She nods, turning away and walking toward the window. “I can’t just come?”
“Not yet. Once we’re engaged, everything will be different. This is my parents’ home, not mine.”
“Oh. Right.”
I walk over to her and wrap my arms around her waist and bury my face in her hair. “Someday, I’ll join you in Havendon House. I’ll sleep in your bed every night, and wake with you every morning. We’ll have coffee and bathe together and talk and walk holding hands. I know this is new for you, but just give it a little time.”
“I understand.”
“Good.” I smile. “Thank you for coming.”
“Of course, Lathan. Why didn’t I have to take the secret passage?”
“I thought it safe enough.”
“Cool.” She smiles. “Did you need something?”
“I do.” My hand slips down her hip onto her thigh. “A little taste?”
Delaney laughs softly. “You called me over for a quicky?”
“I did. Do you object?”
“Never, my prince.” She twists in my arms. “I am at your service.”
Pressing her against my desk, I hike her dress up, and run my fingers over the lacy fabric of her panties. “I’ve been fantasizing about you all morning,” I whisper against her lips. “I just needed to touch you again, taste you.” I slide my hand inside her panties as she sighs.
Suddenly, my door opens and Franco rushes in with his eyes averted. “Your Highness, the Queen approaches.”
Shit. I drop Delaney’s dress and move away from her just as my mother breezes through the doorway. Delaney’s cheeks are bright red.
“Mother.” I rush to meet her. “What brings you?”
Her eyes shift past me to Delaney. She doesn’t answer me, instead approaching my girlfriend.
“I heard word you were in the palace,” she says.
Delaney quickly curtsies. “Your Majesty.”
My mother places her hand on the side of Delaney’s face. “Oh you are lovely. So fair and beautiful.” Mother turns to look at me. “She is lovely.” Turning back to Delaney, she smiles. “I wanted to see the woman that enraptured my son so.”
Delaney nods, and I know she’s nervous.
“Mother, Delaney just arrived. She’s still adjusting.”
“Of course she is. Do you like it so far?”
“Yes, ma’am. What I’ve seen.”
My mother smiles. “Your accent is delightful.”
Delaney smiles. “Thank you, ma’am.”
“My son is treating you well?”
Delaney’s eyes shift briefly to mine. “Very well, ma’am.”
“I’ve never seen him like he is over you. It warms my heart that he found love with you. It is every mother’s wish for her son to find a good woman.”
Her cheeks turn rosy as she responds. “Thank you, ma’am.”
“Mother, you’re overwhelming her and making her nervous.”
She tilts her head, still cupping Delaney’s chin. “Not necessary, my dear. I am not to be feared.”
“Of course not, Mother. We just weren’t expecting you yet.”
“I couldn’t wait any longer.” She smiles, releasing Delaney. “I will go now and let you get back to your private time. It was wonderful to meet you, Delaney.”
“I am honored, Your Majesty.”
Mother kisses my cheek as I walk her back to the door. “She’s perfect, Lathan. Absolutely perfect.”
“Yes, she is, Mother. She’s only had a brief lesson in etiquette, and I know she’s nervous about impressing you.”
“You may assure her that she has. She is so elegant and sweet. She will make an ideal princess for you.”
“Thank you, Mother. I believe that as well.” I glance back at Delaney who is looking out the window. “I’ll get her back to Havendon House now. I just wanted to spend a few minutes with her.”
“Do as you wish with her. It is none of my concern. Just take care to keep your private moments private.”
“Of course, Mother.” I kiss her cheek. “I’ll come visit later.”
“I’ll look forward to that.”
She leaves and I close the doors again, then walk back to Delaney.
“Surprise.”
She laughs. “That was terrible.”
“No, it wasn’t. She was impressed. She called you elegant and sweet and lovely.”
“She’s being kind.”
“No,” I say and pull her into my arms. “She recognizes the same qualities I did the minute I saw your face.”
“I’m just glad I didn’t completely blow it.”
“Not at all, but speaking of blowing it… ” I raise an eyebrow. “Where were we?”
She laughs, patting my chest. “No way, Prince Charming. Not after that close call.”
“She won’t be back.” I slide my hand up her thigh again. “Come on, princess, let’s be rebellious.”
She grins. “What do you want me to do?”
“Sit on my desk, open your legs, and let me taste my sweet poison once more.”
She sits on the edge. “Like this?” she asks, pulling up her dress and exposing her panties.
“Just like that.”
My lips come down on hers as I bury my hand inside her panties again. She feels amazing, so soft and warm. Another knock on my door makes me pause.
“Dammit,” I mumble. “What the hell is this, a parade?”
Delaney slides off the desk, straightening her dress again.
“Enter.”
Tristan waltzes in with a huge smile on his face. “Hello.”
I sigh. “Tristan. What brings you?”
“Oh, just in the neighborhood.”
I laugh, shaking my head. “In the neighborhood, you say?” His eyes shift behind me to a waiting Delaney. “Would you like to meet her?”
“Does the sun always shine in Havendon?”
“It does. Come on.” We approach Delaney who smiles. “My darling, this is my best friend and partner in crime, Tristan. Tristan, the fair Delaney.”
