by Wade, Jena
My friend Cheryl squealed when she saw me and leapt into my arms giving me a big hug.
“It's been too long!” she said.
I laughed. “You know I wanted to be gone for several years. I settled on just a year because I knew I would miss you all too much.”
“You couldn’t stay away from us!” She slapped my chest playfully. “You would never leave us for that long.”
I loved being around Cheryl because she treated me like a normal, everyday person. She put me to work and made me pull my weight. She knew I wasn’t just here for a photo opportunity.
“It was tempting,” I said. “But you're right, I did miss you.”
“Hi Jerome,” she gave him a hug as well. He had been my security detail for several years now, and he and Cheryl had spent a lot of time together over those years.
She stuck her hand out to Xavier. “I don't believe we've met.”
He looked at her hand but didn't shake it. As my guard, he was technically supposed to be a fly on the wall, not the center of attention. Over the years, Cheryl had simply put whatever entourage I had with me to work, because as a charitable organization she always had more work than volunteers to do it all.
“Xavier Pierce,” he said. “Can you tell me where we'll be located today and what security measures you have in place for while the prince is here? The prince’s safety is my utmost priority and unfortunately, it seems as if this outing wasn’t planned in advance.”
Her eyebrows raised and she looked at me.
I shrugged.
“Well, we plan on hanging out with the preschoolers. We’ll be reading books and playing with blocks. You’re welcome to wait outside and guard the door.” She crossed her arms.
I snorted. “Xavier, this is my home away from home. We do not now, and never have, followed exact protocol for my security. I am sure you noticed the lack of press following my movements. Being the forgotten prince has its perks. Please. Stand down. We’re here to have fun.” I patted his shoulder, which was a mistake. It didn’t take long for the heat of his body to radiate through my arm and I remembered just how broad his shoulders were, even without the jacket on. Despite my irritation at the man, he was still one hell of a specimen. And the man I’d lost my virginity to twenty four hours ago.
Xavier’s jaw set, but he nodded. “As long as we don’t stay for too long.”
“Actually we planned on taking all of the kids to the museum,” Cheryl chimed in. “I know that Iain will want to go. His favorite exhibits are here.”
“Really? The dinosaurs are back?”
“Yes. Even the T-rex is on loan from the Americas.”
I pumped my fist in the air. “Yes!”
Xavier blinked at me like he didn't recognize me.
“What?” I said. “I wanted to be an archaeologist when I was a kid, dinosaurs are my absolute favorite. Do they have the woolly mammoth, too?” I bounced on my toes as I waited for Cheryl’s response.
Cheryl shook her head. “The prehistoric exhibit is coming in two weeks, so you'll have to come back.”
“Sweet. We’ll put in on my schedule.” I snuck a glance at Xavier. The guy had to think I was some sort of idiot, which was embarrassing considering the time we’d spent together, but he was biting back a smile. It was almost as if he was biting the inside of his cheek so he wouldn't fully show his expressions. He was probably used to the boring schedules that Erich and Cort had, with their board meetings and diplomatic get-togethers with heads-of-state.
I got to do fun events with children.
“Well, we better get started. The kids are excited to go. We have the whole place to ourselves, until noon,” Cheryl said.
“Perfect,” I said. “Let me know whatever I can do to help.”
“You'll just be another set of eyes today because you know how they get when they are out of this place.”
“I'm excited to see them,” I said. I always loved this part of my gig, spending time with kids and Cheryl. Being able to share fun adventures with the kids who might not typically get to do all the fun things.
We approached the pre-school room door and even with it closed, I could hear the rambunctious screaming of four and five-year-olds.
“Let’s do this,” I said with a grin. I glanced at Xavier. He sucked in a breath and rolled his shoulders back. I ignored what that did to my insides and followed Cheryl into the classroom.
Chapter Eight
Xavier
I was tired. Bone-weary, can’t-take-another-step tired. I hadn’t been this exhausted since my bodyguard training. I had been guarding the royal family for years, planning their outings, researching the safest, most secure ways to keep them from those that meant them harm. I had followed the princes to board meetings, state dinners, baseball games, soccer games, and various charity events, but never had I participated in an outing like this one.
Only ten children had gone to the museum, but they were energetic and they hung on Iain like he was the center of their world. I couldn't believe the camaraderie they had. He had never met these kids before, but they loved him. And they played with him like he was the best thing since sliced bread. One little girl hadn’t let go of his hand the entire time we were there.
She had one hand in his, the other hand held a raggedy teddy-bear. Iain kept close to her, all the while managing the other kids with practiced ease. Meanwhile, I wasn’t even sure where to look. Thankfully, we were the only people at the museum.
I watched him with awe as he played with the kids. It made guarding him difficult. Not because I couldn't protect him, but because I wanted to be a part of this event instead of an observer. My job was to not get involved but Prince Iain already had me wrapped around his finger. I wanted to laugh with him when he played with the kids. I wanted to join in on their games and help Iain wrangle these adorable little creatures. The omega had a knack for dealing with kids and it made my heart squeeze as I watched him.
