Page 32 of Royal Surrogate 2

“I get it,” I finally say. She’s going to need to help me find release if I let her go on any longer. I’m not sure my cock has ever been this hard.

“Do you?” she says, breathless. Clearly, this whole book thing is erotic for her, too.

If the elderly couple wasn’t still behind us, I’d have her right here. But I get my wits about me and take in a deep breath.

“I do,” I say. “And I know exactly what we’re going to do for our first real date.”

CHAPTER 25

Renae

For someone who claims he hasn’t set foot in a library since his school days, Caspar has certainly nailed this one.

I’d assumed he’d take me to a library in Boston, but no—Caspar never does anything halfway. So after an emotional—and optimistic—farewell to my dad, and a long flight back across the ocean, I find myself in Montovia’s capital city. In front of one of the most beautiful buildings I’ve ever seen.

The pale facade boasts statues between every window and patterned tile around the massive arched doorway. The columns out front are covered in thick, green vines with tiny purple flowers, and there’s a huge, marble clockface overlooking it all, as if guarding the secrets within.

“The Royal Library of Montovia,” Caspar says, taking my hand and guiding me up the stairs. “It’s ours for the afternoon.”

He leads me through the huge doors, and the wonder I felt outside is dwarfed by what I feel as I see what’s before us now.

It’s beautiful.

Dark bookcases spread in every direction, and they line the walls for at least three stories up—where they meet a ceiling painted to look like the night sky, complete with depictions of several famous constellations. A huge chandelier hangs from the center of the ceiling, right over a round, open area in the middle of the library floor where plush sofas invite visitors to sit and read. There are other sofas and chairs along the balconies that line the second and third stories, as well as some tucked away in alcoves along the edges of the great room where we stand.

“This is…amazing,” I breathe. I’ve been in dozens of libraries in my life, but nothing like this.

“I hoped you would like it,” Caspar says, guiding me deeper into the building.

At first, I think he’s leading me to that central circle of sofas and cushions, but instead he leads me past that, toward the very back of the large room. Eventually we come to a spiral staircase leading up to the next level.

“After you,” he says with a charming, lopsided smile that makes my heart beat faster.

I head up the stairs, with Caspar close behind. I’m almost afraid to make a sound, afraid to breathe, afraid that one wrong move will destroy the beauty and sanctity of this place.

When we reach the next level, Caspar guides me around a bookshelf to a large, open area with a long, wooden table down the center of it. One side of the table faces the heart of the library behind us, the rows of bookcases beneath the night sky. But the other side…

The other side faces a long row of french doors, all of which have been thrown open. Beyond them a narrow balcony looks across the capital city, offering stunning views of the cheerful buildings, the curving river, and the royal palace upon its hill.

I’m so distracted by the view that I don’t even notice the food on the table until Caspar points it out to me.

“Normally they don’t let people have food in here,” he tells me with a grin, “but they made an exception for me.”

Given that I’m pretty much always hungry these days, I slide eagerly onto a seat—one where I have views of both the library to one side and the city to the other.

Caspar is already building me a plate, piling it high with fresh fruit, cheese, and crusty bread. His sapphire eyes watch me closely as he sets the plate in front of me and then takes the seat next to mine.

I take a big bite of bread—good god, it’s still warm—and wash it down with a big gulp of sparkling grape juice before I can’t take his staring anymore.

“What?” I ask with a laugh. “Do I have something on my face?”

His eyes gleam. “How am I doing so far? Do you like it?”

“I’d say you’re doing better than expected,” I reply.

“Are you implying you didn’t expect me to do well?”

“No.” With a smile, I pop a grape into my mouth. “You’re doing great, Caspar. Don’t worry.”

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