Page 14 of Dottie's Forbidden Wizard
I turn the other way, quickly hopping off the desk as Maddox greets the intruder.
"Gigi," Maddox says, shielding as I tug my clothes back into place.
"Get her out of here, Maddox," a feminine voice says firmly as I hide behind him. "Your father introduced you, and you weren't there."
"Shit," Maddox curses, turning to face me as the door closes. All the joy is gone from his eyes, replaced with the icy glare I know all too well.
My stomach drops as our stolen moment floats away like it's trapped in a bubble.
"Go," Maddox growls.
I step back quickly.
"I’ll shield you through the ballroom. Stick to the walls. Nobody will see you, but they will feel you if you bump into them, so stay out of the way. When you get to the kitchen, you need to leave."
I don't know what to say, so I simply nod and head to the door without another word.
As I skirt along the hallway, I try to ignore the emotions pummeling me. Exhilaration is at the top of the list, especially when I remember his eyes on me as he brought me so much pleasure. It’s quickly followed by guilt that I’ve let my brothers down, and gratitude for his protection.
But above all is the regret that we didn’t have more time.
Chapter seven
Maddox
Isit on the sofa, watching my father pace back and forth. His millionth drink of the evening sloshes in violent arcs across the dark green velvet of the chaise lounge where my mother sits in stoned delirium.
I stare at his red, sweaty face as he hurls vulgar, violent insults my way, but all I can think about isher.
Her taste on my lips.
How her legs shook when I foundthatspot with my fingers.
Her blissful sighs as she came on my tongue and fingers.
"I looked like a laughingstock in front of people who trust me to run this land. I looked like I couldn’t even control my own fucking son, you ungrateful bastard."
Griselda’s laugh tinkles from the corner of the room as she clicks away on her phone. I turn to look at her with undisguised irritation as she walks toward my father. She hands him another drink and takes his now-empty glass, patting his arm soothingly and sitting in the armchair out of the splash zone.
"Maddie, you fucked up royally. But we’re going to fix it," she says, her voice floating like musical notes through the air. I wonder, not for the first time, if she uses a spell to make it sound so perfectly fake.
Clapping her hands to get everyone's attention, she announces, "Frank, I've scheduled a debate for tomorrow between you and Jareth Merlin." She holds up her hand to stall my father's protest—he hates impromptu speeches. Unsurprisingly, considering his off-the-cuff remarks make him appear more idiotic than usual. "No worries, Frank. It will be at the town hall, and the audience will beverysympathetic to you," she says with a wink.
My father stares at her blankly.
"Griselda means the audience has been screened in your favor," I offer, helping the old man out.
Griselda grimaces, but nods in confirmation.
"Ah, okay," he says slowly, calming down slightly. "And Jareth won't have any people there?"
"Not a one," Griselda purrs like the cat who got the cream. She crosses one long leg over the other so the slit in her dress slides open to reveal most of her thigh.
She’s still trying to seduce me, and I wouldn’t put it past her to tamper with her birth control spell—a baby would ensure her position in my family forever. Not that there’s any chance of thathappening. Nothing and no one could compare to the heaven of Dottie wrapped around my face only hours ago.
"Fine. Yes, I'll do the debate." My father scowls at me, breaking through my thoughts and forcing me to focus on the situation at hand. "You will be there, or so help me…" He swigs his drink instead of finishing his thought.
I clear my throat. "Would you like Gigi there, Father?" I ask, holding my breath. This could be the moment we've been waiting for.
