Blog Tour: Complete ME: Excerpt, Chapter One
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Complete Me by Geneva Lee
The final book in the Royals Saga
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About the Book: Be swept away in Complete Me, the seventh book in the Royals Saga with over 1 million copies sold worldwide.
I met Clara Bishop when I least expected. Loving her was nothing I could ever have imagined. We’ve weathered dangerous storms together, but our love has always been a tempest. I’m not a perfect man, but I will fight to protect her and I’ll do everything in my power to keep her. But first I have to prove that she completes me.
Return to the world of the Royals and their intersecting lives, loves, and secrets. When Alexander discovers a shocking mystery in his father’s past, it threatens to divide him and Clara forever. As Belle builds her company, she ignores the pain of last year’s events. Can Smith help her move forward once and for all? Edward shocked everyone when he embraced his love for David, but a wedding seems further away than ever before. Will the couple finally make the leap? It’s going to be a scandalous, steamy holiday season for each of them.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Geneva Lee is the
New York Times, USA Today, and Internationally bestselling author of the Royals
Saga. She likes writing steamy scenes almost as much as imagining crazy ways to
torture her characters. Geneva travels frequently, never says no to champagne,
and spends more time with fictional people than living, breathing ones. She
lives her husband and two children.
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CHAPTER ONE
Washington, D.C.
Alexander
THE QUEEN’S BEDROOM, considered
well-suited to visiting monarchy by the White House staff, felt as stodgy and
antiquated as the name suggested. It had certainly received the title when my
grandmother wore the crown, because my own wife was anything save boring.
Despite the overtly Victorian femininity of the wall-coverings and lacy
bedspread, Clara’s presence breathed a vitality into the space. She stirred in
her sleep and my breath caught even as I felt a familiar restlessness awakening
in me.
Her rich, brown
hair fanned over the pillowcase as a serenity passed over her fair features.
Her lips began to move silently in her dreams. Propping myself up on my elbow I
studied her and wondered who she was talking to. While it might be pointless to
be jealous of the time she spent asleep, I couldn’t help it. I couldn’t possess
her in her dreams. For my irrational side—which too often overrode my sense—it
was unbearable.
Maybe that’s why
I felt the need to wake her so often for nocturnal activities.
The anatomical
center of my irrationality twitched in agreement at the thought, and my hand
went to it. I stroked myself absently. How early was too early to wake her for
morning sex? It was difficult to determine given how cocked up our sleep
schedule had been since arriving in Seattle a little over a week ago. Since
then we’d visited three more U.S. cities on our goodwill tour. At least the capital
was our last stop. Between traveling and our daughter’s teething-induced
crankiness, Clara was perpetually knackered.
Still, she never
said no.
“Are you warming
up for something?” she murmured. Her lashes fluttered as she eyed me drowsily.
“I didn’t want
to wake you.” I didn’t add that I would have woken her anyway. Although I
prided myself on my self-control, I was glaringly deficient in that avenue
where it came to my wife. When I had her alone I needed to be touching her.
Clara’s laughter
lifted some of the never ceasing weight from my chest. Perhaps my obsession
stemmed from the miraculous balm of her presence. She’d always been able to
alleviate the burdens I carried with me, even though the pressures in my life
had increased exponentially since she came into it. She bound me as she
released me. It was the great paradox of our love that we saved each other by
chaining ourselves to lives of duty.
“You would have
woken me anyway,” she accused, stretching her slender arms over her head.
The movement
caught my attention and I seized my chance. Rolling on top of her, I snatched
her hands and held them. “Is that a complaint, poppet?”
Her body
responded with a comforting awareness of my dominance. Clara’s legs fell open,
softening in welcome and her breathing shifted to shallow, eager panting as she
purred the only words I needed to hear. “Yes, please.”
I accepted her
invitation, releasing my grip on her only long enough to pluck free the sash
that held the bed curtains to the post. She didn’t protest as I gently tied her
wrist to the bed. Moving my knee against her bare cunt as a gage, I decided she
was more than content with the idea of a morning play session.
