Royal Pain in the Ass (60 page)

“
Want to watch a movie?
”

“
Sure, so long as it isn
’
t one of those silly movies that are twice your age.
”
Xavier teased.
 

“Don
’
t hate on cinematic genius.
”

“
You have much to learn, little one.
”

“
No sir, you have much to learn, Mr. Closed-Minded.
”

We watched movies all day long, and I usually ended up falling asleep at some point in between.
 
It was nice though, waking up in Xavier
’
s arms.
 
Most of the time, when I did wake up, he
’
d soothe me back to sleep running his fingers through my hair and whispering to me.
 
Being around Xavier I felt safe and couldn
’
t believe I hadn
’
t seen this myself earlier.
 
Everything with Xavier was comfortable.
 
I enjoyed his company and I liked to be around him.
 
Something about him just calmed me.

It was fantastic when I was released.
 
Xavier and I spent most of our time together and it was a few weeks later before I was completely cleared.
 
I was taken aback when I got a legal letter in the mail.
 
I read it and reread several more times before I could comprehend.
 
Senator Evans had served me.
 
He accused me of defamation of character of not only him, but his son.
 
There was a separate envelope that had a blank check.
 
I ran inside and picked up my phone.

“
What is the meaning of this?
”
I demanded into the phone.

“
Who is this?
”

“It
’
s me, Dick.”
I snarled into the phone.

“
Juliet, I take it.
”

“
What is the meaning of what you sent me?
”

“
I see you got my care package.
”

“
Care package my ass.
”

“
Juliet, there are two ways to deal with what is about to happen.
 
You and I can meet in court or you can fill in any number you want on that check and we
’
ll let it go.
”

“
I don’
t want your filthy money.
”

“
So you want to meet in court?
”

“
No, I want you and your family out of my life.
”

“
I don’
t believe in something for nothing.
  I can
’
t trust you to keep that big mouth of yours shut without some sort of guarantee.
”

“
Keep your deranged son away from me, and I won
’
t be a thorn in your side.
 
You and your family leave me be and we can pretend this never happened.
”

“
Juliet, I want something over you.
”

“
Too bad.
”
I hung up and threw my phone.
 

I felt arms snake around my waist and I jumped.
  “
What
’
s wrong, love?
”

I relaxed against Xavier
’
s chest.
  “
Nothing important.
”

“
Something has you upset.
”

“
Some days I feel like I can
’t outrun my past.
”

“
What are you referring to?
”

I turned in his arms and kissed him.
  “
This place.
 
It has so many memories.
 
Not all of them are good.
 
People I keep trying to leave behind find a way of popping back up.
”

“Juliet, explain.”

I handed Xavier the envelope and the blank check.
  “
Part of me wants to tear it to shreds and part of me wants to call the police for harassment, but I really just want this over more than anything else.
” 
Xavier read over the documentation and pulled me close.
  “
If you want it gone, we can make that happen.
 
Say the word and I
’
ll make this go away.
” 
I kissed Xavier again.
 

“
I have an idea.
”

Two hours later I had a suitcase packed and was hugging Amanda and Maverick good bye.
 
Xavier helped me in a taxi and climbed in behind me.

“
Are you sure you want to do this?
”
Xavier asked, looking a little uncertain.

“It
’
s an adventure, why not?
”

“
And you
’
re sure you
’
ve got everything?
”

“
Amanda and Maverick will take care of Loki, they
’
ve lasted this long without me, what
’
s a little longer?
”

“
I meant with everything that
’
s happened -
”

“
With everything that
’
s happened, I think this might be the best idea I
’
ve had in a while.
”

Xavier sighed.
  “
If this is what you want.
”

Two hours later, we were at the airport and no one knew where we were going.
 
Not even us.

 “
Now boarding fight 417 to New York.
”

“
What do you think, Xavier?
 
New York sound good?
”

“
What are you looking to do?
”

“
To have fun.
 
To be alone.
 
