Page 190 of Vexatious Queen

“Dad.”

Marcus stood just outside the door, talking into an earpiece. Edmundo hadn’t been stingy with the protection. There were men stationed at the end of each hallway and door inside the house, and there were easily fifty more outside. That didn’t include our guys like Cory and Rory, and the others who’d proven themselves. They were positioned at different locations around the gated community to look like sons of those who lived here, hanging out and having a good time.

Ethan was slow to remove his jacket, even with Blake’s help. He’d lost weight, and the natural sparkle of his eyes had dimmed. But it was good to see him out of the house. He’d locked himself in that spare bedroom and hardly ever left.

I had no idea how Theo and Blake talked him into coming, but I was glad they did. He might never recover if he stayed isolated.

As he stepped up to me, I gave him a small smile and held out my hand. Ethan gripped it hard and pulled me into a hug.

“Thank you, Liam. For everything you’ve done to help me, but also for being there for Theo when I’ve so obviously failed lately,” he said softly.

“You never need to thank me for that,” I said.

Ethan nodded as he pulled back, a sorrowful smile curving his lips ever so slightly. But he lifted his chin and walked past me to the den.

Blake followed him, and I went in the opposite direction down the hallway toward the kitchen, wanting to see if I could catch any interesting conversations.

I was passing the library when I stopped dead in my tracks. Theo was leaning against the leather couch, a book in one hand, and a drink in the other. I didn’t know he’d come downstairs.

Stepping inside, I closed the door and stared at him.

“I feel your eyes on me,” Theo said.

He looked at me over the top of his glasses, and my body hardened.

“I’m allowed to stare. You’re mine, remember?”

He smirked and sipped his drink.

“How could I forget?”

Theo looked away, dismissing me, which he knew I hated.

Reaching behind me, I locked the door. The light click was as loud as the hammer on a gun. I stalked toward Theo, craving the feel of his hands on my body. Even though it had only been an hour, it felt like days since we’d touched.

I stopped in front of him, but he continued to ignore me. He polished off his drink and set the glass aside. I plucked the book from his hands and closed it with a snap before tossing it onto a nearby chair.

“Look at me,” I ordered.

He slowly lifted his gaze to mine. His teasing green eyes glimmered with lust. Wrapping my hand around his throat, I urged him to stand.

“Did you want something, sir,” Theo asked, his voice husky but trying to sound bored. “As you can see, I’m a little busy here.”

These moments of pure defiance got me going as much as when he was the perfect sub. He arched one rebellious eyebrow, sending a shiver down my spine.

“You didn’t learn from the lesson earlier, I see.”

“Sir, I don’t know what you mean,” he said innocently, making my nostrils flare, and cock harden.

My fingers pressed into his skin, and I felt the hard pounding of his pulse.

“Maybe if you explain slower this time, I’ll understand you,” Theo said, making me growl at him.

“Is that so?” He nodded. “Get on your knees,” I ordered, guiding him to the floor and then releasing his neck. “Tell me. Were you waiting in here for me?”

“Who else would I be waiting for,” he asked, making my mouth twitch.

“Answering with a question is not an answer.”