by Isla Olsen
Boyd gives a curt nod of understanding, as usual displaying utter professionalism, not allowing a hint of curiosity as to why Jai and no one else should be allowed in my office to appear on his features. “Of course, sir.”
Once we’re inside, Jai finally breaks the silence that’s been stretching between us. “What’s going on? Lukas, you’re freaking me out.”
“Here, I need to show you something.” I stride over to my desk and pick up the book I’ve borrowed from Veronika, opening to the page I’ve bookmarked with a sticky note.
Jai’s face grows pale as he reads, his expression twisting into one of disgust. “What the hell is this?”
“I presume you know what a Monarchical Act is?”
He nods.
“My father put this one forward about eighteen years ago, while I was away at university. And it passed through Parliament so quietly everyone seems to have forgotten it exists.”
“How did you come to learn of it?”
“Veronika showed it to me.” I reach for his hand, running my thumb along the back of it. “We’re getting it overturned. I swear it, the next session of Parliament, this will be the only item on the agenda.”
He nods, swallowing thickly. “But?”
I let my eyes fall closed, loosing a dejected sigh. “But Parliament doesn’t resume until late January.”
He nods slowly, as if he’s trying to convince himself of something. “Okay. Okay…I guess we can just keep things quiet until then. We’ve been doing okay so far…”
I shake my head. “That’s not going to work.”
“Why not?”
“We’re too obvious,” I tell him. “Jai…kotya…when you’re in the room I can’t keep my eyes off you. It’s all I can do not to reach out and touch you.”
Jai nods, letting out a loud sigh. “Okay, so what are we going to do then.”
“The best thing is probably for you to go back to the States until this is all sorted out. We could say you’ve gone home for the holiday season—it wouldn’t raise any suspicions.”
“You want me to leave?”
The hurt in his voice and on his face makes my heart break. All I can do is wrap my arms around him and try to reassure him. “No. God, no. I want you here with me. I want to see you every day, and sleep next to you every night.” I nuzzle against his hair, breathing in his scent. “I want to touch you, and kiss you, and make love to you. But we can’t. Not while this is being worked out. Too many people already know, and too many more will figure it out.” I draw back so I can look him in the eyes, my thumb coming up to brush over his cheek. “Kotya, if the wrong person found out about us…”
His eyes fall closed and he nods, the sigh that escapes his lips is one full of regret. “I know.”
I press a soft kiss to his lips. “I love you. I promise, we’ll be together again—when it’s safe.”
Veronika organizes Jai’s flights home for the next day, and I spend the night in his bed memorizing every single inch of his body, knowing it will be at least six weeks before I get to touch him again. Six weeks. It might not seem like it, but it’s a long fucking time. Six weeks ago I couldn’t even begin to fathom how deep my feelings for this man would grow. Now I can’t imagine my life without him.
The next six weeks are going to be pure torture.
19
JAI
There’s no nervous anticipation during my flight back to the States like there was when I travelled to Korova four months ago. All I feel now is hollow and wrung out. There’s a tense knot in the pit of my stomach and I don’t know what the hell to do with it. All I want is to be by Lukas’s side, hold his hand, wrap my arms around him, comfort him as he tries to deal with yet another betrayal by his asshole father, this one from beyond the grave. But I can’t.
Crawling out from the comfort of his arms this morning, knowing it was the last time I’d feel them wrapped around me for at least a month and a half, was seriously one of the hardest things I’ve had to do. I decided not to wake him, knowing that would only make my leaving harder, and instead quickly dressed, packed a suitcase, and confirmed my flight details with Veronika.
Lukas had suggested I take the royal jet, but if there was anything that would tip off the gossipy reporters that there was more to our relationship, it was me being flown back to the U.S. in the comfort of the king’s personal plane. Veronika was at least able to get me a direct flight this time, and a business class ticket. She seemed genuinely upset about the situation, and I was glad to see Lukas has such loyal people in his corner. At least if I can’t be around, he still has people he can count on.
