He sputtered, "Of course not."
"Because you know that would be treason, right?" I continued as if he hadn't talked at all.
"Of course!"
"You know that would be a bad thing?"
"Yes," he answered.
"I'm gonna tell all yall something, and I want you to listen well. Don't fuck with me. Don't play on my intelligence and do not belittle me. Since I got here, I have looked up, read, and discussed nothing but the history and laws of this place. I am not going anywhere, but guess who is?"
I waited for them to answer. No one did. You could hear a pin drop.
"You are. When I sit on the throne, none of you will be in my council. You have not impressed me today. I'm positive that if my grandma were here, you would not have brought that up. With that in mind, I think yall have loyalty issues, and you will not be well with me, but I have a few things you can do before you retire. And you will retire or you will be expelled."
He looked stunned, the others looked impressed. "Didn't think I knew stuff like that, huh? I told you I been on my shit. I think it's about time, anyway. You have one foot in the grave and you have served two leaders of this country. It's time for fresh blood."
"Like who?" one man in the back asked.
"Like Hayden, and Malcolm. Even my fiance. I intend to put people close to me who I trust. Right now yall looking like snakes."
"Who is Hayden?" Philip asked, his voice deflated and much smaller than a few moments ago.
"Your replacement." I answered with a smirk, "He works in the stables."
They all protested, but shut up when I held up a hand. I could get used to this, I thought. "I don't want to hear it. His family has served this one for as long as any of you. He will become chief Lord advisor. He is already mine. If there is nothing else, I think I will leave."
"There are a few trivial matters we need to discuss," a man with dark hair said, standing.
"What is it?"
The man stepped for, "Lord Pulta, at your service, your highness. It has been brought to my attention that the dispute over the northern Lake Kur is still an issue. The current landholder is now seeking justice for the vandalism of a vehicle and a tree."
I did not know what he was talking about. I knew nothing about a Lake Kur dispute. As refreshing as it was to be on another topic, I momentarily froze. Granny B always knew everything, and I had been watching everything she does.
"I will have Hayden look into that and we will discuss it at a later date. Anything else?" I was so over this meeting. They were getting on my nerves. Just then the door opened just a crack and there stood Cornell. No one else seemed to notice, as they kept talking. To me, it was background noise. Our eyes locked, and it was only us.
My stomach flopped as he smiled and beckoned me with one finger. Then I had an epiphany. Fuck this meeting. I had shown up and addressed a few issues. Everything else would have to wait. I stood, taking the men off guard. Still, they hurried to their feet.
"Gentlemen," I started, "it has been a pleasure and I thank you for your service to LaCreshia, but I have other shit... I mean, Sorry. I have to be somewhere else in a few moments. We will meet again soon. I'll make sure of it and continue this conversation at a later date. You may go."
They filed out, each bowing to me, and then Cornell before they left. Cornell stepped in and closed the door, before clapping.
"Way to end that boring meeting."
"I did my best to be polite."
"Yes, but did you end it because you have other shit to do or because you were happy to see me?"
"You," I said before I could stop myself. I frowned at this gentle urge to tell him how I feel. It felt like jumping into a pit of fire that burned in a good way. I wanted to always feel like this. "Definitely you."
"Did you miss me?" He asked, stepping closer.
I didn't move an inch as every pore came alive at his closeness. I wondered if it would always be like this. This heart-throbbing excitement every time I saw him.
"Victoria," Cornell whispered as he fingered one of my braids, "Did you miss me?"
Was he really expecting me to answer that? It felt like giving in or saying the L-word. It felt like a big step, like so many we had already taken.
"You don't have to answer," he said. "I missed you. I spent most of my morning looking for you."
Well, damn, that caused my heart to beat a little faster. The intensity in his eyes as they held mine told me he was serious. More breathless than I imagined, I let the words stuck in my throat tumble out like heart-shaped bubbles. "We just saw each other this morning, but I missed you, too."
"Good."
I only had a second to think about the fact that my mind and mouth had no loyalty before he gently palmed my scalp and kissed me. Captured. He captured my lips in a hungry kiss filled with promise. I knew Cornell's lips. I expected the gentle pressure of his as they melted into mine. We had been kissing every moment we had alone. It was like a game, to see if we could sneak it in before anyone noticed. So I knew what to expect, but somehow this was different.
When I pulled away for a little air, he was having none of that today. He pulled me closer and deepened the kiss, and my head swam, my hands clasping his shoulder as his hands slowly descended, down my back to my ass. He wasted no time in pulling me impossibly closer. I gasp and pulled away to look at him, his blue eyes shaded darker with lust.
A wave of desire hit me in the gut and descended south. I don't know what he saw, but he groaned, a low sexy groan, and leaned forward to slick my neck, my ear. He kissed each corner of my mouth and then my chin. I closed my eyes and just enjoyed him. I felt surrounded by him, as he took control of me. He wasn't an overly large guy, built like a horse, but with a slimmer frame. Yet he made me feel small, safe, and protected.
He pulled away this time, and I moaned, immediately missing his warmth. "You wanna get out of here?"
"Sure," I replied. "Your apartment or mine?"
Cornell laughed. "What makes you think I'm gonna let you take advantage of me like that?"
"Oh, you want it. That kiss was an open invitation and I just wanna let you I'm down. I can read between the kisses."
"Sorry to disappoint you, sweetheart, but I was thinking of something a little more social."
I rolled my eyes and tsk. "Like what?"
"I want to take you to my home. I think it's time you meet the folks."