But I wasn't able to be anything other than his bodyguard. At least not today. We couldn’t be a thing. He was a prince, and I was not suitable for him. Even with his parent’s blessing and the knowledge that we’d likely be getting married I knew that I would never be their first choice for Iain.
It was late by the time we arrived back to the palace. Standard protocol was that each member of the royal family had two guards assigned to them when they left the premises, and one guard while they were inside the palace.
“Xavier,” Prince Iain said. “Jerome can handle it from here. I am sure you have other things to do.”
“Actually,” I said. I bit back a smile. My omega wanted to be rid of me, well that wasn’t going to happen. His safety was my top priority, and my orders came from higher than him. “I will be taking over. Jerome, feel free to have the night off.”
Jerome looked from me to the prince, not sure who to listen to. But I was his superior, so I won out.
Prince Iain’s jaw clenched and he breathed out through his nose. “Fine. Thank you, Jerome. I will see you soon.”
He nodded and left.
“When exactly are you off duty?” Iain asked me after Jerome walked away. His voice was sharp, his irritation bleeding through.
“I live here in the palace, I technically am never off duty. But my next break doesn't start for another twelve hours if that's what you're asking.”
Prince Iain stopped walking and faced me. We stood in the middle of the hallway, I was too close to him, but I didn’t care. I wanted to be close enough to get his scent.
“Xavier, why are you doing this? If this is because we—”
“It’s not,” I said before he could finish. “You and I need to talk about the last few days, and what’s going to happen—"
A round of laughter stopped us in our tracks as his Prince Gus, his omega Wendell, Prince Erich, and Prince Kalwin came walking down the hallway.
I took a step back, keeping the appropriate distance between myself and Iain.
“Iain! You have retu
rned. We're about to go shoot some pool, come with us?” Erich said just before giving his brother a hug.
“Sure,” Iain said. He looked at me. “Surely if I'm with them in the billiards room, you do not need to be so close. I will be just fine on my own.”
I shook my head. “That won't be happening. We will finish our discussion later.”
Prince Iain narrowed his eyes. “I think you are forgetting which one of us is in charge around here. You do not have a claim over me, Xavier.”
“What's going on?” Kalwin asked. He looped his arm around Iain’s shoulder. Kalwin narrowed his eyes at me as if he was going to extract an explanation from me.
“Nothing,” Iain said and he smiled at his brother. “Let’s go play. Wendell, I’ll take the baby if you’d like your arms free.”
Wendell grinned and loosened the strap on the baby carrier he had on his chest. “Please,” he said. “I haven’t put him down all day. He seems to only sleep on me or another omega. Not even Gus can keep him settled for long.”
“I’m trying,” Gus whined.
“I know sweetheart.” Wendell put a hand on his shoulder.
“C’mon Xavier, you can play. We’ll guard the door,” Kalwin said with a laugh.
I had no choice but to follow. Given the amount of royal family members that we had in the room, there were two guards stationed outside the door and myself in the room with the family.
Cort was already in the room when we arrived. He held a set of darts in his hand.
“About time you all showed up. I was about to start a game by myself.”
Erich let out a hearty laugh. “Go ahead, you’ll still lose.”
Cort smiled when he saw Iain. “Brother! It is good to see you.” He walked over and gave Iain a long hug. It was different to see the brothers all together and cozy like this. When their parents weren’t around it was like they were a normal, everyday family.
“Hi Cort, I haven’t seen your fiancé around. Are you hiding him from the family?” Iain chided.
It was a stark contrast between the daggers he glared at me, to the smiles and teasing he directed at his brothers. I wanted that. I wanted the smiles and teasing. And more. Fuck. I’d messed this up so badly I was afraid there was no fixing it.
The heir apparent rolled his eyes, an action I’d never seen from him in all the years I’d been on the guard. “He will be around soon. Once we’re married we’ll be allowed to be in the same room without a chaperone.”
Iain’s eyes widened. “You two still have to have a chaperone? Have you gotten to spend any time with him during the wedding planning?”
Cort shook his head. “I can honestly say I have seen and talked with you more times this year than I have my intended.”
Iain made a face. “Eek. Good luck with that.”
“Yeah. Enough of that though. I want to hear everything about your trip.”
Iain’s face lit up with joy, making me wish I’d had a chance to ask him about Esmour, but we hadn’t really had any time together where we weren’t in bed or sniping at one another.
At least I got to sit here and watch him tell his brothers about it. I could at least pretend he and I were having a conversation and no one else was in the room.
Chapter Nine
Iain
I couldn't believe the amount of fun that I had hanging with my brothers again. It was amazing how we shed our princely personas, and just became brothers when we were hanging out together.
Even Cort, with his overly princely attitude, had let his hair down tonight. And having Xavier there... it was almost as if he was one of the group, like he was… what? My partner? My husband?
Yeah, right.
I hadn’t expected the man to profess his love to me after spending my heat together. I honestly expected him to pretend like it had never happened, but this following my every move and not letting me out of his sight? I wasn’t prepared for that. I hadn’t had a spare moment to myself to just sit and think, to process what all had occurred.
