Confessions: The Princess, The Prick & The Priest (Confessions Series Book 4)

by Ella Frank

  Robbie shook his head and then glanced out the window, and it wasn’t until the cruiser began to slow down that he realized he hadn’t really been paying attention to where they were going.

  Officer Bailey had told Robbie that he was taking him to the station. But Robbie had been so preoccupied with how to go about saving his ass that it was only now registering that they’d been driving much longer than they probably should’ve been to get to the closest precinct.

  When the car came to a stop, Robbie peered outside, and when all he saw was, well, nothing, his heart just about up and stopped.

  Where the hell are we?

  Robbie looked around, and all he could see for miles were trees. Lots and lots of trees, and then Officer Bailey got out of the cruiser and shut the door behind him, making Robbie jump.

  When Officer Bailey opened the door and reached inside to take hold of his arm, Robbie started to shake his head.

  “I, um— Sorry. Where are we?” Robbie asked, as he again scanned his surroundings, but all he saw was a dark forest and a sketchy-looking dirt road lit up by the cruiser’s headlights.

  Shit, maybe Officer Bailey isn’t really a cop, Robbie thought. That possibility hadn’t even crossed his mind. But it did now, and as panic started to take over common sense, Robbie tugged his arm back.

  Officer Bailey’s grip didn’t loosen in the slightest, and Robbie seriously thought about kicking him in the shins and making a run for it. But that was when a figure stepped out into the path of the cruiser’s headlights, and Robbie’s plans all came to a grinding halt—right along with his brain.

  Priest? No. His mind had to be playing tricks on him, because there was no way that Priest was standing out here in the middle of nowhere. This was him hallucinating, right?

  Officer Bailey glanced over his shoulder, and when he smirked, Robbie saw it. What the shit is going on?

  Robbie’s eyes flew back to the spot where he’d imagined—no, seen—Priest, and as Office Bailey began walking, towing Robbie along with him, relief flooded Robbie’s body.

  As they came to a stop, Robbie took in the pressed suit Priest was wearing and noted it was different to the one he’d left for work in that morning. Priest eyed the man in uniform with a stern expression that Robbie was still trying to understand.

  “And what have we got here, Officer Bailey?” Priest asked, as though he knew the man who was the star of Robbie’s worst night ever.

  “Nothing too bad,” Officer Bailey said, as he reached into his pocket, pulled out a key, and handed it over to Priest. “He was actually pretty good until the end. Got a little mouthy then.”

  Robbie’s eyes widened like saucers as he looked between the two, incredulity now shoving aside his confusion, as he finally realized that whatever this was, it had all been orchestrated by—

  “Did he now?”

  —Priest.

  Officer Bailey chuckled. “He did. And I’m going to let you uncuff him. If he kills you out here, I just might take his side. See you around, Priest. Mr. Bianchi.”

  Robbie turned to watch him head back to the cruiser, and then he rounded on Priest, his mouth hanging open, his brain still working overtime as it tried to catch up.

  Priest hooked a finger over the chain of the handcuffs, and as he tugged Robbie forward, he said, “It was only a matter of time before a troublemaker like you ended up on the wrong side of the law. Wouldn’t you agree, Mr. Bianchi?”

  Chapter Eighteen

  We want him to feel as though he’s walking into a dream.

  One where he wants to stay forever

  ~ Julien

  HE WANTS TO kill me, Priest thought, as Robbie’s eyes narrowed and his dainty jaw clenched. Those usually pouty lips of his had gone from twisted confusion, to parted in shock, and were now pulled into a seriously pissed-off line.

  Oh yes, Robbie was about to rain holy hellfire down on him, and Priest couldn’t wait. It reminded him of how far they’d come, and where they’d both begun, and that was exactly where Priest wanted Robbie’s mind to go to tonight. A little trip down memory lane.

  Keeping his expression serious, Priest said, “I asked you a question, Mr. Bianchi,” and that finally made his little spitfire explode.

  “You’re asking,” Robbie said. “You’re asking me a question?”

