An Unexpected Visitor... (Patreon)

Published:

2025-09-02 15:00:14

Imported:

2026-06

Content

The sound of male voices roused her. She raised her head and frowned at the closed door. A glance at the windows told her it was either very late or very early. She wondered if Roth was watching TV unusually loud, but when his voice, unmistakably deep and harsh, was interrupted by a much softer voice clearly trying to placate him, she threw back the covers, intrigued. Without a thought for how scantily dressed she was, she opened the door and was greeted with the sight of the last person she expected to see.

Grayson Ward, seventeenth in line to the British Throne, faced off with a clearly aggravated Roth with an unconcerned expression as he sipped from a tea cup. The three-piece tweed suit he’d worn when they last met had been replaced by gray shorts, showing off toned legs and a crisp white long sleeve that had been rolled up to his elbows with the top three buttons undone. He was the epitome of resort casual, from the designer glasses propped on his head to shield him from the nonexistent sun to the loafers he sported.

Even as Roth said something low and threatening, Grayson’s eyes flicked to her and a smile curved his mouth. “Morning, love. I didn’t mean to wake you.”

Roth stalked toward her. He ducked his head to give her a kiss before he growled, “He’s leaving.”

When he wrapped an arm around her waist to lead her back into the bedroom, she dug her heels in.

“Are you here for business?” she asked Grayson. “Is something wrong in London that you need Roth to tend to?”

“Not at all,” Grayson said, swirling the contents of his cup. “Roth mentioned where you two were, and I had a sudden urge for a warm, tropical holiday.”

“Like I said, he’s leaving,” Roth snapped.

“I just came by to drop off a few gifts,” Grayson said with a smile that didn’t reach his eyes, and jerked his head to a stack of beautifully wrapped presents on the table. “I didn’t mean to intrude.”

“You haven’t.” She squeezed Roth’s arm when he started to pick her up. “You should stay.”

Roth stiffened.

“Breakfast in a few hours?” she invited.

Grayson’s eyes flicked to Roth and then back to her before he said, “If that’s what you wish.”

“It is.”

He inclined his head as Roth carried her back into the bedroom.

**This is a raw draft of Bitter Sins. Please do not share or distribute.