Chapter 193

I arrived at the mansion in the early evening after leaving Dr. Sherman’s office. I texted Andrew to see if he was still at the office. My stomach sank when I saw his reply.

Working from home today. Come on in.

I knew that I had to face Andrew and apologize for the fight, but I had not expected it to be so soon. I thought that I would get a couple more hours to brace myself and prepare what I was going to say. Better now than never, I supposed.

I took in one last deep breath before leaving my car. Cautiously, I climbed up the steps to the mansion and opened the door.

“Good evening, Ms. Blanchard,” Parker greeted me in the foyer.

“Good evening, Parker,” I replied.

“His Highness is in his home office. Shall I take you to him?”

“I suppose so.”

He arched a brow at me but did not press any further. That was one thing I liked about Parker over Jeffrey, at times; he knew when to leave matters alone.

Parker turned on his heel and led me down the relatively empty hallways to Andrew’s office. Our footsteps echoed on the hardwood floor, falling in rhythm with the beating of my anxious heart.

I told myself not to worry, that Andrew would forgive me, just like he had before, but another part of my mind was concerned that I had hit the wrong nerve this time. After all, he had just been trying to protect me, and he had made a great sacrifice to do so, and I had spat on that sacrifice by taking my anger at myself out on him. My stomach lurched at the thought.

Parker stopped at the guards standing watch in front of Andrew’s home office. He nodded to each of them, and they returned his gesture. Parker knocked on the door.

“Come in!” Andrew shouted from within.

The guards opened the doors, allowing us entry. Parker crossed the threshold, and I hesitantly followed.

“Your Highness, Crystal Blanchard is here to see you,” Parker announced me.

Andrew’s face raised from his laptop. Although his expression did not beam as it normally did when he saw me, there was no trace of anger, either.

“Thank you, Parker,” he said, though his eyes never left me. “Can you ensure that we are not disturbed?”

“Of course, Your Highness.”

Parker bowed to both Andrew and me, then left the room. The doors closed behind him with a resounding thud.

Andrew closed his laptop and gave me his full attention.

“To what do I owe this pleasure?” he asked.

I cringed, thinking about how our last real conversation ended. It was hard to believe that that was an entire two days prior. It felt simultaneously like only minutes ago and a lifetime away.

“I just wanted to apologize,” I said, deciding that it was best to just jump straight in.

Andrew sat back, his arms crossed over his chest, and waited for me to continue.

“I shouldn’t have snapped at you after you told me about Mr. Barone and what you did to protect me.” I took a deep breath. “You made a big sacrifice for me, and I should be grateful for that.”

“I just don’t understand why you got so mad in the first place,” he said. “You know that I would do anything for you. It shouldn’t have surprised you how far I was willing to go.”

“It wasn’t that I was surprised by how far you want or even that I was mad by what you actually did.” I started pacing in front of his desk. “I’m not happy by the compromise you had to make, mind you, but it’s not the real reason why I was so mad…”

“Then why were you so mad?”

I grabbed a hold of my index finger and began to twist it nervously.

“I wasn’t mad at you,” I said, not looking Andrew in the eye. “I was mad at myself.”

“At yourself? Why?”

“For not being able to protect myself from these threats.” I stopped twisting my finger long enough to run my hand through my hair. “For needing you to go to these lengths to keep me safe in the first place.”

Andrew’s voice grew soft.

“Crystal, you know that I would try to protect you no matter what—”

“But you shouldn’t have to. I’m a werewolf, for crying out loud! Or at least a hybrid.”

I shook my head in frustration.

“I should be able to hold my own against an assassin—”

“With silver bullets or a silver knife? Who’s also a werewolf or hybrid?”

“I know that it sounds ridiculous, but it just feels as though I’m weak or something for not being able to keep myself safe, for needing to rely on you so much for protection.”

Andrew stood up and walked over to me, effectively putting an end to my pacing. He placed his hands on my shoulders and looked me squarely in the eyes.

“Crystal, there is nothing weak about needing help,” he said, his voice firm yet gentle. “Everyone needs help sometimes. Even I do.”

I smiled slightly and placed my hand on one of his.

“I know, I know. I talked to Dr. Sherman today. She helped me to realize that there are just some things in life that I can’t control or be prepared for and that all I can do is focus on what I can control, like how I react to the situation.”

I moved my hand up to cup Andrew’s cheek.

“And whom I take my emotions out on.” I ran my thumb over his skin. “That’s why I wanted to apologize.”

Andrew smiled.

“Apology accepted.”

He leaned down and gave me a tender kiss on the lips. I pressed my body against his, my quickly moistening groin wanting something more. He wrapped his arm around my waist, snaking his hand down to give my buttock a squeeze.

I gasped softly at the touch. He pulled me in closer. The kiss turned passionate as his tongue prodded my mouth, playing with and chasing my tongue around.

Andrew’s hand moved from my buttocks around to the front of my dress. He hiked up the skirt of my dress and reached into my underwear. I trembled as his fingers traversed my folds.

“A-Andrew,” I panted, barely able to say his name.

He smirked.

“Do you like that?” he asked, his voice low and husky.

I nodded, my mouth slightly agape.

He pressed his lips against my neck, still working his magic in my underwear. I wanted to reciprocate, but I suddenly found myself unable to even think. I dug my fingers into his shoulders, relying on his body to hold up my weight.

Without warning, Andrew pulled away both his hand and his mouth. I whimpered at the loss and mentally cursed him for torturing me like that. Was this punishment for our argument the other day?

I glared at him as he grinned wickedly at me.

“I want to continue this in bed,” he said. He licked his lips, looking me up and down.

My heart raced. I grabbed his hand and pulled him out of the office. We passed Parker on our way down the hall.

“Parker, we will be in my private chambers for the rest of the night,” Andrew said, barely restraining me long enough to talk to his butler. “Ensure that we are not disturbed. Understood?”

A knowing smile momentarily flickered across Parker’s face before his expression returned to neutral.

“Understood, Your Highness,” he said. “Goodnight, Your Highness.”

Before Parker finished bowing to us, I ripped Andrew away from the scene, my loins on fire.

It was going to be a long night.