“Indeed she is fair.” He bows his head slightly. “Welcome to Havendon, we are pleased to have you.”
“Thank you, Tristan.”
He tilts his head. “Oh, I do love your accent.”
Delaney laughs softly. “I feel the same about yours.”
Tristan walks closer, surprising Delaney when he takes her hand in his. “If I may say, you have made Lathan a very happy, fulfilled man. It is my honor to know you.”
“You are too kind,” she says, adding, “He makes me happy too.”
“Well then, all is well.” He kisses her hand before releasing it. “Now I can say that I kissed the hand of the future princess of Havendon.”
I laugh. “Who will you tell, friend?”
“Abigail, of course.”
“His wife,” I explain to Delaney.
“I have an idea for an adventure,” Tristan says.
“Tell us.”
“What do you say we sneak out one night and run off to Italy for a nice weekend away? Me with my love and you with yours. Wouldn’t that be nice before…” he pauses. “Before everything changes.”
“A grand idea,” I say, winking at Delaney. “We will try to make that happen.”
“I need to get my time with you before an appointment is required to see you,” Tristan adds.
“You know that will never be the case for you.”
“I hope.” He nods at Delaney. “It was a true pleasure to meet you.”
“You too.”
Tristan leaves and I shut the door once more. “Where were we?”
Delaney shakes her head. “I should go. You’re busy.”
“I’m not busy. The interruptions were to see you. Now that you’ve been seen, I have you to myself again.”
“I don’t know.”
“Watch this.” I walk to the door and open it, motioning for Franco to enter. “Franco, I request thirty minutes of uninterrupted time.
Unless the palace is burning down, no one is to enter.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“Thank you.” I close the door. “Now, my princess, back to you.”
She moves behind my desk, grinning. “I must resist, Your Highness. You will have to wait until you can meet with me at Havendon House.”
“Ah, but I am not a patient man. I must relieve the burning desire deep within me. Allow me to kneel at my altar.”
“I’d rather wait.”
“I’d rather live in the moment.” I pull her arm until she’s pressed against me. As I kiss her, my hand finds its way under her dress once more. “If you want me to stop, just say so, and I will reluctantly release you.”
She looks up at me with her big brown eyes. “You’re free to continue.”
I smile. “I am a happy man.”
As his hand moves inside my panties, I sigh against his kiss. Lathan pushes me back until I’m up against his desk. As his lips move down my neck, I tangle my fingers in his hair and whisper.
“Remember Valentine’s Day?”
He glances up. “I will never forget it.”
“Remember how you tore my lingerie off of me?”
“I do.”
“Do it again.”
He grins. “You’d like me to rip your panties off?”
“Yes, please.”
“As you wish.” He pushes me back just slightly and shoves my dress up around my waist. “These are so pretty, delicate, sexy, exactly like the woman that wears them. I will find you more, even better luxuries.”
I watch as he quickly tears the material in two, running his finger over my piercing. His eyes meet mine as he slides two fingers deep inside of me causing me to moan softly.
“Feels so good.”
“Yes, you do, my darling.” He leans close, flicking his tongue over my lips. “Do you know how I love to watch your face as I do things to your body? I wish I could commission a painting and hang it in my office so I could gaze upon your beauty all day long.”
I say nothing as I listen to his poetic words.
“There is nothing more beautiful than you. Nothing nature could create or man could make that rivals you. Not all the flowers in the world, not jewels or silk or even the white beaches I so love. Literally nothing is better than looking at you.”
I shake my head as happy tears streak down my face. “Stop.”
“No, never. I will always tell you how beautiful you are, how precious, how utterly amazing. I am a blessed man that you are mine to hold, to kiss, to pleasure.” Without another word, he kneels so his face his between my legs. “And this, oh, sweet Delaney, I am addicted.” As his tongue makes contact, I throw my head back reveling in the immense pleasure he gives with his mouth on me.
“Sooo good,” I murmur. “Perfect.”
Lathan continues working on me for several minutes until he’s above me. “You know what I love most?”
“Tell me,” I gasp between breaths.
“I love that I’ve learned exactly how to make you come.” He grins. “Thumb on clit, two fingers inside, another finger pressed against your exquisite ass.”
Almost on cue, my body twitches and convulses against his hand, and I murmur his name over and over until I finally relax and lie back on the desk. Lathan kisses me softly, first my mouth, then my neck, my cheeks, my forehead.
“I love you, Delaney. Everything about you. You honor me by allowing me to please you. I live for each moment when we touch.”
Smiling, I brush my fingers over his cheek. “Are you real?”
He laughs softly. “You’re not convinced yet? I am real, my darling. I am getting to know this new version of myself. This man that is insanely in love with you. My madness inspires me to find ways to continually blow your mind. So yes, my love, I am real. As real as you.” He kisses my lips. “The longer you are here, the more you will see that all of this is real, it’s all for you, and you deserve it.”
“When I say that, it’s a compliment, Lathan. I have yet to find a flaw in you.”
“I have them.” He pulls my wrist until I’m upright. “Many, but when I’m with you, my best qualities are on display, not by design, but because you bring them out.”
