Page 59 of Trained Royal
Kieren frowned. “Is it? I hadn’t realised. Do you not like it?”
“I don’t mind now as much as I did when I was younger. It’s only my cousins and brother who call me that.”
“Do you want me to stop?”
“No!” Patrick pressed a kiss to his chest. “No. I like it.”
They stayed snuggled together on the bed for several hours, talking about anything and everything. They ignored the looks the nurses gave them, and Patrick only moved when the nurse insisted on checking over Kieren fully. Within seconds of her leaving, they were back on the bed again, and Kieren never wanted to move.
****
“You’re invited, too, you know,” Patrick said as he helped Kieren into a wheelchair, ready to push him to the exit.
Kieren could finally go home after three days of observation. His arm was in a sling and would remain in it for a few days, making everyday activities that much trickier, but it beat being in the hospital. Patrick had helped him shower and change into some decent clothes, rather than the awful gowns, and he was feeling more human.
“You don’t need me there when you’re celebrating your brother’s birthday,” Kieren argued.
“I want you there, and more to the point, Henry would like you there.”
“But it’s a family celebration.”
Patrick crouched in front of him, placing his hands on his knees. “And you’re now family.”
Looking into Patrick’s eyes, there was no way he could decline, but he wasn’t looking forward to having his food cut up for him or the pitying looks he would undoubtedly get.
“Fine.”
Patrick stood, bracing himself on the arms of the wheelchair. “Thank you.” He nipped at Kieren’s lips and licked into his mouth, taking the kiss they both wanted. When he pulled back, they were breathing hard.
Kieren swallowed back the words he wanted to say, knowing it was too early in the relationship to say them.
“Ready?” Patrick said with a glow on his face that Kieren wished would stay there forever.
“As I’ll ever be.”
Patrick pushed him to the door, scooted around him to open it, then returned to the back and pushed him through it. Kieren glanced at the two guards, Jade and Nina, as they slipped into place, one in front of them, one behind them. It was the first time Kieren had seen them in work mode—except for guarding the door. He scrutinised everything he saw Jade do in front of them, and by the time they made it to the entrance, he was impressed. He shouldn’t be because he knew the royals would only take on those they knew could do the job, and he also knew Brett would’ve put them through the wringer before assigning them.
Jade paused before they went any further, turning to them. “Just to warn you, there are journalists outside. We’ve spoken to them, and they’ve agreed to stay back, but whether they do…” She shrugged. “We’re here, though.” She focused on Kieren. “Do you have anything you want us to do?”
Kieren studied her and felt himself relax. She knew the job. She didn’t need him telling her what to do, but she offered anyway. “Thank you, but you’ve got this.”
Jade nodded, a small smile on her face. “We have.” She nodded behind them, presumably at Nina. “Ready?”
“Let’s get this done,” he said.
Jade led the way through the entrance, the automatic doors making it easier for them, but as soon as they left the confines of the hospital, the noise started.
“Patrick! Are you glad he saved your life?”
“Patrick! Give him a kiss for us!”
“Kieren! Kieren! How are you feeling?”
And so on. They all ignored the hurled questions, and Patrick helped Kieren out of the wheelchair and into the back seat of the car. Nina slid in and into a seat facing sideways while Patrick rounded the car and got in beside Kieren, with Jade closing the door for him. Once Jade was sitting up front, the driver took off.
Kieren was sweating, and not from the exertion. Not from the media attention either. It took everything for him not to grab hold of Patrick and hide him from the world. To keep him cocooned and safe. He closed his eyes, laying his head back against the seat, and breathed. A hand covered his, and Kieren immediately recognised Patrick. He clung to him, unable to temper how hard he was holding.
There was no way he could protect Patrick like this, and he had to have faith in their guards. And he did. Like he’d told Jade, they had this. It just wasn’t easy letting go of what had been his job. He wanted to spend the journey planning their next steps, the next moves, the next wave of the journey, but he forced himself to keep his eyes closed, holding Patrick’s hand like his life depended on it.