I’d shared my heat with a man who captured my attention years ago and hadn’t let go since. It was a mistake, or at least if felt like one. It should have been one, but I didn’t regret it. I never wanted to forget what it felt like to have Xavier fill me up and bring me to release. It had been magic, but it had complicated things.
The man had ethics that were a mile long and wouldn’t dream of mixing his job with pleasure. He wasn’t mine, and never would be.
Besides, I was sure that there were omegas outside the palace lining up to be his. Why go for the one that came with so much extra baggage?
We walked back to my room, Xavier had his hand on the small of my back. That was not a thing that the bodyguards did. My brothers’ guards never touched them unless it was necessary.
Did he do that with his other charges when he was guarding them? I didn’t even know who he had been assigned to lately. It didn't matter. I liked it.
“What do you do with your time off?” I asked.
“What do you mean?” he asked.
“Well, I know you're one of the few guards that actually lives in the palace and has his own room.”
“Right.”
“Do you keep an apartment or house in the city? Do you have an omega out there?”
He raised a brow and looked at me. “Are you asking if I have a boyfriend?”
“Or a fiancé or husband. I don't know your life.” I shrugged one shoulder as if his answer didn’t bother me.
“Is that they type of man you think I am? Do you think that I would have been with you just yesterday if that were the case?”
I blinked, forcing my face to remain emotionless. It was not an easy feat. “Like I said, I don't know your life.”
Xavier chuckled. “No, I have no one. In fact, besides running to the city for groceries or whatever, I rarely leave the palace.”
“Really? Why?”
Xavier shrugged. “I know it's not really my home, but it is sort of my home.”
“Well of course it is,” I said. “You live here.”
“Yes, but it's also my job, and I shouldn't let the two of those intertwine.”
A rock formed in my gut. “Right. Not like you did yesterday?”
He grimaced and nodded. “Exactly. Speaking of that, I really think we ought to talk.”
We were outside the door to my suite now, and we stopped. I turned to face him, determined to keep my head held high even though I was ready to break at any moment. He wouldn’t get to see me cry.
He’d tell me it had been a mistake, and it couldn’t happen again. Or he’d tell me he wanted to resign his position. Either way, I had to remain calm and keep my emotions in check.
“Here in the hall or would you like to come inside?” Never in my life had I imagined saying those words to an alpha, and most certainly not adding the little half smile at the end. But this was Xavier, a man I had wanted far longer than I cared to recognize. A man whose presence had chased me all the way to Esmour and hadn't let go.
“I think it's best if I stay out here. But you and I really do need to talk.”
The rejection hurt, but I tried to hide it. “Can it wait till morning?” I said. “I'm a little tired.”
Xavier nodded. “Sure, but first thing—”
“Ah, there you are.”
Xavier jumped back at the sound of my father's voice. It was hard for me to remember sometimes that while I saw the king as my dad, to everyone else he was the king.
Xavier gave a slight bow. “Your Majesties,” he said.
My dads were returning home from some event. They both wore tuxes. My alpha father's tie was undone, their security detail trailed behind them.
“It appears as if the two of you had a chance to talk. That is fantastic,” the king said.
My eyebrows shot up and I looked between Xavier and my dads.
“Talk about what?” I said. “We're just returning home from playing games with everyone in the billiards room.” I
narrowed my eyes as I looked at Xavier. Surely he hadn't…. He wouldn't meet my gaze. I knew he’d met with my dads earlier, but he hadn’t told them that we…
Xavier cleared his throat. “We have not had a chance to talk yet. We had a busy day.”
“Of course,” my omega father said. He turned to me. “Next week when you go back to Haven House, I'd like to go with you. Admittedly, I have not spent a lot of time there since you have been away and I miss it.”
I smiled. “I would like that,” I said.
My omega father smiled. “After we can sit down and talk about the plans for the wedding.”
My brow knitted in confusion. “I received the pamphlet with all the information. And the whole binder about the schedule, the agenda, what I'm supposed to wear, and when I have my fittings scheduled. Is there something else we need to discuss?”
“No, not Cort’s wedding. Yours.”
“My what now?” I said. I glanced at Xavier as my stomach dropped. What had he done? He stared at his feet, instead of keeping his back straight and gaze forward like normal.
“Your and Xavier’s,” my dad continued. “Now, I assume if I know you well enough, that you'll want small and simple. But of course, if you'd rather have something more lavish we can go with that as well.”
“I… I…” My mind raced and it was as if the world spun around me.
Xavier rubbed the back of his head with his hand, finally looking at me. “It's the simplest solution. And after yesterday….”
“Wait. You want to get married simply because we had sex?” I practically shouted, not caring which staff members overhead the discussion, apparently our relationship was all over the castle already. “Do you marry everyone you have sex with?”
“Iain! For goodness sakes!” My omega father put a hand to his chest like what I’d said was scandalous.
My alpha father cleared his throat. “We think this would be for the best, for both of you, if we kept the scandal quiet—”
“Scandal? Hardly,” I scoffed. “No one pays attention to the youngest prince. The press doesn’t care about my sex life.” Or lack thereof.