Page 85 of Trained Royal
Patrick laughed. “I’m over at Book Drunk with Christian and Douglas.”
“I’m assuming Jade is with you?” He glanced at Nina, who had appeared by his side when he’d exited Randall’s office.
“She is. Oscar has made a dedicated corner for the bodyguards to sit on stools and still be able to see the entire book shop. He thought it best because of the number of bodyguards that come in occasionally.”
Kieren’s heart calmed. Brett, Felix and Eric would be there with them.
“That’s nice of him. I’m sure you all get inundated with people coming up to you when there’s that many of you, though,” he said as he wandered towards the front exit.
“They’re pretty good, actually. Most people leave us alone. At least the people who live around here. It’s nothing unusual for them. Tourists are a little different, but we find that if we acknowledge them, to begin with, they then leave us be.” Patrick chuckled. “You know this. Why are you listening to me prattle on?”
Kieren smiled. “I like hearing you talk.” He side-eyed Nina, daring her to say anything, but all that happened was a small mouth twitch. “I’m on my way.”
It took him barely five minutes to reach the book shop cafe across the road from Windsor Castle. At the rate they were going, Patrick would be moving into Windsor with how often he was there. Kieren didn’t care where they lived as long as they were together.
He caught the step as he entered the cafe, the thought momentarily surprising him. They’d been living with each other for months—granted, not in the same room—but at the same house. Would he eventually move into Patrick’s room?
“Are you okay?” Nina murmured.
“Uh-huh.”
Patrick rose to greet him as Kieren reached the table. He wasn’t sure if Patrick wanted a PDA, so Kieren just smiled until Patrick leaned forward and pecked him on the lips.
“Everyone knows, Kieren. Don’t worry,” Patrick whispered.
Kieren hummed and grabbed a seat beside Patrick. He didn’t mind anyone knowing if he was honest with himself, but having people focused on them was a different matter.
“What’s this new job?” Christian asked with a smile, making Kieren think he already knew, which he probably did having Brett as a guard.
“I’m helping re-organise some events.” He glanced around. He didn’t say too much in public because that was a mistake they couldn’t make.
Patrick leaned into him, and Kieren slid an arm around his shoulders, holding him close, and pressed a kiss to his temple.
“How’s the physio working out for you?” Douglas asked.
“It’s going well. I still have to strengthen the muscles back to what they were before, but they say I should be at full capacity soon. I have permission to start yoga and tai chi again.”
“I’m glad. Have you decided what your plans are?” Christian asked.
Kieren met Patrick’s gaze. “I don’t know. We need to talk about it.”
Douglas’s phone rang, and he answered it with a smile. “Quinn, how are you?” He paused, his eyes roaming across the table as he listened. “That would be great. Let me check in with everyone, and I’ll call you back later. Is that okay? Brilliant. Speak to you later.” He ended the call. “Quinn’s invited us to Kendal’s birthday party. Because of…what happened, they prefer not to interact with too many people at once. Quinn believes that they’ll be okay with us.”
“I’m there,” Patrick said.
“It’ll give me the chance to check in on some of the other subs, too,” Douglas said. “I’ve not managed it as often as I used to.”
Christian nudged Douglas with his shoulder. “You can’t be in two places at once. You’re doing your best.”
“I know. I was doing it a lot when I first met Mav, but life has got in the way. It shouldn’t because they’re important.”
“Doms are important, too,” Patrick said.
Christian held up a hand. “Let’s go back home to finish this discussion. I don’t think today’s the day we open our hearts in public about what we do in private.” He winked at Patrick, who chuckled.
They said goodbye to Oscar, and the four of them, plus their bodyguards, headed back to the castle. People took photos of them, though no one approached—probably because of the guards surrounding them.
When they were settled into Christian’s suite, Christian asked Patrick to continue what he had been saying about Doms.