“I’m not certain
Americans approve of bondage so early in the morning.” But she stretched her
free arm toward the other post even as she spoke.
I couldn’t hold
back my arrogance as I smirked down at her. “I don’t play by their rules.”
I cinched her
wrists tighter to prove my point and was rewarded with a warm surge of arousal.
“Should the
Queen be tied up in her own bedroom?” She loved to rile me up, knowing that it
would pay dividends in how rough I’d get. The more saucy she got, the more I
needed to dominate her. Like most couples our sex life ran the gamut of slow
and sensual to clawing and primal. Unlike most couples, it ran that gamut
daily.
“If she’s in the
King’s bed, she should be.” Sinking back on my heels, I appreciated the sight
of my wife tied up and helpless. Thankfully the house was large and Elizabeth
was with the nanny down the hall, because I felt inspired to make her scream.
Clara’s breasts spilled from her silky nightgown and I snapped the fragile
straps to release them entirely. Moving down her body, I sucked the soft mound,
drawing her nipple into my mouth. While I might be impatient to get her beneath
me, I never minded taking my time once I had her there. Quiet moans escaped
from her and I increased my suction until I was practically biting the soft
flesh. Clara arched toward me, her hips beginning to wiggle as she searched for
relief. I loved watching my wife come but guiding her toward the edge was arguably
even better. Turning this beautiful, intelligent woman into a mass of
incoherent desire was only fair since she reduced me to that primal state every
time she walked into a room.
“Don’t you have
appointments today?” She pressed her body desperately to mine.
“Not for hours,”
I said with a mouthful of her creamy breast. I hadn’t bothered to tell her how
early I’d decided to start my day. I had no doubt the time would pass too
quickly for both of our likings.
“X!” she
demanded through gritted teeth.
I withdrew and
raised an eyebrow. Questioning my authority in the bedroom would only earn her
more time on her back. I suspected she knew that. “You’re being impatient.”
“And you’re
being infuriating!” Her hands curled over her restraints as if she was testing
them.
“Don’t think
you’re getting out of those so easily,” I informed her even as I settled
between her thighs. Stroking the head of my cock down her swollen seam, I
grinned at the amusement she couldn’t quite hide from her answering glare.
Hoisting her legs around my hips, I held her there, stretching her long body
between the bed posts and my groin, and waited.
“Please.” She
licked her lips, her eyes going glassy as she asked again. “Please. Please.”
I groaned,
unable to resist it when she began to beg, and thrust inside her. Her muscles
immediately contracted around my shaft as I drove her toward release. She cried
out, splitting apart. I’d taken her over the edge, but once again she’d brought
me to my knees.
THE OVAL OFFICE looked far more
ceremonial than official with the camera crew shooting in front of the
President’s desk. The room itself was decorated in shades of ivory and yellow,
but the color palette did little to warm the cool atmosphere. It wasn’t
unreasonable for the White House to film my visit, but it didn’t lend itself to
natural conversation. Having never met the new commander-in-chief of the United
States, I had to be on my best behavior. I only hoped he would be as well.
“Alexander,
welcome.” President Williamson tipped his head in a small greeting as he rose
from his chair. It was acknowledgment of our shared power, but not a bow. For
that I was grateful. If there was one thing I loved about America, it was that
no one routinely felt the need to prostrate themselves in my presence.
Williamson was
about the age of my father, but the two had never met. He’d taken office
shortly after the assassination that claimed my father’s life. But age is where
the similarities ended. Albert had been quintessentially British in his looks
and demeanor. At least, in public. Williamson was every bit the American head
of state right down to the red power tie. Despite his years, the lines on his
face only gave him an air of wisdom that matched his salt and pepper hair, and,
like most Americans foisted into the spotlight, he looked more like a movie
star than a bedraggled politician. He was the on camera commander, whose power
was limited by the large congress of lawmakers also elected by the people. That
was one position we were both in.
“Congratulations
on your wedding. I had hoped to share your joy, but circumstances…” He trailed
away, allowing my memory to recall the events of my wedding day.