When I arrive in New York, I don’t even hesitate before getting into a cab and giving the address for Blake and Owen’s Greenwich Village brownstone. I try to call Owen from the cab but it goes straight to voicemail, telling me he’s likely at work. It’s late afternoon so I’m assuming Blake will be around, and if not, well, I guess I’ll just park myself on the front steps and wait. It’s not like I need to be anywhere…
When the cab pulls up at the address I’ve given, I lug my case out of the trunk and haul it up the front steps of the beautiful townhouse. After a minute of waiting, Blake answers my ring, his eyes widening when he sees me standing on the doorstep. “Jai?”
“Can I crash here for a bit?” I ask miserably. “I really don’t want to go to my parents’.”
“Yeah, of course. No problem at all.” He steps back and gestures for me to come inside. And wow, the pictures Owen sent of this place definitely did not do it justice. It’s absolutely stunning. And huge.
And that’s coming from someone who’s just spent almost four months living in a freakin’ palace.
“O’s at work, but come on in, I’ll show you to your room.”
Blake leads me down the pristine hallway, past the staircase that looks like it goes up about four or five flights, and to the doors of an elevator. My brows shoot up. Owen told me this place had an elevator, but I hadn’t entirely believed him.
We alight at the fourth floor and Blake ushers me along the hallway toward one of the bedrooms. “Here we go.”
My eyes widen when I step inside, seeing a familiar bed and comforter set, plus my old bookshelves with all my books on them, as well as my desk. “This is all my stuff from our old apartment,” I say, referencing the place Owen and I used to share. I cast Blake a wry smile. “What happened, Mr. Moneybags? Dip in the market?”
He lets out a soft laugh. “Owen thought you might need a place to stay when you’re in New York, so he set this up for you. If you’d like to redecorate, just say the word.”
“Thanks, I appreciate it.”
He nods and turns to leave, pointing to another door down the hall. “Bathroom’s through there, and I’ll be downstairs if you need anything. Owen should be home in a couple hours, unless there’s a big emergency he needs to stay for.”
I nod, repeating, “Thanks.”
I dump my suitcase and make a beeline for the bathroom Blake mentioned, stripping off and standing under the steaming hot spray of the huge walk-in shower.
I’m able to wash off the grossness that’s settled after the plane trip, but the shower does nothing to help me relax. I’ve become too used to showering with Lukas lately; it hasn’t been every morning, but it’s ben often enough that the association’s been made, and all I can think is that this shower is far too big for just one person.
When I get out of the shower, I wrap a towel around my waist and go in search of my phone. It’s around midnight in Korova so I figure Lukas will still be awake, but done with work for the day.
“I was just about to call you,” he says after answering on the first ring.
“Yeah?”
“Mmm…I saw your flight land over an hour ago. I was getting worried.”
A smile stretches across my lips and warmth fills me at the thought of him watching the flight tracker on the airline’s website to see the moment I’d landed safely. “I wanted to get settled
in at Owen and Blake’s first. Sorry for making you worry.”
“You’re forgiven.”
I can see the stubborn jut of his jaw in my mind and I’m filled with an overwhelming sense of longing. “God, I miss you. I wish I was there with you.”
“What would we be doing if you were here?” he asks, his voice a sexy purr.
“Your Majesty,” I exclaim, putting on an affronted tone, “are you suggesting we have phone sex?”
He lets out a soft chuckle that goes straight to my balls. “I’ll take whatever I can get until I have you back here with me.”
I smile at the thought, even as my heart cracks with the knowledge of how long we still have to wait. “What would you want to do?” I murmur.
“I’d want to taste you. I love the way you taste. Your cock, your arse. Every single inch of your skin. I’d want to take your cock in my mouth and have you fuck my throat…”
I groan, my hand sliding over my hard cock as I imagine doing just that. “What else?”
