Summary: Riley and Drake get closer, and Olivia crosses a line.
Riley walked through the French doors back into the palace, her cheeks still burning red from being called out by Olivia. Maybe Olivia was just being herself and giving Riley and Drake a hard time just for the hell of it. But then again, if Hana had picked up on something between them, maybe Olivia did too. Riley really needed to be more careful around Drake, at least until everything was sorted about between her and him, her and Liam…Her thoughts began to spiral on all the what ifs. She looked back at Drake who had a blank expression on his face.
“I’m sorry for pushing you into the pool in your clothes. I’m not sure what came over me.”
Drake’s lips curved into a slight smile. “It’s okay, I needed to cool off anyway. I didn’t have to pull you in either. I guess it was just killing me watching you half naked all afternoon. I kept thinking about how much I wanted to get my hands on you. I took my chance to get you in my arms.
Riley was both shocked and turned on by what just came out of Drake’s mouth. By that time they had reached Riley’s room and all she wanted to do was pull him inside, strip his dripping wet clothes off, and have her way with him. “Drake…” she struggled to formulate an appropriate response.
“Shit, I shouldn’t have said that out loud. Please forget about it. It was completely inappropriate.
“God Drake, do you have any idea what you do to me? How I think about you all the time? How much I want you?” She stepped closer, her face inches from his.
Drake took a reflexive step back. “Bennett, please don’t say things like that. Even if all of that is true, it doesn’t matter. You are here for Liam, and Liam is falling in love with you. I’ve seen you two together, and I can’t get in the way of that.”
“Doesn’t what I want matter, Drake? Yes Liam is amazing, and I really do like him. Hell, I could probably love him. But you know why I don’t…why I can’t? It’s you, Drake.”
“Bennett, I think you might just be confused. Maybe you just think you want me because you know you aren’t supposed to. Once you have me, really get to know me, you’ll get over me. I have nothing to offer, no title, no trust fund. I’m fun for awhile, but sooner or later you’ll get tired of me, and Liam probably won’t still be waiting for you.”
“Do you really think I’m like that Drake. Do you think I care about those things? I didn’t come here looking for a Kingdom. If I were to chose Liam, it would be in spite of all that.”
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean…It’s just…nobody has ever chosen me over Liam. When he’s around, it’s like I don’t exist. I guess I’ve just come to accept that I’m not enough for anyone here.”
“You know what happened last night when Liam brought me back here? He wanted to come inside, and I turned him down. I made up a lame excuse, but the truth is, I wanted it to be you instead of him. I could have had him, but I said no because of you. You are more than enough for me Drake.”
“I…” Drake stepped closer. He reached a hand up to sweep a strand of hair from Riley’s face, but then he hesitated and pulled away. “I still can’t do this behind Liam’s back.”
Riley looked down at her feet. “I know. Things are…complicated. But I’m going to talk to Liam and sort it all out. I just wanted to talk to you first.”
“I would be lying if I said I wasn’t worried about what this would mean for me and Liam, but you are worth the risk Riley Bennett, and I trust you.” Drake opened her door, placed a hand on the small of her back, and gently guided her inside her room. “Now close the door before I come inside and do something I’ll regret later. I’ll see you at dinner time.”
~~~~~
Drake picked up Riley for dinner. She was wearing a simple off the shoulder emerald green dress that hit just above the knees, and she looked stunning, like she always did.
“Wow,” was all Drake could manage when she opened the door.
Riley laughed softly. “This dress is nothing special. It’s one of my own from home.”
“It’s more about who is wearing it than the dress itself.”
“What has gotten into you today? Who are you and what have you done with the real Drake Walker? I say a few nice things to you and you get all soft on me.”
“I don’t know Bennett, I can’t explain what you do to me, but I can go back to–”
“No, no!” Riley cut him off. “I like this side of you..but maybe just pretend you don’t like me so much when we get in front of everyone else..at least for now. We don’t need any outbursts from Olivia.”
“Ugh, I don’t know what’s gotten into her, but she’s even worse than usual. Don’t worry. I can easily go back to pretending I don’t like you.” Drake smirked. “I’ve been doing it since the day I met you.”
Drake sat with the other guards at dinner, a few tables away from Riley and the other women. The evening seemed to drag on, but they wanted to keep filming until Catherine got back from her date. Her bags were packed and waiting in the foyer, just in case Liam were to let her go during the date. The show was so dramatic. It’s not like she would actually have to leave. Her room would just be moved to another wing of the palace with the other rejected women. From what Liam had said to Drake earlier, it sounded like Catherine might not be making it through the whole date. Liam hadn’t sent anyone home on a date yet, so Drake was sure there would be drama if he did.
All the women were sitting around drinking cocktails and talking about whatever it was noble women talked about. Drake could really use a drink himself, but unfortunately he couldn’t drink while on duty. Finally there was a commotion at the front door, and several of the ladies peaked to see what’s going on. Sure enough, the staff were wheeling Catherine’s bags to the “reject” wing.
“Finally!” Drake overhead Madeleine say. “Catherine was such a waste of space. It was about time he cut her loose.”
“That was pretty harsh Madeleine.” Riley jumped in. “Catherine is a good person.”
Olivia rolled her eyes. “Oh Riley, I don’t even understand why you are still here myself. Liam likes you for reasons I cannot begin to understand. But if Liam doesn’t get rid of you first, you will soon realize you don’t belong here. You may be a noble by name because Barthelemy Beaumont couldn’t keep his dick in his pants, but you aren’t one of us. Just ask Drake what happens when a lowly commoner tries to fit in an court. His sister Savannah was an embarrassment who tried way to hard. You should probably just do what she did and disappear before you make a fool of yourself.
Drake clenched his fists at his sides. Olivia crossed a line in several ways and he was about to explode. He wanted to tell her off, but he couldn’t even say anything because he was on the clock. Olivia knew exactly how to push his buttons and that he couldn’t do anything about it. He had to get out of there before he punched a hole in the wall. He turned and headed out of the room
“Who do you think you are Olivia?” Riley challenged. “Say what you want about me, but leave Drake and his family out of it. That was just cruel. I only hope that Liam knows you well enough to know who you really are.”
Drake didn’t look back but he was still close enough to hear everything. “Of course you would follow after him. Drake is more at your level than Liam anyway, Riley. You deserve each other.”
“Olivia Nevrakis, I need you to speak with you alone…now.” Drake didn’t have to turn around to know that Liam had just gotten back, and he was pissed.