“Of course.” I
allowed a tight smile. It was polite to offer his solicitations naturally, but
no matter how much time had passed I had never put that day behind me.
Williamson had been in attendance for the ceremony. Considering the
circumstances, he, along with several other powerful dignitaries, had sent
their regrets when invited to my coronation. I couldn’t blame them. If I could
have skipped the ritual I would have as well. “We’ve been negligent as well.
Clara and I planned to visit much earlier. Life and politics got in the way.”
“Don’t they
always.” He gestured to a chair next to his, and I took it. “What is your
lovely wife up to?”
“Motherhood,” I
said stiffly. Clara would not always be able to avoid the camera, but for the
time being I was content to enable her. I still hadn’t warmed to the idea of
sharing her with the world.
“I was certain
our special relationship would be even more special now that you’re married to
an American,” the president said light-heartedly as he adjusted his suit coat
before taking his seat.
Annoyance surged
through me, and I did my best to hide it. This man and this country had no
claim to my wife. I couldn’t exactly tell him that though, especially not
during a televised interview. “I think you’ll find that Clara is as American as
I am.”
We laughed, but
neither of us were amused. Williamson’s predecessor had been known for his ease
in awkward situations. It hadn’t been a strong enough quality to get him
reelected. Now the atmosphere in the Oval Office had the same wary tension of
an impending cock fight. This was what happened when you put two alpha males
into a room. There was no punchline, only a quiet struggle for power.
“I heard she
prefers coffee,” the Secretary of State joined in, her tone effusive. At least,
Williamson had appointed someone adept at dismantling tension to his cabinet.
It was a particularly keen appointment since she handled most of the
administration’s foreign policy.
“I’m working on
that,” I admitted. The good-natured ribbing had the intended effect and the
conversation shifted into an easygoing conversation between the heads of two
sovereign nations. About an hour later, during a rousing debate between the
merits of American football versus European football, the camera crews began to
dismantle their equipment.
“This way
please,” an aide showed the crews out of the office, and the atmosphere changed
again.
Williamson
slumped in his seat, switching off his on-camera persona and becoming another
man. “Scotch?”
“Please.”
A moment later,
an aide dutifully delivered the drinks to us as a young, nervous man joined us.
“Alexander,
allow me to introduce my press secretary Richard May. He’s here to keep us on
track for the press conference.”
I rose and shook
the man’s hand as he declined the offering of a Scotch. “I do apologize for
sticking you back in front of a camera so soon.”
“I was born in
front of a camera,” I said flatly. It wasn’t technically true but it may as
well have been. I’d never known what it was like to be in public without
someone filming me. My only real sanctuary from that fact had been during my
time on the war front.
“Of course,” May
said absently as he shuffled through some questions. “I imagine that most of
their questions will be fairly soft. They’ll ask about Clara and your
daughter.”
I forced myself
to nod. Despite my desire to keep my wife and child out of the spotlight, it
was futile. I did my best to keep a firm line when it came to the press though,
especially given how vicious the media had been during our courtship. As much
as possible, I wanted Elizabeth to have a normal life. However unlikely the
possibility was.
“Then there’s
the Edward issue.”
“I hope you’re
speaking about an upcoming magazine article.” This time I didn’t bother to hide
my annoyance. I’d been warned by my own people that this might be brought up
abroad.
“We’ve briefed
the corps on the topics that they’re allowed to broach,” the president assured
me, “but freedom of the press means we can’t tell them what they can ask.”
I didn’t miss
the none-too-subtle dig. “Britain has it as well.”
“Then you know
the trouble it can cause.” Williamson spread his hands apologetically, and I
nodded.
There had been
some negative attention regarding my brother’s engagement in the tabloids. But
Edward’s decision to come out of the closet had been largely met with
enthusiasm. For most it signaled that the monarchy was no longer an archaic
relic, but there were always dissenters.
“I’m prepared to
take the fifth,” I joked, doing my best to sound as if the subject didn’t irk
me.
“I think he’ll
do just fine.” Williamson winked at May. “Are we ready then?”