“I’d want you inside me,” he says with a groan, and I know he’s doing exactly what I am right now. “Love it when you fuck me, kotya. Love taking your cock.”
“Ah, fuck,” I cry out as my orgasm hits a little unexpectedly and I come all over my hand. “Well, that was a little embarrassing. Haven’t come that quickly from just my hand since I was a teenager.”
“Not just your hand,” Lukas points out.
“Well, that’s true.”
I take up the reins on the dirty talk, seeing Lukas through his climax and wishing more than anything I could be there for the live and interactive show.
We talk for a while afterwards, about the kids and our friends at the palace and a bunch of other random things that come to mind, but after an hour and a half I call an end to the conversation, knowing it’s getting way too late in Korova and Lukas needs to be up early in the morning.
I notice my stomach growling after we hang up, so I put on some sweats and a t-shirt and head down to the kitchen in search of food. The closer I get to the kitchen, the better the smell gets. There’s garlic and herbs and I think maybe tomatoes…whatever it is, it smells absolutely delicious and my stomach growls even louder.
I find both Blake and Owen in the kitchen; Blake is stirring something on the stove and Owen is sitting at the counter drinking wine and ogling his husband’s ass.
They both turn as I enter the kitchen, Owen’s eyes lighting up as he sees me. “Hey! Blake said you were here, what’s going on?”
“Ahh, it’s kind of a long story.”
Owen’s gaze narrows in suspicion. “Did that guy hurt you? Tell me. ‘Cause, seriously, king or no king, Blake and I will go over there and kick his ass!”
I blink a few times at Owen, my mouth hanging open in surprise. “You knew?”
Blake and Owen exchange an amused glance. “You were kind of obvious when we came to visit,” Blake says.
“Oh, god, no wonder I had to be sent away!”
Owen’s brows arch up. “You were sent away? Okay, just so you know, all my brothers will totally be on board with the kicking the king’s ass thing. Who cares if it causes an international scandal.”
I let out a heavy sigh, shaking my head. “Sweet, but not necessary.” It feels like there’s a heavy weight pressing down on my chest but I somehow manage to explain the bare bones of the horrible law Lukas’s father sneaked through the Parliamentall those years ago.
Blake’s handsome features form a tight frown. “So, what does this mean? According to this law, Lukas is ineligible to be king?”
“Yeah, pretty much. If people found out about Lukas and me, all it would take is one asshole who knows about this law and wants to see an end to the monarchy to throw the country into complete chaos.” I shake my head morosely. “There’d be so much confusion about whether the law is even valid, or whether there’s any proof about Lukas’s sexuality, or whether it’s relevant considering he already has heirs. Et cetera, et cetera. The bottom line is, if people did find out and it was enforced, it would remove Lukas, his children, his brother and his cousin Sebastian all from the line of succession. And the next in line after Seb is his sister Sofia. And trust me, she’s not someone you want in charge of anything.”
“So what happens now?” Owen presses. “Is this it? Are you guys broken up? Is he just going to pretend he’s not gay?”
I shake my head. “No, he’s going to get Parliament to change it, but they don’t reconvene until next year, and in the meantime…”
“You need to be out of the picture. Got it.”
I rake a hand through my hair, letting out a groan of frustration. “I don’t want to be out of the picture, though. I want to be there with him. I love him, O—I should be over there now, not on the other fucking side of the world. And the kids…” I let out a little sob as my chest constricts at the thought of the two munchkins I’ve left behind. “We had all this Christmas stuff planned and now I’m not going to be there for it.”
Neither Owen nor Blake says anything, they just let me talk, and I appreciate the opportunity to unload.
“I know it sounds stupid, but I feel like I left my heart back in Korova and now it’s like I’m having trouble breathing.”
“It doesn’t sound stupid,” Owen says softly, his gaze drifting across the kitchen to fall lovingly on his husband. “I know what you mean. I felt exactly the same way when Blake and I broke up a few months ago.”
