I lower my voice. My heartbeat increases. I voice one of my biggest fears. "Does she still love you?"
His eyes meet mine. "With all her heart." He finishes his drink then holds the glass and points at me with his index finger. "The sooner you make peace with the world you're in and what that means between you and Emilia, the easier it'll be on her."
"Meaning?"
"She's your property. You own her."
Bile rises in my throat. No matter what agreement I made with Emilia, I can't seem to get past it.
"That right there is going to get you killed, and Emilia auctioned off."
"I'm supposed to be happy about it?"
"No. But deal with it, little brother. You might think last night is over, but all eyes are still on you and her tonight. Conform, or it'll eat you alive, and they will break you."
"They already have," I mutter.
"Yeah. I know." He sets his glass down and taps his ring. "I'll be recording the conversations tonight. We need to find out the Prime Minister's plans."
"And Louis?"
"Let him lead. And whatever you do, don't leave the room too early tonight. These next few weeks, every move of yours will be monitored." He glances at his watch. "I need to shower. I'll see you in twenty minutes."
They are still watching us. The pit in my stomach grows.
I leave the room and go into my suite. "Ma belle?" I call out, but she isn't there. I panic. "Ma belle," I holler.
Bernadette comes running out. "She's in here. I'm helping her with her hair and makeup."
I breathe a sigh of relief.
"Go get ready. She laid your suit on the bed."
I'm not sure why that makes me smile. "She did?"
Bernadette smirks. "Yes. And no tie."
"Why?"
"She said no."
I shrug. "Okay. I'm going to go shower."
I get clean and shave then put my suit on. I'm slipping on my shoes when Emilia walks in.
I freeze. My heart beats faster. "Wow. You look...wow."
She smiles. She's wearing a pink, strapless dress. In the dark, my guess is she'll look close to nude. I'm not sure if she wore makeup the previous night, but she looks like she's ready for a red carpet event.
"Spin," I order her, and she does.
I groan inside. Her ass is a perfect little bubble. I put my arms around her waist and kiss behind her ear.
She shudders and closes her eyes.
"You're stunning, ma belle."
She turns and slides her fingers over my shoulders and straightens my coat. She unfastens my button. "That's better."
"Do I meet your seal of approval?" I ask.
"Yes. Now I need you to help me with something."
I wiggle my eyebrows. "What's that?"
She walks to the dresser and picks up the diamond collar. "Put this on me."
My chest tightens. "No. You don't have to wear that tonight."
"I want to."
I swallow hard. Something in me stirs. I cringe, realizing a part of me wants her to wear it. "Why?"
Her blue eyes pierce mine. "Do I need a reason?"
"Yes."
She drags her finger down my throat and chest until she gets to the button of my shirt. "You need to remember you own me. And I want everyone in the room to make no mistake whose property I am."
I clench my jaw and look at the ceiling.
"You promised me," she says. "Now tell me you want me to wear it. Let's establish the truth first."
"Em... Ma belle," I mutter.
She leans into my ear. "Do you know why I wore my hair like this?"
"No."
"Wrap it around your fist."
"What?"
She swirls her finger on my chest, and tingles race down to my pants. "Don't sound shocked. Do it."
I twirl her ponytail around my fist. "Now what, ma belle?"
"Tug."
I gently obey her and dip down to her lips. "Is this what you want me to do tonight?"
Her blue eyes heat. "Yes. But I want your name staring at you on my neck when you do it." She grabs my crotch. "I think your cock wants it, too."
"I'm hard from how sexy you look."
She arches her eyebrows. "If you hold my hair like this and I suck you, do you think you'll come harder if I'm wearing your name, reminding you I'm your property?"
"Jesus," I mutter.
"Put it on me, Malin."
"It's not necessary," I try again, but even my voice comes out unconvincingly.
She smirks. "Stop fighting this. You promised me."
I inhale deeply. "This is what you want?"
"Yes."
My pulse beats in my neck. She traces her fingers over it then hands me the collar and spins.
I move her hair over her shoulder and secure the collar on