Chapter Fourteen

Hey, That Actually Helped

THE CAIRNNAIN BLADE

ROWDY ROSAMUND THROWS SELF AT DATE, TO NO AVAIL

Crown Princess Rosamund was in full Rowdy Rosamund mode last night for a date with Lord Lochlan, earl of Dunwiddie. Unfortunately, her revealing outfit and heavy makeup scared the poor man out of his wits. Sources at the restaurant say the princess didn’t even get a goodnight kiss for her efforts. This is the princess’s fifteenth failed date.

Afternoon sunlight streamed through the tall windows along the hallway. Gripping her binder and laptop close to her chest, Lorena made her way to the Avoch Room, where she was to meet with Rose and discuss last night’s disaster of a date. Poor Lochlan. He hadn’t stood a chance, not with Rose determined to scare him off.

Fucking Rose. She’d…well, she’d been a vision. Almost unreal. But it wasn’t the Rose Lorena knew, and she’d missed the realness.

She shouldered the door open and found Rose already settled in, all sweetness in a baby-blue sundress.

The princess smiled at her. “Afternoon.”

Lorena mustered up a thin smile before sitting and setting up her place at the table. Binder to the left, laptop to the right, as always. But when she brought up Lochlan’s file, her phone buzzed in her pocket. She peeked at the caller ID. Graciela Fernández Montilla.

Mom or princess?

She wasn’t actively mad at her mom right now, so… “Excuse me. I need to take this.” Lorena stepped out of the room, put in her Bluetooth headset, and answered the call. “Hey, Mamá.”

“Is that all you have to say for yourself? ‘Hey’?”

Great. It was going to be one of those calls. Time to guess what she’d done wrong. “Um, I’m sorry I didn’t call?”

“I don’t care that my only daughter didn’t call me for a week. I looked past that. What I care about is that you’re embarrassing me in front of the entire world.”

Lorena crinkled her nose. “I’m confused. How did I—”

“Your princess running around dressed like a common whore, when you’re supposed to be in charge of settling her down? Ringing any bells?”

Okay, there were several issues in that sentence, and Lorena wasn’t sure which one to address first. “She can wear what she wants. Besides, she’s not my princess.” Despite the appeal of the idea, Rose didn’t belong with her. Never had, never would. “And my job isn’t to make her sit like a dog. It’s to find her a partner. Which I’m doing.”

“Really? Show me the partner you came up with. Oh, wait, you can’t because all your choices have been shit. She hasn’t been seen with the same person twice.”

Lorena dug her nails into her palms. So much for the alleged privacy of the dates. “Well, since you know so much, you know her date with Lady Grainne went fantastic. In fact”—the lie just came out—“they’re scheduled to see each other again.”

“Yeah? When? Three years from now?”

“At the queen’s charity ball.” Lorena didn’t actually know that for sure, but she could get Grainne on the guest list if she asked. Probably.

Graciela scoffed. “Rowdy Rosamund, tied down? I’ll believe that when I see it.”

“You will see it.”

“So far, you’re failing. And I didn’t raise a failure. So get it together.”

“Mamá, I—”

Click. The line went dead.

Lorena rested her forehead against the wall. Ugh. She wasn’t a failure. She wasn’t. She was struggling a little, sure, but…fuck, she was failing. She knocked her head. Shit, shit, shit. What was she going to do? The month was half over, and—

“Hey, hey.” Soft hands drew Lorena away from the wall. Rose took her by the chin and forced her to meet her gaze. “Who was that?”

Lorena sighed. “My mom. Sorry, I’m fine. Let’s get started.”

“No, let’s take a break. The meeting can wait. I know what’ll make you feel better.”

“Yeah?” Lorena’s voice sounded pitiful even to her own ears.

“Aye. Let’s get a little sweatyyyy.” Rose tapped her on the nose and winked.

Working up a sweat with Rose… Lorena heated up inside. She hadn’t had sex in years; was she even any good at it anymore? But if Tascha was right and Rose was as good a lover as the rumors suggested, maybe it wouldn’t matter that Lorena was out of practice.

“Go change into workout clothes, and I’ll show you the gym.”