“You brought that upon yourself,” I say, levelling him with a healthy glare and prompting a soft chuckle from Blake’s direction.
“I know. I was an idiot. But it doesn’t change the fact I felt completely lost without him.”
“Likewise,” Blake murmurs, returning Owen’s gaze.
Owen redirects his attention to me, offering a soft smile. “You guys are going to be fine. Once all this crap’s sorted you’ll go back to Korova and live happily ever after with your king.”
“God, it sounds fucking ridiculous when you put it like that,” I say with a choked snort.
“Please, you’re talking to a guy who met his husband while gaming, only to realize after about a million sexts were exchanged that he was actually my older brother’s supposedly straight billionaire best friend. Things don’t get much more ridiculous than that.”
20
LUKAS
It’s been four days since Jai left and we’re…managing. We FaceTime, we get each other off over the phone, we play online Scrabble…but it’s not the same. And the separation has only just started, I don’t even want to imagine how bad it will be in another few weeks.
It’s just after nine p.m. and I’m in the living room eating the last of Jai’s Christmas cookies and re-watching The Sound of Music. Yes, I’ve turned into that person.
“Papa?”
I startle at the sound of Katya’s voice, turning away from the screen to see her padding across the carpeted floor to stand in front of the sofa.
I lift the remote to pause the movie before speaking to my daughter. “Katya, what are you doing out of bed? It’s late.”
“I can’t sleep. I’m not tired,” she says, punctuating that last statement with a yawn.
“Uh huh. Sweetheart, you need to be in bed or you’ll be tired for school tomorrow. You don’t want to fall asleep and miss out on what Penny’s teaching, do you?”
“I don’t like Penny,” she says with a petulant jut of her bottom lip.
I frown down at her. “What are you talking about? Of course you like Penny. You love Penny.”
“But it’s not the same,” she whines. “She doesn’t know anything about the kings and queens, except the ones from England and I don’t care about them. And she can’t speak French. And she can’t make papanasi. I want Jai back, Papa. Please, can we have him back?”
I haul her off her feet and settle her on my lap, pressing a kiss to her soft hair. I’m all set to lie to her, to tell her Jai needs to spend Christmas with his family in America and he’
ll be back before we know it, but then Katya turns her face and I see Lesia’s hazel eyes staring back at me, and I can’t bring myself to do it. “I want him back, too, sweetheart.”
“When will he come back?”
“I’m not sure. Soon, hopefully.”
Her eyes light up. “Maybe Santa Claus can bring him back!” Ah, Jesus…
“Oh, I’m not sure, Katya—”
“Santa can do anything,” she argues. “I’m sure he can bring Jai back if I put that on my Christmas list. I’ll put it right at the top.”
I offer an affectionate smile. “That sounds like a smart plan.”
“When he comes back, will you and Jai get married?”
My eyes widen at the question. “Married?”
Katya nods eagerly. “Penny said people who love each other sometimes get married. And you love Jai, don’t you, Papa?”
“I do,” I answer warily, amazed at how insightful my seven-year-old can be.
“And Jai loves us. And when you get married Jai can be our papa too!”
I offer her a soft smile, my heart full of so much warmth it could burst. “You’d really like that?”
Her head bobs up and down so fast it’s a wonder it doesn’t fall off. “We’d have two papas! That’s more than other people!” She frowns for a moment. “But it might get confusing. If I say ‘hello, Papa’, how will you know who I’m talking to?”
My grin broadens. “Maybe you can call him ‘Dad’ instead?”
Her little face lights up with excitement. “Yes! We could do that!”
That is, of course, if Jai even wants to marry me and officially join this family. I hope I haven’t just gotten my little girl’s hopes up.
“Listen, Katya, what we’ve just talked about—about Jai becoming your dad? That’s a secret, okay? And you know what to do with secrets, don’t you?”
She nods. “Don’t tell anyone.”
I nod. “Good girl.”