I smile. “Just tell me one bad habit.”
“You’ve already seen my worst quality. When I’m stressed, I become very difficult. I apologized to you because I wanted your attention, but I rarely apologize. I am not known for my humility, and if I am crossed… ” he smiles. “Let’s just say it doesn’t go well for the other party.”
“So you’re a hot head?”
He laughs softly. “If pushed or offended.”
I drag my hands down his tie. “So that first cooking class, I offended you?”
“No, I embarrassed myself ignoring your advice in a failed attempt to impress you. Once I realized that looking into your eyes was more important than my pride, I was able to rectify my poor behavior. I’m just glad you accepted my apology.”
“Not as much as I am.” I laugh. “I feel like I’m in a fairy tale. I’m living in a castle, and I have a handsome prince who loves to go down on me. Seriously, my life is wicked awesome right now.”
“Forever awesome, Delaney.”
I lean forward and kiss him softly. “Ophelia is coming soon. I should go.”
“Yes. I must let you go until tonight. I hope to come for dinner.”
“I would love that.”
“Until then, my darling.”
“Until then, my prince.”
Lathan walks me to the door where Franco leads me down the stairs to two men waiting for me in the foyer. The foyer is the size of most houses where I’m from. I’ve already learned this is just a wing of the palace. The two men walk me outside and help me down a gravel path, then open the door for me. We enter the tunnel that connects the palace to Havendon House. I was expecting a dark medieval passage with torches lining the walls, but instead it’s a perfectly normal looking space, almost like a really long hallway, brightly lit with electricity. I walk between the two men, one in front and one behind, until we reach a second door leading to my house. The first man knocks and the door is opened by Olivia. I walk past them, thanking them, but both men merely nod without speaking.
“Madam, Her Royal Highness Princess Ophelia waits in the sitting room,” Olivia announces. “Would you care for tea, water, or anything else?”
“Coffee, please.”
“Yes, ma’am. I will bring it out shortly.”
“Thank you.” She starts to walk away, but as I stand in the cavernous foyer I realize I don’t know where to go. “Uh, Olivia?”
“Madam?”
“Where is the sitting room?”
Olivia smiles. “Right this way, madam.”
I follow her down another hall to a room where I see Ophelia looking at the bookcases. “Thank you.” Olivia leaves as Ophelia turns to greet me.
“Delaney.” She smiles and hugs me. “Did you sleep well?”
“Very. Thank you.”
“Wonderful. Were you out for a stroll?”
“Prince Lathan requested to see me.”
She smiles. “Just Lathan.”
“Right. So can we talk about the rules with that?”
“Absolutely.” She walks over to a tote bag pulling out a binder. “I made this for us. A guidebook if you will. The very first lesson is royal etiquette.”
I look at the binder’s title. “Making a Princess?”
Ophelia grins. “Yes. That is what we are doing, is it not?”
I smile. “I guess it is. Will you teach me your language?”
“I will you teach you some important things to know. Will you teach me yours?”
I tilt my head. “You speak English.”
“Not like you. I do love American English. It’s so unique and interesting and happy.”
“It’s all in the eye of the beholder I suppose.”
“Yes. Will you teach me?”
“Of cours
e.”
She claps her hands like an excited child. “Wonderful. We’ll get started, but I will have to take a few breaks to nurse.”
“Nurse?”
“My baby. Her name is Grace. The nanny is playing with her in the garden now.”
She has a baby? “May I ask how old you are?”
“I am twenty-four. You?”
“Also twenty-four.”
“Oh, we’re twins.”
“Twinsies, we say in America.”
Ophelia’s eyes light up. “Twinsies. Oh I like that. Lathan has taught me ‘true story’ and ‘wicked nice’. Last week, I was walking with my husband and he said we would enter the hot season soon, so I said, true story.” She giggles. “Oh, you should’ve seen his face. It was delightful.”
I laugh. “That’s funny.”
“Well, let’s get started, shall we? We have much to cover.”
“Sure.”
We sit down and as Ophelia prepares her lesson, Olivia returns with coffee, pouring us two cups. She curtsies to Ophelia who waves her hand as though she can’t be bothered with such formalities. Olivia doesn’t seem to be offended and carries on with her duties.
“Can I ask you a question?”
Ophelia looks up. “Of course. As many as you like.”
“Do you really think people will accept me?”
“They will by the time I’m done with you. While it’s been centuries since we’ve had a foreign princess or prince, we have had many commoners marry into the royal family. My mother was a commoner.”
“Really?”
“Oh yes. She met my father, the King’s brother, at a summer program where they traveled to Africa to do some charity work for sick children. I am told it was love at first sight. She went through a very similar training herself to prepare.”
“Oh.” I smile. “That’s kind of cool.”
Ophelia tilts her head. “Cool, meaning?”
“Good.”
“Ah. Yes, it was cool, because I was born of their union and also my two brothers.”
“Is your husband royal?”
“Yes, he is my cousin, although very distantly and very far removed. Nothing scandalous going on.” She laughs. “That’s why I told Lathan we needed someone like you here. Eventually we’ll all be related otherwise.”
Unexpectedly Royal Page 26