  Knowing exactly what buttons to push with Robbie, Priest nodded. “Yes. And you still haven’t answered.”

  “I…I don’t even know what to say to you right now. Did you seriously just have me arrested?”

  “No,” Priest said, because technically, Robbie hadn’t been arrested. Not really. “Although it is rather handy that Craig cuffed you. I didn’t ask him to do that.”

  A look of utter disbelief crossed Robbie’s face, and then he began to laugh hysterically, almost delirious in his incredulity, as though he thought Priest had lost his mind, and maybe he had. But if that were the case, so had Julien, who was waiting for them to arrive not far from there.

  As Robbie glared at him, clearly trying to work out the finer details as to why he was standing in the middle of the woods at night, Priest tugged on the chain again, drawing Robbie closer.

  When Robbie staggered forward, and seemed to realize what Priest was doing, he raised his bound hands and flattened his palms on Priest’s chest.

  “Uh, what do you think you’re doing?” Robbie said with so much attitude, it was all Priest could do to keep his lips in a firm line. “You’re not getting anything from me until you start explaining.”

  Priest let his gaze roam over the perfectly sculpted eyebrow now winging up, the lined eyes shooting daggers his way, and the pointy chin, angled so high up that Priest couldn’t help himself from reaching out and taking hold of it.

  “Well, that’s unfortunate,” Priest said. “Because we want everything, Robert Bianchi.”

  Robbie opened his mouth, about to tell him to back up or go to hell, no doubt. But as Priest’s words sank in, he seemed to realize what he’d just said, and the furious light that had been lit a second ago turned into a…curious one.

  That’s right, sweetheart. Remember the first time I said that? Remember where we all began.

  Robbie licked at his lips. “What do you mean you want everything?”

  And it was that moment that Priest knew he had him. Robbie had finally gotten past his annoyance and realized that something else was happening.

  Priest smirked and began to walk backward, and this time when he pulled on the chain, Robbie followed.

  “Priest?” Robbie said, as he looked around again. “Where are we?”

  “Why?” Priest asked. “Are you scared?”

  “Well,” Robbie said, “I was arrested, handcuffed, and brought out to the middle of the woods and handed over to a crazy man. So…”

  Priest stopped walking and pulled Robbie in until he could wrap an arm around him. “So?”

  “I’m not scared at all. Does that make me crazy too?”

  Priest took in all of the elegant lines of Robbie’s face. “Crazy in love, maybe.”

  Robbie blinked, and before he could say anything else, Priest said, “Let’s go. Julien’s waiting for us.”

  JULIEN LOOKED OUT at the peaceful forest that stretched for miles in front of him, and enjoyed the relaxing sounds that came with nightfall once you left the city behind.

  He was standing on the wraparound porch of the little cottage Sofia and Antonio had told them about back in Oshkosh, wondering how their son’s story was going to play out in comparison to theirs.

  Julien smiled, thinking about the tongue-lashing Priest was likely enduring after their elaborate ploy to get Robbie out there alone and unsuspecting. But when he had suggested his plan, Priest had thought it absolutely perfect. Insane, but perfect for them.

  Nothing had ever been normal when it came to the three of them, and it only seemed fitting that Robbie would have a tale like that of a thief, stealing a car, to tell for many years to come.

  Julien gave
the porch a final look before the other two arrived. This was where the magic tonight would begin, where the new chapter in their journey would start, and he had been particular on how he wanted to set the stage. He wanted Robbie to feel as though he was walking into a dream. One where he wanted to stay forever with Julien and Priest.

  The sound of leaves crunching had Julien tugging at his collar, and he found he was a little bit nervous. This was a first for him.

  Oui, he’d been married for many years. But Priest had been the one who’d proposed, and it had been so special. Every element of that night had been carefully thought out and designed to sweep Julien off his feet, and tonight they were hoping to do the same for Robbie.

  Priest stepped through the trees first in a suit that looked totally out of place, but added to the overall ambience they were going for this evening. They’d been trying to decide how to play this whole scenario out, and had finally agreed in the end to put forward the version of themselves that Robbie had first fallen for—the prick and the priest.

