we wait in line to be let out. “Is someone here royalty? They have a red carpet and photographers.”

“That would be the she-devil’s doing. Calling in the paps to make her feel more special than she is.”

“Zeland,” I snap. “You know that’s not true. They’re an influential family, and it comes with the territory.”

Zee rolls his eyes as we pull up, and someone opens my door. I step out to find Genevieve waiting and her smile widens. I give her a brief one back before Aspen slides closer to the door. I reach for her hand to steady her as she steps out of the limo—nothing more—but the second our skin connects, a sharp current runs through me, hot and unwanted. Her fingers are soft, warm, and too damn right. Cameras flash around us, and the paparazzi call my name, but for a split second, all I feel is her. I should let go. I should step back. Instead, my grip tightens, just slightly, like some part of me isn’t ready to lose the contact between us. It’s nothing, it has to be, butas she looks up at me, her eyes catching the lights, I already know I’m in trouble.

“Mr. Ellington, who is your date tonight?”

“Is she your new girlfriend?”

“Are the rumors true? Are you going to ask Miss Lancaster to marry you?”

Zee slips out behind us and stands on the other side of Aspen, posing for the cameras with his toothy smile.

Aspen squeezes my hand but doesn’t let go. Her fingers become clammy, and I know she is panicking a little. Leaning in closer, I whisper, “Just keep your head up and follow my lead. Inside it will be quieter.” She nods and points her chin up. “Good girl.”

She shivers and Zee chuckles. “I’m going to find the bar, then be right back. Keep an eye on Aspen.”

With that, he takes off, leaving me in the path of Genevieve.

“Ridge, daddy has been waiting for you to arrive.”

I’m sure he hasn’t. Genevieve looks Aspen up and down, and one thing I really fucking hate is a judgmental woman.

Aspen smiles as she looks at Genevieve. “You look beautiful.”

Genevieve scoffs. “This old thing? Why don’t you go mingle with the rich and powerful while you have the chance, so Ridge and I?—”

“Do not speak to my date like that. She will not go mingle with those old men who take advantage of women just because they have money.” I don’t mean for my toneto come out the way it does, and even Genevieve is shocked.

“I thought she was a cheap date Zeland brought along so your father couldn’t push him toward the eligible women.”

“Well, you thought wrong. Clearly, if he had, she would be on his arm and not mine. Now if you’ll excuse me, I would like to get my date a drink and find our table. Tell your father I will speak to him as soon as I’m free.” We then move past Genevieve and walk into the house.

“You didn’t have to do that,” Aspen whispers.

“I know I didn’t, stray. Zee has claimed you, and by default, you get my protection. What’s mine is his, and what’s his is mine.”

“Oh,” she squeaks.

Men and women I don’t know or don’t remember say hello as we walk through the mansion and into the ballroom. The women look down on Aspen and the men look at her like a piece of meat. The dress she is wearing isn’t as expensive as what the women here are used to, so they see her as cheap and not worthy of their time, while the men see her as an easy target. I know they are all wondering why she is holding my hand and not Zee’s—he is notorious for bringing working girls to these parties. He likes the theatrics of keeping these snobby assholes on their toes. He doesn’t want to marry a woman whose only life goal is to find a wealthy husband and tend to his every need.

The celebration drags on and I have kept Aspen in sight all night; she has spent most of it laughing withElena. Zee has drunk his body weight in alcohol, as he normally does when we attend a fancy party. Aspen has paced herself, which is not what I was expecting. She smiles politely when anyone approaches her and starts up a conversation, but no one has dared to touch her. They all believe she is mine and that thought burns in my chest.

When Zee teases the buttons on his shirt, I know it’s time to go before he gets naked—he has no qualms about being front-page news tomorrow morning.

Aspen finds me as I’m saying goodbye to Carmichael, linking her arm with mine, and she pushes up on her toes to whisper in my ear. “I think we should go. Zeland just mentioned swimming in the water feature outside.”

I smirk. “Carmichael, it was lovely celebrating your birthday. We need to catch up for a round of golf soon.”

“I will get my secretary to call yours and set something up.”

I nod in response, then we hurry outside, where we find Zee shrugging off his shirt, and Aspen runs over to him. “How about we save getting naked for when we get home?”

“You wanna see me naked?” he slurs, and she laughs.

“I think most women would like to see you naked, Zeland. It just might not be ideal for the front-page news.”

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