To get away.
”

“
Are you running away?
”

“
No, we are. Call it an unplanned, spontaneous vacation with no time constrictions.
 
It will give us some time away from everyone and their judgments.
 
I want to be alone, I don
’
t want cameras or reporters or crazy ex-boyfriends.
 
I just want to be alone.
 
With you.
”

Xavier smiled and kissed me.
  “
You are going to be the end of me.
  Let
’
s go.”

In New York Xavier and I got ice cream at a Pink Berry, then had authentic New York Pizza, watched Phantom of the Opera on Broadway, went to the empire state building and stayed the night in a hotel and the next morning we were on a flight to Chicago.
 
We ate pizza in Chicago, watched a White Sox games then we flew to New Orleans.
 
From New Orleans we went to LA and from LA we went to Europe.
 
I cannot tell you how excited I was to be in Paris.
 
Xavier showed me around.
 
He took me shopping, then out to a fancy five star restaurant where Xavier insisted I wear the dress he picked out for me.
 
He took me dancing and then we went to our hotel room.
 

“I can
’
t believe you talked me into this.
”
Xavier smiled as he kissed my neck.
  “I
’
ve never just taken off with someone.
”

I pulled his suit jacket off and untucked his shirt from his pants.
  “It
’
s fun, isn
’
t it?
”

“
You have changed me.
”
Xavier said with his lips pressed against my own.
 
He picked me up and carried me to the bed.
 

“
Good change or bad change.
”

“
Definitely for the better.
”
Xavier pulled the dress off of me as I fought with his buttons, which are much harder to fight with after three bottles of good wine.
  “
You are so beautiful.
”
Xavier whispered as he pulled away.
 
I felt the flush in my cheeks as his eyes raked down my body and he pulled off his shirt.
 
I marveled at his well sculpted chest.
  “
You are extraordinary.
”

“
So are you.
”

Xavier shook his head.
  “
I am ordinary.
 
I am a man of rules and structure.
 
I fit easily in a mold.
 
But you,
”
Xavier tucked a stray lock behind my ear.
  “
You broke the mold when you came into the world.
 
I could live a thousand years and never find another like you.
” Xavier
’
s lips pressed against mine.
 
It was soft and gentle, it didn
’
t take long for it to become forceful and passionate.
 
We explored one another
’
s body and it was one of the best nights of my life.
 
I woke up to the rhythmic beating of Xavier
’
s heart and the solid warmth of Xavier
’
s chest.
 
I inhaled the lingering scent of his cologne and just his scent.

I watched as a smile spread across his face.
  “
Good morning, Juliet.
”

“
Good morning.
”

“
What would you like to do today?
”

“Let
’
s go somewhere new.
”

“
Where?
”

“Let
’
s go to a castle.
”

“
Anything you want,
princess.”  
Xavier and I got dressed and we got on a train.
 
We spent the next few weeks going anywhere on a whim.
 
We ate where we wanted to, stopped where we wanted to, we did whatever we wanted to.
 
It was fantastic.
 
After we were sated with that I knew I had to
decid
e what to do next.

My house wasn
’
t where I belonged anymore and I knew it.
 
I called James, who apparently had been worried sick as he hadn
’
t heard from us in weeks.
 
I told him where my intentions he was thrilled, so was Angelica.
 
I haven't spoken to Millie yet.
 
I showed up at Eastgate Estate, hand in hand with Xavier later that day.
  

Epilogue

I
’
ve been living back at the Eastgate estate for a few months now.
  It
’
s great to be around everyone around.
 
I saw Lana and she was recovering nicely.
 
Fiore threw me a party.
 
Millie was in fits when I got back, but surprisingly enough, Angelica stood up to her.
 
Angelica actually stood up to her mother.
 
I have to say, I couldn
’
t have been more proud.
 
Xavier and I spend a great deal of time together, and James was alright with our arrangement.
 
He must have seen it coming, then again, everyone saw it coming except for this blind fool.