Chapter 157

I returned to my apartment to find Andrew waiting for me, the donuts and coffee still sitting on the dining table. Andrew stood up from his chair and hugged me, though I did not return the gesture.

“Is something wrong?” he asked when I didn’t hug him back. “How did it go?”

“It went fine,” I said as I squirmed out of his arms. I picked up one of the donuts, finding it cold to the touch. “He accepted the apology.”

Andrew grinned.

“That’s wonderful!” He grabbed my donut and one of the coffees. “Let me warm these up for you.”

I let him take the donut, but I did not return his smile.

“No, Andrew, it’s not wonderful,” I said. “That man is horrible when you’re not around. He is incredibly rude.”

“I’m sorry,” he said as he stuck the donut in the microwave. “Sometimes, in the political arena, with have to deal with people who are difficult—”

“No, you don’t understand.”

I started to pace, pulling on my ponytail.

“He made me belittle myself before he accepted my apology. He wore nothing but a bathrobe in front of me. He leered at me—”

“Wait, wait a second,” Andrew said, putting his hand up to silence me. “He only wore a bathrobe? And he leered at you?”

I nodded.

His hand curled into a fist as the microwave dinged. He aggressively switched the coffee out for the donut and started the timer again.

“Did he do anything to you?” he growled. A part of me was glad to see this part of Andrew again, after he had avoided defending me the night before.

I shook my head, and Andrew’s shoulders relaxed somewhat. He walked over to me and put his hands on my shoulders.

“I’m so sorry that you had to go through that,” he said, his voice soft and gentle. It grated on my nerves. “I wish that I could have taken on this burden for you—”

“Then why didn’t you?”

He blinked at me.

“What do you mean?”

“Why didn’t you stand up for me last night?” I moved his hands off of my shoulders and stepped away from him.

“I told you, I didn’t know what he was saying. I was talking with Antoine—”

“Yes, I’m well aware that you were busy with Antoine.” My teeth clenched, and my fists followed suit. “You left me on my own.”

Andrew ran his hand through his hair.

“Crystal, you’re going to have to learn to navigate the political arena on your own sometimes—”

“I’myourgirlfriend!” I yelled. “You’re supposed to guide me through these affairs and defend me when I need it.”

Tears trickled down my cheeks. I let them fall freely.

“You’ve always defended me. What made this time any different?”

“I can’t defend you when I don’t see what happens. Besides, I can’t just start an international incident every time someone hurts your feelings—”

“Every time someone hurts my feelings? He was digging into my personal psychological affairs and insulting our relationship! You’ve attacked people for less—”

“And that was wrong of me to do.” Andrew started pacing, not daring to face me. “I have an image to uphold, and as much as I would have loved to have torn King Frederick to shreds for what he said last night, I couldn’t.”

He shook his head.

“I showed too little discipline as it was, letting your temper get away from you like that—”

“Lettingmy temper get away from me like that?”

I laughed dryly.

“First of all, my temper did not ‘get away from me’. I was only defending myself. Second of all, you do not control me, so there is nothing that you could have done to stop me even if my temper had gotten out of control.”

Andrew stopped his pacing to glare at me.

“Thenyouneed to controlyourtemper around high-ranking diplomats. Not all of them are going to be as forgiving as King Frederick…even if you lower yourself and grovel.”

His eyes softened and implored with me to understand.

“We cannot afford to lose important connections because other diplomats have angered us. This is a game of chess. Only level heads can win.”

I knew that he was right, but I could not let go of how he had left me to handle the situation on my own. I was so new to this political environment and had no idea how to navigate the landscape. How could he throw me to the sharks like that?

This just wasn’t like the Andrew Dubois that I knew, and I didn’t like this side of him.

“I had no idea what I was doing,” I said, my voice sounding defeated. “I could have used some guidance, some interference on my behalf.”

My eyes shifted to the ground.

“You’re supposed to be my way to the light when I’m stuck in the dark. You weren’t there for me this time.”

I heard Andrew sigh. He stepped in front of me and wrapped his arms around me. This time, I gave into the hug, leaning against him and burying my face against his chest.

He stroked my ponytail gently as he spoke.

“I’m sorry, Crystal,” he said. “You haven’t been in the political game for long, and I shouldn’t have expected you to know how to handle this stuff without some guidance. It wasn’t fair of me, and I’m sorry for that.”

His hand twined in my hair and gripped it tightly.

“Even if you did know the world of politics better, I should have still had your back. Youaremy girlfriend, and I love you. I might have to be political, but there are political ways for me to tell someone to leave the woman that I love alone.”

I chuckled gently and shook my head against his chest.

“I should have been more diplomatic,” I admitted. “I certainly didn’t have to bring up King Frederic’s homeless policy. I promise to try and be more tactful in the future.”

“Thank you. That’s all that I ask.”

“And I just don’t want to be left alone to defend myself again.”

“Of course.”

I reached up and kissed Andrew tenderly on the lips. He bit and licked my lips, demanding entry. I opened my mouth, more than willing to comply.

Andrew slipped his tongue into my mouth and tangled it with mine. He pressed closer to me, his swollen member brushing against my thigh. I pulled away and smiled mischievously.

“Your coffee and donut are probably ready now,” Andrew said, his voice low and husky. “You should eat them before they get cold…again.”

I grabbed his lapel and brought his face less than an inch from mine. My breath rolled onto his lips as I spoke.

“They’ll reheat…again,” I whispered.

I kissed him, our tongues entwined. My hands snaked up behind his neck and into his hair. I wrapped my leg around his, grinding my crotch against him.

Andrew groaned.

“Bedroom. Now,” he growled.

We disentangled. Andrew swatted my bottom as we ran to my bedroom.

“Hey!” I yipped, giggling. “Not so rough!”

As we entered my bedroom, Andrew grabbed me from behind, wrapping his arms around my waist, and nipped my ear.

“I haven’t started to get rough yet,” he murmured, licking my earlobe.