Oh.

Of course.

The gym.

Lorena hated that a tiny part of her was disappointed.

After changing into yoga pants and a tank top, she emerged from her suite to find Rose in athletic shorts and a cutoff tee. “Lead the way.”

Rose walked her down a flight of stairs and down a hall until they entered a private gymnasium. A few treadmills, ellipticals, and bikes faced a row of televisions all playing different channels. Built-in shelves along the wall held weights, medicine balls, and yoga paraphernalia. In the far corner was a boxing ring, and Rosamund walked toward it. “I think you need a sparring session. Have you ever boxed before?”

Lorena nodded. “A few times, but it’s been a while.”

They helped each other wrap their hands and then put on boxing gloves and mouth guards. They entered the ring and circled each other. Am I legally allowed to throw the first punch at the crown princess? Lorena wondered.

Which was when Rose lunged at her instead. Lorena barely threw up her hands in time to block the hit.

“Come on,” Rose coached her. “Think about whatever’s bothering you. Your mom? What’d she say that got under your skin?”

Three years from now?

Gritting her teeth, Lorena punched Rose’s left glove.

All your choices have been shit.

Left hook.

So far, you’re failing.

Right hook.

“There you go.” Rose hit back, moving her whole body to power the punch.

Lorena stumbled with the impact. Damn, she’s not playing.

“You have to give it your all if you want it to do anything.”

You’re embarrassing me.

Lorena punched with a quick front step.

This time, it was Rose who stumbled, but she smiled as she took up the position again. “Good!”

They went back and forth, with only huffs and grunts and the sounds of connecting hits breaking the silence. She thought not only of her mom but her dad, too, her phone calls with both of her parents.

All you do is sit around and plan dates for other people.

Punch.

Good luck failing at your silly little business.

Punch.

Sweat beaded on Lorena’s forehead, and her breaths came harder and harder as she sparred with Rose. Finally, she had to back away, and Rose nodded in acknowledgement.

Once they’d cooled down, they took off the boxing gear. Lorena lay down on the floor and heaved a long sigh.

“That did feel good. Thank you.”

Rose crouched beside her. “See? I know some things.”

Lorena patted the floor. “Lie down with me for a sec.”

“The floor is dirty.”

“One second. Come on.”

With an exhale, Rose rolled onto her back and extended her legs. Those long, beautiful legs. “I’m glad you’re feeling better. Do you want to talk about it?”

Lorena closed her eyes. In the darkness, her hand found Rose’s. Held on tight. “It was my mom on the phone. Calling to tell me I’m a failure.”

“You’re not a failure.” Rose’s voice was vicious.

“Aren’t I though? My dad thinks my business is nothing. Less than nothing. He thinks it’s worth shit.” She chewed the inside of her lip. “My mom, on the other hand, thinks the company has the potential to work, if only I could do it justice. Which, of course, I can’t. So I can’t do anything right.”

Rose squeezed her hand. “They’re both wrong. You’re the hardest worker I’ve ever met.”

“If only that counted for anything without results.”

“They’re supposed to love and support you regardless of results.”

Lorena laughed bitterly. “I don’t even remember the last time they said they loved me. I don’t know if I’d believe them if they did say it.”

“I don’t think I would either, by the sound of it.”

“There’s all these expectations. This job means everything to me. It’s all I have, this job and Amado.” Lorena sighed, opened her eyes, and turned her head toward Rose. “Pathetic, huh?”

But Rose’s brown eyes were warm with empathy, not judgment. “No. I wish I had something that meant that much to me. I have Iver. And my brother, I guess. But I was closest with my da, and now that he’s gone, my mum is up my arse. I can’t get on with her for anything.”

“At least you have your brother. I always wondered what it would be like to have a sibling. Like a teammate.” Maybe Lorena would have had an ally against her parents, against life.

“Some teammate. Callum left me here. He abandoned me to go ride horses. And the worst part is, I wish I could do the same thing.” Rose blinked away the tears gathering on her eyelashes. “I’m not ready for this. My mum knows it. But she has these grand expectations, and I have big shoes to fill.”

