Page 35 of Royal

Donovan’s eyes are barely open, his little body curled against Royal’s shoulder his hands fisting his cut. “Want to take this to go? I think he is over all the shopping,” I suggest, and Royal agrees.

A prospect came into the mall after we shopped in multiple stores and took all our things to the truck, which was very handy, so we didn’t have to carry all of it around the mall.

Royal expertly holds Donovan, though he must be getting heavy to carry for so long, and it’s breaking my heart because I can’t carry him as far as I used to. Then, one day soon, he won’t want me to pick him up.

I open the door for Royal so he can put Donovan in his seat quickly. The prospect is parked by his truck, and he gives us a wave as he drives off.

He shuts the door. “I haven’t done this in a couple of hours.” My back presses against the passenger door, Royal hovering above me, his hands on the glass on either side by my face.

“What’s that?” My voice is breathless. I run my fingers under his cut and up his black t-shirt underneath that clings to his muscles and biceps.

“I haven’t tasted your lips, and I think I need a reminder.” I lick my lips in anticipation, moving to stand on my toes so he doesn’t have to lean down so far.

The second his lips touch mine, the world fades away. All I feel is safety, comfort, and a peace I have always craved but never experienced.

Until now.

His hand burrows into my hair, running his fingers along my scalp, tugging onto my strands, leaving a slight sting.

I smile against his lips, and he leans back, cupping my jaw and tilting my head to face him. “What’s that smile for?” His thumb shoots across my bottom lip.

“I’m happy.”

He smiles at this, pulling me to his chest. “I’m happy too. I don’t think I could get happier. You and that boy complete a part of me I never knew was missing.”

I could float on water from the number of butterflies swarming in my stomach.

The moment is sadly interrupted by Royal’s phone going off. He growls and pulls back, glancing at the number, looking confused.

“What is it?” I ask when he answers, not liking how his body stiffens.

“This is he,” he answers.

I bite my bottom lip, trying not to ask what the matter is but not wanting to interrupt. “We will be right there.” He hangs up the phone, staring at it momentarily before looking at me. “Is it Penny?”

He nods before he busts out laughing, holding his stomach. Some of the fear melts away, but I want to shake him for taking so long to tell me what’s happening.

“Penny is in trouble for getting into a fight at school. They want to meet with me.”

I start snickering myself. “Well, Penny decided she had enough.” We get in the truck and hurry to get to the school.

A prospect pulls in behind us in the parking lot. I look at Royal in confusion about why he is there. “He is going to watch Donovan for us so we won’t have to wake him up.”

I sigh. He is so thoughtful. “You’re just amazing, so thoughtful. I’m not used to that.” I kiss the back of his hand that is holding mine.

We walk together hand in hand into the school. Royal signs in, and we are made to hand in our IDs to the lady at the front desk until we leave, and only then we can get them back.

A woman wearing a suit waves for us to follow her, and we do. Royal walks slightly in front of me, and I look around the small rooms surrounding the office.

Penny sits in a chair at the back in a small, isolated room. Her eyes widen when she sees us, and I stop Royal, pointing to her.

I can tell she is scared she is going to get into trouble. She looks a little pale, her hair that was in two braids is undone and messed up, and one of her sundress straps is ripped slightly.

Royal winks at her, and I give her a little wave. She hides her smile just as the principal turns to look at us.

In the room down from hers are two small kids. One is a girl I saw this morning, which I knew was causing issues for Penny, and the other is a little boy who looks a couple of years older.

The little boy is holding paper towels to his nose, and it’s covered in blood. Then, a lady walks from behind a desk dressed in scrubs with cartoon characters.

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