  As Priest walked toward him, Julien took in the powerful frame under his tailored jacket, the tie knotted at the base of his throat, and his long legs as they ate up the distance between them like he was in a hurry to get closer.

  Priest’s eyes were zeroed in on him, and as he drew near, Julien caught sight of Robbie walking beside him.

  His eyes were wide as he took in the scene all around him, and as they walked up the stairs, Julien finally had a chance to drink in the sight of Robbie.

  Still dressed from work, Robbie wore his black tailored pants, burgundy shirt, and black vest, and when he finally spotted Julien and saw what he was wearing, Robbie’s mouth fell open. He looked to Priest and said, “Am I dreaming?”

  When Priest said nothing, Robbie turned back to Julien and said, “If I am, please don’t wake me up.”

  SOMEWHERE AROUND PRIEST telling him that they wanted everything, to now, as Robbie stood in front of Julien, who was decked out in his Chef Master uniform, with Julien “the Prick” Thornton stitched above the pocket—Robbie’s emotions had been in a tailspin.

  At first, he’d been furious at Priest for freaking him out. But when his nerves had finally calmed and his brain had decided to show up to the party, Robbie’s heart had begun to race for a very different reason.

  He recognized this place. He wasn’t sure how, because he’d never been there before. But from the moment Priest had led him off the path, and they’d come out of the forest into this clearing, Robbie had had an immediate flash of recognition.

  There was a little cottage with a dozen or so lanterns illuminating a path up to the stairs, where there was a wraparound porch covered in ivy and twinkle lights that gave the place a magical feel.

  It had a charming quality that was otherworldly in the dark seclusion of the night—and as the three of them now stood on the porch with one another, Robbie realized that they really were secluded. There was nothing on either side of them but trees, and off in the distance, you could hear the sound of…water, maybe?

  “Bonsoir, princesse,” Julien said, in that smooth, sensual cadence that wrapped around every fiber of Robbie’s being and pulled him back to the present. “You seem to have gotten yourself into a little bind.”

  Julien took Robbie’s cuffed hands and leaned down to press a kiss to the back of them, and when he raised his eyes, a shiver raced up Robbie’s spine.

  The expression in Julien’s eyes was the same one he’d seen in Priest’s a second ago. The one that had made Robbie’s heart skip a few beats, and then begin to thump extraordinarily fast.

  Something was going on here tonight. Something big.

  “I wasn’t sure you’d make it back alive, mon amour,” Julien said, as he glanced at Priest. “But now it makes more sense.”

  Priest slipped a hand into his pocket and pulled out the key Officer Bailey had given him.

  “I was lucky,” Priest said, as he handed it to Julien. “But I thought I’d leave him shackled until we made it back to you for safety reasons. Plus, you were my accomplice. If he’s going to strangle us, it should be together.”

  As Julien reached for the key, Priest’s words registered with Robbie, and he tried to work out what exactly Julien was guilty of.

  “The flour in the back of your car, princesse.” Julien winked as he pulled Robbie in. “I told you I was a thief that night at CRUSH. And tonight, we wanted to steal you away from the rest of the world.”

  Robbie took in a shaky breath as the cuffs around his wrists loosened, and Priest said in his ear, “But your heart? Your heart, we want to steal forever.”

  Priest then moved to stand alongside his husband, and as Robbie took in the handsome picture they made, he worried that his legs might give out from under him.

  His lawyer and his chef. Robbie couldn’t have imagined a more perfect fit for him than these two men, and when they both moved down to one knee and looked up at him, Robbie’s hands flew to his mouth.

  “Robert Antonio Bianchi,” Priest said, and though Robbie tried to focus, he was finding it difficult with the tears now blurring his eyes.

  “You are the brightest part of our lives,” Julien said. “And from the moment you walked into it, we knew you were meant to be ours.”

  Julien took Priest’s hand and entwined their fingers, forming that bond, that connection, that Robbie loved the most about them.