This time, Lorena squeezed Rose’s hand. “I don’t know what I’d do in your position. Cry, maybe.”

Rose sputtered out a mirthless laugh. “Och, I’ve done that. My bedroom walls have seen things, pitiful things.”

“I’m not judging. Parental expectations are tough. Worse with such strained relationships.”

“Nobody understands. It’s always ‘appreciate what your mum has on her plate; she has your best interests at heart.’ I don’t know that she does.”

Lorena wanted to say Catriona did, but she wasn’t sure either. The queen was complicated. Not that saying so would help at all. “I’m sorry. You’re under a lot of pressure, and it must be doubled by feeling like you don’t have anyone in your corner.”

“I have you, at least. Don’t I?” Rose watched Lorena hopefully.

Squeeze. “Of course you do.”

“Good to know at least one person doesn’t think I’m a failure of a princess.”

Lorena rolled over to face Rose. “You’re not a failure.”

“Neither are you.” Rose tucked a lock of hair behind Lorena’s ear. “You’re not a failure, Lorena. No matter what your parents say.”

You’re not a failure. The words spun around Lorena’s head. Rose believed in her. Lorena’s gaze dipped to those full pink lips. When she looked up, Rose was staring at her too.

Lorena leaned in with a whisper, “Can we…?”

Rose’s breath came out raspy. “Hell, yes.”

“You didn’t even hear what I was going to ask.”

“It doesn’t matter. Whatever you want.” Rose swallowed. “What do you want, Lorena?”

Lorena moistened her lips. “I want…” You. I want you. “I want to kiss you again.”

“So come here and kiss me.”

Lorena pushed herself up and straddled Rose. Then she bent down and captured that temptation of a mouth with her own. Sighing, Rose wrapped her arms around her. The glow of kissing Rose burst within her like a sun shower. Lorena moaned, licked into Rose’s mouth. Rose skated her hands down Lorena’s body, squeezing her curves.

“I missed you,” Rose murmured. “No one else—” She groaned as Lorena kissed the curve of her shoulder. “—no one else compares.”

“How does it feel this good?” Lorena panted, desperate for as much of Rose as she could absorb. More. I need more.

Rose’s hand drifted south, slipped underneath the waistband of Lorena’s yoga pants. “Let me,” she whispered, and her fingers caressed Lorena’s aching center.

“Oh, fuck.” The curse slipped out. Lorena closed her eyes and ground against the perfect touch. She couldn’t do this. But here she was, doing it, and it felt so good.

“Mmm,” Rose purred, moving her fingers in glorious circles. “You’re so wet already.”

It’s you. I think it’s always been you. But Lorena wouldn’t admit that, not here, not now. She only let out another moan and kissed Rose again, deep and intimate.

But when the pleasure coiled inside her, ready to spring its release, Lorena lifted her head and said painfully, “We need to stop.” She couldn’t take it that far, couldn’t let Rose get her off.

Thank God, Rose paused. “But why?” She curved a playful smile. “You’re right on the edge. I can feel it.” A flirty stroke of her fingertips.

Lorena lurched. Hold it together. “Yeah, I am, and that’s where I’m cutting this off.” It was an arbitrary boundary, but it was Lorena’s boundary, so she was sticking to it, as much as it killed her. No orgasms from a client.

With a sigh, Rose pulled her hand out of Lorena’s yoga pants. “Fine, but if you change your mind, come find me ASAP.”

Lorena rolled off Rose, and they pushed themselves to their feet and dusted themselves off. Lorena glanced at the princess. “Sorry. I promise I’m not trying to be a tease. I…don’t want to mess things up.”

Rose shrugged. “It’s okay. I want you to be comfortable with anything we do. If you say no, we don’t do it. Simple as that.”

No complaints about blue balls? No guilt trips? Regret twinged inside Lorena, but she held firm. At least for now. At least for today. No matter what Natascha thought, sleeping with her client was a bad idea.

Be strong, she coached herself. Resist the urge to find out exactly how good of a lover Rose is.

But bad idea or not, she wasn’t sure how much longer she could resist the force of nature that was Rosamund Wardlow.