May trembled a
little as he nodded his head. There wasn’t enough anti-anxiety medicine in the
world to counter the stress of his job. It was remarkable that the man was
allowed in front of the camera. As we headed toward the briefing room,
Williamson lagged behind. I took the signal and followed suit.
“I am sorry that
we weren’t at your coronation.” It was a surprisingly sincere apology for a man
who had fought to command the room when we first met. “Our security teams felt
the risk outweighed the duty, and, speaking man to man, my first concern is
always for my wife.”
“It’s
understandable.” I could appreciate a man putting his wife first. Where my own
safety was concerned, I rarely cared, but I’d surround Clara with an army if
she’d allow me. “If it were up to me, Clara wouldn’t have come either.”
Williamson
tugged at his necktie, and I realized he was holding something back. After a
few seconds, he continued. “Our reports suggest that there might have been a
larger plot in the works.”
“Ours as well.”
So it wasn’t just the British Secret Service concerned over the assassination.
We’d caught the attention of the CIA as well.
“I’m happy to
pass along the intelligence we have. I’m sorry to say that most of the
information hasn’t panned out.”
“Please,” I said
tersely. It wasn’t just their trails that had gone cold, but ours as well. It
was tempting to believe that the threat to my family had ended with the murder
of Jack Hammond. The problem with accepting that was that someone had seen fit
to murder the man, who by all accounts was responsible for my father’s death.
If Smith Price, my personal source of information within Hammond’s network,
hadn’t been the one to take Hammond’s life, as he claimed, then someone else
had been.
“Unless you
already have him…” Williamson left the thought hanging in the air. It seemed
whatever information he had was unlikely to provide new insight.
“That’s the
thing about monsters,” I told him as we stopped outside the briefing gallery.
“You cut off one head, only to discover there’s another one.”
“That I understand.”
Both our
countries had faced dark times of late. I could imagine the threats to his
family were as significant and omnipresent as my own. Without thinking, I
clapped a hand on his shoulder in a show of solidarity—and, perhaps, comfort.
Williamson’s face showed he understood.
“They’re ready
for you, sir,” an aide advised.
I couldn’t quite
prevent the grimace that flashed over my face but I replaced it with a smile as
I stepped in front of the rows of reporters. May stayed by my side to direct the
chaos as they began to call out to me.
“Miss
Bernstein,” May said and a woman shot up from her chair. She didn’t bother
adjusting her skirt or flipping her hair, instead her eyes zeroed in on me.
This is going
to sting.
“Your Highness,
will the crown sanction the marriage of your brother?”
It was no
surprise that they were going after Edward. I couldn’t expect one of the most
ruthless free presses in the world to ask what type of biscuit I preferred. My
father would have took the woman’s head off, but I’d already decided to take a
different approach. I’d kill them with charm. Ignoring the rage coursing
through me, I smiled. “I already have.”
This incited a
barrage of follow-ups from the crowd, but I held up a hand before May could
step in. “I’d like to limit topics to policy and my country.”
Not my
family.
They were
off-limits—all of them. I’d lost too many of the people close to me to share
the ones I had left. If I had to give every part of me away to protect my
family, I would. There was a moment of squirming silence while the journalists
regrouped.
“There’s a vocal
minority in Parliament that’s growing in strength, who would like to see the
monarchy abolished. How will you respond if support for the initiative gains
momentum?” an intrepid man called out.
“God save the
King,” I replied, earning a wave of laughter. The dry response shifted the line
of questioning to topics sure to produce amusing sound bites. I did my best to
stay clever, and steer things away from the people in my life. When I finally took
my leave, Williamson met me at the door.
“All charm and
no concrete answers—you were born for politics.”
I supposed it
was meant as a compliment. “I was born into politics.”
“I guess you
never have had much of a choice,” he mused as we made our way to the
residential rooms. “Your destiny was decided for you.”
