Penny lets out a whistled breath. “Yes, that is quite not straight. So, have you talked to him about it?”
I shake my head. “No, he’s been ignoring me ever since.”
At that moment, Boyd enters the dining room. He casts me the kind of glance that I could only label ‘intrigued’ before ambling over to the buffet to collect a few pastries and a banana from the selection there. He selects a napkin from the end of the buffet table and wraps the pastries before exiting the room, presumably to scarf down his lunch and return to work.
I glance back at Penny, whose mouth is hanging open wide enough for me to see her cavities. “Oh my goodness! It was Boyd, wasn’t it? He’s the one who gave you that blowjob!”
“Boyd gave you a blowjob?”
I snap my head back to find Lennox has entered the room without Penny or me even realizing, and he’s now staring at me like he’s about to throw up.
“Fuck, it’s like Grand Central Station in here,” I mutter. I fix Penny with a sharp look. “No, Boyd did not give me a blowjob.”
“Well, then who did?” Penny asks with a pout. “And why was Boyd ignoring you?”
My brows draw together in confusion. “I don’t think he was ignoring me. That’s how he always is. And I’ve already told you I’m not telling who it was so stop asking.”
Lennox slides into the seat at the table next to me, his previous expression now replaced with a teasing grin. “Well, I’m curious now, too. Who is this mystery cocksucker? Where can I get a sample.”
My fists clench under the table at the thought of Lukas going down on Lennox the way he did to me. I’m not sure why, it’s not like I have any claim over him. Hell, I barely even know the guy. Even so, the thought of him with anyone else makes my hackles rise. I stand up from the table and lean toward Lennox, warning him, “He’s my mystery cocksucker. So back off.”
Lennox lets out a bark of laughter and calls after me as I exit the room. “How will I know who to back off of unless you tell me who it is?”
I shake my head wryly but don’t bother answering. Generally speaking, I like Lennox. He’s the only other American on staff here and it’s kind of nice to hear a familiar accent every now and then. But while the guy is as professional as they come when he’s on duty, he’s pretty much the opposite when he’s off the clock, and at times he can get just a tad obnoxious. I have absolutely no clue what’s going on between him and Boyd, but I’m pretty sure it’s something; the fact he looked like I’d just run over his cat when he thought Boyd had gone down on me speaks volumes.
But I’m not going to pry. I’ll stay out of their business, and hopefully they’ll stay out of mine. Of course, that’s if there’s even any business to stay out of, which, given the way the king has been acting, seems less and less likely by the day.
After another week of being completely ghosted by King Lukas, I’ve decided it’s time to put this whole thing behind me. Sure, my heart still picks up its pace whenever I catch sight of him around the palace. Sure, I’m still thinking about that blowjob way too often. Sure, I still want him with every fiber of my being. But I need to at least try to move on. He’s made it perfectly clear nothing else is ever going to happen and the message is finally starting to penetrate my skull.
Tonight, the palace is holding a formal banquet to celebrate the anniversary of the monarchy’s return after the fall of the USSR. And to my complete surprise, I’ve been invited.
To say I feel a little out of place at this ridiculously formal occasion is putting it mildly. I’m dressed up in a tux, so I at least look the part, but I still feel completely at sea. Fortunately, I have Penny to guide me around so at least I’m not on my own.
“I’m so glad you’re here,” she murmurs to me as we weave our way through the crowd and I do my best to pretend I belong. “I won’t have to spend the entire night making small talk with people I barely know.”
“At least you know some people, even if it is just barely,” I point out, although I’m pretty sure she knows a lot of these guests better than she’s letting on—she’s been attending these things for fifteen years, after all.
“It’s okay, I’ll introduce you.”
True to her word, Penny introduces me around to several of the guests, all of whom seem completely fascinated with the fact I’m from America. I kind of wish Lennox were a guest, and not part of the security team, because I’d love some help fielding all these questions.
After about an hour, Penny pulls me aside, saving me from attempting to answer a question about grits. “Jai, come with me, I’d like to introduce you to someone.” Without waiting for my response, Penny links her arm with mine and guides me across the room toward one of the guests, a dignified-looking middle-aged man whom I recognize in an instant. Oh. My. God. Oh my god! My entire body is rooted to the spot, my jaw hanging open like an idiot as Penny smiles and makes the introductions. “Professor Zolanskov, this is Jai Winters.”
I’m not joking when I say this is what normal people must feel like when they meet Lady Gaga. I let out a nervous bubble of laughter as I shake Professor Zolanskov’s outstretched hand, warning myself not to fanboy all over one of the most esteemed scholars in my field.
“Oh my god. It’s such an honor to meet you, sir. I’ve read all your work. You actually inspired my masters
