Page 64 of Royal Bosshole

“Yes, but I care more about you. This isn’t something you’ve grown up with. This isn’t something you were expected to do with your life.”

His hand slid just a bit higher, and I smirked at him. “You can’t be thinking of doing that now, James.”

He leaned in, his breath tickling my ear, and he whispered, “Lily, I am always thinking about it.”

I shivered when he placed a soft kiss next to my ear. I was meant to be thinking about becoming a queen, but instead, I was getting hot for my husband. I closed my eyes tight.

“James, I need to focus,” I croaked, and he laughed, the sound always welcome to my ears.

“I know, I know. I just thought it might take your mind off things.”

“It does but not in the way I need at the moment. Although I will be very happy to do it later.” I put my hand over the one on his thigh. “You’ll be receiving punishment for that, of course.”

“Excellent.” He grinned and stood, reaching out for my hand. “Come on. It’s time.”

I shook my head. “Surely, they think I’m ridiculous. A singer becoming a queen, and she’s not even Lenovian! With my American accent and my ability to get into awkward situations, I’m not sure I’ll be the right person for the job.”

He took my other hand and brought both of them to his lips. “You’ll be perfect. And you’re perfect for me. You’re just what I want.” He leaned in and kissed me, and as always, I melted into him, wrapping my arms around his shoulders.

“How is it that your kisses always have the power to make things better, James?” I put my forehead against his. “All right, let’s go.”

He took my hand, and he led me into the church for the ceremony.

We had been here a year ago to celebrate our wedding. It had been a simple ceremony, but with high honors, as his status, and mine, I guessed, deserved.

We decided to get married a week after the proposal for two very important reasons. The first, to save Lenovia from annexation, of course. As soon as he proposed and I said yes, we talked about it and decided Lenovia was worth saving, so all talk of annexation stopped and a shotgun wedding was planned and executed. Royalty really had it all figured out.

But the most important reason was so that his dad could be there with us. We didn’t know how long he had so we just didn’t want to wait.

We married a few days before Christmas and the tour had been delayed a few days since his dad had taken a turn for the worse shortly after. We spent every second we could of those days with his dad.

Prince Friedrick passed away shortly after Christmas and we stayed for the funeral.

He left the world peacefully and happy, which helped James a lot in his grieving process.

We left for my tour right after New Year’s. We decided the tour would also be our honeymoon.

It lasted a couple of months and ended right back here. Home.

Though my true home was James, Lenovia had really grown on me and I couldn’t imagine living anywhere else.

Having saved the country with our wedding, there was really no urgent rush to be crowned king and queen, so we decided to wait a year for the coronation ceremony so that I could have time for me to enjoy my music career and learn everything I could about my new country and my new role.

Now the time had come.

The ceremony went by in a flash, and then I was standing alongside him at the head of the church, listening to the sound of applause. I could see news cameras as well, and I knew my friends back home were seeing me. It felt so weird just thinking about how much my life had changed in a little over a year.

After the ceremony, James and I left the church, wanting to avoid too much news coverage, and we returned home. As we walked inside, I pinched myself as usual, to make sure it was all real. I was a princess, living in a castle.

Or rather, a queen.

James’s arm slid around my shoulders, and he said, “I’ve got a surprise for you. There will be a ball this evening to celebrate the coronation, of course, but there’s something you have to see first.”

“All right.” I leaned against him. “I cannot believe we are king and queen.”

“Me either, to be truthful.” He kissed the top of my head. “But I love you, Lily. I’m so glad you’re here with me. I wouldn’t have been able to do this without you.”

“Literally,” I teased.

---