I thought of
Clara and my life before I met her. Every moment of my life propelled me to
her, and yet I’d tried to push her away. In the end, we’d decided to fight for
one another. That had been a choice—as had my decision to take the throne. It
had been a personal decision. Becoming king allowed me to search for those
responsible for the attacks on my wife. In the end, there had always been
choices—hard ones. “I’ve chosen my destiny.”
“As have I.”
Williamson paused to say goodbye before returning to his office. He still had a
day of work ahead of him, and I had my whole world ahead of me. I entered the
small living suite our hosts had offered us quietly, afraid to wake a sleeping
toddler. Instead, a babbling ball of joy toppled toward me as Elizabeth
misstepped. In one swift move I scooped my daughter into my arms.
“I’m sorry, Your
Majesty!” Penny, the ever-fussing nursemaid we’d brought along rushed over to
save me, but I held my little girl. The poor woman couldn’t fathom that a man
would want to care for his child. If it killed me, I would show her that I
wasn’t simply any man.
Clara looked up
from her book and rolled her eyes at the scene developing before her, but she
didn’t step in. Later I’d be more than happy to spank her for being
mischievous. Her lips curled into a knowing smirk as if she could read my mind.
“Penny, why
don’t you take a few minutes for yourself,” I advised her.
“Sir?” She
stared at me as if this was a test.
“I’d like to be
alone with my family,” I clarified.
She continued to
look distraught, but she curtsied and took her leave.
“Is it so hard
to believe that I want to hold my daughter?” I grumbled when we were alone.
“I suppose most
kings are interested in furthering their bloodline not building blocks.”
Clara’s eyes lingered on the two of us as I settled onto the carpet with
Elizabeth, who immediately pulled herself up and began practicing her latest
trick: walking.
“Clever girl,” I
praised her. “Already walking.”
“She’s nearly
fifteen months old,” Clara pointed out, even as she dropped onto the floor
beside me. Soon she was as captivated by Elizabeth’s antics as I was. My hand
found hers on the carpet. We stayed like that until a familiar form appeared in
the doorway. Norris looked as proud as any grandfather as he surveyed my
family, but when I lifted my gaze to his, I immediately knew something was
wrong.
“I’ll just be a
few minutes,” I murmured to Clara, brushing a kiss over her forehead even as it
wrinkled in concern. Norris had given us a fair amount of space during our
limited family time. We both knew that his sudden appearance meant news out of
England. Getting to my feet, I crossed the room to him, Elizabeth taking dozens
of tiny steps to try to catch up with me.
“There’s been a
development,” Norris said under his breath. We both glanced toward Clara who
was watching us with wary eyes. She didn’t like to be kept out of the loop, a
fact which had been a sore point since the day we married. Her contention that
we should keep no secrets from each other was valid, but I couldn’t bear to
burden her with the knowledge I carried.
I stepped into
the hallway and Norris followed.
“Is it about
Hammond?” Nearly a year after his murder and we were no closer to the answers
that might lead me to our common enemy. Whoever had murdered him hadn’t done so
as a favor to me. That was becoming clearer with each stone we turned over.
“No. I’m not
even certain what it means.”
“You’re going to
have to give me more to go on,” I informed him. It wasn’t like Norris to be
mysterious, which meant that whatever news he had to deliver wasn’t good.
“The team
combing through your father’s personal effects uncovered something.”
“That would seem
to be good news.” When I’d asked for a discreet team to dig further into my
father’s personal life, I’d hoped to find links to the people responsible for
his death. Whatever secrets he’d kept could be the key to discovering the truth
about what happened that day.
“I’m afraid it
only raises more questions.” Norris looked torn and my pulse ratcheted up as
adrenaline surged through my blood.
“What did they
find?” I forced the question past gritted teeth.
“Not what,”
Norris corrected gently. “Who.”
“Who?” I
repeated. “They found a person?”
“They found your
brother.”
“Edward?” I
asked even as sensation of vertigo gripped me.
“No.” Norris
paused to allow what he was saying to sink in.
“I have another
brother?” My words were so strangled I barely recognized my own voice.
Norris drew a
deep breath as if steeling both of us for what came out next. “It seems you do
indeed.”
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