  “We’ve been planning to ask you for some time now,” Priest said, and Robbie bit down on his lip to stop his chin from quivering. “But we wanted your parents’ blessing first.”

  “And when they gave it,” Julien said, “they told us about this place, and everything, as it always does with you, and us, fell into place.”

  Oh my God, Robbie thought, as he finally realized why this all felt so familiar. This was where his parents had gotten engaged. Where the greatest love story he knew began. In the little cottage with the lights, where there was nothing in the world but you and love, and Robbie remembered his ma telling him one time, That’s all that matters in the end, Robert, not who. Out there, love is all that exists.

  “Robert?” Priest said, gently smiling.

  Then Julien’s dimple appeared. “Princesse?”

  Then they both held their free hands out to him and proved his ma right. “Will you marry us?”

  Chapter Nineteen

  This is the beginning of forever.

  And if you come with us, we’ll show you the rest of the way

  ~ Julien & Priest

  “YES,” ROBBIE SAID, and fell down to his knees. “A thousand times over, yes.”

  As the lights flickered over Robbie’s face, Priest took in the beautiful picture he made. The shimmering blue eyes, the pretty flushed cheeks, and the trembling in his body as what was happening—what had happened—began to wash over him.

  Julien brought Robbie’s hand up and pressed his lips to the center of it.

  “Je t’aime, Robbie,” Julien whispered.

  “Je t’aime aussi,” Robbie replied, making Julien grin as he entwined their fingers. “Oh my God. I can’t believe you want to marry me. That both of you do.”

  Julien looked to Priest, and Robbie did also, and when Priest pressed a kiss to Robbie’s palm, his emotions threatened to overwhelm him.

  “We do,” Priest said. “We love you. I love you, sweetheart. But that’s not all we want. There’s something else we’d like to ask of you tonight.”

  Robbie swallowed, and just as Priest was about to continue, Robbie put a finger to his lips and said, “Wait…”

  Priest paused, thinking that maybe Robbie was feeling rushed. But then a lovely smile crossed his lips and he said, “You didn’t let me say it back.”

  Priest blinked. It wasn’t often that he lost his words, but when Robbie moved his hand to cradle Priest’s bearded cheek and said, “I love you too,” Priest had a hard time remembering what he’d been going to say.

  As he sat there staring at the young man who’d w
alked into his and Julien’s lives not too long ago, Priest wondered what he’d ever done to deserve not only one great love in his life, but two.

  “You wanted to ask me something else?” Robbie said, and a soft laugh escaped him. “I’m not sure my heart can take anything else.”

  “Yes. This is important,” Priest said. “You are important. And we want you to understand and feel that.”

  Julien nodded. “We want the world to understand that you are loved by both Priest and myself, princesse. Regardless of a piece of paper.”

  Robbie let go of Julien’s hand for a second to brush away a tear. But as soon as it was gone, he reached for him again.

  “I do understand that,” Robbie said. “I know this can’t be legally recognized, but—”

  This time Priest put a finger to Robbie’s lips. “But taking our names can be.”

  Robbie’s mouth opened and shut several times. “Wh…what?”

  “Our names,” Priest said. “We both kept our own when we married.”

  “But with you,” Julien said, “we would be honored if you would take them, and legally make them yours. We think Thornton-Priestley has a nice ring to it.”

  Robbie let go of both their hands to cover his mouth. His eyes were round as saucers, and all the love and happiness he was experiencing was shining right out of them.

  “Are you serious?” Robbie said, trying to blink back his tears and failing.

  “Oui, very serious,” Julien said. “But only if you want—”

  “I want to,” Robbie said, and launched himself at Julien, who wrapped his arms around Robbie’s waist and kissed him until he shook, and when he pulled back and reached for Priest to do the same, Julien chuckled at his exuberance.

  When Robbie finally let them go, he sat back on his heels and said, “This is a dream. The most beautiful, wonderful dream I’ve ever had.”

  “Non, mon cher petit. This is the beginning of forever,” Julien said, and as they all got to their feet, he reached for Robbie’s hand. “And if you come with us, we’ll show you the rest of the way.”