Page 11 of The Royal's Pet: A MMF Ménage Royal Romance

You’re the future king, my mum would say. So look like it.

I know how to act, look, and smile like a king. I’d just hoped I wouldn’t have to put on this performance tonight.

When I’ve got myself under control, I open the door to my bedroom and step through. The ginger is still sitting on the foot of my bed, but she’s dressed now. Relief quietly washes through me. I’m not sure I would’ve been on my best behavior if she’d still been naked. I’m not sure I could have kept myself from finishing what I’d started.

It’s hard enough to hold myself back as it is. She’s nothing like the poised, jaded palace girls whose eyes always seem half-lidded, constantly bored. She’s wide-eyed as a newborn doe seeing the world for the first time. Her innocence is intoxicating, and I curse myself inwardly when I feel my cock stir once more.

“Are you all right?” I ask, breaking the silence.

“I’m fine.” She tucks a strand of hair behind her ear. I notice her hand is trembling. My heart breaks for her. I want to take her in my arms, stroke her hair back, and whisper in her ear that everything will be okay.

But I know better. The truth is—the only person in this palace she needs protection from is me.

“Can I get you a pot of tea?” I ask. “Water?” A thousand quid? A car? Whatever it takes to keep her from spreading this story around the press. “Where are you staying? I’ll have a guard drive you home. A woman, perhaps.”

She lifts her eyes. I didn’t get a proper look at them before. They’re jade green, and they shimmer like gems. I don’t believe I’ve ever seen more hypnotizing eyes. “I’d like an explanation, please,” she says politely, though her voice doesn’t waver. Neither does her eye contact.

Good on her. Perhaps my kitten isn’t quite as helpless as I assumed.

“Very well.” I lower myself into a leather armchair across from the bed. I purposefully keep some breathing room between us; after all, I did nearly maul her only moments earlier. This will be hard to talk my way out of, so I start simple. “Do you know who I am?”

She nods, though she seems shier now. “You’re the prince of England, Your Highness.”

“Not Your Highness,” I tell her sternly. “Never Your Highness. I prefer Roland.” I smile. See? I can be pleasant. “I’m afraid I didn’t catch your name…”

I didn’t think it was possible, but her eyes get even wider. “Rory,” she gets out.

“Rory. As you can imagine, my life is… complex. I am who the people want me to be. There is a lot of pressure, being in line for the crown.”

Her eyes don’t leave mine. She’s listening intently.

I continue: “And I’m not complaining, truly… it’s an honor. Most people would sell their grandma off to be a royal. But there are times when I want to… put down the crown for a little while.”

“So… you bring strange girls to bed?”

“It sounds ridiculous when you say it like that.” I smile. “But it helps, truthfully.”

“You’ve done this before?”

“Yes.”

She seems to think about that. “Why involve your bodyguard?”

I take in a breath. “I can’t exactly… leave the palace. And the women who come here—countesses and royals—they don’t interest me. Ben can come and go as he pleases.”

“So Ben was grooming me… for you?”

“For us. To share you.”

She lapses into silence at that, her eyes on the floor. Fear prickles my chest—I’ve lost her. She hasn’t moved, but I feel her drifting away from me. Swiftly, I rise and sit down on the edge of the bed beside her. Here, my voice drops with my next confession. “What I do… it’s wrong and naughty. But it’s always perfectly consensual, and it’s always done with my partner’s knowledge. Do you understand?” My tone is urgent. I barely know this woman, but I need her to understand. “I’d thought Ben told you that I would join you.”

Her eyes meet mine. “You didn’t know.”

“I should have. I’m the prince. I can’t afford to be ignorant.” I don’t mean for my voice to get harsh, but it does. My boiling anger leaks, and Rory sees it.

“You aren’t going to fire him, are you?”

That startles me. After what we put her through… she wants to protect him?

---